What do you think?
Rate this book
The Book Witch
Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and wrangle characters that go off-script.
Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction.... Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don't even think about it.
Except Rainy has fallen hard for the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite noir series. After their illicit romance is exposed, Rainy is forbidden from ever seeing her fictional lover again, lest she be expelled from her book coven-and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
When a priceless book is stolen from her home, there's only one person she trusts to help her get it the Duke. Thus their shared quest begins through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.
Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction.... Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don't even think about it.
Except Rainy has fallen hard for the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite noir series. After their illicit romance is exposed, Rainy is forbidden from ever seeing her fictional lover again, lest she be expelled from her book coven-and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
When a priceless book is stolen from her home, there's only one person she trusts to help her get it the Duke. Thus their shared quest begins through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Meg Shaffer
4 books4,984 followersMeg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,770 reviews
on-pause
February 3, 2026I can’t wait to get my hands on this one! 😍
Thank you Ballantine Books for the advance digital copy. Can’t wait to start this soon!!
Expected Release Date - 04/07/26
Thank you Ballantine Books for the advance digital copy. Can’t wait to start this soon!!
Expected Release Date - 04/07/26
April 21, 2026
If you love books about books ... here you go.
Rainy March is a book witch, who along with her adorable feline familiar Koshka, protects books and stories from those intent on making them disappear. While this story uses fantasy and magical realism to make its point, it's clearly a commentary on the growing book banning movements and the threat to silence voices that some unfortunate people in power deem not worthy of being heard.
As is her style if you've read her first two books, Shaffer dips into the classics once again, this time using elements of Alice in Wonderland, Nancy Drew, Pride & Prejudice and others, with the magical realism aspect being that Rainy and Koshka can travel in and out of stories as needed to restore a book whose words are suddenly disappearing or whose characters have gone missing. It's a fun premise and that was my favorite aspect of the book.
Another entertaining element was British detective Duke, Rainy's long-time book crush from the fictional Duke of Chicago series. Their initial meeting and interactions throughout the book were a lot of fun - particularly how utterly enamored he is of her! He's quite the charmer. When Rainy's grandfather goes missing, Duke and Rainy team up to find him and have all sorts of adventures along the way.
I always appreciate Shaffer's imagination and creativity in her stories. It's clear how much she loves books and the gift of reading. She even gives a sweet spotlight to Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton, who taught generations of us to love books!
This was an immersion read following along on my Kindle while listening to the wonderful narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, a new-to-me narrator who I hope to hear again. While I enjoyed it a lot, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two books, simply because the story got a little convoluted in parts and I kind of guessed one of the major reveals pretty early on. It also skewed just a touch younger in tone. That said, I thought the romance was very sweet and the final reveal was very unexpected and fun!
If you enjoy a cozy mystery mixed with some fantasy, magical realism and lots of references and nods to other books, this is definitely worth a look!
★★★★
Thanks to Ballantine Books, NetGalley and author Meg Shaffer for the DRC to honestly review and to Audible for the audio. It's out now.
Rainy March is a book witch, who along with her adorable feline familiar Koshka, protects books and stories from those intent on making them disappear. While this story uses fantasy and magical realism to make its point, it's clearly a commentary on the growing book banning movements and the threat to silence voices that some unfortunate people in power deem not worthy of being heard.
As is her style if you've read her first two books, Shaffer dips into the classics once again, this time using elements of Alice in Wonderland, Nancy Drew, Pride & Prejudice and others, with the magical realism aspect being that Rainy and Koshka can travel in and out of stories as needed to restore a book whose words are suddenly disappearing or whose characters have gone missing. It's a fun premise and that was my favorite aspect of the book.
Another entertaining element was British detective Duke, Rainy's long-time book crush from the fictional Duke of Chicago series. Their initial meeting and interactions throughout the book were a lot of fun - particularly how utterly enamored he is of her! He's quite the charmer. When Rainy's grandfather goes missing, Duke and Rainy team up to find him and have all sorts of adventures along the way.
I always appreciate Shaffer's imagination and creativity in her stories. It's clear how much she loves books and the gift of reading. She even gives a sweet spotlight to Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton, who taught generations of us to love books!
This was an immersion read following along on my Kindle while listening to the wonderful narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, a new-to-me narrator who I hope to hear again. While I enjoyed it a lot, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two books, simply because the story got a little convoluted in parts and I kind of guessed one of the major reveals pretty early on. It also skewed just a touch younger in tone. That said, I thought the romance was very sweet and the final reveal was very unexpected and fun!
If you enjoy a cozy mystery mixed with some fantasy, magical realism and lots of references and nods to other books, this is definitely worth a look!
★★★★
Thanks to Ballantine Books, NetGalley and author Meg Shaffer for the DRC to honestly review and to Audible for the audio. It's out now.
March 30, 2026
”All stories are love stories if you love stories.”
this was such a fun and cute book! If you enjoy books about books then I highly recommend this one😌
rtcmaybe?
this was such a fun and cute book! If you enjoy books about books then I highly recommend this one😌
rtc
March 17, 2026
This novel is for all the book lovers! I had a lot of fun reading this one. It’s a book about books, comes with a lot of twists that you don’t see coming and contains magical realism. This novel has a very original storyline, which I loved. It is cozy, yet adventurous. It had me hooked right at the very beginning! It’s whimsically, funny, entertaining, mysterious, emotional and hopeful.
It’s about a book witch that can step inside any book, using magic. I know some of us wish that we could step inside a book for a little while and have some fun! Getting away from reality for just a moment in time. I do feel like this book did lack some emotional depth to it and some of the characters did feel underdeveloped, while reading this. This novel is about reality versus escapism, who we become through what we read and even a forbidden love! This book is magical and a must read! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Meg Shaffer and Ballantine Books publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 7, 2026!
It’s about a book witch that can step inside any book, using magic. I know some of us wish that we could step inside a book for a little while and have some fun! Getting away from reality for just a moment in time. I do feel like this book did lack some emotional depth to it and some of the characters did feel underdeveloped, while reading this. This novel is about reality versus escapism, who we become through what we read and even a forbidden love! This book is magical and a must read! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Meg Shaffer and Ballantine Books publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 7, 2026!
October 19, 2025
I went into this one thinking the first few chapters were the whole plot… and then the story opened up into so much more mystery and magic than I expected. Consider me pleasantly surprised (and fully hooked)!
This book hits every emotional note—grief, hope, wonder, joy—I felt everything and cared so deeply as the story unfolded. The characters feel wonderfully real and well-developed, especially Rainy. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for, and even the side characters—yes, including the ones with just a few scenes—left a big impression.
Honestly, I don’t know how any booklover wouldn’t fall head over hardcover for this story. It’s laced with literary references and gentle nods to beloved works, like a love letter written in the margins to readers everywhere. But it also holds its own with a unique, refreshing storyline.
As a huge magical realism fan, this absolutely hit the mark—this is a story that feels like stepping into a library where every page hums with possibility!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
This book hits every emotional note—grief, hope, wonder, joy—I felt everything and cared so deeply as the story unfolded. The characters feel wonderfully real and well-developed, especially Rainy. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for, and even the side characters—yes, including the ones with just a few scenes—left a big impression.
