Book: The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 3.5/5
The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
I was really torn on Frankie's characterization. On the one hand, there's plenty to love and relate to: her big, loud Italian family (shout out!), her intelligence, her dedication to helping others as a financial therapist, and the logical way she approaches problems. On the other hand, she can be incredibly petty (get over the damn Barbie haircuts), holds grudges against people she doesn't know, and is most definitely a Negative Nancy. I appreciate that she's a multifaceted character, but I found myself rolling my eyes at her behavior more than once, especially when it came to Ash.
Ash, on the other hand, was the highlight of the book. He's the perfect golden retriever to Frankie's black cat. I love that his magical gift is finding lost things—a wildly underrated superpower if you ask me. His optimism is infectious, and his quiet yearning for Frankie is genuinely adorable. Best of all, he's drawn to her because she's intelligent, capable, and strong, qualities that would intimidate lesser men.
Unfortunately, the romance itself left me wanting. Frankie decides Ash is her enemy before they've even met, and that choice says far more about her than it does about him. I struggled with their early interactions because she genuinely seemed to enjoy making his life more difficult and proving she was smarter than he was. By the time her feelings shifted, I wasn't completely convinced. The insta-love is definitely present, but I felt like I was told it existed more often than I was shown it developing.
What ultimately won me over was the magic. I really enjoyed the <spoiler>mythological</spoiler> elements woven throughout the story and the exploration of using magic for the good of others versus for personal gain. I also appreciated that the big reveal about Ash's family history was handled realistically. <spoiler>If my new boyfriend casually informed me he was the grandson of Gaia and possessed magical abilities, I'd probably be looking for the nearest exit and a psychiatrist, too.</spoiler>
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing an ARC.