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The Babysitters Coven

(The Babysitters Coven #1)

Kate Williams (Goodreads Author)

3.52 · Rating details · 157 ratings · 119 reviews

Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil.

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it's kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Beside ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: September 17th 2019 by Delacorte Press

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YA Novels 2019 - Teen Content, Teen characters (Check the comments)

935 books — 1,111 voters

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

YA Releases of September, 2019

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Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

3.52 ·

Rating details

· 157 ratings · 119 reviews

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Apr 05, 2019 destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries] marked it as to-read

Shelves: witches, owned-digital, unread-review-copies, owned-tbr

Universe, I don't know what I did to deserve all of these gorgeous witchy books lately, but thank you. 😍

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

flag 47 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2019 Alana • thebookishchick marked it as to-read

Shelves: paranormal

I am LIVING for all the witchy books 2019 is bringing our way!

September, please HURRY THE HELL UP!

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flag 31 likes · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2019 Candace Robinson added it

This one has probably one of my favorite covers of the year. It had a lot of fun things going on, just wish there had been a little more on the romance side of things.

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2019 Cortney LaScola - The Bookworm, Myrtle Beach rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaways-arcs

The Babysitters Coven was cute, funny, and snarky. I loved the first half (5 stars) and liked the second half (3 stars). I feel like The Sitters and how they came to be, all their history, how each was chosen, etc. wasn't explained well enough. I want to know more!

I will happily average both together and give it 4 stars. Can't wait to read the next installment!

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2019 Nenia ⭐ Literary Garbage Can ⭐ Campbell marked it as to-read

Honestly, it sounds like a better comparison would be Babysitters' Club meets Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. #BlurbFail

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2019 megs_bookrack marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2019-releases, ya-thriller-horror-to-read, arcs-to-read

Thank you so much, Delacorte Press.

ARC received!

Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- color me intrigued!

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

May 11, 2019 Celia McMahon rated it really liked it

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.

Wow. This book was just what I needed. Witty writing, with a magical plot-line and a protagonist you can cheer for to the very end. I just came off reading a highly disappointing anticipated read, and I have to be honest, my hope in books plummeted a bit. But thanks to this delightful, witchy read, hope has been renewed.

What's it about?

Esme is a seventeen-year-old babysitter from a complica Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.

Wow. This book was just what I needed. Witty writing, with a magical plot-line and a protagonist you can cheer for to the very end. I just came off reading a highly disappointing anticipated read, and I have to be honest, my hope in books plummeted a bit. But thanks to this delightful, witchy read, hope has been renewed.

What's it about?

Esme is a seventeen-year-old babysitter from a complicated home. Her mother was put into a mental hospital when she was young, and her father doesn't really jump at the chance to talk about it. Along with her best friend and fellow fashionista, Janis, they form a babysitter's club which is really just them browsing the internet and watching movies. Weirdo things start happening when a new girl named Cassandra and her hot brother show up. Suddenly, Esme finds herself in an entirely different club, and it has nothing to do with changing diapers.

What I loved: Esme's voice. Her narration does a colossal justice to YA everywhere. It mixes in a sometimes cynical girl who loves movies and clothes and her friends and is entirely awkward in front of her crush. It was so fun reading her quirkiness. And I laughed out loud so many times. When a book can do that to me, I know it's going to be good.

The story was light-hearted and went ways I couldn't even imagine. I've never watched an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so sue me, but It is inspired by it, and from other reviews, I hear it takes a few notes from the show as well.

I judge a book by how fast I get ready for bed to lie down and read. This one had me skipping skincare routines so that I could continue reading. It's a quick, spooky romp through the head of a girl who is just trying to navigate life but has to fight evil monsters instead.

The only thing that did irk me was the lack of CALLING THE COPS thing when things happened. I get it, for plot's sake, they had to deal on their own, but being the mother-bear inside of me was cursing them out for not enlisting the adults. ARGH.

I'm hoping for redemption and a real love interest in the next one. I cannot wait to take Esme, Cassandra, and Janis and just squeeze them and tell them things will be all right if you stick together, darn it.

Kate Williams has made a fan out of me. ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Catie rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2019, humor, fluffy-books, ya, mystery-thriller-noir, paranormal

This was a challenge to get through. I think that I really wanted more twisty, paranormal mystery and a lot less fluffy, bland babysitting. The main character is 17, but reads like she's 12.

