When We Were Magic

Alexis accidentally kills a boy on prom night using magic she didn't know she had. Her five best friends, who also possess magical abilities, come to help her deal with the aftermath and cover up what happened. The group of teenage witches must work together to handle both the practical and emotional consequences of that fatal night. Their close-knit friendship faces mounting pressure as they navigate guilt, secrets, and their own volatile magical powers while trying to maintain their normal lives at school. The story explores morality, accountability, and the bonds between teenage girls. Through magic and mystery, it examines how far someone might go to protect the people they love and what it means to carry the weight of irreversible actions.

Readers connect with the honest portrayal of teen friendship and found family dynamics. Many note the authentic LGBTQ+ representation and appreciate how queerness is presented as normal rather than a source of conflict. Common praise focuses on the complex female characters, magical elements grounded in real emotions, and handling of accountability themes. Several reviewers highlight the dark humor and body horror aspects. Criticism centers on the slow pacing, particularly in the middle sections. Some readers find the magical system underdeveloped and note that the plot meanders. A portion of reviews mention difficulty connecting with the protagonist's choices. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (180+ ratings) BookPage: 4/5 "Raw and real look at teenage friendship" - YA Books Central "The magic system needed more explanation" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect blend of dark and sweet" - BookRiot review "Pacing issues made it hard to stay engaged" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🌟 Author Sarah Gailey identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, bringing a unique perspective to their young adult storytelling 🔮 The book tackles complex themes of friendship, sexuality, and accidental murder while incorporating elements of magical realism 📚 This was Gailey's first young adult novel, though they had previously published adult fiction including "Magic for Liars" and "River of Teeth" ✨ The story features six diverse teenage witches dealing with the aftermath of prom night gone horribly wrong, exploring themes of accountability and group dynamics 🌈 The protagonist, Alexis, is openly queer and the book has been praised for its natural inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and relationships without making them the central conflict