In Love Spells Trouble by Nia Davenport, Cayden has struggled for years to feel accepted. Her witch mother had a falling out with her parents after she married a magic-less human, and so Cayden has always felt ostracized by the elitist witches in the area. But now, the family bakery is faced with skyrocketing rent prices, and Cayden is desperate to do something to help. So when she runs into Khy Carter, a handsome and charming young man, she initially thinks she can’t afford the distraction… until she learns that Khy is practically witch royalty, and he’s offering to pretend to date her. She gets visibility for the bakery, and he gets to prove that he’s over his cheating ex-girlfriend. The only problem (besides hiding the connection to witch high society from her parents) is that Khy is actually fun to spend time with, nothing like the rich witches she’s known of. But real feelings weren’t part of their deal, so surely Cayden can’t act on them…

This is a cute and clever story! I like how effortlessly Davenport has woven a magical subculture into the real world setting of Texas, and the themes about classism and gentrification ring true, even if the rich people also happen to be magic-users. It was so easy to root for Cayden and her family, who are all strong characters with lots of personality and relatable doubts and flaws. I really liked all the cast.

Speaking of the themes, it’s nice to see a story that centers not only romance, but also the ways that family can be a vital support system for each other. Cayden’s parents and extended family are wonderful, especially her cousin. And the subplot about learning to forgive past unkindness and reconciliation is quite moving.

The romance was very charming (pun intended), too. Khy is a wonderful character, and I loved that he and Cayden communicated with each other pretty well, for the most part. They’re quite honest with each other, which is refreshing especially in “fake dating” plots, and the conflict in their relationship mostly stems from outside influences. I like their connection, banter, and the ways they were vulnerable with each other. As usual, I feel like they jumped to saying they loved each other way too soon, but also, they’re teenagers, so of course they did. And it’s still an endearing love story.

In the end, Love Spells Trouble is a nice romantic story, set in a magical version of our world that feels both fantastical and familiar. The characters are wonderful, and the storyline is a lovely examination of how to be true to yourself, how to stand up for marginalized communities, and how to see past preconceived notions. There is teen angst and drama, but also a lot of humorous and heartfelt moments, and I quite liked this. Furthermore, the audiobook narrated by Nerissa Bradley was fun to listen to. I’ll definitely look for more books by Nia Davenport in the future!

Love Spells Trouble is available now!