Adore Me - Shop now
$5.99 with 65 percent savings
Print List Price: $16.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Julie Johnson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Bad Luck Charm (Witch City Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Julie Johnson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 813 ratings
From internationally bestselling author JULIE JOHNSON... a bewitching new standalone romantic comedy set in magical Salem, Massachusetts!

GWENDOLYN GOODE LIVES A CHARMED LIFE.

As owner of an occult shop in downtown Salem, Massachusetts she’s accustomed to all things odd and otherworldly. But when a bloody animal sacrifice is left as a warning outside her place of business, the police seem to think Gwen might be the target of some truly evil-doers. Suddenly, her sunny existence is riddled with danger in the form of crazed pagans, rogue employees, and nefarious henchmen. And there’s only one man who can protect her until the storm passes...

GRAHAM GRAVES HAS NO TIME FOR WITCHY NONSENSE.

Not in his love life, and definitely not in his line of work. Despite the ever-present oddities of his hometown, the private investigator and acclaimed police consultant prides himself on staying objective in every case that comes across his desk. That all changes when Gwendolyn — a woman who gets under his skin like no other — finds herself in the crosshairs of dangerous criminals. Graham is determined to make her safe, even if her presence tests his steely resolve. But as their mutual dislike sizzles into unexpected attraction… he becomes even more determined to make her something else:

HIS.

BAD LUCK CHARM is a total standalone romance of 450+ pages, featuring cameos from a fortune-telling parrot, a modern day pirate, and a coven of well-meaning octogenarians. With characters that leap off the page and plenty of spooky twists and turns to keep you guessing, fans of Johnson's previous Boston Love Story series in particular will adore this blend of heat, humor, and suspense.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Witch City
  2. Print length
    508 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 8, 2023
  6. File size
    1.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
  2. Dream House
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  5. Kind of Cursed
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  10. Oops, I've Fallen
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  15. Dying to Meet You
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  18. Perfectly Wicked: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $1.99
  20. You Lucky Dog
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  28. Love and Other Conspiracies
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
  29. The Accidental Text
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
Next page
Loading...
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. “Just because it’s not my fault doesn’t mean I don’t wish I could fix it for you.”
    Highlighted by 174 Kindle readers
  2. “Been a lot longer than two years, Firecracker, and you know it.” Firecracker.
    Highlighted by 133 Kindle readers
  3. “Let me get this straight. For the past two years, you’ve thought I was a handyman?”
    Highlighted by 101 Kindle readers
Next page

From the Publisher

couple embracing

FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR JULIE JOHNSON

A bewitching new romantic comedy...

“Are you okay, Gwen?”

Was I okay?

In the past few days, I’d been verbally accosted, physically threatened, kissed, kidnapped, and accused of murder. I’d also been screwed — thoroughly, mind-blowingly, bone-meltingly screwed — within an inch of my sanity by a man I was ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent sure I detested with every fiber of my being. On top of that, one of my other employees had gone AWOL, and my half-grown-out bangs were doing an unforgivable flippy-outty thing at the ends that made me curse the day I’d taken the shears to them. (I blamed girl’s night — and the bottle of tequila consumed therein — for hindering my better judgment, along with my best friend Florence, a.k.a. Flo, whose wholly unsound assurances that they’d look quote ‘chic as f*ck’ unquote had been an act of domestic terrorism in the sober light of day.)

So, no.

I was not okay. I was so not okay, I couldn’t even summon the words to describe the depths of my not-okayness.