Honestly, I don’t know how any booklover wouldn’t fall head over hardcover for this story. It’s laced with literary references and gentle nods to beloved works, like a love letter written in the margins to readers everywhere. But it also holds its own with a unique, refreshing storyline.
As a huge magical realism fan, this absolutely hit the mark—this is a story that feels like stepping into a library where every page hums with possibility!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Meg Shaffer first cast her spell on me with The Wishing Game! I love her beautiful writing, her well thought-out and magical plots. I also loved The Lost Story and highly recommend both of those books. While I didn't quite love The Book Witch as much as I enjoyed the previous two books which I have read by Meg Shaffer, I did enjoyed being transported between the pages of a book, where the characters live, and to see things from the point of view of a book witch.
Rainy March is a book witch who defends books from both real and imaginary forces. She takes her job seriously but does find time for a little romance in her life. Where her grandfather disappears, she relies upon her love interest, the Duke!
This was a very unique and original book which has dazzled many and I do hope that more find this book to be magical. While I enjoyed this book and its world building, I wasn't quite as blown away by it as I had hoped. I did enjoy the twist and reveal at the end of the book. I feel that I should have seen this coming, but I didn't.
Overall, an enjoyable read which had me wanting more but still found enjoyable with fantastic world building.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Rainy March is a book witch who defends books from both real and imaginary forces. She takes her job seriously but does find time for a little romance in her life. Where her grandfather disappears, she relies upon her love interest, the Duke!
This was a very unique and original book which has dazzled many and I do hope that more find this book to be magical. While I enjoyed this book and its world building, I wasn't quite as blown away by it as I had hoped. I did enjoy the twist and reveal at the end of the book. I feel that I should have seen this coming, but I didn't.
Overall, an enjoyable read which had me wanting more but still found enjoyable with fantastic world building.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
April 11, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
There’s something delightfully chaotic at the heart of this book which is part of its charm. It leans fully into its premise and indulges in the fantasy we've all had: what if I could step into a book?
Rainy March, a third generation book witch, has the kind of job that sounds both dreamy and impossible: protecting stories from unraveling by entering them herself. It’s a clever concept, and the book uses it to explore not just different narrative spaces, but also why stories matter in the first place. There’s a clear intelligence behind the whimsy; the book plays to that deep connection we have with fiction.
Occasionally the tone can be a bit all over the place. Most of the time it's more “unhinged bookish energy” than an actual flaw, but the pacing wobbles and some plot points could have been tighter. But the momentum of the idea carries you through. It’s the kind of chaos that feels intentional, or at least fitting for a story about slipping between worlds where rules are always a bit fluid.
The romance adds another layer of appeal, especially in how it taps into that familiar truth: yep, we’ve all fallen a little bit in love with fictional characters. It’s handled with a light touch that never overpowers the main story, acting more as an emotional anchor.
What ultimately stands out is the book’s affection for stories themselves. It’s self-aware without being cynical and playful without being shallow, and under the whimsical surface, there’s a real appreciation for fiction.
There’s something delightfully chaotic at the heart of this book which is part of its charm. It leans fully into its premise and indulges in the fantasy we've all had: what if I could step into a book?
Rainy March, a third generation book witch, has the kind of job that sounds both dreamy and impossible: protecting stories from unraveling by entering them herself. It’s a clever concept, and the book uses it to explore not just different narrative spaces, but also why stories matter in the first place. There’s a clear intelligence behind the whimsy; the book plays to that deep connection we have with fiction.
Occasionally the tone can be a bit all over the place. Most of the time it's more “unhinged bookish energy” than an actual flaw, but the pacing wobbles and some plot points could have been tighter. But the momentum of the idea carries you through. It’s the kind of chaos that feels intentional, or at least fitting for a story about slipping between worlds where rules are always a bit fluid.
The romance adds another layer of appeal, especially in how it taps into that familiar truth: yep, we’ve all fallen a little bit in love with fictional characters. It’s handled with a light touch that never overpowers the main story, acting more as an emotional anchor.
What ultimately stands out is the book’s affection for stories themselves. It’s self-aware without being cynical and playful without being shallow, and under the whimsical surface, there’s a real appreciation for fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⋆. 𐙚 ˚three point five / five stars ✰
one thing about meg shaffer is she is going to write whimsical and nostalgic magical realism like her life depends on it!!! if you liked the wishing game, then i guarantee you'll enjoy this.
the concept of this story is so unique, and i honestly can't articulate what it's about properly so just go read the blurb, but what i can easily say is that you can tell it was written by a book lover for book lovers. we've all wanted to jump into our favorite books and meet our favorite characters, and shaffer brings that dream to life (or rather, to fiction?) here. so many wonderful quotes that i wish i could share, but needless to say i can't wait for all the readers to read this.
very genre blending. at it's core, a romantic and nostalgic and adventurous magical realism. but it's got something for everyone - romance and mystery primarily, a bit of thriller and fantasy and sci fi. and the romance?? tell me why it had me blushing?? but then... i also (very unexpectedly) also cried over the story?? a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at points that i wasn't prepared for, but that i'm surely not complaining about.
i wish this was a five star read, truly, because i did thoroughly love the concept and the storytelling, but ultimately the beginning and ending didn't do it for me. both the first and last 30% or so felt messy. which didn't bother me much at the start, it just took me a bit to get into the story, but after the 70% mark(ish) it just started to do too much. there were layers, which i appreciate in a story, but it was too much. it got confusing and took me out of the story, and i honestly didn't really love the big reveal/twist anyway. it all felt too convenient and easy, like we took the scenic route when it really could've been a 100 page story.
overall would definitely recommend! the story is fun and unique, as the blurb promises, and is so bingeable. i finished in about 24 hours and didn't even realize i had read so much! so while not my favorite read ever, i did enjoy it more than the wishing game, and would suggest that you all put this on your radar of 2026 releases.
── .✦ pre read
this one sounds sooo unique n fun!!
thank you to netgalley & ballantine for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: april 7, 2026
all stories are love stories if you love stories.
one thing about meg shaffer is she is going to write whimsical and nostalgic magical realism like her life depends on it!!! if you liked the wishing game, then i guarantee you'll enjoy this.
the concept of this story is so unique, and i honestly can't articulate what it's about properly so just go read the blurb, but what i can easily say is that you can tell it was written by a book lover for book lovers. we've all wanted to jump into our favorite books and meet our favorite characters, and shaffer brings that dream to life (or rather, to fiction?) here. so many wonderful quotes that i wish i could share, but needless to say i can't wait for all the readers to read this.
very genre blending. at it's core, a romantic and nostalgic and adventurous magical realism. but it's got something for everyone - romance and mystery primarily, a bit of thriller and fantasy and sci fi. and the romance?? tell me why it had me blushing?? but then... i also (very unexpectedly) also cried over the story?? a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at points that i wasn't prepared for, but that i'm surely not complaining about.
i wish this was a five star read, truly, because i did thoroughly love the concept and the storytelling, but ultimately the beginning and ending didn't do it for me. both the first and last 30% or so felt messy. which didn't bother me much at the start, it just took me a bit to get into the story, but after the 70% mark(ish) it just started to do too much. there were layers, which i appreciate in a story, but it was too much. it got confusing and took me out of the story, and i honestly didn't really love the big reveal/twist anyway. it all felt too convenient and easy, like we took the scenic route when it really could've been a 100 page story.
overall would definitely recommend! the story is fun and unique, as the blurb promises, and is so bingeable. i finished in about 24 hours and didn't even realize i had read so much! so while not my favorite read ever, i did enjoy it more than the wishing game, and would suggest that you all put this on your radar of 2026 releases.
