The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in about a day because I couldn't bare to put it down, I just wanted to stay in that world.
Mika is a fantastic character, perfectly quirky and completely herself and I loved that! We should all be more like Mika Moon! Sangu Mandanna has created the most enjoyable characters to read about and dearly hope that she creates more stories about them because id love to see how their lives unfold. This book is going to become a re-reading favourite because I can't see myself ever not wanting to step back into it.

I inhaled this book! This was an amazing read filled with magic, found family, humour around every corner mixed in with a little bit of heartbreak and of course, heart warming times!

Mika Moon is a witch and part of a secret group of witches who look down on her online past times!

'Witchcore. Not quite as popular as cottagecore or fairycore, but it’s up there.'

Because of her online presence she gets offered a job to teach 3 young witches in Nowhere House how to control their power. So of course, in the interests of secrecy, she takes the job!!!!

We have.....

* Irritable librarian, Jamie with the dab forearms
* Ian, once actor (and my fave!)
* Lucy, housekeeper
* Ken, gardener
* Rosetta, kid witch
* Terracotta, kid witch
* Altamira, kid witch

And of course now, Mika!

The recipe for a great potion consists of a dollop of magic, 2 fabulous old gents, a few secrets, a spoonful of drama, and of course, a pinch of romance!

And if this book was a potion, it would be a powerful one. Utterly fabulous!

"Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep."

I received an E-ARC from NetGalley and Hodderscape in exchange for an honest review (@ Hodderscape besties pls send me a physical arc, I want to cherish this book forever).

You know when a book gets hold of you and won't let go? The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches does just that. It doesn't grab you in a violent, gotcha by the throat kinda way, but in a soft and gentle way; you don't even notice it at first, until you try to put the book down and discover that you can't. It's like you're a cartoon character walking down the street and you walk past a tasty smelling pie and the smell lifts you up and drifts you over to the windowsill where the yummy pie is sitting, except this particular pie is a deliciously magical romantic comedy with some of the loveliest characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is about Mika Moon, an actual witch, who is hired as the live-in teacher for three young witches, who are looked after by their unconventional but fiercely loving family. This book is also about learning to heal from trauma, finding a family, and the power of accepting one's identity.

There is SO much to love about this book. Seriously, when trying to come up with what to write in my review all I could think was "10/10, perfect, no notes".

The characters are a charming and eclectic mix of people with brilliant and witty dialogue and interactions; the relationships feel so real and grounded and your heart genuinely aches for these characters when things go wrong. I would die for all of the Nowhere family without hesitation. I do have a soft spot for Circe though, as I mainly read IRREGULAR WITCHES while sat next to my own hairy golden soul mate.

Identity is a key theme in this book, and as someone who belongs to a marginalised identity, I really loved and appreciated that part of it. So many of the things Mika and the others talk about resonated with me and it often felt like witchiness could be an allegory for other marginalised identities. At a time when the world feels increasingly hostile towards those who are "different", I really needed to hear Mika talk so positively about her identity.
I also deeply related to Jamie, the grumpy bastard to end all grumpy bastards. The romance in this book is the kind that makes you smile to yourself while you're reading (and sometimes squeal with all the feelings too).

The plot is expertly woven and full of surprises and sneaky callbacks to earlier things. It's beautifully written, and I found myself highlighting passages every other page. Trying to choose a quote to pop at the top of this review was an almost impossible task when only reading the whole book will ever fully encapsulate it's brilliance. The pacing is perfect, nothing is ever stagnant but you're also not rushed through anything; it's like a stroll through the countryside on a summer's day. Reading this book genuinely feels magical and I cannot express how much I loved it.

10/10, perfect, no notes.

If I could give this book more than five stars I would! I think it has been written just for me, the perfect, cosy, witchy, swoony romance I’ve always wanted to read. It is - and I do not say this lightly - grown up Ballet Shoes with witches. (I KNOW!) It is an absolute dream, a warm, enchanting place to spend time in.

I adored the entire cast of characters, they were utterly real to me. Yes it is a sweet, cosy book but it packs an enormous emotional punch. It is perfectly balanced, never tipping into saccharine, and I just wanted more of it. I know it’s a book I will reread, I think it would make the most glorious tv series. This is the book we need right now - comforting, romantic, full of joy and hope. I loved it.

An utterly captivating book, I knew from the first page that I would absolutely love it. Filled with magic, friendship and love it has a wondrously joyful feeling which carries you along to the perfect ending. I would give it ten stars if I could, I so hope this is going to be the first in a series.

Oh this book was BEAUTIFUL. 5 stars doesn’t cut it. I’m giving it 10.

My heart was full after I’d finished this book and it was just everything I wanted. It was so heart warming and lovely and really warms up the marrow of your bones. The character progressions, the plot, the overcoming of past demons. Was truly a sight to behold (or read in this case).

I absolutely adored the characters in this. Like all of them. Mika, the main character, quickly earned my affection and I fell in love with the three girls of Nowhere house. And all of the guardians of course.

They were all so lovable and there was something so endearing about a bunch of mistrustful misfits slowly finding their place. The home that they belonged too. With plenty of twists and turns along the way and a potential disaster seeing them all face the possible future of their home in ruins, they have a lot to overcome.

From the very first page I could tell I was going to love this. And right up to the end, I never wanted to put it down and saw the pages fly by. Seriously, a gorgeously happy, witchy read with romance, magic, friendship and a real sense of belonging. There was nothing I didn’t love!

A truly magical tale about a witch, Mika, who answers a job advertisement on the Internet and gets a lot more than she expected. I cannot say any more for fear of spoilers, but this novel is delightful and I recommend it highly. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

This is a quick, easy and adorable read that I devoured in one sitting I couldn't put it down. Well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters and incredible world building. I LOVED IT

Mika Moon is a witch but not as you know it! She answers a job offer to become a teacher to three young witches and finds herself getting into trouble with them as well as navigating the witch code! Along the way can she find herself?
This was way out of my comfort zone and I fell in love! Mika is a beautiful character and I really hope there will be more in this series please please please!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am very grateful to Hodder to have sent me the digital ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it!

"The Very Secret Society of Witches met on the third Thursday of every third month, but that was just about the only thing that never changed. "

Mika Moon is a real witch who pretends to be a witch on social media. She is the youngest member of the Very Secret Society of Witches, she meets every three months with the other ones to stay informed about new spells and new gossip.
She strongly believe that nobody thinks that she is a witch, but she does not know that at the same moment of her thought a group of people want to contact her because they need the help of a real witch.
This group of people is composed of Ian and Ken, Lucie, and Jamie, They live at Nowhere House and after the suggestion of Ian, even though Jamie does not really agree they call Mika Moon as a live-tutor for three young children. But a live-in tutor for what? This is the question that Mika asks herself when she receives the proposal of Ian.
After her arrival at Nowhere House she immediately discovers that the three young children, Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira are witches like her.
Read the book to know the rest!

I loved reading this book, I felt like I was there, at Nowhere House. It seemed to me to be home, I felt accepted, safe and happy. This book is a declaration of love, acceptance and rebirth. Everyone is special and perfect the way they are.
All the characters grew through the story and the relationship between Mika and the girls and also with the other members of Nowhere House develops in a very natural and emotional way.
Probably my favourite character is Mika, she is totally like me, always kind and with a smile on her lips.

The writing style of the author is cozy and sweet, it seems to be in a fairy tale.

Surely I recommend this book to everyone who loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and to readers who want to find home in a book!

I cannot express how excited I was to get my hands on this book! It was like my birthday, Christmas morning and getting a new book haul all in the same go! I am OBSESSED. This is everything you could want in a book and more. Witchy perfection!

I fell in love with this story. The heartwarming characters, the found family, the (achingly) slow burn romance, the magical tea and potions, secret mansions and old, rare books. This novel felt like a package deal of everything I love and boy did it serve. I smiled and giggled through the majority of this book, apart from the more frightening parts where my heart sank and I had to keep reading to make sure these characters were okay. I looked forward to reading this book, especially at the end of a long day. My love for the characters only grew with every page, they were so endearing and had such different personalities, it kept me enticed the whole way through. Also, the twists and turns? They just kept coming?? This book was a wonderful journey, as well as being an emotional rollercoaster, perfect for readers who enjoyed Klune’s ‘The House on the Cerulean Sea’.

This book will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really great plot with witches at the centre, witchiness the reason for everyone being together and yet just a gentle romance and a look at how people learn to love themselves in order to love others. Mika is a witch and is considered the only person to help out with 3 children witches and a plot to trick a lawyer. She gives it her all despite never settling for long in any one place and there is a glimmer of hope that she will be able to put down roots for once. Things are never that simple though.

Have you heard of the phrase, a hug in a mug'? Well, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a hug in a book! It's a sweet, funny (yes, I laughed out loud on my train journey) and altogether heart-warming tale of Mika Moon, a young Indian witch, who is orphaned and raised by a succession of nannies and tutors. Mika is indeed a witch and throughout the story, we learn of numerous, wonderous spells, requiring plants, flowers and moonlight. Like other witches in Great Britain, Mika is trying to keep her 'witchiness' a secret and must live alone (and be lonely). Then she is invited to become a tutor to three orphaned witches and the fun truly starts.
With three young witches struggling to control their powers (one of whom is opening plotting to kill Mika, leading to some very amusing dialogue), a dark, brooding, sexy librarian, and three slightly odd tutors/housekeepers, the chaos is just beginning and Mika will have her work cut out to keep the 'real world' from finding out the truth about the family at Nowhere house - though the greatest threat may come from within the witchy community.
I'm not general a huge fan of romantic, but The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches has simply stolen my heart. It's light-hearted, fun with sufficient levels of drama to keep the tale moving forward.
I hope that there is a sequel set when Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira are a little older and venturing into the outside world.

Really enjoyed this book about all things witchy, made a refreshing change and I loved the quirky characters, had quite a few giggles along the way, storyline was good and detailed could not put it down

5 Stars

This book was absolutely lovely to read and I really enjoyed it. This story is about Mika Moon and how she has spent most of her life alone due to being an orphan and a witch. After a desperate call for a live in Nanny for three young witches in need to training, Mika Moon takes a leap of faith and goes to help. After being told that witches can’t live together due too all the combined magic and problems that it can cause and normal people potentially finding out due to magic surges.
Mika also meets all the other adults in the put together family and thinks she won’t be around long as she never stays in the same place for more than a couple of months.
I found the young witches to be extremely likeable and really well wrote for characters. There’s is romance between Mika and Jamie the librarian which is a slow romance. My favourite character had to be one of the children Terracotta who has a bit of a thing about murder and how she would constantly ask Mika her preference for how she would be killed which was pretty funny.
I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and Hodderbooks for this early eARC.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a joyous, magical, wholesome book about found family and finding the people who accept and love you for exactly who you are.

This book is a lighthearted, comforting and surprisingly funny read. All of the characters were engaging and likeable. One of the children makes a rather annoying decision, but that is to be expected; since when does an 8 year old listen to their guardians? The children were portrayed very well and I really liked their interactions with the various adults. There are some deeper themes explored, e.g. childhood trauma, but these are handled well and don't detract from the main plot. I also liked the diversity of the characters.