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2019 andrea caro rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2019, arc, dnf-series, fantasy, paranormal, witches

Not what I wanted it to be, sigh. RTC.

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Feb 12, 2019 Kal ★ Reader Voracious marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2019-anticipated, e-arc

"Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil."

I never knew I needed this book before this moment but THIS IS THE MASHUP CHILDHOOD/TEENAGE FAVES I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

May 10, 2019 Samantha rated it liked it

Shelves: love-that-title-though, netgalley, young-adult, fantasy-paranormal, 2019

This was a really cute premise that was very specific to my interests (self-described as Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer - which it was and wasn't) However, Witch-y, slayer types with rescue pit bulls: I mean, that's more or less my identity.

The story follows 17-year-old Esme Pearl as she discovers that there's more to babysitting than she ever thought. If we want to compare this to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I would say trigger-happy new girl Cassandra is being set up to ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2019 Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-books, for-blog-tour, advanced-reader

RTC for blog tour. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy.

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 02, 2019 Samantha Colwell rated it liked it

Alright, you got me. I didn’t realize that Kate Williams was writing a book just to prank me and all my 1990’s sisters, but here it is. So I hear you watched The Craft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the original Babysitters Club growing up? Let’s just throw all that shit together into a tongue-in-cheek smoothie, and out pops The Babysitters Coven.

This book is wild. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it, and I’m not sure what I read after I finished it. I think I liked it. In fac Alright, you got me. I didn’t realize that Kate Williams was writing a book just to prank me and all my 1990’s sisters, but here it is. So I hear you watched The Craft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the original Babysitters Club growing up? Let’s just throw all that shit together into a tongue-in-cheek smoothie, and out pops The Babysitters Coven.

This book is wild. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it, and I’m not sure what I read after I finished it. I think I liked it. In fact, reflecting on it for this review, I’m almost positive I liked it. But that could be one of the Sitters casting a spell.

Here’s the gist: Esme is a stereotypical I’m-a-regular-girl girl. Her and her best friend Janis go through an exhausting amount of effort dressing for school everyday in their thrift-store outfits. The preposterous amount of time that Williams spends describing their style is perplexing, but I might have related to that were I still in high school.

Esme turns seventeen and develops powers. The new girl, Cassandra, catches her using those powers in gym. The big reveal is that Cassandra also has powers. They’re both part of a sacred secret inheritance passed down through the generations of women in their family. They’re Sitters--they literally babysit the Hellmouth (I mean the Portal) in the “Definite” (our world) that leaks monsters from the “Negative” (the demon plane) into Sunnydale. I mean, Spring River. Whatever, it’s just Buffy, and the characters acknowledge as much.

Of course, The Babysitters Coven goes a lot less hard than Buffy ever went. Their Watcher is a gym teacher named Brian who forgets to train them because football season is especially time-consuming this year. The spells they use to manipulate the world around them require treasures to cast---and these treasures are laughably the cutest part of the whole book. Their final boss spell requires: a “do not disturb” sign, a rose quartz crystal, a playbill from Wicked, cinnamon sticks, a clementine, seven hot-pink plastic army men, a dried-up wrist corsage, and a cucumber vape cartridge.

This book had me clutching my face in laughter and embarrassment. I’m not sure if it’s so silly that it’s frivolous (Esme casts a spell on her flatulent dog so that she can speak, but spends more time commenting on the dog’s stench) or so silly that it’s perfect (one of the characters gets stuck in the Negative, but talks to Esme through a Magic 8-Ball, one glowing triangle word at a time.)

Will I read part two coming out in Fall 2020? Help, because I can’t decide. Shake the Magic 8-ball.

Big thanks to NetGalley for a prepub copy in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Aug 13, 2019 Amy Imogene Reads marked it as to-read

Well this cute witchy title arrived on my doorstep yesterday. It looks like all kinds of fun—can't wait!

Thank you to Delcorte Press for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 25, 2019 Clephiro (The Book Coven) rated it did not like it

Shelves: ya, arc, urban-fantasy, paranormal

I want the time I spent reading this back.