── .✦ pre read
this one sounds sooo unique n fun!!
thank you to netgalley & ballantine for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: april 7, 2026
June 2, 2026
I can't really tell whether or not it was a good or bad thing that I was able to predict every single twist* and reveal in this book, well before I should have been able to. I was entertained, so I guess good? Or it doesn't matter. I'm just not used to being able to do that. So we'll table that for now. Anyway, I went into this one grudgingly and with a bad attitude; I will admit that. And then as the book went on I got more and more pulled in, until I was crying at the climax and the feelings. At that point I was like, fine, book, you win.
*Every single one!! And some of them were out of left field. Are Meg Shaffer and I sharing a brain? Did we have the same childhood references? It's kind of scary, considering how much I hated her second book.
This book was a tiebreaker for me, on whether or not I would keep reading Meg Shaffer. I enjoyed being emotionally manipulated by the overly sentimental The Wishing Game, but absolutely hated the author's attempt at a portal fantasy when reading The Lost Story. Her writing style and (lack of) ability to world-build meant that book was a big bust. The Book Witch has her in what I think is her comfort zone: contemporary fantasy with a speculative twist, but no secondary worlds to be found. (And even here the rules of the magic and their consequences didn't *really* make sense, but eh, it's fine.)
A character being able to jump in and out of books is not a new thing, and I do wish the author had acknowledged those who came before, because this is a book about books! Thursday Next is the big one. And honestly, this book and its heroine, Rainy March, is no clever, wacky, satirical Thursday Next, but it's not trying to be. Meg Shaffer lives in Sentimental Land and sometimes you can join her there if you think you are in the mood for that. But this book was also fun and adventurous and a little romantic, and gave me nostalgia and family feelings, and obviously comes from a place of loving loving books. And it's a mystery! Where the characters know they are in a mystery plot!
I do actually recommend this one if you want a quick, entertaining read and don't mind a little casual emotional manipulation.
*Every single one!! And some of them were out of left field. Are Meg Shaffer and I sharing a brain? Did we have the same childhood references? It's kind of scary, considering how much I hated her second book.
This book was a tiebreaker for me, on whether or not I would keep reading Meg Shaffer. I enjoyed being emotionally manipulated by the overly sentimental The Wishing Game, but absolutely hated the author's attempt at a portal fantasy when reading The Lost Story. Her writing style and (lack of) ability to world-build meant that book was a big bust. The Book Witch has her in what I think is her comfort zone: contemporary fantasy with a speculative twist, but no secondary worlds to be found. (And even here the rules of the magic and their consequences didn't *really* make sense, but eh, it's fine.)
A character being able to jump in and out of books is not a new thing, and I do wish the author had acknowledged those who came before, because this is a book about books! Thursday Next is the big one. And honestly, this book and its heroine, Rainy March, is no clever, wacky, satirical Thursday Next, but it's not trying to be. Meg Shaffer lives in Sentimental Land and sometimes you can join her there if you think you are in the mood for that. But this book was also fun and adventurous and a little romantic, and gave me nostalgia and family feelings, and obviously comes from a place of loving loving books. And it's a mystery! Where the characters know they are in a mystery plot!
I do actually recommend this one if you want a quick, entertaining read and don't mind a little casual emotional manipulation.
April 7, 2026
Happy Publication Day, April 7, 2026 to this special book🥳
9/10: 4.5⭐️’s rounded up to 5⭐️’s.
Imagine being able to hop into a book. That is Rainy March’s job as a Book Witch; go into and out of books to fix problems that arise, such as characters going rogue etc. How fun would that be!!??
This book is an enchanting TREASURE. Nancy Drew books, Reading Rainbow, Little Debbie snack cakes, and mentions of Free Little Libraries. AND the main character is nicknamed Raindrop by her Grandfather…..how could I not love this for those reasons alone?!
I am so happy my imagination went fully along with Rainy and Duke’s adventures into books. There is mystery, magic, and romance, and a whole lot of love for books.
It is a charming, delightful, cozy, FUNNY, sweet, and nostalgic book. A tear or two may have been shed, but I survived.
(11/11/25 addition: I can’t believe I forgot to mention Koshka, Rainy’s feline familiar, who can read!! How fabulous is that!?)
This isn’t my usual rambling review, I don’t want to go off on tangents and take away from how clever and fun this book was. Be prepared to laugh. A lot. And enjoy the whimsy and magic of it all.
In the real world: Kindness is Magic! So be magical 🪄 my friends!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read the digital arc of this delightful book. All thoughts are my own.
Expected publication: April 7, 2026
Rating posted: 11/9/25
Thoughts posted: 11/10/25
Small addition about Koshka: 11/11/25
Additional note, this book was already on my radar, but it was GR friend, Krickette❤️’s review that convinced me to request the book. Me being me, I still don’t know how to post a link to a review on here, but definitely check hers out!
Reposted for publication day: 4/7/26
9/10: 4.5⭐️’s rounded up to 5⭐️’s.
Imagine being able to hop into a book. That is Rainy March’s job as a Book Witch; go into and out of books to fix problems that arise, such as characters going rogue etc. How fun would that be!!??
This book is an enchanting TREASURE. Nancy Drew books, Reading Rainbow, Little Debbie snack cakes, and mentions of Free Little Libraries. AND the main character is nicknamed Raindrop by her Grandfather…..how could I not love this for those reasons alone?!
I am so happy my imagination went fully along with Rainy and Duke’s adventures into books. There is mystery, magic, and romance, and a whole lot of love for books.
It is a charming, delightful, cozy, FUNNY, sweet, and nostalgic book. A tear or two may have been shed, but I survived.
(11/11/25 addition: I can’t believe I forgot to mention Koshka, Rainy’s feline familiar, who can read!! How fabulous is that!?)
This isn’t my usual rambling review, I don’t want to go off on tangents and take away from how clever and fun this book was. Be prepared to laugh. A lot. And enjoy the whimsy and magic of it all.
In the real world: Kindness is Magic! So be magical 🪄 my friends!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read the digital arc of this delightful book. All thoughts are my own.
Expected publication: April 7, 2026
Rating posted: 11/9/25
Thoughts posted: 11/10/25
Small addition about Koshka: 11/11/25
Additional note, this book was already on my radar, but it was GR friend, Krickette❤️’s review that convinced me to request the book. Me being me, I still don’t know how to post a link to a review on here, but definitely check hers out!
Reposted for publication day: 4/7/26
November 22, 2025
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC of The Book Witch in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of The Book Witch sounded so adorable. A cozy, whimsical story about a witch who has the power to enter books! Are you kidding!? I was so excited to dive in.
