Staff Pick
Lana Harper's romance debut fairly shouts SPOOKY SEASON. Emmy returns to her hometown to arbitrate a magical tournament, but she is roped in by high school classmates Linden and Talia to defeat their shared enemy: cocky, clueless Gareth Blackmoore. Payback's a Witch delivers cozy, witchy, autumnal vibes on every page. It's sweet and sexy and perfect for fall reading. Recommended By McKenzie W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.
Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one — in part because she hasn’t been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.
But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She’s determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.
On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov — an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts — who is fresh off a bad breakup... with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden — unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?
But most concerning of all: Why can’t she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?
Review
"Harper makes her adult debut with a queer rom-com that bewitches from the very first page… This magical joyride manages to feel both vibrantly current and timelessly mystical while avoiding the typical queer rom-com stereotypes." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"A sexy, charming, and completely magical romance full of sparkling dialogue and loveable characters. Emmy’s quest to find out where she belongs is so relatable, with some spells and supernatural elements included to spice things up. And Emmy’s hometown, Thistle Grove, is so enchanting that I found myself wishing I could plan a visit! Reading Payback’s a Witch is like curling up with a big mug of cider on a perfect autumn day." Kerry Winfrey, author of Very Sincerely Yours
Review
"Payback’s a Witch is like the first Halloween wind through the corn: brisk, breezy, and altogether refreshing. This is a sweet, charming read, absolutely designed to be enjoyed on a crisp fall evening. I want to go to Thistle Grove. My greatest regret about this book is that it isn’t a five-season TV show that I can already sit down and just binge." Seanan McGuire
Review
"Payback’s a Witch is the book I’ve been waiting for all my life. A sexy, funny, charming romp of novel that scratches that witchy, autumnal itch just right. I read this story in one breathless, giggling sitting, and at the first fall nip in the air, I know I’ll be reading it again. One of my favorite reads in years." Emily Henry, author of Beach Read
About the Author
Lana is the author of four YA novels about modern-day witches and historical murderesses. Born in Serbia, she grew up in Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria before moving to the US, where she studied psychology and literature at Yale University, law at Boston University, and publishing at Emerson College. She recently moved to Chicago with her family.