The romance is swoon worthy, the Grumpy/Sunshine trope is very cute. I loved that the romance really added to the story and didn't overshadow the main plot. I also loved the dynamic between the found family, the children were hilarious at times. The plot twist really got me and the ending was very sweet.

This book was an absolute joy to read and if you're in the mood for a witchy, swoon worthy romance, this is definitely for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention.

An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also everyone else living in the house and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for or to follow the rules and run.

This is a story of finding where you belong and that friends are indeed the family you choose for yourself. In this heartwarming and cosy witchy book, you’ll want to cheer for Mika and be happy when she’s happy and sad when she’s sad; and in the end all you’ll want is for her to thrive and be happy!

I always love when the plot is in England, maybe because I now live there, I just have an extra soft spot for it. The characters are all so lovely and it’s amazing how you get to find out about everyone’s own story. The writing is easy to follow and build-up very nicely up to the climax and then down to the epilogue without leaving you hanging. And best of all? It’s a gorgeous stand-alone!

Please keep an eye on my bookstagram (@maria_bookshelf) as a review post is coming out on the release day!

Charming, full of heart and a warm burst of comfort The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is an absolute delight! I feel cosy fantasy is really having it's moment and this is a fantastic addition to the genre. Very reminiscent of the House by the Cerulean Sea this is a heart-warming tale of found family, unconditional love and magic.

We follow Mika Moon, a young witch who gets recruited to help out at a mysterious house called the Nowhere House with the training of 3 young witches. Witches in England have to keep themselves secret and follow the Rules™ which include not gathering and living together, so 3 young witches together, if they were discovered would be quite the scandal. Mika who has never set down roots her whole life begins to find a home at the nowhere house and with it's eclectic mix of residents and handsome scowling librarian and starts to question whether she can truly find somewhere she can belong for good.

The residents of Nowhere House include Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira the three young rebellious witches who Mika is there to train in the ways of magic. Rosetta is calm and quiet, Terracotta is out to murder Mika when she first arrives and generally hostile and Altamira is the sweetest little excitable cinnamon roll! I loved all three of the girls and seeing their growth through the book and them growing closer with Mika was so cute!!! I love young children in books and am a sucker for caring for children themes. We also have Ian and Ken, an older couple who have lived at Nowhere house a long time. Ian is exuberant and always up to mischief and Ken is his fond but exasperated husband and I loved them so much!! We also have Lucie the housekeeper, a motherly figure and then Jamie the librarian, who is a bit of grump but has a heart of gold and cares very much for his young wards and with whom Mika can't help but feel sparks fly.

This book is very much a slice of life fantasy, it's quite low stakes and low conflict but this is actually something I really like in books and feels like the perfect remedy to an increasingly fraught and depressing reality. The main emotional stakes from the book come from Mika's emotional journey in learning to let others in and find a place she can call home (which I think is relatable to us all) as well as her relationships with the other characters.

I wouldn't call this book a romance but there is a romantic subplot which I loved!! Mika and Jamie are such a grumpy/sunshine pairing which I am an absolute sucker for. I also thought the build-up to the relationship was great, they were a bit prickly with each other at first but the development of the relationship felt very natural.

I loved the magic and witchy vibes in this book. I feel like often in witchy books I'm disappointed but I absolutely loved the magic in this one. This is such a bad way to describe it lol but it honestly felt so magical and full of wonder. Additionally I loved the focus of Mika's magic being on magical potions and teas - a good cup of tea can heal most ailments in my opinion and all the tea just added to the comfort factor. The botanical element to the magic I loved as well and being near the seaside - it all just added to the cosiness!

The whole setting and descriptions of Nowhere House were all so relaxing and created a beautiful atmosphere. The prose was quiet but also felt a bit like a warm hug with a light undertone of humour and charm that paired with the excellent characters just helped to make this book an absolute joy to read.

In summary this book feels like a warm cup of tea with a biscuit on a blustery autumn day. It's a beautiful break from a busy world that sucks you in and is easily readable in an afternoon. It will leave you full of hope, joy and comfort <3

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a perfect cosy witchy romance full of wit, warmth and heart. I instantly missed the company of these charming characters once I’ve reached the end and found myself rereading the book to specifically mark favourite passages and chapters. Something I rarely do, because how am I supposed to put this book back into my shelf?

Witch Mika Moon receives a message in her inbox begging her to travel to The mysterious Nowhere House to work as a live-in tutor for three out-of-control young witches. But surly that can’t be possible as witches always live alone for safety? Mika knows she shouldn’t take this job, but the idea of sharing her passion for potions and spells is hard to resist. Before long, she finds herself a welcomed part of their little found family, with the notable exception of a certain steely grey eyed librarian. When a threat comes knocking at their door, will Mika be able to risk everything to protect them?

Magic plays a huge part of the book and there’s a real whimsical beauty in the way that Sangu Mandanna describes the casting of a spell or even the simple act of gathering ingredients for a magical tea or potion. Her writing instils a deep sense of wonder and she weaves these little delightful tendrils of magic throughout the novel like little treasures waiting to be discovered with the turn of a page.

The main character Mika’s charismatic personality lies in her sunny disposition; always ready with an easy smile and funny quips, it’s hard not to fall under her spell. What I loved the most about her is that underneath all the sunshine and kindness, Mika is a very emotionally damaged character who’s past has never truly allowed her to feel comfortable with forming attachments to people. It’s what makes her so relatable and appealing as a main character, because isn’t that what we all want to find in life? A place to belong and people who truly love you just as you are?

The inhabitants of Nowhere House, a mysterious absent archaeologist, a nurturing housekeeper, a prickly librarian, a steadfast gardener, a mischievous retired actor and three unlikely witches, form an unlikely family unit, but their fierce devotion to one another is incredibly heart-warming proving that sometimes family can be the one you choose and commit to rather than the one you are born into.

It’s been a very long time since I can honestly say that I’ve read, loved and can’t wait to recommend a “happy” book. For fans of romance, the slow burn and tension between Jamie and Mika is so swoon worthy that I’m very tempted to haunt dusty library stacks in search of a devastatingly handsome scowly librarian to call my own. For those who are not, there is a real depth to this story beyond a simple romance. There are moments of piercing emotional insight, of real growth and healing for multiple characters which gives the book real weight and makes it memorable. It’s a wonderful magical tale and one I’ll be happily revisiting over and over again in the future.

Thank you so much to the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced reading copy of the book. It’s absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to get the finished edition.

4.5 stars

When I started this book, I didn't know what to expect. In the end, I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches with all my heart. It was such a beautiful, heartwarming surprise. The story hooked me from the start and I adored every single character. We have magic, found family, funny moments, adorable relationships and grumpy-sunshine romance. But this book also touches important topics: how being different can affect your life, how it can be lonely to never belong anywhere, how it's hard to trust someone, open up with them and let them see the most vulnerable part of yourself.

“It was wildly foolish to get attached, to care, because she had never belonged anywhere and had never been enough for anybody.”

It's not easy to found the right people. But when you do, when you found the person who acceptes and loves you for who you are, warts and all... then all the pain and suffering were somehow worth it.

“It's not always enough to go looking for the place we belong. Sometimes we need to make that place.”

Adored this book so much and I have no doubt that I will be getting myself a copy when it's finally out to the world.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is about Mika Moon, a witch who wanted a sense of belonging and a passion for her magic despite the Rules of Witches she has been taught since she was little that states she's not allowed to gather with other witches and attract attention. When Mika discovered that three girls in Norfolk are witches and living together when the family contacted her - she decided to help them learn how to control their magic due to upcoming circumstances that are happening at the house.

This book took me by surprise because I didn't expect it to be as wholesome and heartwarming as I expected it to be. I loved that the plot feels low stake and it's just a book that will fill you up with happiness and warmth when you turn the pages. Like Mika who found a home in the Nowhere House, I found home in this little chaotic family as well. Like Mika also, I can't help but grew attached to these people from the start. I love the little shenanigans, the way Mika bonds with the girls, Ian, Ken, Lucie and Jamie, and how all the relationships in this book made me feel warm. I was also not expecting romance in this book so I was pleasantly surprised to see there is one between Jamie and Mika.

That being said, this book worked for me because books with little to no plot that brings serotonin is just something I enjoyed reading. The world building in this book is minimal and it's not so much a plot-driven book as it is a character-driven one. The magic is something in the background that propels the story forward (and yet you'll feel it everywhere in the story) but the star of this book is definitely the characters and the genuineness of their love between each other. This book felt like a hug to me and I just adore it to bits for that.

Is there a better feeling than finding a new comfort read? I think not.

This book hit all the right spots for me, it was such a wonderful reading experience. The writing style is extremely fun and super engaging, and this book has a cast of characters you will absolutely fall in love with.

The book deals with a lot of themes that are basically my kryptonite, like loneliness, feeling different from others in society, and finding a home despite that. I don't think I could ever dislike the found family trope, especially if it consists of unconventional family structures, so I will surely be rereading this lots.

This book is just SO GREAT. The pick me up you didn’t know you needed. It’s about belonging, feeling loved and finding your place in the world. Yes, it is about witches too - and my hope is that this doesn’t mean the book is overlooked by some readers, because it’s the life affirming read one needs every time.

Five stars and telling all my friends about it next!

🫖The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches🫖

By Sangu Mandanna

Description:

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon has lived her life by three rules: hide your magic, keep your head down, and stay away from other witches. An orphan raised by strangers from a young age, Mika is good at being alone, and she doesn't mind it . . . mostly.

But then an unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches, and Mika jumps at the chance for a different life.

Nowhere House is nothing like she expects, and she's quickly tangled up in the lives and secrets of its quirky, caring inhabitants . . . and Jamie, the handsome, prickly librarian who would do anything to protect his charges, and who sees Mika's arrival as a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika finds her feet, the thought of belonging somewhere starts to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and soon Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect the found family she didn't know she was looking for . . .

🫖🫖🫖🫖

Tasha Suri described this book as “The cosy magical romance you’ve been waiting for” and I couldn’t agree more.

TVSSOIW (because I’m not writing that title out every time!) is the kind of book that feels like a warm hug, a hot cup of tea and a plate of your favourite biscuits. It’s sweet, funny, has fantastic representation and a lovely, heartwarming story.

I loved every character, even Primrose in the end. (Damn it Primrose!)

The grumpy/sunshine romance is perfect, and without giving too much away, the steam level is just right, and very well written.

I loved the witchy details in this book and it had me cracking out the tea leaves for a proper cup of tea. Tonight’s tea is a gorgeous Black Forest from @birdandblendtea 🫖

Thanks to @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will be released on the 23rd of August.

Witchy, wholesome, and wonderfully witty!

"Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one's looking."

7 months down yet this is my first 5 star read of 2022!!!!

This is the comfort book you'll find yourself reaching for this year! This book was like the creamiest bowl of pasta, the biggest hug from your loved one, a slobbery kiss from a baby, the music that makes you want to dance, the comfiest sweatshirt, and the scent of home!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is one kaleidoscope of a story. Sangu Mandanna has beautifully crafted a feel good story with a mosaic of vibrant characters that you will instantly fall in love with. It is an exuberant tale of finding family and love in the unlikeliest of places. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and I am on a bookish high right now!

