From the New York Times bestselling author comes an evocative, compelling novel of lost love and the unravelling of a small town and its many secrets.
Emery Blackwood’s life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. She’d once dreamt of running away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and chase new dreams together. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among this tight-knit community steeped in folklore and tradition, ruled by the seasons and ancient superstitions.
But when August returns after fourteen years to bury his mother’s ashes, Emery must confront her first love and the reason he left so abruptly. But the town wants August gone again. And as the island begins to show signs of strange happenings, the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily’s death once and for all.
‘There were tales that only the island knew. Ones that had never been told. I knew, because I was one of them.’
Praise for Adrienne Young
‘Spellbinding’ Jodi Picoult on Spells for Forgetting
‘Fierce, vivid, and violently beautiful’ Stephanie Garber on Sky in the Deep
‘This book broke my heart into a thousand pieces, then put it back together even stronger than before’ Kirkus on Sky in the Deep
‘Young has a way with words – they are powerful, raw, and filled with emotion’ Indie Next List Review on The Girl the Sea Gave Back
(P) 2022 Penguin Audio
Emery Blackwood’s life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. She’d once dreamt of running away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and chase new dreams together. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among this tight-knit community steeped in folklore and tradition, ruled by the seasons and ancient superstitions.
But when August returns after fourteen years to bury his mother’s ashes, Emery must confront her first love and the reason he left so abruptly. But the town wants August gone again. And as the island begins to show signs of strange happenings, the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily’s death once and for all.
‘There were tales that only the island knew. Ones that had never been told. I knew, because I was one of them.’
Praise for Adrienne Young
‘Spellbinding’ Jodi Picoult on Spells for Forgetting
‘Fierce, vivid, and violently beautiful’ Stephanie Garber on Sky in the Deep
‘This book broke my heart into a thousand pieces, then put it back together even stronger than before’ Kirkus on Sky in the Deep
‘Young has a way with words – they are powerful, raw, and filled with emotion’ Indie Next List Review on The Girl the Sea Gave Back
(P) 2022 Penguin Audio
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Reviews
With magic, murder, and prose that reads like music, Adrienne Young weaves together an immersive tale amidst the Pacific Coast island of Saoirse where love and pain both stick to the bone and a novel that will surely stick with me for many years to come, too
Lush with secrets, magic, and a past that won't stay where it belongs, this novel is (quite fittingly) spellbinding
With quiet magic like wind on a spooky autumn evening, Spells for Forgetting is so atmospheric it will leave you breathless. Adrienne Young's exquisite prose blends slow-burn romance and intense mystery into a beautiful, twisty gem of a novel. You won't want to miss this one
A mysterious island with a will of its own. A fire. A murder. Love and betrayal, secrets and deep connections. And everything tinged with magic. A gripping and enthralling read. Beautifully crafted storytelling
A thrilling, rich mystery with exquisite twists. Adrienne Young's adult debut will trick you, bewitch you and leave you begging for more
Tense, lyrical, and wholly romantic, Spells for Forgetting is as immersive a story as you could ask for. I could feel the salt on my skin, smell the smoke, and every page felt like a tentative step into a mist concealing all of Saoirse's darkest secrets
Spells for Forgetting seamlessly weaves mystery, magic, and love into a captivating tale. Deeply immersive and filled with intrigue, each page draws you closer and leaves you wanting more
A bewitching mystery, equal parts thrilling and romantic. I felt the isle's salt-laced winds, deeply rooted secrets, and the draw of the tides in Adrienne Young's stunning prose. Not to be missed
Bewitching
Young casts a spell that will keep readers turning the pages
While Young's fascinating, atmospheric, and mystical adult debut blends a few different genres, it is a mystery at its core
This tale has a claustrophobic Stranger Things atmosphere . . . highly emotional
At its heart this is a book about a community and relationships . . . thrilling
Haunting and mythical