QUICK FACTS:

  • standalone
  • 450+ pages
  • slow burn
  • extra spicy
  • small town charm
  • lots of laughs
  • zany side characters
  • suspenseful side-plots

Welcome to Witch City...

book of magic

redhead girl in forest

full moon in forest

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JULIE JOHNSON (born July 3, 1991) is a New England native and internationally bestselling author. When she's not writing, Julie can most often be found adding stamps to her passport, drinking too much coffee, and avoiding reality by disappearing between the pages of a book.
She published her debut novel on a lark, just before her senior year of college, and she's never looked back. Since, she has published twenty other novels, which have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and appeared on bestseller lists all over the world, including Der Spiegel, AdWeek, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and more.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BY5NMNQ6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ JOHNSON INK, Inc.
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 8, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 508 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1733663397
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Witch City
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 813 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Julie Johnson

Julie Johnson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

JULIE JOHNSON is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wind Weaver. When she's not writing, Julie can most often be found sitting on the beach near her home in her native Massachusetts, adding stamps to her passport, drinking too much coffee, and avoiding reality by disappearing between the pages of a book. She published her debut novel on a lark, just before her senior year of college, and she's never looked back. Since, she has published twenty other novels, which have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and appeared on bestseller lists all over the world.

You can connect with Julie on her Instagram (author_julie), in her natural habitat (the bookstore), or in her exclusive reader group (The Johnson Junkies).

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
813 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy this book's sweet and fun plot, with one describing it as a perfect Halloween romcom read. They appreciate the character development, with one noting the author's skill in creating chemistry between lead characters, and find it hysterically funny, with one mentioning the witty banter between Gwendoyln and Graham. Customers praise the mystery elements and romance, with one highlighting the perfect blend of grumpy/sunshine romance. The writing receives mixed reviews, though many find it great.

Select to learn more

Story qualityCharacter developmentHumorMysteryRomanceSpice levelWriting quality
30 customers mention "Story quality"26 positive4 negative

Customers love the story of this book, finding it sweet and fun, with one customer describing it as a perfect Halloween romcom read.

"...Overall, it was a fabulous read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series...." Read more

"...This was so GOOD! I loved Gwen. She was sassy, fun, and a little bit damaged (but aren’t we all?)...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the main characters very much. Their story was fantastic." Read more

"...It was the absolute perfect blend of grumpy/sunshine romance, killer suspense, and quirky small town characters...." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"13 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting the author's ability to create chemistry between the lead characters, and another highlighting Graham as a swoon-worthy hero.

"...There were some great characters introduced, and I can't wait to read their stories." Read more

"...I enjoyed the main characters very much. Their story was fantastic." Read more

"...blend of grumpy/sunshine romance, killer suspense, and quirky small town characters...." Read more

"I had wanted to like this one, but I could not stand the main male character. He was so bossy, arrogant, and rude out of nowhere...." Read more

15 customers mention "Humor"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, finding it funny and hysterically laughable within two chapters, with one customer particularly appreciating the witty banter between characters Gwendoyln and Graham.

"...This was so GOOD! I loved Gwen. She was sassy, fun, and a little bit damaged (but aren’t we all?)...." Read more

"It was funny, loving and the touch of magic and mystery made it even better...." Read more

"Julie Johnson is magic, herself. She had me hysterically laughing within two chapters. You are immediately sucked into this story...." Read more

"...I love Julie's writing and her ability to write snarky, sarcastic dialogue and she is very good at creating chemistry between her lead characters...." Read more

13 customers mention "Mystery"10 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, describing it as a suspense wonderland and spooky experience.

"This book had it all - it was a cozy mystery wtih a sexy alpha male determined to not just keep the FMC safe, but to keep her in his bed as well...." Read more

"It was funny, loving and the touch of magic and mystery made it even better...." Read more

"Loved the mystery elements, although I did predict the "main bad guy," if you will, and disappointed that they missed significant clues that an..." Read more

"...The author kept adding things and avoiding the plot. This book could have been 350-400 pages and it would have been way better...." Read more

7 customers mention "Romance"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, with one customer highlighting its perfect blend of grumpy and sunshine elements, while another appreciates the enemies-to-lovers storyline.

"...but also completely nailed it on the relationship building...." Read more

"It was funny, loving and the touch of magic and mystery made it even better...." Read more

"...I loved this book! It was the absolute perfect blend of grumpy/sunshine romance, killer suspense, and quirky small town characters...." Read more

"...Good enemy to lovers romance, with a possessive MMC, in my opinion, crossing the line during a particular scene, but I got over it...." Read more

5 customers mention "Spice level"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the spice level of the book, with one describing it as a spicy witchy romcom and another finding it delightfully sweet.