The story begins when a 31 year old witch, Mika, finds herself at the Nowhere House after receiving a WITCH WANTED advert. Mika lives in a world where witches are taught to live alone to protect themselves from harm. Mika has never known the warmth of a loving family and finds herself awestruck when she meets the eccentric members of Nowhere House. She is hired as an in-house tutor to hone the magical skills of 3 very different and extremely brilliant young witches. However, there are secrets that can break Mika away from the family she always wanted.

Pick this magical romance up to warm your hearts. The book will be released on 23 August 2022.

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Sangu Mandanna for giving me the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a tender read that's heartwarmingly enchanting. While the first chapter has already intrigued me with its off-beat humour, what made me fell in love was seeing how much Mika genuinely cares for the children, even before her relationship with them develops. That said, Mika's positivity and all-inspiring magnanimity aside, the children and the rest of the family were all hilarious and lovable, making it easy to see how quickly her feelings for them grew. Most importantly, what I loved about this book is the way it focuses not on the characters' backstories (which were undoubtedly rough to say the least) but how they work and overcome the limitations faced by them individually to build a loving, wholesome family despite all of its irregularities. This is highly empowering to me as it frames them as survivors and not victims and its a message that needs to be further shared today.

4.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

From the first page, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a delightful read. It felt like stepping into a hug or curling up under your favourite blanket. It's so cosy and whimsical, and I smiled a great deal whilst I read it.

The found family trope is one of my favourite tropes, and I loved how it was utilised in this novel. Mika, having grown up lonely because of being a witch, isn't used to having people to rely on or look out for her. The family she gains in the adults and children at Nowhere House is completely rewarding. She was the missing piece to their puzzle, and even with the angst of the house's secrets, I enjoyed how well Mika fitted into their slice of the world.

The magic used in the novel is whimsical, much as the world is. It's described so delightfully, that I couldn't help but wish for the type of magic in this book to enter my own world (especially some of the teas - they sounded so helpful). With the addition of the children's magic and the wonderful prose, I was truly enchanted.

The sub-romance plot was a good balance in this world. I loved the meddling of the side characters in Mika and Jamie's relationship, and the pacing was perfect. The spice level was just enough to keep in with the rest of the sweet nature of this book, without taking away from it being an adult relationship with adult feelings.

The inhabitants of Nowhere House were so much fun. I loved all the girls, and the caretakers alike. Everyone added their own charm to this world, and it was easy to fall in love with everyone as much as Mika did during her stay.

I adored the conclusion, and how Mika was able to blend her previous ways of being a witch into the way she hoped for in the world. It ends very optimistically and as a reader, I felt fulfilled by how this story closed out.

If you're looking for a delightfully easy read, with autumn/winter cosy vibes, then I urge you to pick this book up. It was such a wonderful read, and I'm going to look out for further works by this author.

Mika Moon lives alone, without family or friends, to keep the secret that she is a witch. All witches are doomed to this life. Only on her YouTube channel does she pretend to be a witch and assumes that no one will see through the show. But Ian recognises the truth behind the façade and turns to Mika. Because Ian has three young witches at home who are supposed to learn to control their magic...

This book was pure sugar. We get to know Mika and realise how sad and alone she is due to her lifestyle. So she takes the chance to teach the three witches to spare them this fate. The three are absolutely adorable, each in their own way: the curious, the protective, the trusting. And with them come many more characters who together make a great found family, not to mention the romance. Each of the characters has not a drop of bad blood and wants only the best for those around them. We have humorous, emotional and sad scenes. Of course, there is also an overarching plot, a problem to be solved. But that is not the focus and was dealt with quite quickly, which didn't bother me. I was there for the found family and the grumpy-sunshine-romance. The book reminded me a lot of The House In The Cerulean Sea and I think people who liked that book will like The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches too.

Thank you Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in return for my honest review!

4.5 stars rounded to 5

"The sea was the sea. It frothed and frolicked and had a beastly temper, but Mika would never wake up one day and find it gone. It knew all her secrets. It knew her. And it stayed."

This book has some of the most cozy vibes I've ever read - the setting of Nowhere House, a seemingly dilapidated house in Norfolk; the host of extraordinary and wonderful characters; the way magic exists and how its described... All of this blends to create a gorgeous book, something I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Even at the height of summer, this book made me feel like I was blanketed in Autumn and Winter, made me want to snuggle down with blankets and tea and just breathe in the atmosphere.

I'd say the main, overarching theme of this book, is that family can be created in so many different ways. And sometimes that's a mum and dad with their kids, but other times it's 'a housekeeper, a librarian, a gardener, a retired actor and three unlikely witches' and that's it's own kind of magic.

*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book gave me the same feelings that I got from The House in the Cerulean Sea. (I loved that book to an extent I can't actually describe, so this is high praise.)

TVSSOIW just exuded cosy, comforting vibes and made me feel like I was wrapped up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea by the fire. Definitely a comfort read.

And as if this magnificent story couldn't get any better, the cute little references to Jane Austen did just that (especially to a major Austen fan like myself)!!

Anyway, if you like a good fantasy about witches with amazing representation and the found family and enemies to lovers tropes, you'll be doing yourself a favour by picking this up!

This was so wholesome, pure and adorable!

I have a definitely found a new favourite author. Sangu Mandana's writing is so engaging and easy to follow. The atmosphere that she creates of a secluded English Manor house in Norfolk is just the right amount of magical. Having lived and travelled across England for several years, I am intimately familiar with the landscape and reading about it just felt like coming home.

The characters are all adorable. I am a huge fan of found family trope and it was executed with such perfection. Mika is a fantastic main character, she is so vulnerable and unsure of herself at times but at the same time she brings so much joy to everyone around her. She is a loyal friend who everyone needs in their lives. Her relationship with the kids was done so well. It was fun to watch her become their friend and mentor. In fact, I loved how all the various relationship development that we got in this book. They were complex, deep and in some cases quite entertaining.

The romance was so sweet. It was a bit on a predictable side, but at the heart of it this story is a lot about belonging and finding your place and your people in the world. People you will love and care for wholeheartedly and whose love and trust will make you a better version of yourself.

Overall, this was extremely magical and whimsical with so much witchy goodness to it. I'd highly recommend it. A perfect autumn read!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is an utterly charming book. It’s sweet and funny whilst also laced with longing, secrets, and a heroine I would love to be best friends with.

Mika Moon is a quirky vlogger, embracing the witchcore aesthetic whilst hiding the fact that she actually is a witch. She lives a secretive life, never staying long in any one place, obeying the Rules of witching imposed on her by the imposing yet sort of maternal Primrose, until one day she receives an invitation to move to Norfolk. An invitation headed ‘Witch Wanted’. It’s all too mysterious to ignore, so she packs up her magical teas, her dog and her pond and off she goes.

The story is paced just right, as we are introduced to a family of magnificent characters from the outrageous Ian, to the gorgeous yet guarded Jamie. We follow Mika as she joins their household and gets to know each of these wonderfully diverse people.

A cosy, fantastical adventure with a rising level of urgency, twists which don’t feel forced, and a very tidy wrap up – it’s a perfect autumnal read, to be enjoyed with a steaming mug of tea whilst watching the leaves begin to fall.

The title of this book was so great, I just had to read it. I was not disappointed!

I really loved this book. I was drawn into the story very quickly, and got attached to the cast of very loveable characters almost immediately that they appeared. The characters were all well portrayed, I felt like they all had their own stories and viewpoints, and that we got to know all of those at Nowhere House pretty well. I honestly loved all of them, but Mika and the children were my favourites I think.

I loved Nowhere House too. It exuded such a sense of home and kindly magic, and felt like another character.

I enjoyed the romance, and I liked the fact that although it’s an important part of the plot, it’s not the only important thing. The rest of the plot was excellent too, one or two little surprises in there as well, which I enjoyed.

Overall, this was a wonderful tale, full of magic, romance, and found family. It has to be one of my favourite books this year.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

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.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this fascinating book

the society of irregular witches meet up every so often in different secret locations passing on new spells and a general catch up of gossip....there arent many left and no new witches have joined for quite some time

primrose is in charge the one that oversees them all and mica moon is fairly new but these two witches often clash primrose follows the rules to the letter but mica likes to bend

mica has a following of her videos where she pretends to be a witch its all a bit of fun and no real magic is exposed but primrose wants it to stop as mica might out them.....mica cant see the harm but she is about to be found out.....

a request for a witches help summoms mica to nowhere house where she is about to have the shock of her life.....

this a very funny and poignant book of how a family doesnt have to be about blood to bring people together....and the mishaps and confusion that can happen when a bit of magic is involved

loved this book and finished it in a day..... couldnt put it down at all

I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a magical, heart-warming story about finding a family and belongingness. It is funny and entertaining and I was sucked into it. This book reminds me of the same feelings I had with The House in the Cerulean Sea, but laced with more magic.

I loved reading about Mika’s journey of learning how it is to be loved, accepted, and freely be herself. I loved knowing Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira, and Jamie, Ian, Ken, and Lucie that together made a perfect family. This book brings you comfort, like a warm hug and reading a book in a cold day with a cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Mika Moon is a witch with no connections, living a lonely nomadic life and dreaming of being able to embrace her magic and being wanted by the people around her. When she receives a strange request to teach 3 young witches to control their magic, she becomes entrapped in the weird, found family of Nowhere House and the strays found within.

This book is described as perfect for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I completely agree. A low fantasy setting complete with found family, healing from past trauma and a sweet romance is key to both books, and I loved Secret Society of Irregular Witches just as much.

The main cast of characters are, in my opinion, the highlight of the book. This incredibly diverse, well-rounded and sympathic cast are lovable and easy to root for, even those we don't spend as much time with all have their charms as well as their flaws, which in many cases will relate to the readers.

The story is entertaining with lots of insight and a nice mystery to it which all. comes together in a satisfyingly feel-good way. A wonderful book for anyone wanting a pleasant, if sometimes very emotional, read! Personally, I can't wait to pick up a physical copy for a reread in the future, and I hope others are encouraged to do the same!

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!! Would definitely recommend!!!

What a gorgeous witchy read. I had no idea what to expect from this book but I absolutely loved it.
Mica Moon is a 31 year old witch who has been brought up believing that witches must always work alone and can never trust anyone with the secrets of their witchcraft. However, when she is approached to help three young witches control their powers, she sees the chance for a new start.
The three girls live in a mysterious house in Norfolk in the care of their guardian but more directly, Ian, Ken and Lucie who look after the girls and the house. And then there’s Jamie who is the librarian and is determined to keep the girls safe at all costs.
Mica settles into her new role and begins to feel at home which she has never done in any place before. However, then she discovers that Jamie and the others are keeping secrets from her because they do not trust her and everything she has come to believe is shattered.
I loved all of the characters in this book. The three girls especially are brilliant. Each of them has their own character but my favourite is Terracotta who is a typical middle child, very spiky and reluctant to trust anyone especially an unknown witch. The standout character though is Mica herself. Despite lacking love and affection in her life, she cares about everyone around her and always thinks the best about any situation. A character who is a constant ray of sunshine can be irritating but Mica has a very vulnerable side and when she was hurt, I got a real lump in my throat.
This is a gorgeous book about found family, trust and new starts. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a witchy story with a healthy dose of romance.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publishers, Hodder and Stoughton for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Damn it, Primrose ! I cried so much.