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Aug 18, 2019 Bookevin marked it as to-read

Shelves: sept-2019-releases

BITCH, I AM READY.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2019 amanda rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

I was really excited for more witchy ya books but this just wasn’t what I expected in any way and it ended up being really disappointing.

The writing is clunky and yes, I know this is a paranormal/fantasy, but it was super unbelievable at times and made me cringe with the exaggerated slang.

The premise is that Esme has powers and meets a new girl at school who shocker ALSO has powers. They find out they both come from a long line of “sitters” and have to save the world.

It’s cute in a way and remi ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 ♡ Dakota ♡ (Sarcasm is my middle name) marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2019-new-releases, people-with-magical-powers, urban-fantasy

If you say anything is similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer I will be want to read it.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 21, 2019 mindy rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2019 Kristi rated it really liked it

Cute. I liked it enough I definitely want to see the girls' adventures in the sequel. A bit of a slow build but the last third of the book I couldn't put down!

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May 18, 2019 Evelyn Medina rated it liked it

Huge thanks for netgalley for giving me an early copy of this!

Before even reading, the initial description “adventures in babysitting meets Buffy the vampire slayer” was right up my alley! In the first couple chapters I immediately connected with Esme and her quirks, and she honestly felt like a REAL teenager. Not a book teenager who’s clearly overwritten and has a unrealistic dialogue. At some point though my love for this character started to dwindle: she became a little judgmental with other ...more

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May 10, 2019 Elysian Fields rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs

So I’ve been on a YA kick lately because I realized there are some really amazing stories that I am missing just because I felt like they were too young for me to read. This was a book that caught my eye for of both the cover and the blurb. I was a staunch reader of the Babysitters Club in the ‘90s and it was my first book club; so I might have a soft spot for stories that pay tribute to my first book loves.

This story was such a delight to read I would liken it to Adventures in Babysitting cros ...more

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May 14, 2019 Brenna Clark rated it it was amazing

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC! I am always down for a novel with a Chosen One, witches, or anything set around Halloween, and this book gave me all three! It had heavy Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vibes with The Craft undertones, yet made a lore all its own that was so original and fun!

We follow Kate, a babysitter. She and her friend Janis comprise the Babysitter’s Club, so named after the popular book series. There were more to the group, but as the other girls grew up and found high ...more

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Jun 12, 2019 Knobby rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley-arc

I was given an advanced copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted so badly to love this! I grew up on The Baby-Sitters Club and the aesthetic gave me The Craft vibes, so I was totally excited to read it. Unfortunately, the writing was a little clunky and I lost interest a few times in the middle, which sagged a bit. Though the final 25% is the strongest part of the book, with a bit of urgency and action, the first 3/4 was slow. I didn't particularly love the MC's v I was given an advanced copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted so badly to love this! I grew up on The Baby-Sitters Club and the aesthetic gave me The Craft vibes, so I was totally excited to read it. Unfortunately, the writing was a little clunky and I lost interest a few times in the middle, which sagged a bit. Though the final 25% is the strongest part of the book, with a bit of urgency and action, the first 3/4 was slow. I didn't particularly love the MC's voice.

Esme is seventeen and has a baby-sitters club with her best friend, Janis. Both girls are fashionistas even though they live in a small town with basically no social life. When a new girl, Cassandra, moves there with her gorgeous brother Dion, Esme is surprised to find Cassandra excitedly joining the club. But weird things are afoot, and the baby-sitters have the sense that there's someone lurking around when they're with their young charges. Then Esme finds out she's from a long line of ~~slayers~~ Sitters and that she has powers.....

My main issue with the story was that the lore of the Sitters was pretty shallow; it's always annoying when a person's inner demon-hunter instincts are awakened and then they're pretty much perfect at using their powers after one practice. I wanted more struggles and misinterpretations of the ancient texts; I wanted more mess-ups and failures so that Esme's triumphs felt earned. It felt like Esme skated through this life-altering and life-threatening experience. I also really hated how the author name-dropped Buffy into the story. By doing so, it cheapened what could've been cool call-outs (Cassandra threatening to burn down the football field, reminiscent of Buffy Summers burning down her first school's gym) and made the Sitter world feel even more flimsy.

