The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Paranormal skeptic Zelda Tempest is hoping for a much-needed creativity boost for a new paranormal mystery novel. But despite the alleged magic of her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, she’s as stuck as ever.

With two witch sisters, not believing in magic is strange for a Tempest, but no one is more disappointed than Morgan Angelopoulos, the charming man next door. So, to cure her of her writer’s block and her disbelief in magic, Morgan ropes her into a ghost-hunting romp, only for Zelda to discover something else bizarre, never-before-seen creatures that appear as ordinary pets to everyone else.

Curious about what else might be lurking in Moonville’s woods, Zelda and Morgan embark on a quest to uncover the true magic that lies in their midsts . . . and perhaps, just maybe, they will find that the magic they’re searching for has been with them all along.

When I sit down to read a Sarah Hogle book, I know I’m going to get whimsy, wit, banter, and a big dose of quirk. Her books are unlike anything I’ve read before, and I always end up loving them. Sarah’s imagination must be full of magic, sparkles, flowers, and one-liners. Her brand of humor speaks to me, and I laugh every time I read her books. I adored Old Flames and New Fortunes last year, and was so eager to return to this special little town called Moonville, which is filled with people who love (and maybe even practice) magic. You’ve got plants and crops that grow quicker than they should, a witch who tells fortunes through flowers, a forest with quite the personality, local lore, and a diner called The Dark Side of the Spoon. Are you intrigued yet? Well, you should be!

This was such a cozy read for me. I loved Moonville in the Spring in the first book, but I also loved it in the Fall. Pumpkins abound, there’s a bite in the air, and everything seems to be humming with magical energy. The Magic Happens, where Zelda and her sisters live and work, sounds just as homey as it did in the first book. Oh, to live in a colorful home and run a flower, book, or candle shop downstairs! It just sounds so cool. It was fun catching up with Romina and Alex, who I fell in love with in the first book. It was also fun to see Zelda’s other sister, Luna (who I am sure will be the subject of the next book), and Luna’s daughter Aisling. They’re all such great, fun, hilarious characters. I love the bond these sisters share.

Zelda is quite the skeptic, even though all the women in her family are witches. Quite ironic, considering she’s a fantasy author and writing about magic is her livelihood. But that’s all fiction to her! She comes up with reasonable explanations for all the interesting things that go on in and around her home, and she thinks her family is a group of wishful thinkers. Enter: Morgan. Oh my gosh, this dude is ridiculous (in a good way)! He has a very interesting sense of fashion and he’s funny and witty and has such a high opinion of himself, but he’s also caring and sweet and so whipped for Zelda. He’s also a paranormal investigator who believes in everything! And he’s so upset that Zelda isn’t a witch and doesn’t believe in magic, so he forces her to tag along on his investigation of a mansion that’s rumored to be haunted to try and convince her she’s wrong. Maybe it’ll help her writer’s block, he says. And then… Zelda starts seeing things. And then she remembers she’s been seeing these things her whole life. All of a sudden, the hunt to convince Zelda that magic is real turns into the hunt to understand the magic that Zelda has discovered in herself. And Morgan, as frustrated as he makes her, is there for the entire chaotic ride (which includes a bonkers campout in the magical woods). I refuse to spoil anything, so I will not go into too much detail, but I will say that this book focuses way more on magic and witchy-ness than the first book does. I’m not a witchy girl or into paranormal reads, but I had a lot of fun reading about Zelda’s and Morgan’s adventures, even if the romance took a bit of a back seat to the magic. I did scratch my head a few times because oh my gosh, where did Sarah Hogle even come up with some of this stuff? lol. And that’s not a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. This was a very fun, wild, and zany ride for me! Zelda and Morgan are very cute together. They’ve got this enemies to friends to lovers thing going on, and their banter and flirtatious teasing was so much fun to read about.

I love everything Sarah Hogle writes. She pens some of the loveliest imagery and the most whip-smart dialogue. Everything always flows so nicely, and her books give me the cozy feelings I crave in a book. I’m excited to travel back to Moonville soon!