This book is "John Tucker Must Die" but make it witches and sapphic.  I loved it an unspeakable amount.

Emmy's back in her hometown of Thistle Grove, ready to fulfill a family obligation and then get right back to Chicago before the allure of the return of her magical powers outweighs the feeling of being trapped, her reason for leaving in the first place.  Sitting at the bar, she runs into local hottie Talia -- one of the three witches competing in the tournament Emmy's there to moderate, alongside Emmy's best friend's brother... and Emmy's ex.  Who, as it turns out, is also Talia's ex, and Emmy's best friend's ex, and wouldn't it be nice to come together and get a little revenge by ensuring he doesn't win the competition?  As Emmy and Talia join forces, feelings start brewing, and maybe Emmy's trip won't be so quick after all...

This book was so delicious.  It's being billed as a rom-com, and while I think I'd label it as more women's fiction (blerg, I know) than romance, Emmy and Talia's relationship is still a central focus.  It's absolutely more emotional than I expected -- what right did this book have to make me cry multiple times??  Emmy is exploring what she thinks are the limitations of her identity as a Harlow living in Thistle Grove, and realizing those limits are much weaker than she thought they were.  I also found the scene where she and Linden discuss the way their friendship changed after Emmy moved to be particularly poignant.

I admit to herbs-ing bits of the tournament scenes; my walnut brain is not made for understanding battles or whatever.  But the magic system is really accessible which is definitely my preference.  

This book is like if Emily Henry wrote paranormal adult fiction -- if you like her books but are a seasonal reader and looking for a fall version of some of her work, you will love this.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC!