This heartwarming gem of a book is the very definition of cosy and makes the perfect comfort read, with its quirky and lovable characters and the quaint and magical setting. It was so beautifully written and so enchanting I could almost feel the magic surrounding me like a warm hug. I loved Mika, she was such a relatable main character, and just like her, I found myself irrevocably falling in love with all the inhabitants of Nowhere House. And I absolutely adored the romance!

Regarding the narration, and I know this is a personal preference, I found it a bit slow and, at times, monotonous in the more descriptive parts, but I think the narrator did a fabulous job with the dialogues and the character's voices. I particularly enjoyed her characterizations of Primrose and Ian, and also Jamie's accent.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a magical, romantic and cosy read.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for approving my request for this book via Netgalley.

I couldn’t have asked more of this book. Almost immediately, I knew I was going to adore it with all my heart and soul.

Mika is a witch. Except not the kind you’re used to. She’s part of a group of witches who meet on the third Thursday of every third month… and that’s it. Outside of that time, there’s no communication between them for fear of being found and somehow traced back to one another. That’s a lonely life to lead. So when she receives a message on one of her videos saying WITCH WANTED and is offered the job of training 3 young witches to control their magic, she’s tempted. Oh, so tempted. And taking the job will perhaps be the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

I’m not sure I can accurately put into words how much I loved this book. It’s found family. It’s grumpy-sunshine. It’s slow burn, and heartfelt, and broken. Mika is every person who’s ever felt alone, or unworthy, or scared of letting anyone in, and she finds this amazing group of people who pull her into their circle and make it clear that they’re never going to let her go… after they nearly get her killed. Of course.

I’ve seen people compare this to House in the Cerulean Sea, and I can absolutely see why. It has those same found family, hug in a book, cosy blanket vibes, and it’s absolutely a new comfort read for me. I immediately ran to preorder it because there’s an *exclusive epilogue* as a preorder incentive and I will never be able to get enough of Mika and her bizarre, wonderful new family.

The audio narration was enjoyable, and suited the story well.

“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong, Jamie said, his eyes on the house ahead. Sometimes we need to make that place.”

Practical Magic meets The House in the Cerulean Sea in this whimsical tale of found family, love and witchcraft. I don’t need a crystal ball to predict that will be a crowd-pleaser and fan-favourite for readers of T.J. Klune, Alice Hoffman or Quan Barry.

As one of the few remaining witches in England, the only life Mika Moon has known is one of solitude. Magic loves company, so every modern witch knows they must stay as far away from other witches, in order to prevent a massive surge of magical powers that will expose their secret society to the world. As a substitute for contact with real fellow-witches, Mika keeps an online blog where she “pretends” to be a witch, expecting nobody to take it seriously. That is until she receives a private message with a highly unusual job opportunity: “witch wanted, to tutor and teach three young witches”. Moving in to become a live-in nanny/witch-craft-teacher, Mika soon finds herself breaking all the rules she was once taught about magical safety, as well as tangled up in the lives of the children and their other caretakers.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is delightfully whimsical in style and will most likely put a smile on the face of any reader who encounters it. Mandanna brings to life the English cottage-core-setting perfectly and sprinkles it with lovable and endearing characters, and their interactions. There’s romantic love, sisterly bonds, and the most adorable dog-companion imaginable, making it one of the easiest to love “feel-good” books of this summer.

My one piece of critique is a personal one: it was a little too sickly sweet for my taste. I’m the kind of reader who loves a character that overcomes a struggle to get to their eventual goal. Here, the goals felt a little too easily achieved. For example: for a character with such deep-rooted trust-issues, stemming from an isolated childhood and being orphaned at a young age, Mika’s walls came down a little too easy, and her trust in her new family and love-interest were a little too expeditious. Although I felt the happiness of the characters, the cathartic depth of overcoming adversity was missing at times.

That being said: not every novel needs to emotionally destroy the reader. Sometimes capturing happiness is as powerful as anything. I think, after the past few years we’ve had, many readers will absolutely welcome the feeling, making me feel safe to recommend this book to anyone interested.
I will also highly recommend the audiobook-format to really bring the characters to life.

Many thanks to Hodder&Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.

This book was soooo darn cute!!!!! I loved it!! Loved the witchiness, loved the kids, loved the grumpy hero vs sunshine heroine romance, loved loved loved Ian Kubo- Hawthorne (who reminded me of Oliver Putnam in Only Murders in the Building) and I very definitely got the House in Cerulean Sea vibes which is an added plus. The last third of the book was maybe a bit rushed and everything wrapped a little too conveniently but who cares. I loved it!! The narrator dod an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. If you want a British version of House in the cerulean sea with witches, don’t miss this out!!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a cosy witchy romance!

Such a heartwarming read featuring precocious children, a grumpy meets sunshine romance and a large helping of magic.

The plot is pretty low stakes with a comfortably predictable ending, but that’s all part of the charm. There is an intriguing twist and it’s the characters you’re reading for, all of which will steal your heart!

I enjoyed the world building and learning about the magic system as it’s taught to three young witches with little existing knowledge. I’d very much like to return to this world at some point, it would be interesting to explore how witches exist in other cultures and countries.

