Whether you have had a lifelong love for Practical Magic or have rediscovered its magic thanks to Practical Magic 2, here are four beautifully written books for fans of Practical Magic, including The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
While I enjoyed the 1998 film Practical Magic, I found myself falling more deeply in love with the story as I read the book by Alice Hoffman that the film was based on, also titled Practical Magic. Alice Hoffman’s writing is so beautiful. She weaves rich and atmospheric worlds with her words, much in the way Maggie O’Farrell does with novels like Hamnet. Hoffman also reflects on compelling themes like love, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and female agency in ways that are emotional and nuanced.
I keep a reading journal of my favorite quotes from books I’ve read, and as I looked through my favorites from Practical Magic, I came across so many moving ones. For example, Hoffman writes, “Some things, when they change, never do return to the way they once were. Butterflies, for instance, and women who’ve been in love with the wrong man too often.”
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Hoffman goes on to eloquently skewer toxic beauty standards as she writes, “Although she’d never believe it, those lines in Gillian’s face are the most beautiful part about her. They reveal what she’s gone through and what she’s survived and who exactly she is, deep inside.” Alice Hoffman is both lyrical in her anecdotes and wise.
Nearly thirty years after the release of the first movie, Practical Magic continues to hold an endearing appeal, and this month marks the exciting release of Practical Magic 2 in theaters. The movie is based on the next book in Alice Hoffman’s series, The Book of Magic, and it includes a return of cast members Sandra Bullock as Sally, Nicole Kidman as Gillian, and Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the aunts. Plus, Joey King and Maisie Williams have joined the cast as Sally’s daughters.
While The Book of Magic makes for a perfect read before seeing the new movie, I’ve got more witchy books for fans of Practical Magic to keep you going after you’ve seen the film! These books match the lovely writing style of Alice Hoffman and dig into similar themes, involving witches, sisters, family, and feminism. Many also touch upon love, which we can’t forget about, because, as Hoffman advises in Practical Magic,
“Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.”
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
When it comes to authors like Alice Hoffman, Alix E. Harrow is an excellent readalike option. Like Hoffman, Harrow’s writing style includes lush world-building, intriguing magic systems enmeshed in the real world, and thoughtful reflections on deep topics. As with Practical Magic, this novel by Harrow explores themes of witches and the bonds between sisters. The story takes place in 1893 as the Eastwood sisters—James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna—join forces with the suffragettes of New Salem. Perhaps the women’s movement may also become the witches movement.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
This lighthearted, romantic fantasy by Sangu Mandanna promises the found family feels and fellowship of witches in Practical Magic. Growing up as an orphan and raised by strangers, Mika Moon has lived a lonely life. As one of the few remaining witches in Britain, she only reveals this side of herself at the Secret Society of Witches that meets every three months. While she’s supposed to keep her magic a secret, Mika likes posting videos online where she pretends to be a witch. However, these videos trigger a mysterious message reaching Mika, requesting her help training three young witches at Nowhere House. Plus, there’s quite a grumpy yet handsome librarian living there, too.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Emilia Hart makes for another great author to try if you love Alice Hoffman, as her atmospheric writing also takes place in the real world, but tinged with magic. Like Practical Magic, this novel also involves witches and follows the aftermath of an abusive relationship. Set in England, the story jumps between three different time periods. While a woman named Altha in 1619 gets accused of witchcraft and murder, another woman named Violet searches for secrets about her mysterious mother while stuck on her family’s estate during World War II. In 2019, Kate leaves behind an abusive partner in London and seeks refuge in the countryside at the cottage she inherited from her great aunt.
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
For those who like the more spine-tingling elements of Practical Magic, like the creepy murdered boyfriends brought back from the dead, or the tangled webs woven by backfired love spells, you may also want to try this witchy horror read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Plus, you’ll find multigenerational women connected by magic in this book, too. As a grad student named Minerva investigates an elusive horror author named Beatrice Tremblay, her findings begin to mirror a witch encounter her great-grandmother Nana Alba faced in 1900’s Mexico.
Before You Head Out For Midnight Margaritas…Whether you read these titles, all of Alice Hoffman’s books, watch the movies, or do a mix of both, I hope you enjoy celebrating the return of this special series to the big screen after so many years. Returning to the world of Practical Magic feels like catching up with an old childhood friend. And as Alice Hoffman notes in Practical Magic, “No one knows you like a person with whom you’ve shared a childhood. No one will understand you in quite the same way.”