TLDR : An un-put-downable book. Five pages in and I was irreversibly hooked. Fantasy mixed with romance. But the romance, while playing a huge part in the story, is overshadowed by the family all these quirky characters find in each other. An extremely wholesome book that I wholeheartedly recommend.

***

WITCH WANTED. Live-in tutor wanted for three young witches. Must have nerves of steel. Previous teaching experience not necessary. Witchiness essential.

Mika, a witch, posing as a witch on the internet, doesn’t even know why she even responds to the message. She eventually settles in with the cast of delightful characters like a retired actor, a housekeeper, a librarian, a gardener and the three young witches to be tutored.

I don’t deny that I had high expectations and I’m glad to say that they were met. This was a magical book. Literally and figuratively. I loved every character. I loved their interactions that were well and truly english and so much fun to read. I admit that I guessed some plot twists but that’s ok because I had a great experience anyway.

I loved Mika who was so passionate about magic and her potions. I loved Jamie, a grumpy pessimist constantly annoyed by the incorrigible Ian (whom I couldn’t help but imagine as Ian McKellen) and his well-intentioned meddling and scheming. Ken and his inability to keep Ian in check. The girls who were the embodiment of whimsy and wonder. And even Primrose (Damn it, Primrose !) [spoiler] who turned out to hide a kind person under her nice exterior (iykyk).

“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong. Sometimes we need to make that place.”

***

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishing team for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” is a beautiful romantic comedy in which a lonely witch finds her place in the world, a home, in the most unexpected way. They say that witches are alone in the world because they are always orphans. And that is the case of Mika, a witch of Indian origin who was raised by a British witch who took her in when her parents died. Primrose, the witch who took care of her is the oldest witch in England and that is why she is the boss of all of them. Primrose has established a series of rules according to which at present they can never reveal their status as witches, nor should they be in contact with each other in case something happens and non-witch people find out that they exist.

But loneliness weighs heavily and Mika tries to combat it with the help of her dog Circe and her carp pond. Well… and from her youtube followers where she has created a witchty-core community, anyway, who would believe that this woman who mixes potions and publishes recipes on video is going to be a real witch, in the 21st century!. Actually a strange family does, Mika is destined to educate three little witch girls. Ian and his husband Ken, two very nice old men, the housekeeper Lucie, a widow in her fifties and the librarian of the house, an attractive young Irishman named Jamie look after the three little girls who grow up in a house protected with spells by their absent guardian. These two old men and good old Lucie are willing to hire Mika to teach the girls how to control her magic, but Jamie is not very happy entrusting the girls' education to a stranger. But there is much more at stake than the control of magic, their own future, and for this, more than one character will have to review their pasts and their fears.

At first I had the impression that the tone of this book followed the guidelines established by "The House in the Cerulean Sea”. English humor, sarcasm, diversity and a story for all audiences. However, this book is more mature than TJ Klune's, it is not aimed at children for it is more mature, it has more romance than comedy, more slice of life than romance, more family than friendship. The result is this story ideal to read between Halloween and Christmas, it is engaging, compelling, heartwarming and very cosy.

The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches is the second stand-alone novel by British author, Sangu Mandanna. At the latest meeting of the group that Mika Moon likes to call The Very Secret Society of Witches, the rules of remaining apart (Alone is how we survive) and the reasoning behind them (Too much magic left unchecked in one place would draw attention, which could be dangerous) are reiterated, and Mika is again criticised by the oldest, most powerful and persuasive witch, Primrose Everly, for her witchy social media videos. Mika is undeterred: no one could ever believe from her videos that she’s really a witch!

The email she receives, not much later, has her thinking twice about that: “WITCH WANTED. Live in tutor wanted for three young witches. Must have nerves of steel. Previous teaching experience not necessary. Witchiness essential.” Surely a hoax? But she’s recently jobless and her flat lease nearly up, and a single word in the email exchange has her driving from Brighton to Norfolk to check it out.

Mika meets her prospective employers: a housekeeper, a librarian, a gardener, and a retired actor, if not Lillian Nowhere, the absent archaeologist, witch, owner of Nowhere House and the legal guardian of three young witches. Most are very welcoming.

The job, genuine, it turns out, is to tutor three young witches in magic, to help them gain control over their powers. Mika is amazed that this little enclave of witches has gone unnoticed by the imperious and inflexible Primrose but Nowhere House does have some powerful wards protecting it from detection. And this quirky foursome clearly loves and cares deeply about their charges.

Mika is not at all sure she can do this job: she has no experience with teaching children. There’s also the urgency: Edward Foxhaven, Lillian’s solicitor is due to arrive in weeks on a legal errand, and this meticulous man, who detests Lillian’s employees, is likely to seize on any excuse to have them evicted; an outbreak of uncontrolled magic would easily fit the bill. And then there’s Jamie Kelly, the devastatingly handsome but scowly, cold and unreachable librarian who definitely doesn’t want her there.

But Mika recalls the crippling loneliness of her own childhood, raised by a parade of nannies in a house in York and learning to control her own magic by trial and error: she can’t condemn these young girls to that. After just a few weeks at Nowhere House, Mika realises she is feeling so needed, so comfortable, that she is in danger of forgetting her lifelong promise to herself: don’t get attached. Could she take a risk?

What a charming story Mandanna gives the reader! The plot is clever, the characters are appealing and she subtly and seamlessly inserts the properties and rules governing the fantasy elements into the narrative. All the requirements of an entertaining and enjoyable fantasy novel: quirky characters, magic, romance and a dog, are comprehensively met. The added bonus is plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and a few to bring a lump to the throat.

Sensitive readers should be aware that there is a bit of sex and some characters do use expletives, but Mandanna also gives them wise words and insightful observations: “Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking” and “when someone leaves, all you can do is leave a window open for them so that one day, if they choose, they can come back.” More of this cast would be most welcome! Highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

Mika Moon is one of the few witches in Britain, and they all abide by The Rules: 1) hide your magic, 2) keep your head down and, 3) stay away from other witches so as not to draw attention. Mika is used to being alone (mostly), but an unexpected invitation to the remote Nowhere House to teach 3 young witches magic opens the door to a different (rule-breaking) life. She soon finds herself charmed by the quirky inhabitants of Nowhere House, including the surly but handsome librarian, Jamie. Suddenly, the possibility of finding a place to belong seems very real, but there are other dangers that lurk around and Mika will need to find a way to protect her newfound family.

This book gave me “The House in the Cerulean Sea” vibes. Like Mika, I too, was charmed by the quirky but caring inhabitants of Nowhere House, from Lucie (the housekeeper), to Ian and Ken (retired actor and gardener couple), to of course our prickly librarian, Jamie, and the 3 young witches, Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira.

There is romance in the book (of course), but I feel that the focus appears to be on character growth (especially for Mika, the 3 girls and Jamie), as well as family (or rather, found family). The characters also have very diverse backgrounds.

The story is very heartwarming and touches on themes of loneliness, trust issues, dysfunctional family and learning about what it means to be different from others in society (and then trying to fit in) and its impact on your life. The pacing of the story is quite good and most of the characters, lovable. Overall, I had a really delightful time with this story! 4.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was so much fun to read! I loved all the magic aspects and watching Mika find the family that she'd always wanted. While, yes, there is a solid grumpy x sunshine romance plot in this, all the scenes with the side-characters were actually my favourite! I could have read an entire book of just Mika trying to teach Rosetta, Altamira and Terracotta magic! (Dark humoured, sarcastic, but with a heart of gold, Terracotta is my fave!) I also loved the other inhabitants of Nowhere House - Ian, Ken, Lucie and Jamie - and seeing the lengths they'd all gone to in order to keep the young witches safe.

This book felt really fresh and original, and I know it's going to be a hit with many of you!

When Mika Moon answers a message about becoming the magical tutor to three young witches, she couldn't have anticipated how much her life would change as a result. This book is gentle and warm, with a cast of outstanding characters and a theme of found family. I can't recommend it enough - reading it feels like a hug.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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!

Mika and Jamie's relationship is what i've recently learned it called the 'grumpy sunshine' and 'found family' tropes. I loved their relationship which is just another bonus to an incredible story about witches around Britain but specifically three young witches on the south east coast. Described as similar to House on the cerulean sea, i'd have to agree with that, i enjoyed that book but loved this one so much more. Set on the Norfolk Broads, Nowhere house is home to a mega powerful witch who's never home, Jamie the librarian, Lucie, Karl and his husband Ian who all care or the three little witches, Altamira, Rosetta and Terracotta. At one point they go into Norwich city center and having studied there, this felt so nostalgic for me to follow around the descriptions of the city and felt right ack there again but this time with them. This was such an incredibly perfect read that I cannot recommend enough.!

What a wonderful warm hug of a book! I raced through its pages getting to know Mika Moon and the inhabitants of Nowhere House where magic is real and family so important in a world where witches are supposed to be alone. Mika is a lovely sunny character who always has a smile on her face dispute her lonely and damaging upbringing as a child. A story of family and finding where you belong, of friendship and love and of course magic. I loved it and would thoroughly recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

What a truly delightful read. SM’s writing pulled me into the story from the very first chapter and kept me engaged throughout the story. Mika was an excellent lead. Despite the sadder aspects of her upbringing and life she never lost her kindness. She was warm hearted, smart, brave, capable, talented and completely relatable. Her journey was handled well. She was also the gateway into this world and it was truly magical to see it through her eyes.

Nowhere house , its residents, the impact they had on Mika and the impact she had on them was a highlight. Loved the girls, Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira and their distinct but interesting personalities (their interactions with the adults legitimately made me lol). Ken , Ian, Lucie, Primrose and Circe (pupper) were great supporting characters who really added to the story . Jamie was wonderfully grumpy, loving and protective and a good counter to Mika’s character. Watching the development of Jamie and Mika’s relationship and how she progressively wormed her way under his skin and into his heart was a delight. A really well developed, believable relationship with great chemistry.

There are some fun twists and an interesting journey for all with a really satisfying ending. ( 5 ⭐️).

Many thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

This book is about Mika, one of the few witches living secretly in modern day Great Britian. Or, at least she thought she was keeping her secret, until she receives a message starting with "Witch Wanted" in her instagram inbox. Half convinced that the following job offer is only a joke, she takes it up and becomes the tutor to three young witches living in a place called Nowhere House.

What immediately appealed to me were the key words cozy fantasy, found family, and rom-com. This book fulfilled all those and more - reading it was pure joy. I loved the humor and was constantly giggling or smiling. The world and its characters are slightly chaotic and so very lovable. I also appreciate the general maturity, something I didn't realize I hadn't expected, since the topic of witches usually makes me think of YA (even though I knew the book is an adult fantasy). It feels very refreshing.

As I mentioned, the characters are all great. Not everyone has the opportunity for as much background and depth as the protagonists, but the entire cast still felt lively and authentic. I especially liked Jamie, grumpy local librarian (although I might be a tiny bit biased towards librarians, haha) who is completely blindsided by Mika's sunny personality. Their dynamics were quite fun to witness and their character development felt perfect. Seeing them slowly grow together is simply heartwarming!

