Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.

But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible.

With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.

An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a sprinkle of magic. Cozy fantasy lovers will adore this enchanting rom-com, which is a must-read for fans of Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex.

My Review

Thorn Scarhart is a witch living in a historical time period who longs to be loved. She believes she has found her perfect match, and with a little potion magic, maybe her dreams will finally come true. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as planned! Thorn is a midlife witch who finds herself alone, but between her hat, broom, and potions, she is definitely a witch through and through. She isn’t ancient, just a woman in midlife who suddenly finds herself thrown into the 21st century and completely discombobulated!

I absolutely loved this book! Its cozy nature had me smiling, and the combination of a midlife witch, her unfamiliar surroundings, and the overall atmosphere was just so good. Parts of the story are comical and even a little disgusting as Thorn tries to adjust to modern life. She’s still brewing potions, hoping to find love, and trying to figure out how to get back to her own time. Meanwhile, her misunderstandings of modern society are downright hilarious!

Everything that can go wrong does, and along the way, the story delivers a lovely lesson about loving yourself and being who you are rather than trying to be what you think everyone expects. I adored Thorn’s antics and especially her familiar, Banditt. Their relationship adds even more charm to an already delightful story.

The book never loses its appeal as the story progresses. It stays comical, lighthearted, and swoony, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying Thorn’s journey as she navigates a completely different century while searching for love. The modern-day elements are handled so well, and the comedic genius really shines through Thorn’s attempts to adapt to a world that makes absolutely no sense to her!

The quote, “True love doesn’t come from a cauldron,” perfectly captures the message of this story. I was eager to finish the book to find out whether Thorn would find her true love, but the journey itself was adventurous, zany, and so much fun.

The ending is sweet, and I loved the found family Thorn discovers, even in a different century. Add in the cozy witchy atmosphere, plenty of laughs, and a standalone happily-ever-after, and this book has everything I want in a cozy autumn read. It absolutely warmed my soul, and I had such a wonderful time reading it!

If you would like to read An Ancients Witches Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Witch, Magic and Found Family.