Just Like Magic

The audacity of Sarah Hogle to write such a whimsical, magical, enchanting ray of sunshine. This book filled my heart and soul with a massive mess of joy. It's wild, beyond hilarious, and absolute perfection. I adored Hall and his innocence and wonder at everything around him. Bettie and her pettiness made me cackle several times, I loved watching her find herself. The large cast of characters was so well done, everyone was so distinct and brought so much to the story. Just Like Magic is easily a top 5 read ever for me. I can not recommend this highly enough if you only preorder, purchase, or read one holiday book this year, make it this one.

Love Sarah Hogle and her books! I’m guessing there was an issue when the book went to print and it abruptly ends at page 324….not sure how many pages there are supposed to be. Hopefully it wasn’t a lot of other books as well. So disappointing!!

This was a fun holiday romance. It’s like a popcorn read that is quick and easy. It’s not a story that I’ll be thinking about all the time but could see myself rereading near the holiday season. I really loved Hogles writing and thinking that’s what stood out to me most about this book. I will definitely check out more of her work in the future.

This book made me feel everything. I’ve read Sarah Hogle before, so I was expecting to laugh. I was not expecting to laugh, but to also grow, to reflect, and to CRY.This captures everything. Mid twenties crisis, social media toxicity, family dynamics. Chapters 19 and 20 WRECKED me as I call my parents frantically to tell them I appreciate all that they do.I love these characters. I’m obsessed with Hall. FIVE STARS

Cute simple holiday read! Shows you how to appreciate the simpler things in life, appreciate your family and find love in the unlikeliest of places.

I bought this trying to get into the holiday spirit and it over delivered. It's so quirky, the family so horrible at the start and Hall so over the top, then it changes so gradually you hardly notice it. By the end I just wanted it to go on and learn what happened to all those kids (they had the best names).

What do I say? Just Like Magic may be the zaniest, kookiest, holiday crack I've ever had the privilege to read.It's a trippy, Christmas-gone-bonkers farce with magic and romance and absurdity stirred into it like dancing Little Drummer Boy marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa. That means it's out there, folks, not going to lie. Way out there. As a result of that, it may not be the sort of book for everyone--especially if you're not the type of reader who can suspend belief (like, a lot of it), make room for cheer as well as chaos, champion a spirit/human pairing, or accept outrageousness with a laugh instead of a bah-humbug Grinchness that makes you prone to pouting.If you're up to the task, however, and a little patient (there are a lot of theatrics), I think there's a lot of merriment to be found in these pages. Festivity and humor, too.The story itself follows Bettie Hughes, a cynical and materialistic social media influencer who has fallen on hard times. So hard, in fact, that she's broke and squatting in a dead woman's house in Colorado. Her family has no idea, nor will they if she can help it.As she's feeling hopeless one night about the looming Christmas holiday and its pressing obligations, which requires attendance at her grandparent's mansion for the week, she gets drunk and plays "All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey backwards on vinyl. Doing so summons Hall, a Holiday Spirit who is as buoyant in cheer as he is handsome (not to mention human) in flesh. Though she's shocked at first, Bettie soon realizes she has a solution to her problems and it's standing right in front of her doused in peppermint and pine needles.Why--she'll bring Hall along, of course! He'll be the Plus 1 to make all her dreams come true!Now, with a ready-made fiancé who can work magic to boot, she believes she not only has a way to save face with her family and con them all into believing she's still a flourishing success, but she can enact her revenge, too. It's a win-win! What more could she want this holiday season? Nothing....That is, until Hall bursts in all Deck The Halls to upend everything she thought she wanted or needed this Christmas.A cross somewhere between Elf, A Christmas Carol, and Meet the Parents, this book is one of a kind. There's nothing else like it out there. What I liked was how it didn't take itself seriously at all, with the author unafraid to lean into its blinking Rudolph-red quirks rather than tone them down, and that gave the story a child-like zeal and unexpectedness which was refreshing even if it did occasionally leave me at a "what the heck is happening" loss. The romance was a bit saccharine as well, but it had to be to accommodate the jubilant cinnamon roll that was Hall. (He's Buddy the Elf sunshine wrapped in green tinsel. Too pure for this world!)All in all, if I had to describe my reading experience of this book, I'd equate it with what it must be like to make an ugly Christmas sweater: Colorful. Glittery. Chaotic. With many balls of mismatched yarn tangling up in each other to make something eye-catchingly bizarre, unique, but altogether amusing. Definitely one I'll remember.

This is a delightful book that will get you in the Christmas spirit!It's a little wacky, but I loved it.Many thanks to the author,, Putnam Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

(sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first language).First of all, I got to say Sarah Hogle is one of my favourites authors right now. I devoured all of her books and now am reading Just Like Magic and can already tell I'm gonna freaking love it. She just writes so well and the plots are always interesting and original. Please keep writing these amazing stories. Sending lots a love from Brazil.

Captivated from the first chapter. Which led to lots of hearty laughs while falling head over heels for the main characters. Not what I was expecting at all. Fantastic read.

I wasn't invested at all in this book. I was waiting for it to improve as I adored You deserve each other, but this one was underwhelming. It might be that it was very unbelievable, or that the main character is super annoying, but I was really really bored with it.

If you're seeking a festive, magical read to escape, Just Like Magic is the perfect fit. It was filled with testaments of joy, emotion, love, finding true meanings, and lots of love.We saw Bettie embark on a journey of self-discovery and metamorphism. Despite it being a light read, it was also seasoned with poignant reminders, and wise words. It also highlights how the festive holidays unite families; despite their relationships during the year. The author demonstrates this quality perfectly.In addition, Hall's entire embodiment was so refreshing and pure. His charm and magic was utterly contagious, and brought the best out in all of the characters. It was so heartwarming to witness how Hall changed Bettie's intentions - from wishing enemies ill or revenge to actively putting Hall's wishes before her own. It screamed real love to me.Teller City was such an idyllic setting to bring to life. It sounded incredibly cosy, tranquil and peaceful. Even the gingerbread house sounded amazing.To conclude, the story of Hall and Bettie was magical, and I loved seeing their journey together.

This was a perfect festive romance you need I loved the fake dating aspect that turns into a romance l. It was charming a delight to read . A nice fluffy rom com you love.