Unfortunately, this story didn’t work for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the plot never quite found its footing. Much of the narrative felt disjointed and sometimes even confusing, and the dialogue just wasn’t doing it for me. It had so much potential, and I’m bummed to say that this story didn’t land for me.
That said, though it wasn’t for me, I did enjoy the charming world, unique magic system, and book-lover vibe of the story.
The premise of The Book Witch sounded so adorable. A cozy, whimsical story about a witch who has the power to enter books! Are you kidding!? I was so excited to dive in.
Unfortunately, this story didn’t work for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the plot never quite found its footing. Much of the narrative felt disjointed and sometimes even confusing, and the dialogue just wasn’t doing it for me. It had so much potential, and I’m bummed to say that this story didn’t land for me.
That said, though it wasn’t for me, I did enjoy the charming world, unique magic system, and book-lover vibe of the story.
July 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Whimsical, nostalgic, and a bit cheesy. I had fun with this one! Imagine being able to visit your favorite stories and, maybe, fall in love with your fav book boyfriend?? I was hoping for something a bit more epic, but this definitely was more on the cozy side.
The magic system doesn’t totally make sense in some ways, but so you’ll just suspend disbelief a bit for this one!
I love being a reader 🫶🏻
Whimsical, nostalgic, and a bit cheesy. I had fun with this one! Imagine being able to visit your favorite stories and, maybe, fall in love with your fav book boyfriend?? I was hoping for something a bit more epic, but this definitely was more on the cozy side.
The magic system doesn’t totally make sense in some ways, but so you’ll just suspend disbelief a bit for this one!
I love being a reader 🫶🏻
November 11, 2025
What a delightful and charming novel! This creatively penned novel has it all and is the perfect light hearted and young adult read. The main character, Book Witch Rainy March (so cute), is our guide, along with her cat (who serves as her “right arm”) as she unveils a world of spice, adventure, and suspense. Rainy is dedicated to saving the plots of classic literature and childhood favorites.
This is an inviting and peculiar premise, but author Meg Shaffer easily weaves a beautiful story. The book hopping starts almost immediately as Rainy March jumps into a “Romance”novel to rescue the main character, “The Duke” (the novel’s Detective who has gone missing from the plot). Book hopping is the name of the game in this cute and quaint novel. Book Witch Rainy March keeps us on our toes as she travels through different genres, saving books and characters from disappearing, all the while her own mystery begins to unfold.
The Book Witch is a story of love and adventure. The story is keenly told through the love of books. This reads as a younger adult novel and for those who enjoy fantasy stories. This adventurous novel includes all the genres, as well as, cleverly including the titles of books penned by famous authors and quotes from forever loved books.
Although this is not a genre that I generally lean towards, I am very happy I had an opportunity to read and enjoy it. The characters are all amazing and well developed, and the storylines and pacing were interesting and smooth. For this genre, I give this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐️s.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an inviting and peculiar premise, but author Meg Shaffer easily weaves a beautiful story. The book hopping starts almost immediately as Rainy March jumps into a “Romance”novel to rescue the main character, “The Duke” (the novel’s Detective who has gone missing from the plot). Book hopping is the name of the game in this cute and quaint novel. Book Witch Rainy March keeps us on our toes as she travels through different genres, saving books and characters from disappearing, all the while her own mystery begins to unfold.
The Book Witch is a story of love and adventure. The story is keenly told through the love of books. This reads as a younger adult novel and for those who enjoy fantasy stories. This adventurous novel includes all the genres, as well as, cleverly including the titles of books penned by famous authors and quotes from forever loved books.
Although this is not a genre that I generally lean towards, I am very happy I had an opportunity to read and enjoy it. The characters are all amazing and well developed, and the storylines and pacing were interesting and smooth. For this genre, I give this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐️s.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2026
This book is a prime example of an author getting too into their own head and wrecking what could have been a truly wonderful story if they would have simply resisted the urge to "over-egg the pudding," as the British say. This is one of those books that completely pulls the rug out from under you... and (IMO) it wasn't for the better. The utterly bizarre twist didn't better the story (or even really move it along), it was just this weird side tangent that was completely unnecessary. Honestly, this book was a bit of a punch in the gut. I was head over heels in love with it before the twist. If it would have continued to be the book I thought it was, it would have been a solid five stars for me and I would have recommended it to everyone I know. For a while there, I was convinced that it was going to be my new favorite book. What a letdown. 😔
April 12, 2026
The Book Witch
is another fun, charming, delightful read from one of my favorite contemporary fantasy authors, Meg Shaffer. I read and loved both of Shaffer’s previous books (2023’s
The Wishing Game
and 2024’s
The Lost Story
), both of which were so imaginative and brilliantly crafted that, when I heard she would have a new book out, I couldn’t help wondering how she would be able to top those two wonderful works. Well, top those she did, as this newest work is not only wildly creative, but also simultaneously compelling and whimsical – storytelling at its finest, in my humble opinion.
The story revolves around a whimsically named protagonist, Rainy March, whose job as a book witch is to defend works of fiction by acting as a “fixer” – with the help of a magical umbrella and an adorable cat named Koshka, she goes on missions to save beloved stories from being negatively altered and disappearing into oblivion. Whether it’s locating and escorting a runaway protagonist back into their story so they can live their “happily ever after” (as she does with Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice ), rescuing kidnapped detectives so they can finish solving the cases that are central to an entire mystery series (which she does for the noir Duke of Chicago series) or preventing entire fictional worlds from being burned down by enemy book burners hellbent on destroying stories that don’t conform to their tastes, Rainy is good at her job, partly because of natural talent and partly because she is a strict rule-follower. That is, until she falls in love with the Duke of Chicago on one of her missions and continues to maintain a relationship with him – a decision that nearly causes her to lose her job as well as her magical powers after she is caught breaking rule number seven, which states that “real people belong in the real world and fictional characters belong in works of fiction.” But then the beloved grandfather who raised her disappears, along with a precious book that was a gift from her deceased mother, which prompts Rainy to defy all the rules and conjure up the Duke to help her solve the case and find her grandfather before it’s too late. Together, they jump in and out of famous book worlds such as The Great Gatsby and Alice in Wonderland in a race-against-time adventure that ultimately leads Rainy to uncover secrets that will change her life forever.
Structurally, this book is divided into seven parts, with each part named for a specific literary genre such as romance, mystery, fantasy, etc. – a “genre mashup” of sorts that not only correlates to the story’s actual plot points, but also reflects the book’s own impossibility of categorization into one specific genre (while, strictly speaking, I would classify this book as a fantasy, there are actually elements of multiple genres in here). In addition to the clever structure, Shaffer’s writing flows so smoothly here that the reading felt effortless, yet also captivating – I definitely could not stop turning the pages. In terms of plot and characters – well, let’s just say that Shaffer definitely did not disappoint in both areas: I loved these characters just as much as I loved the characters in her previous books, and the plot went in a direction that I absolutely did not see coming, but in a good way (this is where the “wildly creative” piece comes in – read this book and you will know what I mean).