I did like how the relationships between Esme and her family (her mental-patient mom, her trying-hard dad) were explained. The story of her mother was probably the best part of the book and that alone is what made me feel for Esme's transformation and experience. I'm curious how that storyline will continue as the series goes farther. ...more

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Feb 23, 2019 faith ✨ marked it as 2019-publications

Shelves: pretty-covers, tbr-anticipated, genre-fantasy

So, how are we supposed to wait 7 months for this? (and that cover)

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Jul 01, 2019 Jen Solak rated it liked it

This book looked like it would be the perfect book for me, and it was a good book, but it did fall short in a few ways. I’ll get those out of the way quickly in this review and then tell you why I think you should still read it! Much of what was disappointing about this book was that it felt like a first book in a series, and by that I mean that while there was a story arc it still felt like a lot of this was just set up for something bigger. That is understandable, it is of course the role of t This book looked like it would be the perfect book for me, and it was a good book, but it did fall short in a few ways. I’ll get those out of the way quickly in this review and then tell you why I think you should still read it! Much of what was disappointing about this book was that it felt like a first book in a series, and by that I mean that while there was a story arc it still felt like a lot of this was just set up for something bigger. That is understandable, it is of course the role of the first book to introduce us to characters and the trials ahead of them, but when you finish a book and it feels like you were just starting to get into things it leaves a bit of a frustrating feeling. One thing that will either endear the book to a reader or drive them a bit crazy is the use of slang. I do want the teenagers in the books I read to sound like teens, but sometimes it felt like the author was trying too hard to use that voice. That can also lead to trouble down the road when somebody picks up the book in 5 years and has no idea what AF means. A final small point is that a character in the book is in a mental institution and while I understand the desire to make it clear that it isn’t a fun place, some of the things that occur in relation to being institutionalized were very demeaning.

Now, with those things out of the way, here is why I will still be recommending this book! I did end the book wanting more, but there is already an announced sequel coming. I know I will be reading it, so that tells you that the story was compelling. The book has fun references to The Babysitters Club and Buffy which were fun along the way, and set the scene well. Esme, the main character, is a typical teen in many ways who hates school lunch, wants to avoid the bully in gym class, and is scared of driver’s ed. It is fun to watch her figure out what being a Sitter really means and watching her friendship with best friend Janis and new friend Cassandra. The magic is fun, because we can all immediately think of how we would use it in our every day life. And one of my favorite parts of the book? Esme’s dog, Pig, a pit bull who is a big ball of love! So, give the book a chance because I think we are in for an overall good series and I can’t wait for more!

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 22, 2019 Maya rated it it was ok

Shelves: arc, contemporary, fantasy, book-coven-pirate-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 2.5 stars. Or, by Goodreads standards "it was ok."

It starts out kinda like Heathers meets Teen Witch and then it ends with Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy, which was the advertised feel. It was a little campy, I laughed a couple times, but overall it felt really immature and too edgy for its own good.

I'm sorry, but intersectional feminism is not being unable to hold down a job at Jamba Juice because you think ordering a peach smoothie is white girl entitlement and shout that at a customer ...more

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Aug 02, 2019 Claire (bookscoffeeandrepeat) rated it it was ok

Shelves: lost-interest, arc-reviews, i-will-never-read-again, dnf, parnormal-or-horror-or-supernatural, young-adult, can-t-believe-i-read-this

This book seemed like a good idea at first, hence I requested it. Mentioning “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” would just make fans like me intrigued. I tried to read this book and it was kind of entertaining. It was funny in a way that the narrator, talked about minor situations as if they were significant. Normally, I’d enjoy reading books such as this one but unfortunately, I felt that this book wasn’t for me.

The reasons why I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected was because it left me feeling fr ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Kimberly (kimberly_reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 19, 2019 Sara (A Gingerly Review) rated it really liked it

Shelves: physical-2019, 2019

YALL

I LOVED THIS

This was just downright fun! I haven't laughed at snark, sarcasm, and wit like this in a while. I cannot wait to read the next book!

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About Kate Williams

Kate Williams

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I'm a YA write or die, originally from Kansas but now living in California.

I've written for Cosmopolitan, NYLON and Seventeen, amongst other magazines, and worked with brands including Urban Outfitters, Vans and Calvin Klein.

The Babysitters Coven is my first novel, but fingers crossed it won't be my last.