I did end up wishing that the book wasn't so short, since I would have loved to stay longer at Nowhere House. The pacing is perfect as it is, but still, at the end I wanted more because I had such a good time. The ending itself was able to gather up all the tension that had been discarded in the previous cozy atmosphere and I loved being carried through all the plot twists. It was certainly a great experience to unravel all the hints that had been provided from the beginning.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book and can only recommend it. It is filled with comfort, family, community, sunflowers, stardust and magic. The themes of belonging, of staying true to yourself and of trusting others are prevalent in the most beautiful way. This is the perfect book for anyone in the mood of a cozy, funny fantasy with a truly colorful cast that forms the most wonderful of witchy families.

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!

I usually read fantasy book with witches that has adventure or high stakes but this book apparently isn't one of them. There are witches, yes, and magic, but they live like a normal human and blend well with human too, you won't even know they're witches at a glance. That's because they've been keeping their ability a secret. They live alone, separated from each other to avoid danger and suspicions. But they held routine meetings to talk and exchange new spells (if there's any).

Mika Moon has been lonely her whole life. She, like every witch, was orphaned young. She grew up in the hand of several caretakers that changed every time her identity started to be suspected. One day she uploaded a video about her pretended to be a witch and that video went viral. One of the viewer turns out to be able to saw that she's not a regular human, so that's when Mika's life started to change.

I LOVE how serene the atmosphere, how mundane and looked "normal" this story was. It's focused on the characters, the dynamics are fun and lovely, and they live a normal life like a normal family, except there's witches and magic. The magic system was easy to understand too so it didn't require a lot of thinking. I adored the found family, their bond are absolutely as strong as real biological family. The characters are so diverse and covered a wide age range which was made the interactions even more interesting. It also has slow burn romance that's so adorable even though they're adults. Some of the parts made me emotional in a good way too.

Overall this was such a relaxing book and I enjoyed everything about it.

I loved this book. It was magical, and heart-warming, I can guarantee I'll be reading it again. The story was really well done, but I do wish that we could see even more of the family hijinks going on in Nowhere House!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a wholesome story and a breath of fresh air. I devoured this book in a matter of hours. Mika Moon was a cheery, vulnerable and quirky woman who you'd fall in love with. Add in a grumpy and handsome librarian, meddling elders, three young kids growing into their powers and this makes a fun and engaging story. This was light-hearted, hopeful, and serious at times. I loved Ian's meddlesome nature, Ken's gentleness and the kids innocence and mischievous antics. The story was predictable but I loved reading every second of it. It is a typical story about a woman getting a job of tutoring young kids in the middle of nowhere but at the same time it was much more than that. It explored the concept of identity, finding acceptance and love. I loved seeing Mika opening herself and finding a family in them. If you are looking for a joyous story about acceptance and finding your family with a dash of romance and magic, this would be the perfect book for you.

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.

I hadn’t really heard much about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches until I saw some fellow bloggers and bookstagrammers receive the proof. I saw the word witches and was sold! I thankfully was approved for an eARC from the amazing Kate at Hodder and I dove straight in. Prior to reading this book I hadn’t really read for about a month, I was in the biggest reading slump I have had in years. This book was a godsend, and it came at the right time for me and it brought me out of the book slump. This book is just absolutely perfect!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches follows the story of Mika, a 31-year-old witch who has spent her entire life alone. She has no family, and she moves around before she gets attached or anyone finds out her secret. When she is called to Nowhere House to teach three young witches, she finds more than she ever counted on.

This book is one of the best, most uplifting books I have ever read. It is just so adorable and sweet and it has some of my all time favourite book tropes in it. It actually gave me the same vibes and feelings as The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, which is another of my favourite books I have read this year. I absolutely loved that the main character was in her 30s. As a single person in their 30s, it was really uplifting to read about a character who doesn’t have her whole life together by that age. I read so many books about teenagers or people in their early 20s getting their happy ever after… it was really refreshing to read one about a character a little bit older.

I just loved every single moment of this book. It has found family, and the grumpy/sunshine trope which is one of my favourites. Right from the very first page, I was obsessed with this amazing book. I loved the characters, the setting, the witches. There was even some major twists and turns that I did not see coming. If you know me well, you’ll know I pretty much guess every twist in every book really early. So the fact that this one left me shocked, is a major plus!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches should be a must read for everyone. It was everything I love in a book and more! I cannot recommend this book enough. It is without a doubt one of the best books I have read so far this year (and I’ve read over 60 books). It was utter perfection. Funny, witty and just a whole lot of feel good vibes. This is one you do not want to miss.

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.

This story was phenomenal and I am still thinking about it a week after I finished it. I literally could not put this down - I was so pleased to get the audiobook as well as the book as I could switch between them when necessary. This story was beautiful, and I usually hate it when people say this book is like this book. However, this book has all the feels of T J Klune's House on the Cerulean Sea. Obviously, it is not too similar, and that is what makes them both so special.

Mika is such a strong and amazing woman and of course an awesome witch. Her childhood was not the best, but also not the worst. But as an adult, she can never reveal herself fully to anyone. She cannot tell anyone she is a witch, she cannot hang out with other witches and she moves a lot to try and not get too attached. Until someone asks her for help and says please.

No Where house felt like coming home to Mika and somewhere I would love to be as well. Mika starts to realise every rule she has abided by maybe not be all they seem.

Everyone needs to read this book, it has all the cosy vibes and I love seeing such amazing women and girls learn to lean on one another and make their worlds better.

Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a cozy and heartwarming hug of a book that, like it’s utterly loveable protagonist will melt even the coldest—and grumpiest—of hearts. It’s a lighthearted (and Hallmark-worthy) tale of love, acceptance, found family and human connection that I literally couldn’t put down.

It follows Mika Moon, a witch who (like most witches) lost her parents at a young age and was raised in isolation so as not to draw attention to her magic. Mika has gotten used to her solitary life, only meeting with fellow witches sporadically to limit the risk of detection. But, all that changes when Mika receives a message asking her to travel to Nowhere House and teach three young witches in need of her guidance—a post she readily accepts.

Mika’s arrival at Nowhere house heralds a big change for the young witches, their guardians and for Mika who feels—for the first time in her life—that she can truly belong.

I loved every second of this adorably sweet and wholesome, witchy romance. It’s Practical Magic meets Mary Poppins premise was utterly perfect! Having sped through this at a record pace, I definitely feel like I’ll be floating on the lighthearted, feel good vibes for a long while to come!

The word building was really good if a little light, but the characters were exceptionally well written and complex which I really enjoyed—I loved the found family that this endearing, rag tag group creates and really brings to mind the feel good/cozy vibes I get from T.J Klune’s books.

Mika, our loveable protagonist was absolutely phenomenal, she’s such an endearing and optimistic person who manages to see the good in almost everyone—even when they try to exploit her kind-hearted nature. Having grown up away from children her own age and with a revolving door of tutors and nannies—it’s not difficult to see just how lonely and guarded she is, never staying in one place longer than six months. But her blossoming confidence and growing friendships (with Ian, Lucie, Ken, Jamie and the girls) were such a delight to watch unfold—especially when seeing just how happy having a place to belong (and finally call home) made Mika.

I also loved all three of the girls (Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira) and really enjoyed how adorably cheeky they were—though they had each other (something Mika never did) it was great to see just how much being around a fellow witch who could help them control their powers, give insight into their unique situations and really helped them to thrive. Especially the sassy firecracker,Terracotta who was pretty set against Mika to begin with.

I adored the swoon worthy, slow burn romance between Mika and cranky librarian, Jamie and watching Mika’s sunshine personality slowly break down Jamie’s stony defences was an absolute delight!

Overall, this gently humorous contemporary fantasy is full of endearing, larger than life characters and a whimsically uplifting plot that you’ll find yourself fully immersed in—and if you’re anything like me, you won’t want it to end!

I definitely recommend checking this out if you love sunshine/grump, found family or since of life-style fiction.

A massive thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!

I'm in LOVE with this book.

This book is so heartwarming and at the same time we will also given the "heart break" of this characters. Mika is a witch. She live almost all her alone and moving to one place regularly because she believe that is the safest thing to do for herself. Until one day, she got a message to tutor 3 young witches. Of course she didn't believe it at all because no one knows her as a witch except her group but with curiosity she came to them. And there, she saw human and 3 young witches live together as family. She decided to help them and slowly she fell in love with this little family.

As you can see, this book is about found family. Mika want someone to love her for herself. And I really love Mika here. I thought she would be a little childish but no, she's mature and can handle these 3 cute young witches so well! I love these young witches and their interaction between them and to adult around them. Their so pure and lovable, every comment they make successfully to create a smile to me. Focus on creating the family, this little family is so great, their interaction, their bantering, how protective of them to each other is beautiful. I also love the relationship that develop between Mika and Jamie, their love story didn't dominate overall story so the heartwarming in this book is preserved.

This is what I would call a cosy witchy romance story. It was utterly lovely, and I loved every second of it! The plot was great, the characters lovable and the romance positively swoon-worthy. Can highly recommend!

I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to Sangu Mandanna and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches before it’s release.

I can safely say that Mandanna has well and truly cast a spell on me with this book. Any book involving witches is sure to catch my eye; but I truly fell in love with the magic of Nowhere House.

Hired to be a live in tutor for three young witches; Mika Moon expects the worst- having been told all her life that only catastrophic things can come from multiple witches being in the same place for too long. What she does not expect, is to find a whole new way of living amongst this unique group of people.

I felt the pacing was brilliant throughout; the romance never overshadowed the ongoing plot to fool a solicitor and while there wasn’t any unexpected twists, there didn’t need to be! I loved all the characters within this book, even the troublesome Terracotta who certainly doesn’t think she needs any help.

What a beautiful story! The author has created a wonderful world where magic is real, but witches must hide for fear of being persecuted. When Mika Moon receives a message that begins 'Witch Wanted', she is intrigued. When she arrives at Nowhere House and meets the three young witches she should tutor, she doesn't realise that her life is about to change forever.

Beautifully written, with wonderful characters that come to life, this is a heartwarming story of love, friendship and belonging. I was sorry to leave them when it was over! Highly recommend.

When the blurbs said this one is a perfect recommendation of TJ Klune fans, I couldn't agree more.

I really love this book from the first page. The writing style is quiet simple yet so cute. I usually didn't enjoy many romance books. But, it seems my preference doesn't apply for this one. The slow burn romance is just perfect.

Also don't forget the stunning cover. Love it !!!

