Get ready for a touch of magic, family drama, and a compelling story about love and grief spanning three generations of women in The Unwritten Rules of Magic.
What’s The Unwritten Rules of Magic about?
The Unwritten Rules of Magic is about Emerson Clarke, who steals a typewriter from her dad’s office after his funeral. Her dad was a famous author, and through a series of journal entries, the reader learns that the typewriter was possibly the key to his astounding success. Because whatever you write on the typewriter comes true.
But, Emerson doesn’t know that about the typewriter when she steals it. She just wants to get her hands on the item her dad kept under lock and key for so many years. When she discovers the machine’s magical powers, she’s tempted to use it to reshape her life, and all the relationships – or lack thereof – within it.
What I liked about The Unwritten Rules of Magic
The writer in me really enjoyed reading about Emerson. She’s a ghostwriter by trade, but she contemplates leaving freelancing to write a fantasy novel under her own name throughout the book. There are a lot of nods to the life of a writer in The Unwritten Rules of Magic that resonated with me: the odd and precious writing schedules and timelines, the overwhelming pressure to succeed, how difficult it is to be a debut author in today’s industry. Other writers will feel a kinship with Emerson.
The Unwritten Rules of Magic is billed as blend of magical realism and women’s fiction, but the magical aspects don’t take center stage throughout the story. Normally, I’d be upset about this. But, I appreciated how author Harper Ross handled the nuances of the story.
I’d say that the first half of the book leans heavily on Emerson’s magical typewriter. It doesn’t take long for Emerson to realize her typed wishes come at a price, and she shies away from using it. The Unwritten Rules of Magic then focuses on Emerson’s relationships with her suddenly sullen teenage daughter, her alcoholic mother, and a potential new love interest.
There’s so much going on with the three Clarke women that I didn’t even miss the magical realism that originally drew me in. The emotion is real and the drama is high. I zipped through the book before I knew it.
A little note about shaping fate
The premise of The Unwritten Rules of Magic both intrigued and terrified me. A typewriter that makes your wishes come true??? Maybe I’ve just seen the “The Wish” episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer too many times. But, I learned long ago that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
While the idea of a magical doohickey that bends fate seems appealing, I feel that you can never create a wish so specific that it can’t backfire.
Which is why I was shaking my head at Emerson from the get-go. If I had discovered what her dad’s typewriter could do, I would have backed away slowly. Then snuck back at the night to set it on fire.
But, we wouldn’t have a story then, would we?
Should you read The Unwritten Rules of Magic?
You should read The Unwritten Rules of Magic if you enjoy books by Sarah Addison Allen, Heather Webber, and Elizabeth Bass Parman. This is also good for readers who want multi-generational family sagas like Hello Beautiful. Ross’s story is well-written and well-edited, which I’m discovering are rare attributes in traditionally published books these days.
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Check out the book-inspired recipe: Easy Pignoli Cookies.
Although I received a complimentary advance copy of The Unwritten Rules of Magic from Sparkpoint Studio, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