"...I was so excited to start this book because it’s advertised as a spicy witchy romcom and I’m happy to report that exactly what you get!..." Read more

"...I LOVED this book! It was just the right combination of cuteness, spice, suspense, and plot...." Read more

"...This book was everything you want in a contemporary romance (banter, spice, hot hero(s), I could go on…), AND it had an actual, honest to god story!..." Read more

"...Had great pacing, pretty good character development and tons of spice. Loved it! Loved the plot! Loved the settings!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book.

"...I love Julie's writing and her ability to write snarky, sarcastic dialogue and she is very good at creating chemistry between her lead characters...." Read more

"...half a star because there were a few typos and grammatical errors sprinkled throughout...." Read more

"...This book is well written and I confess I have gotten slightly beyond the half way point in reading it...." Read more

"It was an ok quick read. I liked the female character...." Read more

Better than Pumpkin Spice Lattes!
5 out of 5 stars
Better than Pumpkin Spice Lattes!
Can we collectively agree that as a rule, when a man, who supposedly hates you, finds a mere scratch on you and reacts by grunting out a “WHO DID THIS TO YOU?”, the only suitable response is to get down on your knees for him? Because I think that is totally fair. On a totally unrelated note, I’d get down on my knees for Graham Graves any day. I was so glad to have received this ARC for many reasons, but as a fellow Massachusetts resident I was excited to read a book that takes place so close to home! I had personally never read anything written by Julie Johnson, but she has stolen my heart. Julie, I love you ❤️. This book had my emotions pouring out in all the best ways! I laughed, I cried, and my stomach was fluttery for ALL the reasons! 😉 One of my favorite things about this book is the Gwen quotes at the beginning of each chapter! It’s such a small detail, but I really felt it gave a lot of insight into who Gwen is as a character and hilarious personality. I want to be friends with her, nahh screw it, we’re friends. Sorry Flo, she’s my best friend now! Graham is a grump, but is he really though? (HE’S THE SWEETEST GRUMP AND I LOVE HIM OKAY?) He’s got a huge heart, and a way with his… words… yeah, let’s go with that. He’s a man who knows what he wants and the patience to wait for it, and I respect that (as well as many other things) about him. The banter between Gwen and Graham is TOP NOTCH and I have been given ‘the glare’ for laughing while reading at the coffee shop… ooops 🤷🏼‍♀️ I can’t talk about this book enough, and have been raving to my friends and my boyfriend about this book nonstop, so do yourself a favor and go read it. PRETTY PLEASE 🙏🏻 What do an occult shop owner, sea urchins, a really hot private investigator, animal sacrifices, and pumpkin spice lattes have in common? Read Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson to find out!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen_in_FLA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed it!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book had it all - it was a cozy mystery wtih a sexy alpha male determined to not just keep the FMC safe, but to keep her in his bed as well. The author did an amazing job on the mystery (the ending had a twist I didn't see coming), but also completely nailed it on the relationship building.
    Gwen is emotionally stunted - she had a terrible childhood, and as a result, doesn't trust anyone but her best friend Flo. Grahan doesn't know why Gwen is running from a relationship, any relationship, but he decided she was worth it, and stuck with her through everything. Once he learns the reasons, he buckles down and tries even harder to get Gwen to actually see him.
    Overall, it was a fabulous read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. There were some great characters introduced, and I can't wait to read their stories.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Courtney Rae
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
    First person, single POV
    🌶️🌶️

    I was so excited to start this book because it’s advertised as a spicy witchy romcom and I’m happy to report that exactly what you get! I truly believe we need more of these in the world. This was so GOOD!

