A. W. Slack

The following is my book recommendation for Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck.

“You can’t fix the world until you sort out your own backyard. I intend to do both.”

Emerson Wilde is the youngest Chamber of Commence president in St. Cyprian and owns an indie bookstore. She is attacked by magical creatures and kills them with magic. Her world is then turned upside down when she realizes magic is, indeed, real. She also discovers her town is a haven for witches. Turns out, Emerson is a witch and so are her friends. Ten years ago she failed a magic test and she was stripped of her magical memories.

Unfortunately, Emerson does not have a lot of time to marvel at that news. Evil is coming. (What evil? Your guess is as good as mine!) Now Emerson must learn to control her magic and save her town. A weaselly mayor, cranky hermit, and romantic feelings for her childhood friend complicate things though. Luckily, nothing can stand in the way of Emerson Wilde, especially nothing male.

Emerson Wilde is a strong woman. A capable woman. A woman who had to wage war against every man in town to get to where she is today. Or so she says… repeatedly. This book gains moderate traction as it progresses and held my interest enough to keep going. I was disenchanted by the FMC from the first page though. The writing style also left much to be desired. The author(s) use constant short sentences that exemplify the already aggressive tone of their heroine.

I liked the concept of magic awakening in an amnesiac witch who must go fight the Big Evil. Plus, the book was poised as a cozy witch romcom. While it covers the witch angle, I wouldn’t say it was exactly cozy. I didn’t feel like sipping coffee under a knitted blanket while I read this novel. Instead, I lifted weights at the gym to combat my frustration at Emerson. Whimsical also wouldn’t be an accurate description. Easy-going? Nope. Funny? Not remotely. Romantic? Definitely not. The book lacked the basic components I expected in this pre-Hallmark season.

The only saving grace were some of the minor characters. Georgie, Emerson’s best friend and roommate, was the much-needed cheer in an otherwise gloomy band of friends. Perhaps her crystals allowed her to fight the Frowning Curse inflicted upon her coven. Another friend, Ellowyn, also held potential. Her backstory of a blood curse preventing her from lying reminded me of a dark Ella Enchanted. Unfortunately, her constant commentary on the patriarchy halted any perception of deeper arc goals.

I’m a big fan of strong female main characters. I also love stories that twist their characters’ stories in a way that I find myself rooting for the villain. Unfortunately, Small Town, Big Magic goes astray on both fronts.

I know I mentioned it before, but let me reiterate: Emerson Wilde is wonderful. She told me herself. Sadly, Emerson is also the most narcissistic, condescending, self-righteous female main character I have ever had the displeasure to meet. What makes her worse is the fact she knows she is all those things! And she revels in it. The majority of the book is Emerson telling the reader exactly how resourceful and powerful and independent she is. She is better at everything and everyone, and she isn’t afraid to have a lengthy monologue stating as much. By the end of the book, I was rooting for her demise.

Toxic feminism aside, Emerson is also a bully. She has not seen her sister in a decade and when she finally does? “You need to help me. Now.” The town recluse wants to remain shacked up in his house and not involved in town politics? “You need to help me. Now.” Every plot point moves forward because Emerson forces it to do so. And don’t even get me started on her boasting about all the ways she embarrassed Skip (the town’s mayor and sworn arch-nemesis of our FMC) as children. It’s no wonder the poor guy turns to black magic for revenge.

Worse than Emerson (if that’s possible) is how the book attempts romance. The romantic interest, Jacob North, is as sexy as a wet noodle. He is a farmer who loves to glower at his tomatoes. At least, that is what I expect since we never learn more than “he’s a farmer.” There is the detail of him practicing healer magic, but it is completely diminished when you realize Jacob is as amiable as a damp towel.

Thankfully, I did not go into the “big romantic scene” with high expectations. I would have been very underwhelmed if I had. Emerson’s tangents on her superiority and misogyny soured what should have been a tender, sweet moment between our two lovebirds. Honestly, Jacob, you could do so much better.

Furthermore, the weak plot does not help. Emerson does not know the concept “show, don’t tell.” The majority of the book is our FMC telling readers what she thinks or how she feels. Followed by pressure that the reader should also think or feel those things. I pushed through for a sole reason: to learn what the evil is nipping at the town’s ankles. Unfortunately, the ending offered nothing but an unconvincing sequel hook.

I was disappointed in this book. I wanted a Sabrina/Good Witch-type main character with an imposing Buffy/Charmed evil knocking at her door. I wanted a cozy romcom that prepped me for cheesy holiday stories. I wanted a flawed FMC with an epic character arc and cute little romance to make my heart flutter. Small Town, Big Magic’s marketing reviews promise me these things.

It did not hold up to those promises.

Instead, readers are handed a heroine who will not rest until the residents of her town know she’s their savior she saves her town. And I’m to believe such a woman desires the attention of a man and to be romanced? It’s more believable that she forgot those fish sticks in Skip’s locker! I lost the magic of this book among the patriarchal rants and acclamation of Emerson’s greatness (proclaimed by Emerson.)

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO A FRIEND?

Unfortunately, this is not a book I would recommend to others. Some may like it for its simplicity and that is totally fine. It is not to my personal taste though. And I cannot, in good conscience, ever introduce anyone to Emerson Wilde. I am also not invested enough in the characters or story line to continue the series. It’s too bad, really, because I am still unsure what the evil is that we were fighting against.

Have you read this book? Find me on Instagram @wordsandash and comment on my post there so we can discuss more! (Please do not reveal any spoilers in the comment section here in case other readers still have this book on their #TBR.)

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