I don’t know how Shaffer does it, but now after having read all three of her books, I am in awe of the way she is able to blend reality and fantasy elements so seamlessly into her stories. I’m usually not much of a fantasy reader, but Shaffer’s books are exceptions, as she blurs the line between the realistic and fantastic in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m reading a fantasy. This brings me to another feature of Shaffer’s books that I absolutely appreciate and love – each of her books addresses contemporary societal issues (in this instance, the recent battles over book banning being the most prominent), but she weaves these into the story so seamlessly that, in most cases, you don’t even realize she’s doing it.
My impression whenever I read one of Shaffer’s books is that she is a true book lover, as her passion for books and reading definitely shines through with each book. Both of her previous books were homages to childhood classics ( Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Chronicles of Narnia , respectively), but this newest book steps it up a notch in that it is an homage to all books – both modern and classic – as well as the act of reading in general and its power to change lives. Indeed, avid readers and book lovers will appreciate the various references to literary works and characters that Shaffer scatters throughout the story (including an Easter egg reference to her own debut novel, which I enjoyed seeing) -- though with that said, my absolutely favorite book-related reference isn’t to a fictional character, but rather, to one of my real-life book icons, LeVar Burton (and it’s obvious in the two scenes where she has LeVar make “cameo” appearances that Shaffer adores him as much as those of us who grew up watching Reading Rainbow still do).
There are so many great lines in this book (I highlighted so much that I had a hand cramp by the time I finished reading, lol), but one of my favorites is this -- “All stories are love stories when you love stories” – as it sums up the vibe of this book perfectly. Needless to say, I’m officially a Meg Shaffer fan now and my bookish heart cannot wait to read her next book (that will no doubt be book and/or reading-related). In the interim though, I definitely recommend all her books and hope more people pick them up, especially fellow book lovers and avid readers who love books about books.
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
The story revolves around a whimsically named protagonist, Rainy March, whose job as a book witch is to defend works of fiction by acting as a “fixer” – with the help of a magical umbrella and an adorable cat named Koshka, she goes on missions to save beloved stories from being negatively altered and disappearing into oblivion. Whether it’s locating and escorting a runaway protagonist back into their story so they can live their “happily ever after” (as she does with Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice ), rescuing kidnapped detectives so they can finish solving the cases that are central to an entire mystery series (which she does for the noir Duke of Chicago series) or preventing entire fictional worlds from being burned down by enemy book burners hellbent on destroying stories that don’t conform to their tastes, Rainy is good at her job, partly because of natural talent and partly because she is a strict rule-follower. That is, until she falls in love with the Duke of Chicago on one of her missions and continues to maintain a relationship with him – a decision that nearly causes her to lose her job as well as her magical powers after she is caught breaking rule number seven, which states that “real people belong in the real world and fictional characters belong in works of fiction.” But then the beloved grandfather who raised her disappears, along with a precious book that was a gift from her deceased mother, which prompts Rainy to defy all the rules and conjure up the Duke to help her solve the case and find her grandfather before it’s too late. Together, they jump in and out of famous book worlds such as The Great Gatsby and Alice in Wonderland in a race-against-time adventure that ultimately leads Rainy to uncover secrets that will change her life forever.
Structurally, this book is divided into seven parts, with each part named for a specific literary genre such as romance, mystery, fantasy, etc. – a “genre mashup” of sorts that not only correlates to the story’s actual plot points, but also reflects the book’s own impossibility of categorization into one specific genre (while, strictly speaking, I would classify this book as a fantasy, there are actually elements of multiple genres in here). In addition to the clever structure, Shaffer’s writing flows so smoothly here that the reading felt effortless, yet also captivating – I definitely could not stop turning the pages. In terms of plot and characters – well, let’s just say that Shaffer definitely did not disappoint in both areas: I loved these characters just as much as I loved the characters in her previous books, and the plot went in a direction that I absolutely did not see coming, but in a good way (this is where the “wildly creative” piece comes in – read this book and you will know what I mean).
I don’t know how Shaffer does it, but now after having read all three of her books, I am in awe of the way she is able to blend reality and fantasy elements so seamlessly into her stories. I’m usually not much of a fantasy reader, but Shaffer’s books are exceptions, as she blurs the line between the realistic and fantastic in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m reading a fantasy. This brings me to another feature of Shaffer’s books that I absolutely appreciate and love – each of her books addresses contemporary societal issues (in this instance, the recent battles over book banning being the most prominent), but she weaves these into the story so seamlessly that, in most cases, you don’t even realize she’s doing it.
My impression whenever I read one of Shaffer’s books is that she is a true book lover, as her passion for books and reading definitely shines through with each book. Both of her previous books were homages to childhood classics ( Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Chronicles of Narnia , respectively), but this newest book steps it up a notch in that it is an homage to all books – both modern and classic – as well as the act of reading in general and its power to change lives. Indeed, avid readers and book lovers will appreciate the various references to literary works and characters that Shaffer scatters throughout the story (including an Easter egg reference to her own debut novel, which I enjoyed seeing) -- though with that said, my absolutely favorite book-related reference isn’t to a fictional character, but rather, to one of my real-life book icons, LeVar Burton (and it’s obvious in the two scenes where she has LeVar make “cameo” appearances that Shaffer adores him as much as those of us who grew up watching Reading Rainbow still do).
There are so many great lines in this book (I highlighted so much that I had a hand cramp by the time I finished reading, lol), but one of my favorites is this -- “All stories are love stories when you love stories” – as it sums up the vibe of this book perfectly. Needless to say, I’m officially a Meg Shaffer fan now and my bookish heart cannot wait to read her next book (that will no doubt be book and/or reading-related). In the interim though, I definitely recommend all her books and hope more people pick them up, especially fellow book lovers and avid readers who love books about books.
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
November 26, 2025
REVIEW OF THE BOOK WITCH
BY MEG SCHAFFER
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF ARC-- Expected publish date: April 2026
➡️THE SETUP:
The main character, Rainy March (yes, her real name) is a 'Book Witch'. Along with her cat familiar Koshka, she is dedicated to saving books and characters from disappearing at the hands of 'Book Burners' (or rogue characters) while her own mystery begins to unfold.
This is a really unique, interesting premise, which author Meg Shaffer weaves very nicely. When a book is threatened by 'the burners', Rainy is one of many 'book witches' (usually a generational thing) who can "jump" into a novel to rescue the main character.
🧙🏼🕵🏼♂️🐈⬛CHARACTERS:
Rainy keeps us on our toes as she book-hops through different genres and times, saving “The Duke” (a fictional detective with his own series) who has gone missing from his plots. He is also to become her love interest, even though there are strict rules prohibiting book witchs from staying in a novel too long- or else they may end up stuck there forever. Also, if a fictional character leaves their book, all the pages cease to exist. Fiction and real characters cannot intermingle.... or can they??
🪄⏳📚THE WORLD & FEELS:
Their romance, in and out of several genres, is keenly told and will leave you dizzy!! The characters are all well-developed, especially Rainy. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for. There were some deep moments and emotions because Rainy never knew her mother or father, but also feels great love for "Pops" her grandfather, and a newer, unusual romance with "the Duke of Chicago".
