We Used To Be Magic

A dazzling dreamy romance debut set in NYC

By: Bea Ingalls

Narrated by: Kitty Kelly, Tom Gordon

What if the universe wants two people to be together, but they're too messed up to notice? This Next Great Love Story is a swoony slow-burn 'Brits in New York' can't-put-down YA read that's perfect for fans of Normal People and aspirational cinematic romance.

'I'll come back.' I tell him, squeezing his hand. 'Of course I will.'
'You have to. You don't want to offend the universe after it put in so much work to get you here.'
'Right.' I smile. 'Except I thought you didn't believe in that stuff?'
'Yeah, well, life happens. You happened.'

Rookie model, Audrey, is navigating the dizzying bright lights of New York for the first time as Ezra - no stranger to the city, returns from studying abroad with a broken nose and a broken heart. Their connection is instant, smouldering and all-consuming. But when Audrey is confronted with the darker facets of the fashion industry and Ezra's past proves impossible to outrun, will it be enough?

Fate brought them together, but it might just tear them apart . . .

A gorgeous 'will they, won't they' hook-laden dual POV romance that's irresistible escapism in the most glamorous New York package. Scintillatingly hot yet endearing flawed characters strut (and stumble) right off the page as Audrey and Ezra's tension fizzes throughout.©2025 Beth Inglis

Good listen

We Used to Be Magic is a beautifully written, painfully real story about grief, trauma, self-identity, and healing. Do not be fooled by the pastel-coloured cover—while this book has moments of levity, it also explores deep, emotional themes, so I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand.

The writing is raw and immersive, and I saw pieces of myself in both Ezra and Audrey’s journeys. I related to Ezra’s feelings of being lost, unsure of his future, while also connecting to Audrey’s experience of stepping into the world on her own, away from her family. As someone with PTSD, I found certain depictions of trauma to be very accurate, which made parts of the book deeply impactful.

That said, the ending felt somewhat rushed, particularly in how it approached recovery. The process was depicted in a way that felt more linear than it actually is, and I would have loved more time spent on the emotional journey rather than just the resolution. The book also sits in that in-between space—not quite YA, not quite NA, and not quite adult fiction, which made the narrative feel a little disjointed at times. The tone shift midway through almost felt like two different books in one, and I’m still processing how I feel about that.

And the ending… I’m still not sure what I think. Regardless, We Used to Be Magic is a thought-provoking and deeply human book. It’s one that lingers with you, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.