I am so pleased to be able to partake in the 'cosy fantasy' trend we're seeing popping up at the moment - life is hard enough let me have some escapism in my books. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is one such book that so perfectly captures all of my favourite cosy things. There is magic, found family, gardening and growing and so much love captured in the pages of this wonderful book and I honestly cannot wait to recommend it to everyone I know - and their mums!
This is a world where there are witches but for their own safety they remain hidden both from society and, except for a few occasions, from each other. But Mika Moon (our main character) realises that this may be a safe choice but it might not be a healthy choice when she is called to look after three young witches under one roof - something unheard of in the witching world. This shouldn't work, shouldn't be allowed, but Mika takes on the challenge of keeping the girls - and their unusual family - safe. She might also find some romance on the way!
I loved this book, that's all I need to say really. It did exactly what I wanted it to do and was incredibly well written. I think it will be a comfort read for me in the future and I can see myself picking it up over and over again. This will inevitably be compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea because they do share an awful lot of similarities but for me this book felt a bit more nuanced, more considered and overall more successful in some ways.
I will be recommending this wonderful read to pretty much everyone from here on out, it's the cosy book we all deserve right now. Do yourself a favour and get yours today - it's magical.

Today I want to talk about a book that unfortunately has been little publicized and that has been a bit overshadowed by other great August book releases, but which I literally loved, and I know you will love it too!

The book is The very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, out on August 23 by Hodder & Stoughton whom I thank along with Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Since few have ever heard of this book, I write the plot in a nutshell:
Mika Moon is a witch and she is part of a secret witchy society that meets once every three months. The rules are simple. Keep a low profile, hide your witch skills and stay away from other witches.

Mika is used to the rules of society, but she would like to talk about her abilities as a fearless and risk-free witch. A social media account seems like a great way to tell about her life as a witch until, through her videos of her on her social media, she receives a somewhat bizarre offer: to teach three young witches to control and use their magic in a house in the middle of the woods.

Arriving at Nowhere House, Mika finds more than she bargained for. She meets a wonderful group of people, including an elderly retired theatre actor with her husband, a grumpy but sexy librarian, and three young orphaned witches with not much control of their powers.

Little by little Mika realizes that in that magical house she is finding the family she never had, and maybe even love, but she and the people of Nowhere House have to face some problems before thinking about the future.

The book is truly a cuddle to the heart! It's a Grumpy x Sunshine romance found family with a pinch of magic, spells and magical potions.

I loved the fact that it was a Found Family (it's one of my favourite tropes) and I loved the fact that the book features a truly diverse cast of characters full of representation (LGBTQ+ characters, different ethnicities, an Indian MC, orphaned children and much more).

The characters are all truly adorable and I loved the bizarre family they make up, there is the protagonist Mika, an energetic witch, with a huge and always optimistic heart, Jamie, the grumpy but caring bookseller, the three little witches, pestiferous but very sweet and many other unforgettable characters.

Even the author's writing perfectly reflects the sweetness and warmth of the story!

The story is extremely cosy and perfect for the autumn/winter period. I highly recommend to read this book if you love Found Family stories, with a very nice Grumpy x Sunshine romance, with a hint of magic/witchcraft and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

P.S. the shed scene at the end of the book made me die with laughter, I think it's one of the funniest scenes I've ever read in my entire life (anyone who has read the book will understand what I'm talking about).

"This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it's going to be an absolute fucking disaster."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Meter: 🌶️

❗This is a spoiler-free ARC review from Netgalley❗

I am seriously losing my mind over the cuteness of this book. It was the most wholesome read so far. I felt pure joy, I laughed, I met some very unusual, delightful characters, aaaaand I cried a little too. All in all, this was a reading goal success. There wasn't much in the way of conflict for more than half of the book, (so don't expect an intensely engaging story) not counting grumpy and sunshine getting to know each other (you know how that is 🤗🤗), which left a lot of room for really funny, happy moments and bonding that may or may not have cured my depression a little. The use of the found family trope was excellent. It was a very pure story. Also, the writing style reminded me of Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett a little bit, with its tasteful humour, quirky characters, and delightfully ridiculous situations. I don't know if this is intended to be as a standalone, but I demand another book. I don't care. I want it.

Mika Moon, the main character, was delightful and really entertaining to read about. She was such a lovable character and such an awesome, badass witch. I really loved her, I laughed with her and found myself empathising with her, which means the character was written well. I also loved her attitude towards life, in spite of the loneliness she experienced all her life, even though I could never match it. I'm more the grumpy rather than the sunshine 😅😅 Mika also has a dog, her name is Circe and she's absolutely adorable (duuuuuh), and some koi fish named Hecate, Freyja, Medusa, and Ceridwen, all names which I really love and want to use for my pets. So you can imagine how much identified with this particular witch. I should mention that she also named her car Broomstick which is what I want to name my car now if I'm ever not broke long enough to buy one that is...😅😅

As expected, the love interest was amazing as well. James Kelly was delightful, hilariously grumpy, kind, and really really hot. This particular reader approves 🤩🤩 You should see how adorable he looked trying to convince himself he wasn't helplessly crushing on the charming, beautiful witch. He had his own found-family story and it was so emotional, and beautiful. If I could take Mika and Jamie, wrap them in a blanket, and give them milk and cookies I would. He was willing to do anything to protect the ones he loved. Especially the three young witches he was taking care of. He was also a reminder that men like this only exist in books written by women...I did not appreciate the reminder, to be perfectly honest 😑😑

I found the romance excruciatingly slow, which for me is pretty much ideal because I'm an uncurable masochist. I want to be tortured with lingering looks, longing, 'innocent' hand holding, and sweet, 'friendly' words until eventually, after more than half a book later they finally give me what I want, (which is more or less what happens here). In fact, the longer they take to get together the better. Yes, I have a problem. I will NOT do anything about it except read more exruciatingly slow-burn romances. Call me crazy, I don't care. I also definitely have a weak spot for the grumpy x sunshine trope. I can't help it. It's delightful every time. Just the idea of an insanely energetic, extroverted person teaming up with a broody, antisocial introvert brings me an innumerable amount of joy.

As for all the other characters, there isn't a single one I don't love unconditionally. Well...there is one actually, but he can suck it. He doesn't matter. Each character had their own unique, quirky personality, they were so damn lovable, funny, and cute. I had such a blast with all of them. Primrose may have had a stick up her ass but I still really really liked her. Ian, Ken, and Lucie (the girls' caregivers) were incredible. As for said girls, Rosetta, Altimira, and Terracotta, you couldn't find cuter witches no matter how hard you tried. They were so adorable and just as funny as everyone else in this book. It was such a brilliant experience with all of them.


I highly recomend it.

The Very Secret Society of Witches meets on the third Thursday of every third month. They never meet in the same place twice and this is the only chance for its members to connect and socialize as witches can stay too long together because it attracts too much magic.

Mika Moon is one of its members, one of the youngest. Orphaned right after her birth, she was raised by a string of nannies and tutors. Mika is used to being alone and she never stays long in the same place. She posts online videos where she pretends to be a witch and that’s how she attracts the attention of a particular inhabitant of Nowhere House who contacts her to teach three young witches to control their magic. When she arrives at Nowhere House she is welcomed warmly by most of the residents, which include two caretakers and one retired actor, except for one of her charges, Terracotta, who comes up with different ideas on how to murder her, and Jamie, the handsome and grumpy librarian, whose constant scowl is proof she doesn’t trust her. As Mika starts to feel like she belongs, someone threatens her happiness and that of the people she has come to care about…

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I loved the setting, the writing, the plot, but, most of all, the characters. They are eccentric, witty, vivid, and engaging and you can’t help but love them. Mika is relatable, funny, and smart; Jamie is charming and prickly and he would do anything to protect the three young witches; Ian, an energetic and eccentric retired actor, who likes to play Cupido; kind and considerate Ken who, despite not having any powers, has a magical touch in the garden; Lucie, the caring housekeeper who tries to keep everyone in line; and all of them would do anything – including come up with far-fetched and absurd plans – to protect the three young witches in their care: Rosette, Terracotta, and Altamira.

I can’t recommend The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches enough. There is romance, magic, entertaining plans and much more. It was such such an enjoyable, addictive, and superb read and I am really hoping for a sequel in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

This has become one of my favourite books of all time!
it was so wholesome, so comforting, and so beautifully written - the characters were fleshed out, the kids adorable, and the romance was soooo good! Steamy, romantic and slow burn. Ten out of ten!
I can't wait for this author to write anything else!

Secrets can protect you. But they can also hurt you.

In an alternate Britain where anti-magic sentiments are high and a misfired spell has resulted in all magical children becoming orphans, Mika Moon has only known isolation and mistrust. She doesn't create strong ties and she definitely does not put down roots. But when a strange message on her social media account lures her to the mysterious Nowhere House, Mika has to decide if she should leave and report them to Primrose, ultimately separating three young children (and letting them grow up miserable under the very same Rules she's always hated)...or if she should stay and teach the three young witches how to control their magic (and maybe give them a sense of belonging and a semblance of a normal life).

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a beautiful story of belonging, acceptance, and found family. The longer Mika stays, the more she realises that maybe the way she was brought up wasn't quite right, even if the strict rules were put in place for her protection. The strange assortment of adults in the house - a retired actor and his gardener husband, a long-suffering housekeeper and a prickly librarian - soon show her what it means to live in community and love each other sacrificially, even when they're at odds with each other. It makes her want to finally set down roots - especially with that hot, prickly librarian who is oddly spending a lot of time with her.

In that light, I suppose you can also read the story as a fantasy romance - with all the predictability that that involves: secrets kept, revelations that come just a little too late, a betrayal of trust. Can Mika and Jamie truly trust each other when the starting point of their relationship was built upon a web of lies? Secrets are costly, but they're not the only ones keeping them. (I did somewhat see that twist coming.)

Overall, the book is a funny and heart-warming read, though not exactly clean. There is quite a bit of swearing and a sex scene somewhere in Chapter 26 - so despite its overall feel-good nature, not exactly one for younger readers.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When Mika Moon is being summoned to Nowhere House to help learn 3 young witches how to harnass their magic, she doesn't expect to find this unconventional but loving family she wants nothing more than to be part of.

Growing up Mika was raised by different nannies, hired by Primrose the head of the 'Secret Society of Witches'. Lonely in the world where she spends no more than a couple of months in one place, Mika is contacted by Ian with his unusual request.

Slowly but surely Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira, the 3 young witches, and Nowhere House start to feel like a real home to Mika. She helps Ian, Ken and Lucie lovingly look after the girls, learning them how to balance their powers and teach them more about magic.

Of course there is librarian Jamie, handsome but brooding, not sure if Mika is the best to help them with their precarious situation. But Jamie seems to understand Mika better than she sometimes does, and their attraction grows deeper.

I absolutely loved this book and found it very hard to put down. Wonderfully written, with very likable characters. I look forward to reading more from Sangu Mandanna.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

Mika Moon is a witch. Something she has had to hide all her life. An orphan whose parents died when she was a baby, and raised by strangers, Mika is no stranger to having to hide who she is, protect herself and her fellow witches, her one outlet is a youtube channel where she post videos pretending to be a witch, thinking no one will actually believe it's true. That is until she gets a mysterious message in her inbox 'Witch wanted', and even more vague and strange answers to her questions. So Mika does what anyone would do, she goes to the house and tries to find out what is going on. What she finds is a strange place, with an even stranger group of people inhabiting it, including three young witches. Mika knows that that much power in one place can surely only cause trouble, but she quickly gets sucked in to helping the children learn to harness and control their power. The more time she spends there, the more in love with falls with everyone, not least the prickly and scowly librarian Jamie, but Mika has a lot of scars from her past, some not quite healed over, and all it will take is one little lie for the life she has built to come tumbling back down.

