Book Review - Put a Spell on You by Karen Clarke

Amazon UK

Title:  Put a Spell on You

Author: Karen Clarke

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Corsair

Publication Date:  4th June 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

On the eve of her 27th birthday, Josie Goodwin is feeling harassed. Her boyfriend Will has become a donkey-loving hippy and her best friend Lara has baby-brain. She desperately needs to find the perfect location for a film shoot, or her career may implode. Her eccentric grandma has always said that Josie will inherit a book of spells on her birthday, but since she doesn't believe in magic, nothing will improve; or will it?

It is very rare for a book to keep me smiling from start to finish, without fail, but Put a Spell on You did exactly that.  From the cover, with its hint of magic, to the amusing story, this a fabulous way to spend a lazy day reading. 

Josie's life is a bit all over the place before her 27th birthday. Her boyfriend Will, a former ad executive, has become a donkey loving hippy, her best friend is more focused on her baby and Josie needs to find the perfect location for a film shoot or risk losing her job. 

When Josie turns 27 she has always been told by her grandma that she will inherit a book of spells. Josie has spent her life humouring her gran, up until she turns 27, and discovers she is a witch with the power to perform 9 spells in 9 days, and then the power leaves her. 

Josie is your typical chick-lit heroine, in that she is a bit ditzy and doesn't seem to focus on things that well. It is due to that lack of concentration and lack of focus, that leads to the interesting and unexpected events that occur when she casts her spells. 

I've always been a fan of magic, but I have generally prefer the stage show variety, than the belief that there may be white witches living among us. However I am fascinated by the idea that they could exist, and as was reading this, I couldn't help but wonder what I would wish for, if I suddenly had magical powers. Have a feeling I may be thinking that for a while yet!

There is within the book a good amount of scepticism from Josie's friends and family, about whether magic really exists, or whether what happens is really a set of coincidences that could be explained away.  In some respects the title "worst witch" could describe the outcomes, in others fate could be an explanation. 

 I will admit after some of the spells were cast, Josie and me as a reader were confused as to the outcomes. I stayed confused for a while, but it was a good confusion, and lead to many more humorous moments. 

Whatever you believe, this is definitely an entertaining and hilariously written story. It's not overly long either, so if you don't have too much time to read, this is still manageable. Equally I barely put it down during the afternoon I spent reading it, so it is definitely a book that will hold your interest. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for this review copy. This was my honest review.