This is new ‘best of’ series number four and I still have more to go. Surprisingly, none of them really have any overlapping books, so I’m finally getting the opportunity to talk about books I’ve never had a place for. 

I never really go out of my way to read magical realism or urban fantasy books, but I have read a few in my time. This first post includes two magical realism books out of pure coincidence, but they are also the books that inspired the series in the first place.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

In my opinion, this is THE magical realism book. I’ve never been so spellbound by a book before in my life. Which is an opinion you can trust as I’ve read it twice and both times it has blown me away. 

I don’t think this book will be everyone’s cup of tea as it’s a non linear story. However, if you’re even slightly interested in it, I’d recommend giving it a go. You might be surprised by how quickly you get sucked into the magic and mystery. Plus every single description of the circus is utterly spellbinding. I’ve never wanted to visit a book setting as much as I have Le Cirque des Rêves.

My re-read review of this book is pretty pointless as I had no idea what I wanted to say. When I get really into a book I never take notes because I don’t want to put it down. If that’s not a glowing review, then I don’t know how else I can convince you to check this out.

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Technically (said like Jester Lavorre), this book is about time travel, but I’d personally say that’s magical realism. This is actually the book that inspired this post series. I’d never thought about magical realism as a genre until very recently, I suppose it’s a sub-genre, but it’s one that I’ve read fairly often without realising.

I love Lynn Painter’s books and The Do-Over was no different. You quite literally spend the majority of the book reliving the same day but it weirdly doesn’t get repetitive. I’d say I wasn’t overly thrilled by the idea of a time loop but it has been used perfectly in The Do-Over to build our main character Emilie into someone that stands up for herself and gains confidence in her thoughts and opinions.

I’d say The Do-Over is on the fluffier side of magical realism. This is definitely a rom-com but with a time travel twist. The loop is kept fresh throughout with some days being told in full and other relaying the different things Emilie tried in quick succession. 

Synopsis: After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Monthly Wrap Up: August 2025