Mika was such a fantastic character. We start the book falling into her easy charm, wit and smiles, but the more time we spend with her, the more we realise just how lonely her life is. Thanks to rules set by the 'head witch' of the UK, witches are only allowed to meet at certain times and places, certainly not live together, so Mika has spent her life flitting from place to place, never setting down roots, making friends because she knows it would never be true while she is keeping such a big thing from them. But then comes Nowhere House and the inhabitants that not only know shes a witch, they love her for it. It's easy to see why she gets drawn to this place, this life she never imagined herself having, and was both sad and heartwarming seeing her second guessing herself, thinking that surely they would get bored of her at some point and then slowly coming to realise this might just be where she fits.

As for side characters we meet a few of Mika's witchy friends, including Primrose, the head witch and woman who was in charge of raising Mika as a child. But the true stars of this story are the inhabitants of Nowhere House. Ian, the ex dramatic actor who likes to meddle in things he shouldn't, Ken, his long suffering husband and gardener for Nowhere House, Lucie the housekeeper who ended there after a failed marriage, Jamie the librarian and only real parent the children have ever known, and the children. Rosetta, Terracotta & Altamira, all three with tragic backstories who were brought to Nowhere House as babies and have been raised by the quirky bunch of people who live there. The children absolutely made this story what it was, they added humour, heartbreak as well as love.

You know those stories that when you're reading them, feel like you're getting enveloped in one big massive hug? That's what this book is like. It's hilarious, heartwarming, but also incredibly sad in parts, and the thing I loved most about it was seeing Mika develop all the different relationships, seeing her finally be accepted for what she is, not having to hide her witchiness. If you're a fan of the found family trope this is 100% the book for you. It is one big happy family, but every family has their cracks, and so does this one. The big threat throughout the story is if Primrose found out about these three witches being raised together, she would demand they be split up to lessen the danger. Mika knows what she is doing is dangerous, but she's also not willing to take these children from the only lives, the love that they have, especially knowing how hard it is to grow up alone. Some take their time trusting her, others are just instantly in awe of her power, but I loved seeing her worm her way into each and every life in the house.

The romance in this book was delicious and slowburn and just *chefs kiss.* Jamie, at first doesn't want Mika to come at all, let alone trust her with teaching the children they have spent so long trying to keep safe. He can't get used to her quirkiness, her charm, her smile, the way she seems to be slowly worming her way into belonging at Nowhere House. Mika also isn't quick to trust, but she finds it hard to not get drawn in to a life she has never had before, one filled with family and love. They both have their trauma, both have pasts they would rather forget, but what draws them together is their love for the children, their need to protect them and everyone else who lives at Nowhere House. There's plenty of snark, of surprised longing and it definitely gets a little steamy towards the end, but I loved seeing their relationship develop alongside all the others Mika makes.

If you enjoy fast reads, I polished this one off in an afternoon, filled with found family, quirky and lovable characters, magic and romance then you need to add this to your TBR asap. Mandanna's writing style, the wit and snark and quirkiness ensure that you never want to put the story down, and there are plenty of emotional moments thrown in to ensure you get invested in the story and characters. I can totally see why it's been compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea, but this story stands on it's own two feet, and I am incredibly excited to see what the author has in store for us next.

This was utterly charming from start to finish and I couldn’t put it down - Practical Magic meets The House On the Cerulean Sea!

Mika has lived her life in almost-complete separation from other witches, following The Rules that keep them from being discovered. Her world is turned completely upside-down when she takes a job teaching three young witches. The girls are hidden in a secluded part of the Norfolk coast with an eclectic group of caretakers including a theatrical octogenarian and his husband, and a grumpy librarian who definitely hasn’t made up his mind about Mika just yet.

There’s a sweetness and a lightness to this story that I fell in love with, and I’d love to see more stories of the witches that Mika comes into contact with.

Having grown up in Norfolk, it was particularly wonderful to see the county included in such a lovely story.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This review is entirely my own opinion.

My first book by this author and it was very, very good!

Mika Moon is a witch who has been raised to follow the regular witchy practice of hiding her magic and keeping away from other witches. For her it is a lonely way of life so when the opportunity arises to break the rules and maybe find a better way she grabs it with both hands. Of course not everything goes well.

I really enjoyed all the characters - the three young witches, Ian and his husband, and all the others but especially Jamie. The romance between him and Mika was sweet and was a major part of the story. The magic system was fun and I loved the idea of seeing magic as gold dust.

This is a happy, feel good story, written beautifully and with plenty of original ideas. I loved it and will look out for more by this author.

This book is special its loving and cozy and full of understanding and talking. Its full of hwaling generational trauma, loving people despite themselves. Making new traditions to override the old. 🌻

✨In a world where a broomstick can be a hatchback and a cup of tea more lucky than you think. Where witches live among people. Where people live among witches.

Mika Moon is unmoored. Her life as a witch. Enjoying magic by herself. Growing up by herself. She knows how to be by herself. The rent on her flat is nearly up, and she is not going back to her childhood home and the ghosts that haunt it. 🪐

The thing is witches are lonely. They are cursed to be orphans and safer away from other witches. Mika loves magic, she is magic, but she has to keep it secret. She has to keep herself secret. She shares bits here and there. A witchcraft instagram page, with recommendations for incense. Teas shared with her neighbour that do more than warm you up. She shares herself in a thousand little Mika is thrust into a world of love and chaos and rule breaking.

This book is just so adorable - like an absolutely perfect low stakes low urban fantasy with a sprinkling of romance. The lit reference, the Austen references. The ardent love. It’s all too perfect. Right down to the cozy bookshop and attic bedroom. With the windows open even in winter🐌

SUCH a cosy read! Just what I needed while on sick leave from work. It’s like a warm hug in a book! I was ambivalent towards this just from reading the blurb, but the characters and story soon had me converted! Give this book a chance - you won’t regret it!

This book is a cosy, warm embrace of a fantasy! It’s a found family tale with the cosiest form of witchiness and it’s so full of heart, hope and humour. The romance was lush, the story beautiful and it had me feeling all kinds of fuzziness inside whilst having me chuckling aloud on the outside. I can’t recommend this enough - a cosy, hopeful, weightless fantasy, a refreshing addition to the genre.

“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking”

Overview

“Don’t get soppy yet, Ian Kubo-Hawthorn… This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it’s going to be a absolute fucking disaster.”

Mika Moon is one of twenty-odd known witches in the UK, twenty-odd orphaned women who live solitary lives in accordance with the Rules - afterall, dangerous things happen when witches gather. But when Mika receives a message online requesting her help tutoring three young witches, Mika steps into a house unlike any other, and finds herself a home.

What I Liked

“…when someone leaves, all you can do is leave a window open for them so that one day, if they choose, they can come back.”

I loved all of the characters in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. From the three witch girls - Rosetta, Teracotta, and Altamira - to every odd member of the Nowhere House family; Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and especially Circe. Afterall, people really didn’t deserve dogs.

The plot was light enough to allow us to focus on the characters and their development, but not so light that you forgot it was there. It allowed for the progression of the story to feel natural, with the exception of the ending that felt a little rushed.

I adored the slowbuild between Jamie and Mika. Grumpy x Sunshine seems to be swiftly becoming one of my favourite romance tropes, and Mandanna executed it perfectly in this book! With Jamie very slowly losing all the reasons he told himself he couldn’t like Mika, and Mika slowly finding herself able to open up to this prickly yet kind man, their relationship felt as natural as magic.

What I Didn’t Like

“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong… sometimes we need to make that place.”

The ending felt a little rushed, but more in that a lot of events happened in the last few chapters, rather than it was poorly crammed in together.

I also found myself disliking Primrose, though we learn throughout the book exactly why she is the way that she is. I also found myself comparing her to Dumbldore in her need to do things for the “Greater Good” and I disliked that. However, she was a necessary character for the plot and I enjoyed her role overall.

Other Impressions

“Alone is how-” “-is how we survive, yes… I can’t say whether that’s true or not, but one thing I do know, Primrose, is that alone is not how we live.”

This story was very whimsical, yet down to earth and exactly what I would imagine a modern day witch to be like if magic was real. The magic in the world felt natural, and having a main character that lived and breathed magic really helped bring that to life. Overall I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good slowbuild romance, found family, and the magic of life.

As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I mean who can resist a cosy read with witches, tea and a delightful dog named Circe!

We get to follow Mika Moon, a wonderful witch lurking on instagram, as she takes on the task of teaching and guiding three little witches .. Three little witches who are hidden away in Nowhere House with the most amazing collection of people who adore them and want to protect them at all costs.

The characters in this book are remarkable and you instantly fall in love with all of them. I was especially fond of Ian and Ken who are just so brilliant and bring so much love and humour to the story but every single character is evolved and vibrant. The story moves at a comfortable pace where you don’t feel rushed and really build up an image of the house, characters and things that go on. There is so much love and laughter throughout the story that you can’t help but smile and laugh as you read it. I didn’t want it to end.

Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, it really is the type of book that you’ll want to hide from the real world with!

“The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Practical Magic” – well that’s some claim right there, and since the former is currently my favourite read of the year it meant my expectations were set high for this one. It also meant this was going to go one of two ways – it would either be as good as the blurb claimed or it would be a catastrophic failure and a DNF.

Those claims were fully justified, this is a beautiful tale, filled with laughter, love and family but one also tempered by loneliness, longing and fear. There was just something… magical …about this story, and I’m not referencing the witches and their powers. It quickly drew me in and almost immediately became a book I didn’t want to put down, a book I was thinking about it when I had to do so, and a book I picked straight back up as soon as I could. Mika, the three young girls, Jamie et al soon became people to me. I cared about them, fell in love with them, giggled at their antics, swooned at their passion and, ok I admit it, shed a tear or two at Mika’s forlornness.

On the surface, this is an alternate reality romance, but just like The House in the Cerulean Sea, it had depth and not-so-hidden meaning. There is found family, there is being accepted for who you are, there is being brave enough to take yet another chance, despite the raw hand life has constantly dealt you.

“People are usually like the sea, a constant, unerasable part of something bigger, but I’m more like a single wave that washes over the shore, ebbs away, and doesn’t leave a trace behind.”
He swallowed, his knuckles almost white on the wheel.
Mika looked away. “I’m afraid I’ll never leave a mark on anybody.”


The world-building was good, it wasn’t overly detailed and a lot was left up to the reader’s imagination, which I very much appreciated. If there was one thing I would have wished for in this book, it would have been more scenes of Mika teaching Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira. As someone who was initially attracted by the phrase “Irregular Witches” in the title, I would have loved to see a little more magic in action. However I still very much enjoyed this story and will be open to reading more work by the author in the future. The book did contain profanity and an on-page sex scene, so this would not be suitable for all readers.


“If I loved you less,” he said quietly, the words no less true for the laugh that threaded through his voice, “I might be able to talk about it more.”

In a Nutshell: This is the sweetest and the cutest and the loveliest book I’ve read in ages. Imagine sunbeams and moonlight strewn together in a magical combo! Go for it without a doubt.

