The Ladies of the Secret Circus

I'm not normally the audience for this book; I think this is best for urban fantasy/women's lit readers. It was good, and the premise was fine, but it didn't quite catch hold of my imagination. I found the ending to be predictable, but perhaps that's just me! It definitely was an atmospheric, dark-fantasy mystery, and would certainly appeal to anyone who loves that twisted carnival vibe.

Tantalyzing... yet never quite delivers.

I first read The Ladies of the Secret Circus back in 2021, and at the time, it was an easy five-star read for me. Revisiting it now, I still love the concept, but I found the pacing slower this time around, which brings my rating down to a 3.5. While the story remains beautifully immersive, it didn’t grip me in quite the same way on this reread.

The novel weaves together generations of the Cabot family, spanning from the 1920s to the early 2000s, with a blend of mystery, magic, and romance. At its heart is Lara, who is left at the altar when her fiancé mysteriously disappears. As she pieces her life back together, shocking revelations about her past, her missing fiancé, and her dark family legacy begin to surface.

One of my absolute favorite aspects remains the journal entries. They added so much depth and intrigue to the story, and I found myself flying through those sections the quickest. The way Constance Sayers blends the ordinary with the magical is seamless, creating an atmosphere that feels both enchanting and haunting.

That being said, the pacing felt uneven on this read. While I still adore the concept, there were moments where the story dragged, making it harder to stay fully engaged. Despite this, the book’s rich atmosphere and unique premise make it worth the read—especially for those who enjoy historical fantasy with a touch of mystery.

If you love stories that mix magic, romance, and a sense of deep-rooted family secrets, The Ladies of the Secret Circus is still a journey worth taking. Just be prepared for a slower, more deliberate unraveling of its mysteries.

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So, When I got approved for this audiobook by NetGalley I was thrilled. I went through the first 18 chapters in one day. My issue was that after chapter 18 things started to not make sense like bits and pieces of the chapters were missing. So, what I had to do was wait for the book to be published and grab myself a hardcover. That being said I loved this book. My bookish heart is still, the author has done it again. Let me start by saying he can that this is dark, highly addictive, and not for a short novel but this has sealed the deal for this offer to be on my instant buy list. Grab a Cup of tea and your favorite reading spot because you probably could finish this in one sitting. I tend to go into these books blind and get pulled into the atmosphere of them better that way. I did read A Witch in Time and loved it beyond words so happy to have both on my bookshelf. The plot follows generations of the Cabot family between the 1920s and the 2000s and spreads out over three parts. Lara is left at the alter on her wedding day by a vanished husband-to-be. As she puts the pieces of her life back together new revelations on her past, her missing fiancé and a dark heritage start to surface. I am learning that I love a good magic or circus-inspired read. I appreciate an author that can tie in the regular with the magical and make the story not miss a beat. I will confess this has become my new favorite genre where magic and romance are mixed. I will apologize for my late review I had such a fun ride with this book that I can not wait to see what comes next for this author. You will want to find out what happens to him and how she copes. You will most likely love the journal entries they were the parts that I inhaled the quickest and they added so much to the story. I loved everything about this thank you to the author NetGalley and everyone involved. Keep up the great writing of an awesome book.