Spells for Forgetting

This novel is an atmospheric tale set on a mysterious, magical island where fourteen years ago a murder and a fire altered the lives and futures of several town members, especially the two main characters Emery and August. This book makes for an immersive, moody read.

August Salt was run out of town 14 years ago as a suspect in the death of Lily Morgan on the night of the orchard fire that nearly destroyed Saoirse Island. His then girlfriend and the victim's best friend, Emery Blackwood, is left behind on the island where she now runs the teashop and is in a complicated relationship with Dutch Boden, who was the fourth member of their group as teenagers. August returns to the island to bury his mother, but his presence opens old wounds and challenges the peace that the residents of the island have fought to establish. He and Emery begin to unravel the mystery of Lily's death, which leads them to discover truths about the community and the island that may be better left buried.

Young excels in this book at creating an autumnal, moody atmosphere that pulls the reader into the setting. While reading, it is easy to believe that you are there on Saoirse Island with the characters. I wish she had actually leaned more into the magical aspects of the setting. For most of the book, the magical element feels peripheral and unnecessary to the story. It becomes more a part of the plotline toward the end of the book, but it really could have been left out and the book would have been a good mystery and romance.

The main characters, Emery and August, are likable enough, but I did not feel invested in their romance. I would like to have seen more chapters from their teenage years to fully develop their relationship. The character development overall in this book could have better for me. There are a lot of secondary characters whose motivations are difficult to fully understand because the reader does not spend enough time with them.

Even though I would have liked some things to be a bit more developed, I did enjoy my reading experience with this novel. I would recommend it to readers who like atmospheric reads set in the autumn with some magical realism elements.