The Babysitters Coven

By: Kate M. Williams

Narrated by: Phoebe Strole

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil.

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it's kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she's good at it.

And lately, Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let's just say she owes some people a new tree.

Enter Cassandra Heaven. She's Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria cooking. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme's babysitters club?

The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra's mother left her: "Find the babysitters. Love, Mom."

Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they're about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.

"The Baby-Sitters Club...but spooky." (Cosmopolitan)

"A high-energy series starter that's plenty of fun." (Booklist)

"Combines everything you love." (Man Repeller)

©2019 Kate M. Williams (P)2019 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

"The Baby-Sitters Club...but spooky and with an Instagram-model-hot character for good measure." (Cosmopolitan)

"With winks at ’90s cult horror films...[this is] a high-energy series starter that's plenty of fun." (Booklist)

 "Candy for ‘90s girls and Gen-Z’ers alike.” (Refinery29)

Interesting Premise Not a Fan of the Execution

Predictable, but fun. Men were unilaterally either bad or incomptent. Feminist propaganda seemed heavy handed

Lighthearted and fun for adults too! *Spoiler Free*

This was a lighthearted and fun romp that also handled some heavy subjects but with ease. Aimed at the YA crowd mainly, I as an adult enjoyed it and the nods to the Babysitters Club books, the originals of which I remember saving up to buy as a kid waiting on baited breath for them to come out. There’s also some great literary and music nods that are picked up by adults in a unique, but fun, manner.

This is not your standard cookie cutter YA paranormal fiction. With a different spin on your normal “teen witch gets powers” it’s unique and kept me engaged.

This book is also decently amusing. It doesn’t try too hard.

Overall, it kept me wanting to hear more, binging on it. I would definitely buy more from this author, and I greatly enjoyed the narration as well. As an adult that has amassed an intensely massive library of both physical, kindle, ePub & now audiobooks, the fact that I want more of this story is high praise indeed!

TL;DR, if you enjoy humorous paranormal fiction with a unique and nods to pop culture throughout the past, you will not be disappointed!

Obsessed!

I’m very happy that this is the first in a series as it gives me major Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes but set now rather than the 90s though even the fashion is heavily inspired by the 90s. It’s definitely worth getting, especially if you enjoyed “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” by Grady Hendrix and/or “Undead Girl Gang” by Lily Anderson. Definitely one I’ll revisit each Halloween now.

Interesting...

That title pretty much sums up my view on this book. It was good, and weird. I think there may have been some forced relationships to make it work, You may be able to tell the almost rushed feeling the author had from trying to take several idea points and smash them into a book. I did like it in the end, but I am not sure really why I do. Like I said, it is interesting.
This isn't really one that I think I would recommend unless they liked The Babysitters Club and Twilight.

Not exactly like Buffy, but still very fun

Although this story had such a fun finish, the beginning was hard to get through. Push through and get to the end!

Love this book for its creativity and humor.

The reader (Phoebe Strole) relays Kate Williams’ witty banter with just the right pace and tone. Williams is the type of author who somehow perfectly evokes my own inner dialogue with a universality that transcends my YA years. Can’t wait for the next Babysitters Coven adventure!

Great overall

The story was amazing the reader was fantastic. The detail was there in full it

Just Spooky Enough

As an adult who occasionally enjoys YA books, this one was pretty good. The narrator does a really good job and the story is a mix of funny and spooky with a little light horror thrown in for good measure. Would be a good book to listen to when you're in the mood for something that's about as scary as a Lifetime movie.

Good for middle schoolers

As an adult I thought the story was good, but if I were a tween it would have been great. I liked Esme, her character was nice and genuinely good. She handled situations well and did not abuse her powers. I think this is a really good series for 6th - 9th graders.

compelling story & characters you care about

It was quite an enjoyable listen! I was pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend if you are into the sisterhood that comes with covens.