While this is mostly an easy read, it does deal with some more serious topics such as loneliness, family and identity. This adds an extra dimension and is mostly well done despite the generally cheerful nature of he book.

This book is perfect if you’re looking for a comfy, wholesome read!

The narrator of the audiobook did a great job, she has such a calming and relaxed voice which really fits with the tone of the book. She also did a great job distinguishing between characters and making them sound unique, particularly the children.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Samara MacLaren is the perfect narrator for this book because she's sooo good and it felt like she added to the magic of the story. Her voice was enchanting and somehow soothing. She's successfully bring the characters in this book to life and makes the character interactions even more fun. Loved this audiobook as much as I loved the story.

*4.5 Stars*

Mika Moon has been alone most of her life, moving from place to place without putting down roots. As a witch, she can't interact with other witches except on very specific reunions.
But when an opportunity to live witch and teach three young witches to use her powers, she cannot pass it up, no matter the consequences.

I really loved this. The main character was layered and so very interesting. It was very cosy and cute and I loved those kids.
The plot was engaging and the pacing was perfect. I had a very good time from beginning to end. It really just flew by. I really fell for the characters and the ambiance and just everything.
I also enjoyed the magic system and how everything worked.
I liked all the layers of the characters within Nowhere House and how they all grew and how we discovered everything little by little.
I also loved the narrator and how she really made me fell it all.
I just thought this was very well constructed and written and it made me want to read more cosy witch stories and also want to dig into Sangu Mandanna's other books.

I fell totally and irrevocably in love with this book. It was a surefire five star read for me, and gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes, which was a massive positive. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, was the first book I have read written by the author but I am now going to be looking up her entire back catologue of works! My heart is full to the brim and to be honest, I can't wait to re read it.

It follows Mika Moon, the protagonist. An adult witch, who knows how important it is to hide her magic from society. However, she does have an online platform where she "pretends" to be a witch. This is how she is found by the inhabitants of Nowhere House, and asked to become a teacher to three young witches. Mika, instantly falls in love with Nowhere House, finally feeling like she can belong somewhere, however, earning the girls trust is not an easy ride and Mika has a long journey ahead of her. Will she be able to do what the gaurdians of Nowhere House need her to? Read to find out.

Narration:

I'm so greatful to Hodderscape to giving me access to the audio arc: it meant I could blaze through it in two days while doing chores (I did not want to put it down!). MacLaren's narration is excellent, each character's voice distinct and engaging, particularly the childrens' voices. Altamira's voice is so much fun, and Terracotta's comedic (and murderous) lines are delivered so well.

Story:

Mika Moon is a witch, one of very few in the UK, and it's meant to be a secret. All the "magic" on her witchy Instagram account is fake. So, when Mika gets a job offer as a magic tutor for three young witches after one of their guardians sees her videos, she thinks it must be a joke.

Instead, she finds:
- a magically warded home in rural Norfolk.
- Ian, an eccentric elderly actor in a rainbow scarf.
- Ken, the calm gardener and Ian's husband.
- Lucy, the welcoming housekeeper.
- Jamie, the grumpy librarian
- Three young witches: Terracotta, Altamira & Rosetta. Each named after archaeological discoveries and each various stages of welcoming.

This is a story about found family, niceness vs kindness, and learning to accept love of all forms when you previously thought yourself unworthy. The world felt lived-in, and the world-building was subtle, accessible to contemporary romance lovers unfamiliar with SFF, but just enough for fantasy fiends like me.

In many ways, 'The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' is a British, witchy version of 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' by TJ Klune. And I don’t say that lightly: 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' is my favourite novel of the past few years - perhaps even of all time. Mandanna matches the comedic tone, the endearing characters (especially the children), and the focus on found family. If you enjoyed 'The House in the Cerulean Sea,' or simply enjoy a cosy fantasy narrative, you'll most likely enjoy 'The Very Secret Society of Irregular witches' immensely.

This was the cosy, witchy fantasy romance I never knew I needed & I’m pretty sure this is a new comfort book!

Mika Moon is an isolated witch who uses social media to covertly share her magic. After being approached online she travels to Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their powers.

There’s such a great cast of people in this book, Mika is a ray of sunshine, but still very down to earth & relatable & our main man Jamie is the grumpus you want him to be! Ian, Ken & Lucie along with the girls are all great side characters, well rounded & none of them detract from the story or feel like added extras.

Although not a huge amount happens in this book, I was completely sucked into the world & finished the book in one day! The grumpy x sunshine pairing was lovely & I liked the found family dynamics too.

I read half via e-book & half with audio. The narrator did a great job with the different voices & I found her voice to be perfect for the book, lovely & calming which fit the tone of the book very well.

The atmosphere Sangu created is exactly what I needed & my only regret is that I read it on a 35 degree day & not a cold, rainy afternoon so that I could really appreciate the full cosy vibes. I literally have nothing bad to say about this book, I read it a week ago & I already want to re-read it!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/Hodder & Stoughton Audio & Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This was truly magical, such a beautiful read about finding yourself and where you belong. The found family theme was perfect and I felt like this was a cuddle in a book. I loved all of the characters and the story itself was simple but wonderful. I adored it, was exactly what I needed to read.