    I loved Gwen. She was sassy, fun, and a little bit damaged (but aren’t we all?). Weird stuff begins to happen to this occult shop owner in downtown Salem, MA (such as animal sacrifice, yowza) that eventually starts shedding light on her souls darkest corners and her family history. It also reintroduces the man she’s been keeping at arms length for years back into her life. That man is the grumpy to her sunshine, Graham Graves. And let me just say he is truly what broody alpha male dreams are made of! And the tension between these enemies-to-lovers is fantastic. Really some of the most enjoyable I’ve read recently.
    We even get a “who did this to you?” moment among other well loved tropes such as forced proximity, one bed, and he falls first. Personally, slow burn can be hit or miss for me, but the pay off for this one was well worth it. The witty banter was a wonderful lead up to some giggly-feet-kicking moments.
    I would honestly give anything to have a little Graham POV extra just to learn just how smitten he was over Gwen. Maybe a little flashback of his POV from when they met and the years leading up to Gwen returning to Salem for good.

    I’m deducting half a star because there were a few typos and grammatical errors sprinkled throughout. The biggest to me was “expresso” within the first couple pages that does end up being “espresso” again within the next page.

    Part of me wishes this was a series following just Gwen with her friends (which by the way I loved them all so much) being the side characters. However, after learning through the epilogue who the next book is about, I am thrilled to get to know a certain silver fox detective & his opposites attract love interest. Book 2 is expected late November 2023.
    Customer image
    Courtney Rae
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    4.5 stars

    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023
    Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
    First person, single POV
    🌶️🌶️

    I was so excited to start this book because it’s advertised as a spicy witchy romcom and I’m happy to report that exactly what you get! I truly believe we need more of these in the world. This was so GOOD!

    I loved Gwen. She was sassy, fun, and a little bit damaged (but aren’t we all?). Weird stuff begins to happen to this occult shop owner in downtown Salem, MA (such as animal sacrifice, yowza) that eventually starts shedding light on her souls darkest corners and her family history. It also reintroduces the man she’s been keeping at arms length for years back into her life. That man is the grumpy to her sunshine, Graham Graves. And let me just say he is truly what broody alpha male dreams are made of! And the tension between these enemies-to-lovers is fantastic. Really some of the most enjoyable I’ve read recently.
    We even get a “who did this to you?” moment among other well loved tropes such as forced proximity, one bed, and he falls first. Personally, slow burn can be hit or miss for me, but the pay off for this one was well worth it. The witty banter was a wonderful lead up to some giggly-feet-kicking moments.
    I would honestly give anything to have a little Graham POV extra just to learn just how smitten he was over Gwen. Maybe a little flashback of his POV from when they met and the years leading up to Gwen returning to Salem for good.

    I’m deducting half a star because there were a few typos and grammatical errors sprinkled throughout. The biggest to me was “expresso” within the first couple pages that does end up being “espresso” again within the next page.

    Part of me wishes this was a series following just Gwen with her friends (which by the way I loved them all so much) being the side characters. However, after learning through the epilogue who the next book is about, I am thrilled to get to know a certain silver fox detective & his opposites attract love interest. Book 2 is expected late November 2023.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Traci R. Carbon-Mendoza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved this story!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It was funny, loving and the touch of magic and mystery made it even better. This was my first book by Julie Johnson and I’m heading back for book two. I enjoyed the main characters very much. Their story was fantastic.
    Helpful
     Report
  • RMPLIFT
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fluffy and tedious to read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Someone keeps sacrificing animals and has targeted a coffee shop owner. The characters in this book have to figure it and themselves out before it's too late. The romance plot is a woman who is holding a grudge against her lifelong crush because he made a mean comment about a blind date without realizing it was her.

    This started off so strong! Then it just dragged on. The author just went in circles when it came to the dialogue of the two MC's. It's like she didn't know when to stop. If she would have gotten to the point or had them act like adults for at least half the book, I wouldn't have been so bitter dragging through the book. It would be a hot make out or romance scene and then in the middle the female MC would just go off. It was ridiculous. Also, the book wouldn't just freaking end. The author kept adding things and avoiding the plot. This book could have been 350-400 pages and it would have been way better.

    Spice 3/5, 18+
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kelsi
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Witchy Romance Read You Need!!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    August is officially spooky season and this was a good kick off to witchy reads!!!

    Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

    I loved this book! It was the absolute perfect blend of grumpy/sunshine romance, killer suspense, and quirky small town characters. And I couldn’t put it down, I was flipping pages as quickly as my eyes could eat up the words… I just had to know what happened next!! It wasn’t just the plot either that kept me turning pages, the chemistry between Graham and Gwen burned right through my kindle, plus the banter was to die for!!

    Bad Luck Charm takes place in the town of Salem, made famous for its stained past of the Salem Witch Trials. And while the stained past may keep many away, Salem became a safe haven for our main character Gwen Goode, who spent summers living with her Aunt Colette as an escape from the hades that is her life the rest of the year. It is also the first place she fell in love, and while Gwen had no plans of making Salem her forever home… extenuating circumstances bring her home to Salem and running an occult shop. Two years into her stay in Salem though and creepy, even terrifying things begin happening around Gwen prompting not only local law enforcement to get involved but also Gwen’s sworn enemy… Graham Graves. A local PI who let’s just has had a vested interest in Gwen’s life for some time and is no longer willing to hang out in the shadows while someone threatens her. This sparks a battle of wills between Gwen and Graham that eventually turns into a burning inferno! An inferno filled with spice, banter, and sweet moments that you won’t be able to look away from.

    Truly if you’re looking for a Halloween book set in Salem, with feisty characters, a deadly mystery with the walls clothing in, than this is absolutely the book you need.

    HAPPY READING 📖
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • WendyMWT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly fantastic
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is one of those stories you can't put down...I wanted to know how it turned out so badly, I resented every time someone interrupted me and every rime I had to stop to go to work!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Spiffy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Freaking amazing
    Reviewed in Canada on August 14, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This! This right here is what I’m talking about!!!! There is absolutely nothing better than a Julie Johnson romcom! Calling it romcom almost feels wrong, because this is so much more than that. Julie has a way of elevating a romantic comedy into an experience that will have you laughing, swooning, sighing, and just enjoying the hell out of the literature. Smart, snappy, hilarious and intelligent dialogue, and well drawn out characters bring this incredibly entertaining book to life. Seriously nobody does this better than Julie Johnson and I’m so freaking excited that this is going to be a series.
    Report
  • amanda bergamin
    5.0 out of 5 stars what a ride
    Reviewed in Australia on August 15, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Loved it. What more could you want a snarky heroine and a grumpy hero throw in some witchy woo woo.
    Report
  • jennifer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed bag of likes, but ultimately fun.
    Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    3.5

    Bad Luck Charm was a mixed bag of a story for me.

    *A few things that pulled it down:*

    I felt it was a tad too long for the genre and became a little repetitive with the push and pull between couples, making me think reasons for backing away from a relationship yet again, were bordering on silly, slowing it down from quick fun read, to occasionally exhausting.

    There were a few loop holes that made me question the smarts of our investigative people – namely to do with the background check/s.

    *But there was also a lot of things I enjoyed:*

    This had a really fun mystery that kept me reading/guessing (and when not guessing the who did it, just enjoying the rest of the story) and a great setting for it.

    The cover is really nice and what drew me to the book in the first place.

    Loved the best friend dynamics, and effects between the couples. (her best friend is with his best friend)

    Loved the nicknames – he called her Glenda (her last name is Goode) and Graham Crackers (Gwen’s for him was the best and made me laugh so much).

    The comedic moments, and the banter between them was a highlight. I like an alpha male and girl who is strong minded enough to put him back in his place when he oversteps (though occasionally he does push things just a tad too much to the point where you are kind of like huh?).

    The oh so brief set-up for next couple, sparked my interest and made me want to come back and check out the follow-up book.

    *All and all the good outweighed the bad and made for a fun read.*
    Report
  • Sanjukta Baishya
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book
    Reviewed in India on September 27, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Although the “mystery” factor of the book will hook you; the plot line, however, becomes kind of obvious to you as the story progresses. As you go on reading, you can’t help but want something more to happen, more developments could have been brought in. A lot more could have been done with the plot. Other than that, it was a good read. A light one.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report