Story Synopsis:
Thirty-one year old Mika Moon has lived a life of solitude. As a witch, she knows that she cannot let the dangerous world know about her magical abilities. With no family or friends, lonely Mika resorts to posting “fake” witchy videos to an online account, just so that she can talk about her favourite topic – magic. She is sure no one will notice. She is wrong.
When she receives an anonymous message summoning her to a remote place called “Nowhere House” to teach magic to three young witches, she feels uncertain but goes there anyway. What follows is a cute, funny and sometimes dangerous adventure with Mika, her three young wards and their three not-so-young caretakers. Oh, and there’s Jamie too, who hates strangers. How will Mika adjust from being a loner to this sudden flurry of people in her life? Will she finally be able to settle in a place and call it home?

Where the book worked for me:
😍 The characters. Each and every character, including the surly ones. Their detailing is so precise that you can’t help understand their actions. Mika, her three little wards, the three caretakers, Jamie, and Circe the dog – all will cast a spell on you. The best are Mika and Jamie. With each of them using a different modus operandi to deal with the blows life has dealt them, their personalities are a study in contrasts. It’s very easy to love Mika, but try having a grumpy, anti-social hero who loves to spend more time with books and kids than with adults! Team Jamie FTW.
😍 I loved all the “magicky” things in the book. It was a wonderful experience to see an almost personified version of magic throughout the story. It never went over the top. Ditto for the representation of witches.
😍 The characters come from a variety of racial backgrounds – Indian, Irish, British (white and Black), Palestinian, Vietnamese – but none of the ethnicities are thrown at your face. This might have been just to ensure multiracial representation, but the characters are written as regular characters with no needless stress on their diversity. For instance, there’s no shoehorned “chai tea” or yoga making an appearance simply to justify Mika’s Indian roots. I loved seeing this normal portrayal of multicultural characters – it’s exactly how representation should be in this global world. (There’s LGBTQ+ rep also in the form of a gay married couple, and I bet you won’t find a cuter couple in contemporary fiction!)
😍 This novel nails the ‘found family’ trope. With such loveable yet quirky characters, the journey was anyway going to be exciting, but the way the author brought out the feeling of oneness amid these disparate individuals was just beautiful. None of the characters feel unidimensional.
😍 The Mika-Jamie link is quite guessable. (Not complaining – the book is a Fantasy-Romance after all.) But what I loved was how naturally it developed. There’s no insta-lust but a friendship turning into attraction turning into something greater. Romances are always so much better when written in slow-burn style. Also, I hate it when there’s steam for the sake of it. This one has those scenes when they make sense in the narrative flow.
😍 The writing is very quick and easy-going.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😢 Why did the story have to get over so soon? There's no cliffhanger but I demand a sequel ASAP! I want to know what happens about a certain something that has been in existence since hundreds of years. Will Mika be able to modify/overthrow it?

Do you see the skew of my feedback? No surprise then that this book will get the highest rating I ever give to contemporary adult fiction. Recommended to anyone looking for a light and cosy and quick and soul-satisfying read. This was fantastic in every sense of the word. I am going to keep an eye out for all future Sangu Mandanna releases.
(Note: It does have a lot of cuss words. If you don’t like seeing the F word thrown around casually and regularly, this won’t work for you.)

4.75 stars.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I'm not sure if my words will do justice to just how much I LOVED this book. Sangu Mandanna has brewed together THE most adorable story, by picking the perfect bookish "ingredients."

There's magic and mishaps, the cosiest descriptions and a slow-burn, will-they-won't-they, frenemies to lovers romance. Not to mention, my absolute favourite trope of all... found family! Add in a cast of truly loveable characters, together with a couple of hurdles for them to overcome and you've got a wondrously fun read.

Amongst all the joy and magical mayhem, there is a hint of sadness but ultimately the plot focuses on relationships, acceptance and all things witchy! There's plenty of comedy, a whole lot of love and a warmth that bursts from the pages. It's a gorgeously heartwarming read that left me with the biggest smile on my face, desperate to join The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

I love, love, loved it! 💜✨

I loved this quirky, fun book. Two girls (who turn out to be witches) are adopted by a guy named Jaime, who lives with a very interesting group of people that make up his unofficial family in a hidden house called Nowhere House.
Mika is a witch, also adopted, because all witches lose their parents. She was raised to think that it was mortally dangerous to associate with other witches, but she answers an ad for a tutor and ends up at Nowhere House.
I absolutely loved the characters, and the witchy parts were interesting and fun. 5 stars for this one-of-a-kind book.


Synopsis
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family--and a new love--changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for....

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is beautifully written and reading it gives you a warm cosy feeling that wraps you up in the softest hug!

31 year old Mika Moon has spent most of her life without family or friends and her being a witch sets her apart from humans. Raised mostly by nannies and under the guidance of head witch Primrose she's forced to live within the rules of the witchdom, one of which states no contact with other witches except from a scheduled annually meeting. Never staying in one place for very long and not getting too attached to anyone or anywhere (apart from her dog Circe) is how she keeps her heart safely tucked away. After she receives a curious invitation to school 3 young children in magic, she sets off to a mysterious place called Nowhere House. This is the start of Mika's journey of self-discovery about herself, her magic and where she finds out that within this eccentric family there just might be a place for her. There's smiles and laughter, there's heartbreak and tears, there's soft and sweet magical moments set against the navigation of being considered different by others and most of the characters share this common thread for a variety reasons.

While Mika is untrusting at first, she still has a heart of gold and will fiercely defend those she cares about. I loved how her magic is linked to the earth and nature, and that she brews magical teas and potions infused with a little stardust and the like. I loved her and grumpy Jamie's slow burn romance and oh did I mention that there's some spicy moments in this book too :)

It's beautifully written and reading it gives you a warm cosy feeling that wraps you up in the softest hug! It's brimming with earthy magic, diverse and inclusive characters who each have something special about them that feel like home;- from main witch Mika Moon, to mr grumpy sunshine Librarian Jamie, to the adorable 3 young witches Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira who charmed their way into my heart and made me laugh at times, Ken and his husband Ian, house-keeper Lucy and the whole household at Nowhere House 💕

Loved it!

I was given an arc by Hodder & Stoughton to review but also pre-ordered after reading it.

This was such a delight. I was charmed all the way down to the stone-cold cockles of my heart.

If you enjoyed The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels or The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton for its humor and soft magic, you should give this book a try. I genuinely loved all the characters and the found family aspect, which is rare, even though I do think some of them could have been fleshed out a bit more.

A lot of the plot revolves around people being protective of each other, and doing anything within their power to make sure the ones they love are safe. When Mika first arrives at Nowhere House, Jamie views her with suspicion and acts pretty grumpy in general. Grump/sunshine is a very popular trope, but it doesn't work for me if characters are grumpy just for the sake of it. In this case, I understood why Jamie was acting the way he did, which made it so much more enjoyable.

The highlight of the book are definitely the three girls, who constantly had me grinning. Terracotta especially, with her possibly murderous inclinations, was so much fun to read about. The girls are all from different backgrounds, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out that the youngest was Palestinian. It was an off-hand mention and doesn't impact the story in any way, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

I loved everything about it, the witches, the magic, the children, the adults, Mika - everything!! I cannot express in words the love I hold for Mika, Jamie and the children. If you have read 'The House In The Cerulean Sea', you'll get what I mean as it's a bit similar, except here we have a touching story that is loveable in its own wayy!

Instead of being sour about the unfair hand life dealt her, Mika decided to face it all with a smile. How can I not like her?! Also, we kinda have a Desi witch here!! Mika is ethnically Indian and was brought up in Britain. I love how she chose to embrace the chaos around her with a smile on her face, even when she was hurting inside (I may relate to that a bit. I mean, don't we all?)🥺

I love Jamie too. The relationship between Jamie and Mika is the grumpy x sunshine trope bookstagram has been pining for! I related to Jamie's skepticism and Mika's feelings. Ian and Ken are undoubtedly one of the best couples I've read about! I love how Ian's frenzied energy is balanced out by Ken's calmness. Lucie deserves to be mentioned too! 💚

And the children! My poor heart can't take how beautiful the relationship was that blossomed between the children and Mika. Altamira, the youngest and the most sweetest, Terracotta, the middle one, brave yet reckless and Rosetta, the eldest and most wisest. 🦉

The book is not just about magic and romance, but it's also about othering and prejudices. It's about how it's not too late to find the place you fit into, to find your family. My heart was so happy when I finished reading this one! I definitely recommend this one!!!💛

TLDR - Pick this book up ASAP!

This is a brilliant book with a marvelous and heartfelt storyline, kind and touching characters and a lot of goodness.
I love everything about this book! I love Mika and the girls and all the other people living in Nowhere house. I love the romance. I love the feelings this book brought me and the goodness it has. It’s emotional and beautiful and the storyline is surprising. There are definite plot twists along the way and certain things I definitely did not expect.
Most of all, this is a book about found family, beautiful magic and love and I’m so honored to have read it

This book feels like curling up with a warm drink and a cozy blanket by the window as the rain outside is hitting the sill. It is, without a doubt, soft, and wholesome, and heartwarming, and feels like a warm and comforting hug. So many readers are bound to find it an absolute treat. It made my heart so,so happy.

This book was everything to me, there is nothing more I would have wanted. It made me feel so much. I laughed, I cried, I longed but most of all I loved.

It feels like a warm hug, next to an open fire, on a rainy day. The perfect autumn, cosy read, but honestly I don't care what time of year it is, you need to read it!
Just enough witchy mischief, mystery and feeling to have you reading this in one sitting. A beautifully written plot that was warm, funny and bewitching.

The book has a found family trope and despite their being quite a few characters, each member of the Nowhere household is individual, uplifting, charismatic, quirky and cute. The variation of characters makes them easy to define and they all develop throughout the story.
Jamie has the most growth. I love that this book touches on so many issues such as past trauma, loneliness, self love and affirmation and processing change.

I don't usually quote books but this really stuck with me, its such a beautiful view point and a great way to see the difference in others when perhaps they are not being so kind.

“Lillian sounds like she’s more nice than she is kind. Does that make sense? Niceness is good manners, and stopping to give someone directions, and smiling at the overworked cashier at the supermarket. These are all good things, but they have nothing to do with what’s underneath. Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking.”

This was just the most adorably witty and endearing book I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and of course Hodder & Stoughton for an ecopy of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Description:
She found magic in the most unlikely of places.
As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon has lived her life by three rules: hide your magic, keep your head down, and stay away from other witches. An orphan raised by strangers from a young age, Mika is good at being alone, and she doesn't mind it . . . mostly.
But then an unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches, and Mika jumps at the chance for a different life.
Nowhere House is nothing like she expects, and she's quickly tangled up in the lives and secrets of its quirky, caring inhabitants . . . and Jamie, the handsome, prickly librarian who would do anything to protect his charges, and who sees Mika's arrival as a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika finds her feet, the thought of belonging somewhere starts to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and soon Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect the found family she didn't know she was looking for . . .

What a fabulous cosy witchy read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is, I absolutely loved this book. All the characters are wonderful, I am in love with Jamie the librarian! . A great novel to cosy up and read on an Autumnal Day.
Thank you to the publishers Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the e-arc.