In a small cottage on an island on a lake in the forest lives a witch. Witches have many rumors surrounding them, so very few people visit Rose’s shop. But one evening, who should visit but a handsome royal knight named Harij — and to request, of all things, a love potion. Rose takes the job rather reluctantly, although she tries not to let it show. After all, she loves him!
…Of course, you figured that out from the title. Four years ago, Rose ventured out to the city nearby and overheard people celebrating her beloved grandmother’s death. Harij shamed them for cheering for anyone’s death, be they human or witch. Hearing those words stole Rose’s heart.
While the title uses the term “crush”, the English/Japanese divide over romance is evident in this light novel. The text uses the phrase “fell in love” after this event, and while at times Rose plays her feelings off like a teenager crushing on an idol, it’s clear that Rose is more than fangirling over Harij. So the opening is rather dreary, as Rose mopes over the fact her beloved wants a love potion. All she can do is keep sending him out for ingredients so that he’s forced to return.
While aggravated at the drawn-out process, Harij notices Rose’s lettuce-only diet, and after a surprise visit that causes a lot of embarrassment, she ends up spilling one of her greatest secrets: witches are unable to lie. Realizing how young, alone, and brave Rose is, Harij keeps visiting her — a situation that both delights and confuses the Good Witch of the Lake.
As for the love potion, readers (unsurprisingly) learn it isn’t for Harij about one-fifth of the way through the story. So, very early. As a result, a lot of the melancholy rung hollow for me since Rose’s feelings were so strong from the start; it was hard to see her feelings grow deeper once Harij starts eating with her. During the early parts of Hello, I Am a Witch and My Crush Wants Me to Make a Love Potion!, I expected an explanation similar to the “zing” phenomena in the Hotel Transylvania movies. It would have helped explain Rose being swept off her feet prior to the novel’s start, especially since it wasn’t like her grandmother had died just a couple of months ago.
I did find it intriguing that witches here a unique brand compared to how they are portrayed in most stories: they’re neither incredible mystics nor mere pharmacists. Rose needs ingredients like moonlight to make potions, but she doesn’t seem to be able to summon the wind or create fog at a moment’s notice (if at all). So witches lie in an unusual gray area between magic and alchemy. Combined with a weakness that could cause a lot of problems if exploited, and it’s no wonder witches are recluses.
Witches do have their own society, but little is explored outside of Rose’s home-slash-workshop. Even then, Rose gets very few visitors, so this novel is definitely low-key on world-building. That’s disappointing for a fantasy story involving a store. I know witches aren’t very popular, but if they are capable of things like love potions, I would expect more people willing to visit one to take chances.
However, this does mean more time for Rose and Harij. The second half gets stronger as the novel moves past the setup phase and allows Harij to understand Rose and how witches are viewed in human society. Rose does have some internal tsundere-ness, but she mostly acts indifferent because she can’t lie.
I was a bit sour on Rose in the beginning since she was so focused on how handsome and kind Harijs is, but I ended up liking their dynamic a lot more than I expected. It’s a good balance of being forward and shy as these two handle their first loves. It’s nice to see a relationship forming over sharing meals together and not some type of “save-the-world” training or other high-stress situations. They’re also old enough to not be stuck in Denseville, and readers get a bit of spice toward the end, which is a fun reward after all the puppy love in the beginning.
After the main story, we get an epilogue and a side chapter set before the finale. One of the few supporting characters gets an…interesting update, which surely could have been its own story instead of a summarized letter. But readers are treated to more of the main couple’s sweet relationship, and one that romance fans are likely to enjoy. Despite me not being crazy about the setup, I found myself fond of the novel. It’s not a very flashy romance or one with a lot of fireworks, but it ends up being one as sweet and as comforting as the apple butter they bond over.