This adventurous novel includes all the genres, and cleverly includes books penned by famous authors and quotes from forever loved books. It’s laced with literary references and gentle nods to so many beloved authors, it's like a love letter written between lines and in the margins to readers everywhere.
❤️🔥MY THOUGHTS- PRO:
As a magical realism fan, this is a story that made me feel like I just walked into a library and was able to step into any book and be a part of it! How fun!!!
With a couple of exceptions this would have been a masterpiece of a story. The following two points are what made my rating shift from a possible 5 to a 4:
🤷🏼♀️MY THOUGHTS- CONS:
First, is all the fuss made about the opening line. If it was just said and then left to stand or not.. ok. But I felt early reviewers did an extreme amount of raving about this amazing, wonderful, fantastic opening line: “all stories are love stories if you love stories”. The author herself repeats it later as well. I may be the minority, but its nine words that I just can't agree with, and assumes everyone has the same perspective. All stories are not love stories. All stories are not even about love. Some stories are about horrific things, and dont resemble love just because its a story. For me, it was a really bad opening line, which tells us nothing about the book you’re about to read, and doesn’t set up the book at all.
The second thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me was the rushed ending. I didn’t expect that exact twist,, which was good- but it felt too rushed. I wish that part could have been a bit better explained, or a few more pages donated to it, as it felt a little convoluted. I re-read it 3 times to be sure it all fit together in my mind. I had actually misunderstood parts of it the first time through. After the build up of the whole book, the ending was good.. but not handled as well as it could have been.
⭐RATING:
All things considered, the originality of the story, its enjoyment level, I definitely would recommend it... and if you liked Nancy Drew books, The Reading Rainbow and Little Debbie snack cakes.. you'll love it. So, I'm rounding up to a 4.5. This book would easily work for a YA or NA audience, as the spice level is only 🌶️or🌶️🌶️.
🙏🏼 I received an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher!
BY MEG SCHAFFER
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF ARC-- Expected publish date: April 2026
➡️THE SETUP:
The main character, Rainy March (yes, her real name) is a 'Book Witch'. Along with her cat familiar Koshka, she is dedicated to saving books and characters from disappearing at the hands of 'Book Burners' (or rogue characters) while her own mystery begins to unfold.
This is a really unique, interesting premise, which author Meg Shaffer weaves very nicely. When a book is threatened by 'the burners', Rainy is one of many 'book witches' (usually a generational thing) who can "jump" into a novel to rescue the main character.
🧙🏼🕵🏼♂️🐈⬛CHARACTERS:
Rainy keeps us on our toes as she book-hops through different genres and times, saving “The Duke” (a fictional detective with his own series) who has gone missing from his plots. He is also to become her love interest, even though there are strict rules prohibiting book witchs from staying in a novel too long- or else they may end up stuck there forever. Also, if a fictional character leaves their book, all the pages cease to exist. Fiction and real characters cannot intermingle.... or can they??
🪄⏳📚THE WORLD & FEELS:
Their romance, in and out of several genres, is keenly told and will leave you dizzy!! The characters are all well-developed, especially Rainy. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for. There were some deep moments and emotions because Rainy never knew her mother or father, but also feels great love for "Pops" her grandfather, and a newer, unusual romance with "the Duke of Chicago".
This adventurous novel includes all the genres, and cleverly includes books penned by famous authors and quotes from forever loved books. It’s laced with literary references and gentle nods to so many beloved authors, it's like a love letter written between lines and in the margins to readers everywhere.
❤️🔥MY THOUGHTS- PRO:
As a magical realism fan, this is a story that made me feel like I just walked into a library and was able to step into any book and be a part of it! How fun!!!
With a couple of exceptions this would have been a masterpiece of a story. The following two points are what made my rating shift from a possible 5 to a 4:
🤷🏼♀️MY THOUGHTS- CONS:
First, is all the fuss made about the opening line. If it was just said and then left to stand or not.. ok. But I felt early reviewers did an extreme amount of raving about this amazing, wonderful, fantastic opening line: “all stories are love stories if you love stories”. The author herself repeats it later as well. I may be the minority, but its nine words that I just can't agree with, and assumes everyone has the same perspective. All stories are not love stories. All stories are not even about love. Some stories are about horrific things, and dont resemble love just because its a story. For me, it was a really bad opening line, which tells us nothing about the book you’re about to read, and doesn’t set up the book at all.
The second thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me was the rushed ending. I didn’t expect that exact twist,, which was good- but it felt too rushed. I wish that part could have been a bit better explained, or a few more pages donated to it, as it felt a little convoluted. I re-read it 3 times to be sure it all fit together in my mind. I had actually misunderstood parts of it the first time through. After the build up of the whole book, the ending was good.. but not handled as well as it could have been.
⭐RATING:
All things considered, the originality of the story, its enjoyment level, I definitely would recommend it... and if you liked Nancy Drew books, The Reading Rainbow and Little Debbie snack cakes.. you'll love it. So, I'm rounding up to a 4.5. This book would easily work for a YA or NA audience, as the spice level is only 🌶️or🌶️🌶️.
🙏🏼 I received an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher!
August 10, 2026
In a Nutshell: A book-about-books fantasy featuring the titular book witch. After the super-interesting start, this absolutely didn’t go the way I expected it to. Too much of insta-love. OTT dialogues, absurd plot twists, and immature characters. I enjoyed this author’s first two novels but simply couldn’t connect with this one. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I had enjoyed reading Meg Shafer’s first two novels ‘The Wishing Game’ and ‘The Lost Story’. So when I saw this title on NetGalley, I didn’t hesitate even for a moment before requesting it. It helped that the title was also intriguing (Book + Witch = awesome combo!) and the cover art had so many adorable elements, including the black cat. Sadly, the novel came nowhere near my expectations. The writing, the plot development, and the characters all felt very immature, so much so that I still cannot accept this came from the same pen.
Bookish Yays:
📚 The idea of dividing the novel into six genre-based sections and sticking to that labelled genre for each section. Very clever!
Bookish Okays:
🐱👤 Koshka the cat, who is also Rainy’s familiar. The Okay isn't for Koshka; how can a cat be anything but Yay, right? The Okay is because Koshka barely has anything to do in the whole story despite being present for most of it. A wasted opportunity, this.
🐱👤 The stress on the importance of books and of reading and of their impact on ordinary humans. No bibliophile would ever disagree with such valid points. But why keep harping on the same topic again and again and again? Those who reads books hardly support book banning and burning, so this is like preaching to the choir repetitively.
🐱👤 The references to all the classics and the encounters with some popular fictional characters. Not explored as much as I would have preferred, but I still liked much of what was there. Except perhaps for the spoilers – wish there had been some control on the leaked details – and for the appearance of Elizabeth Bennet, whose personality didn’t seem to match her P&P avatar at all. Also, if you don’t know the plots of the classics mentioned, I don’t know if you will be able to appreciate these scenes completely.
Bookish Nays:
☂ Rainy March. Says one thing, does something else. Her immediate breaking of all the book witch rules instigated a major eye-roll. She would have been a much better fit in a YA-Fantasy novel.
