When We Were Magic (April 2020) Buddy Read Discussion - Laura, HeatherH

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Welcome to When We Were Magic Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on April 14th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each week we will be reading by chapters. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 4/14
April 14: Chapters 1-3
April 15: Chapters 4-6
April 16: Chapters 7-9
April 17: Chapters 10-12
April 18: Chapters 13-15

Week of 4/19
April 19: Chapters 16-18
April 20: Chapters 19-21
April 21: Chapters 22-24


PARTICIPANTS
~ Laura
~ HeatherH

[Laura ☾]

Up to Chapter 3! - So far I'm interested to see where this will go

[HeatherH]

Just finished ch 3, moving on to 4-6! I'm definitely interested. I'm liking how they each have their own form of magic. And the opening lines of this for sure grab your attention lol.

[HeatherH]

Through ch 6
(view spoiler)[ So the beginning was super catchy/attention grabbing for sure. I like how each of their magics is distinct and unique to them. And her writing style makes this super quick/easy to read. I am curious what is up with Josh's heart... (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Through chapter 6

(view spoiler)[ Yes! Josh’s heart is a mystery. I just hope this goes the way of Magic for Liars, because I recently read Upright Women Wanted and that was a bit of a let-down - really interesting characters and premise but ended way too soon! (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

This is my first from this author! Magic for Liars is on my tbr though.

[Laura ☾]

Ah fair!

Through Chapter 9

I'm quite enjoying it so far- it's a light, easy read!

(view spoiler)[So Alex definitely has a thing for Roya..

and I think Iris fucked up in trying to silence Gina (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

through 9

(view spoiler)[Yeah that whole scene with Gina was messed up.. Iris is a bit out of control. I get their fear of being snitched on, but damn! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

through 12

(view spoiler)[ I'm intrigued what's going on with these gaps in their memories!

And why would Iris go straight to texting Alexis's dads rather than calling/texting her first? (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

Finally sat down to read through 12!

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, definitely curious about this whole memory loss issue! And sounds like Iris sent a couple texts in the group text but wonder why she wouldn't then try to call before going to the dads.

Also, seems like Paulie maybe has feelings for Alexis? Were you getting that vibe? I don't want some weird love triangle here. I'm liking that romance has played basically no part so far - it's refreshing. (hide spoiler)]

I'm moving slow ish as I'm trying to get some writing done too!

[Laura ☾]

Through 15

(view spoiler)[

Ugh love triangle ish here we go.

The way it's affecting all of them is interesting though!


(hide spoiler)]

Ooh what are you writing?

[HeatherH]

Might be playing catch up on chapters tomorrow lol.

Second draft of a flash fic piece for submission to this "first line" writing challenge. And now working on draft two of a novella length story I wrote last year!

[Laura ☾]

Oh nice! Good luck with those! What are they about?

Up to Chapter 18

(view spoiler)[ I'm interested to see if they'll actually bring Josh back - I have a feeling it will blow up in their faces instead (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

Through 15
(view spoiler)[ A bit triangle-ish but if this one thing with Paulie is all the further it goes I think I'm okay with it. Fairly drama free.

I do like how it is affecting them each and how there is a cost tot he magic they performed. And that is unique to each of them just like what they can each do differently.

I also like how the author is handling sexuality here. She is pretty subtle about it, trusting the readers to pick up on all the bits rather than like forcing it down your throat. (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

The flash fic piece is for a challenge where the literary magazine peeps provide the first line to your story and you can write anything from there. It's going to be my first time actually submitting anything and I'm nervous as heck about it lol. Mine is about a domestic assault from the perspective of a small child. Way outside the realm of stuff I tend to write.

The other one is about a school shooting. It's told from multiple POV's but the primary one is an imaginary friend from one of the students childhood who is brought back to him during the shooting as a way of coping with the trauma. It needs some work but overall I'm friggin in love with it!

[HeatherH]

Only got through ch 17 today. I go back to work tomorrow evening and am going to try to push through the rest.. if that works for you anyways!

[Laura ☾]

Oh both of those stories sound really cool!

And no worries! I'm planning to push through and finish it today as well!

[HeatherH]

Laura ☾ wrote: "Oh nice! Good luck with those! What are they about?

Up to Chapter 18

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Same. Not expecting him to be back and all to end well.

I did absolutely adore the scene with her telling her Pop. I love how he reacted so much. (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this! I loved how focused on friendship and finding acceptance of the love and support you're given it was. I con really relate to Alexis' constant self-doubt and feeling like she was asking too much of her friends and relating to that just made her feel all the more real. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Finished too!

I enjoyed it too, but I kind of wished there was more. It didn’t feel finished to me if you get what I mean?

[HeatherH]

Not so much unfinished as I would have liked a different ending maybe? Like, the scene with the hawk didn't really make sense to me or have any real relevence?

[Laura ☾]

Yeah I get what you mean

[HeatherH]

How does it compare to the other two of her books that you've read?

[Laura ☾]

Honestly this was better than Upright Women Wanted but I preferred Magic for Liars!

[HeatherH]

Sweet, I'll try that one soon then!