Quick Synopsis –Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.

When one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. As she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.

Song This Reminds Me Of – As Long as You Love Me by the Backstreet Boys

Publication Date – June 24, 2025

Bookshop Link – An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating a book by Cecilia Edward – Bookshop.org US (Disclosure – I get a small fee if you order this book using my link)

Content Notes – There is some violence against cats and blood, but no animals or people die. There is suicide and depiction of mental health issues. There is also so light ageism. 40 is not old people!

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

Review – This is a cute, closed door romantic comedy that focuses more on Thorn healing herself while also fumbling through dating. Thorn plays that part of prickly witch perfectly, but she’s also a softy at heart. I really enjoyed this book and would say it’s a pretty light beach read. I think the character of Thorn was well rounded, but everyone else could have done with a touch more back story. No spoilers, but there is another witch character in the book who we never learn much about. I feel like this would have been a 5-star read if that witch had more backstory and we had a better understanding of their background.

Thorn has spent 30 years pretty much alone. Sure, she brews potions for the other villagers, but it’s not like they’re friends. The other witch in town is a matchmaker who is determined to help Thorn without the help of magic. Well, Thorn eschews her advice and focuses on making a True Love potion, only she creates a time travel potion instead. The plot of this story rolls merrily along, there aren’t really any low points. I love when Thorn gets an unsolicited picture from a man on a dating app, she sends him back a picture of herself pulling her kidney out. Parts of this book genuinely made me laugh out loud.

As funny as this book can be, there are a lot of serious topics handled. Thorn lost her older sister when she was nine and Thorn’s mother passed soon after. A lot of her search for love is directly related to the abandonment and loneliness she feels. Other than some of the secondary characters needing some beefing up, I enjoyed this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.