☂ The Duke. Ugh! There’s slick and there’s greasy, and this fella is just full of grease. He seems to see Rainy only for her looks. Most of his observations are connected to her appearance.
☂ The secondary characters are all flat. All including the main characters sound younger than their fictional age. The villain is just a caricature.
☂ The plot. Minimal for the most part, with the story turning into any random direction depending on the character’s latest action.
☂ The extra-cheesy ultra-saccharine insta-love between Rainy and the Duke. Sheesh! I anyway don’t enjoy the insta-love trope, but this particular insta-relationship tested my patience to its limits. There’s barely any chemistry between the duo, and the Duke’s “love” felt more like obsession. I was also fed up of the number of references to kisses and physical looks – more indicative of lust than love if you ask me.
☂ The myriad twists. I guessed all of them well in advance. ☹ Some weren’t even convincing!
☂ The book witch concept. It had so much potential, but because of the approach chosen, it doesn’t work. The book magic rules are randomly generated, appended to the plot when the need arises with prosaic phrases such as “Like all book witches, she could…” The same is valid for the powers/rights that the fictional characters in the book have.
☂ The awkward pacing. Usually books are a bit slower at the start to build the world and the characters properly. But this one is contrary: it is extra-rushed at the beginning. The relationship begins within barely 10-15 pages.
☂ The quote “All stories are love stories if you love stories.” I was so fed up of reading this meaningless line. The parting note mentions that it is inspired by a similar quote from a comedian. Well, that quote made sense; this one doesn’t!
☂ The vibe of the book. Artificial, with too much fake telling. Like, it’s deliberately trying to be cozy with the forced inclusion of cozy elements instead of offering natural cosiness. It is also bizarre in its humour, adding jokes in situations where nothing funny is warranted. There are also random inclusions of trivia that’s only thinly connected to the plot, almost like someone didn’t want their Google results to go to waste.
☂ The second half is meta-meta-meta like a fever dream. By the time the final section came, I lost all my interest in comprehending the situation. The ending was perfect for this ad-hoc plot development, which means it didn’t work for me at all.
Overall, this is a case of ‘great idea, pathetic execution.’ There was a lot of potential in the concept. But the resultant plot is more like a poorly-written YA romantic mystery than a witchy fantasy meant for adults. This issue partly reminded me of Kate Quinn’s ‘The Astral Library’, yet another book-about-books with great potential but below-average execution.
I am utterly disappointed. This had been one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and hence I simply wasn’t prepared for such a dud experience. There is one common point across the three books: the references to the classics and a journey into the book world (literally or figuratively.) But this plot probably got too unwieldy. I will still read the author’s next, but my expectations will be much lower.
That said, mine is very much an outlier review. Of the author’s three books, this has the highest rating on GR as of today. So perhaps it does have its merits and I simply couldn’t see them. Do read the other reviews and take a better call on this work.
Recommended to those who seek entertainment without applying much logic. Better if you are a YA who loves romantic fantasy.
1 star.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing the DRC of “The Book Witch” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work better for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Despite her youth, twenty-five-year-old Rainy March has been a book witch for more than a decade. She follows all the rules of the profession seriously, including the one about ensuring that fictional characters and the real world do not intersect. But when she is sent on assignment into the book series starring the Duke of Chicago, her favourite book character, she forgets all the rules and ends up in a relationship with him. When this is discovered by the head witch, Rainy is forbidden from interacting with the fictional character on the threat of expulsion from the coven. But two years later, when Rainy faces a life-changing mystery, she can think of no one other than the Duke to help her out. Their secret quest takes them through several book classics, but can they resolve the mystery without Rainy being penalised?
The story comes to us mostly in Rainy’s first-person perspective.
I had enjoyed reading Meg Shafer’s first two novels ‘The Wishing Game’ and ‘The Lost Story’. So when I saw this title on NetGalley, I didn’t hesitate even for a moment before requesting it. It helped that the title was also intriguing (Book + Witch = awesome combo!) and the cover art had so many adorable elements, including the black cat. Sadly, the novel came nowhere near my expectations. The writing, the plot development, and the characters all felt very immature, so much so that I still cannot accept this came from the same pen.
Bookish Yays:
📚 The idea of dividing the novel into six genre-based sections and sticking to that labelled genre for each section. Very clever!
Bookish Okays:
🐱👤 Koshka the cat, who is also Rainy’s familiar. The Okay isn't for Koshka; how can a cat be anything but Yay, right? The Okay is because Koshka barely has anything to do in the whole story despite being present for most of it. A wasted opportunity, this.
🐱👤 The stress on the importance of books and of reading and of their impact on ordinary humans. No bibliophile would ever disagree with such valid points. But why keep harping on the same topic again and again and again? Those who reads books hardly support book banning and burning, so this is like preaching to the choir repetitively.
🐱👤 The references to all the classics and the encounters with some popular fictional characters. Not explored as much as I would have preferred, but I still liked much of what was there. Except perhaps for the spoilers – wish there had been some control on the leaked details – and for the appearance of Elizabeth Bennet, whose personality didn’t seem to match her P&P avatar at all. Also, if you don’t know the plots of the classics mentioned, I don’t know if you will be able to appreciate these scenes completely.
Bookish Nays:
☂ Rainy March. Says one thing, does something else. Her immediate breaking of all the book witch rules instigated a major eye-roll. She would have been a much better fit in a YA-Fantasy novel.
☂ The Duke. Ugh! There’s slick and there’s greasy, and this fella is just full of grease. He seems to see Rainy only for her looks. Most of his observations are connected to her appearance.
☂ The secondary characters are all flat. All including the main characters sound younger than their fictional age. The villain is just a caricature.
☂ The plot. Minimal for the most part, with the story turning into any random direction depending on the character’s latest action.
☂ The extra-cheesy ultra-saccharine insta-love between Rainy and the Duke. Sheesh! I anyway don’t enjoy the insta-love trope, but this particular insta-relationship tested my patience to its limits. There’s barely any chemistry between the duo, and the Duke’s “love” felt more like obsession. I was also fed up of the number of references to kisses and physical looks – more indicative of lust than love if you ask me.
☂ The myriad twists. I guessed all of them well in advance. ☹ Some weren’t even convincing!
☂ The book witch concept. It had so much potential, but because of the approach chosen, it doesn’t work. The book magic rules are randomly generated, appended to the plot when the need arises with prosaic phrases such as “Like all book witches, she could…” The same is valid for the powers/rights that the fictional characters in the book have.
☂ The awkward pacing. Usually books are a bit slower at the start to build the world and the characters properly. But this one is contrary: it is extra-rushed at the beginning. The relationship begins within barely 10-15 pages.
☂ The quote “All stories are love stories if you love stories.” I was so fed up of reading this meaningless line. The parting note mentions that it is inspired by a similar quote from a comedian. Well, that quote made sense; this one doesn’t!
☂ The vibe of the book. Artificial, with too much fake telling. Like, it’s deliberately trying to be cozy with the forced inclusion of cozy elements instead of offering natural cosiness. It is also bizarre in its humour, adding jokes in situations where nothing funny is warranted. There are also random inclusions of trivia that’s only thinly connected to the plot, almost like someone didn’t want their Google results to go to waste.