Cutesy, charming and quintessentially English. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was a pleasure to read.

What stopped me giving 5 stars was that the second half of the book got a bit repetitive but that didn’t stop me enjoying sharing space in Mica Moon’s world for a time.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced audio version in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK IS A WARM HUG AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT IMMEDIATELY.

Apart from the glorious tropes that The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches combines— from forced proximity to enemies to lover to grumpy/sunshine to kissing in the rain—this book just radiates joy. I truly cannot think of another book I have read in ages that had made my soul glow like this. There is a golden retriever. There is a found family that makes me want to move to country in order to join it. There’s magical tea and long descriptions of gardens and the most delightful, just slightly spicy (okay, on occasion very spicy) romance.

Mika, the protagonist, is a delight to accompany through this book. She is funny and clever and always in a determinedly good mood.

I’m also enamoured with the genre of cosy fantasy. If you are looking for a dark, sordid, painful book— this is not what you are looking for. With few exceptions, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches believes the best of its characters and shows them trying to do the right thing, even if they don’t always manage it.

I truly cannot recommend this book enough. I will be shoving it in the faces of everyone I know.

Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the loveliest story about witches, found family and love I have ever read.
It was better than the House in the Cerulean Sea but has the same vibes. The message of the book was just heartwarming!
I very much enjoyed the quirky mix of characters. I listed to the audio ARC version and I feel that just made them come to life even more!
Very enjoyable, thank you for the ARC.

Added on goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60018635-the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches

"You deserve more than what you allow yourself to have." ✨


I had this book in my TBR for a while, so I was so excited when I got an ARC through Netgalley!
I have read this book in a busy and stressful week of my life, and it was a perfect balm for the soul during that time.

The book follows Mika Moon, a witch that lives in a world where witches need to hide their powers and can never spend too much time together.
Since she has the need to share her passion for magic and potions, she starts to make videos on the internet about "fake" spells .
It all goes well, until someone watching her videos sees behind the trick, recognises her power and offers her a job: teaching magic to three young witches in a house in the middle of Nowhere.
Once she accepts the job, she will come to know - and lately care - not only about the young witches, but also with the rest of the people living in the house.

I truly enjoyed following up Mika story, and overall the plot and the world building were simple and, most importantly, believable.
I liked every character in the book as well.
I've read in some reviews that the characters were not really flashed out and I agree with that. However, although I knew few of some of them, that did not change my enjoyment of the story and the dynamics between them.
There were some repetitions that could have been skipped to give some other characters more space, like repeating at least twenty times how the protagonist never had a home and how she flew from place to place.

In conclusion, for me, this is another installment of the "comfort books" trend that is starting to grow lately and I am here for it!
I appreciated how the themes of self-doubt, feeling less and different from others, and hiding who you really are because you are not confident enough or you have not found the right people yet where treated.

3.5 stars
a really cozy, light read that's a nice palette cleanser but slightly forgettable.
as a whole the book was playful and comforting - it gives me witchy t j klune vibes! i would've liked the plot to be a little more fleshed out like the background of the magic, as well as more depth from the characters, however the audiobook did a great job at making them feel distinct. the ending was satisfying and the reveal at the end was quite unexpected - i like how it connected everything. if you're looking for something wholesome with light fantasy, found family and romance on the side, i definitely recommend!

Take The House in the Cerulean Sea (loved it!) and make it more contemporary with a sprinkling of magic and you have The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

It was a fun read with some endearing characters but unfortunately, the romance didn’t make me feel anything. I’d love to see more from these characters and to visit their bubble again.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

This was such a change of pace for me and I loved it! A romance with a compelling plot surrounding witches and a society that doesn't know of their existence. If you liked "The House In The Cerulean Sea" then you'll definitely like this! Very diverse and well written characters- all of the main characters felt truly like themselves and their personality traits were consistent. A surprising plot twist also that I didn't expect at all!

This book has now become one of my all time favourites.

The characters, the writing and the story as a whole were just perfect and the narrator was brilliant. I never once felt like the characters blurred together. Each had their own unique voice.

I knew from a few chapters in that I was going to love this book. With the amazing writing and loveable characters, it's hard not to fall in love with this story.

Honestly, if you're a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea then this is one you need to pick up!

This is a lovely book and I really appreciated the narrator on the audiobook who gave the different characters such definition. If Becky Chambers and Enid Blyton wrote a witchy romance, this would be it. It’s wholesome and sweet and completely not what I expected in a good way. The quote on the cover describes it as cosy and I think that’s very accurate. I really liked the main character and I thought her relationship with Primrose and the three girls was really strong.

Flags for some people: About 75% through, we suddenly get a lot of plot in comparison to the middle 50% so that’s worth being aware of. There is also a lot of children/child-rearing in this book which I really enjoyed but was not really anticipating.

Generally, really lovely. So happy to have read it. Have already recommended and pre-ordered a hard copy for a friend.