If you want a cozy sapphic romance steeped in fall vibes, Bridget Morrissey’s Everything She Does Is Magic serves pumpkin spice with a side of self discovery. Set in Fableview, a Midwestern town where every day is basically Halloween, this YA rom-com pairs a grumpy–sunshine dynamic with themes of agency, family pressure, and choosing your own story.
The setup
Darcy Keller is Fableview’s unofficial spirit princess, heir to her parents’ thriving Halloween empire and the face of every parade, pumpkin patch party, and apple bobbing contest in town. She loves the season yet dreams of leaving for college. Enter Anya Doyle, a goth new girl and a real witch who needs a mortal “protector” to complete her coven initiation. Lacking friends and nursing a crush, Anya tells her coven that Darcy has already agreed. Cue an awkward ask that turns into a pact to help each other survive the season.
What works
- Autumn atmosphere: Fableview is a charming backdrop. Costumes, folklore, and touristy festivities make the town feel like Stars Hollow in a spooky sweater.
- Sapphic grumpy–sunshine: Darcy’s radiance and Anya’s prickly reserve click in fun, banter-filled ways. The romance starts with Anya’s long standing crush, so chemistry arrives fast but still feels sweet.
- Coming-of-age core: Beyond the flirting, the book is about taking back the pen from parents, covens, and traditions. Both girls confront expectations and learn to name what they want.
- Found family energy: Side characters and community rituals give the story warmth, reinforcing the idea that belonging can be chosen.
Temper your expectations
- Light magic: The witchcraft is intentionally soft focus. Readers seeking a complex magic system may find it underdeveloped.
- Repetition: Because the stakes center on one big decision for each girl, conversations can circle the same problem.
- Age feel: The leads sometimes read older than seventeen. It never breaks the spell, but it is noticeable.
- Cozy over creepy: The book leans cute more than spooky. If you want goosebumps, you may wish for heavier Halloween atmosphere.
Read it if you love
- Sapphic YA romances with grumpy–sunshine dynamics
- Small town settings that celebrate fall on every page
- Stories about agency, boundaries, and rewriting family expectations
- Gilmore Girls and light witchy rom-coms
Final thoughts
Everything She Does Is Magic is sweet, affirming, and cinnamon warm. It keeps the magic approachable, the romance soft, and the themes of autonomy front and center. If you are building a fall TBR and want comfort first, this one will hit the spot.
Buy Everything She Does Is Magic here: https://amzn.to/3KBdNNB