☂ The second half is meta-meta-meta like a fever dream. By the time the final section came, I lost all my interest in comprehending the situation. The ending was perfect for this ad-hoc plot development, which means it didn’t work for me at all.
Overall, this is a case of ‘great idea, pathetic execution.’ There was a lot of potential in the concept. But the resultant plot is more like a poorly-written YA romantic mystery than a witchy fantasy meant for adults. This issue partly reminded me of Kate Quinn’s ‘The Astral Library’, yet another book-about-books with great potential but below-average execution.
I am utterly disappointed. This had been one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and hence I simply wasn’t prepared for such a dud experience. There is one common point across the three books: the references to the classics and a journey into the book world (literally or figuratively.) But this plot probably got too unwieldy. I will still read the author’s next, but my expectations will be much lower.
That said, mine is very much an outlier review. Of the author’s three books, this has the highest rating on GR as of today. So perhaps it does have its merits and I simply couldn’t see them. Do read the other reviews and take a better call on this work.
Recommended to those who seek entertainment without applying much logic. Better if you are a YA who loves romantic fantasy.
1 star.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing the DRC of “The Book Witch” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work better for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 17, 2026
якщо ви з України — не читайте. лишаю цей відгук виключно для застереження, бо з першої сторінки нам кидають в обличчя кота породи рашн блу, який через це вважає, шо він русскій (з гордістю). також звати його Кошка.
а ще авторка в душі не гребе хто такі большевікі та що таке ГУЛАГ. наведу декілька прикладів, щоб ви самі зрозуміли, наскільки це огидні та недоречні концепти:
1
“Koshka,” I said. “He thinks he’s Russian.”
“Koshka? Your four-legged Bolshevik is sitting in my hat.”
2
“Greetings, comrade,” he said. “Добрый вечер.”
“You know Russian?”
“Only enough to get me thrown in the gulag.”
у мене все, я жахливо розчарована. очікувала милу книжку про відьму, а отримала жарти про ГУЛАГ та намагання росіян втягнути в книжку, хоча б у вигляді кота.
а ще авторка в душі не гребе хто такі большевікі та що таке ГУЛАГ. наведу декілька прикладів, щоб ви самі зрозуміли, наскільки це огидні та недоречні концепти:
1
“Koshka,” I said. “He thinks he’s Russian.”
“Koshka? Your four-legged Bolshevik is sitting in my hat.”
2
“Greetings, comrade,” he said. “Добрый вечер.”
“You know Russian?”
“Only enough to get me thrown in the gulag.”
у мене все, я жахливо розчарована. очікувала милу книжку про відьму, а отримала жарти про ГУЛАГ та намагання росіян втягнути в книжку, хоча б у вигляді кота.
May 2, 2026
You know when you start reading a book and the premise is really promising but then the book kinda sucks but you keep telling yourself it's gonna get better and then it doesn't get better actually it gets worse and then suddenly you've read 350 pages of which you enjoyed absolutely zero?
Yeah. That was this for me.
I found this on social media somewhere and the synopsis had me adding it to my tbr shelf soooo fast. Then I saw a few of my goodreads friends reading it, so I figured it should be my next read. But wow, I really DO NOT get the hype.
The main couple of the book had literally no chemistry. Their entire falling in love story is cut from the novel and you're left with static characters that are apparently madly in love, even though they're so flat I can hardly imagine them feeling anything at all. The plot was all over the place and did not hold my attention. The plot twist near the 75% mark was just so stupid, I really hated it lol.
I'm happy for everyone who did enjoy this novel but I probably should've dnf'ed it at 20-ish% to save myself the time
Yeah. That was this for me.
I found this on social media somewhere and the synopsis had me adding it to my tbr shelf soooo fast. Then I saw a few of my goodreads friends reading it, so I figured it should be my next read. But wow, I really DO NOT get the hype.
The main couple of the book had literally no chemistry. Their entire falling in love story is cut from the novel and you're left with static characters that are apparently madly in love, even though they're so flat I can hardly imagine them feeling anything at all. The plot was all over the place and did not hold my attention. The plot twist near the 75% mark was just so stupid, I really hated it lol.
I'm happy for everyone who did enjoy this novel but I probably should've dnf'ed it at 20-ish% to save myself the time
April 9, 2026
✨🔮
“All stories are love stories if you love stories”
🔮✨
⤿📖09/04/26
➸3.5 stars | status: released on 7th April, 2026 💫
hi, hello and welcome back to fadhee's ranting podcast again after a month 🥰 Oh how I missed being here in this little corner, missing everyone here so much over the past month 🥺 I'm so glad to be back, and grateful to everyone who messaged and checked up on me, who prayed for our safety. Thank you so much besties, ily all so very much 🥹🫂💗 Now back to our real podcast review, here we goooo, enjoy 🤭
what to expect ☕:
🪄 book witch x duke
🪄 forbidden love
🪄 star-crossed lovers
🪄 small town
🪄 clean romance
🪄 secret coven
🪄 saving characters by going inside the books
🪄 solving mystery cases
for starters, I went into this book blindly, with little to zero expectations because I am in the worst reading slump ever due to the war situation with barely any sleep. But OMG, I wasn't expecting this book to be good as at the beginning I felt this book was a little slow, I even thought to dnf it after the first two chapters but ahhh I'm glad I sticked and continued to read it because oh boy, THAT HOT DUKE OF CHICAGO TURNED DETECTIVE MADE ME FOLD SO FAST WITH HIS CHARMING FLIRTING SKILLS!😩💘 like I was giggling and blushing whenever he opened his mouth and said something to Rainy 🙈 I wish I was a book witch like Rainy, so that I could bring my favourite MMC back in real world and marry him or just go into that book world and be with him because real world is shit now (delulu is the solulu it is 🥹👉🏻👈🏻)
secondly, I was actually surprised like really surprised to see myself enjoying this book like I used to when I was in school. I don't know if it's the writing style, but I felt it did take me back in time, like reading a book in 6th grade. Because I used to read a lot of crime novels that time and seeing Agatha Christie's work getting mentioned time and time again and also revisiting Alice in Wonderland and the Great Gatsby might also add to it. As all these titles were real and I have read them many times in school, so I was so excited that I went in google and search up "duke of chicago" and found no book series in that name. I felt that betrayal in my soul, like whyyyy would you do that to ME?😔💔 *CRYING*
lastly, I just wanted to give Rainy a big hug like my girl went through so much in the span of 2 days. The plot twists getting dropped over the last half of book was INSANE. Honestly my jaw was on the floor like really ON-THE-FLOOR. I just wish this book didn't end soon and was a bit longer with Rainy & her hot detective duke after they solved the mystery ughh 🤧
All I have to say is if you ever wished to have your favourite fictinal man in real life, or you love books about books and hot englishman who is a duke-turned-detective from the 20th century getting roped into the real world by a book witch of 21st century, then this book is for you 🙂↕️✋🏻
thank you to the Author, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this magical ARC in exchange for an honest review 💞
⤿📖09/04/26
➸3.5 stars | status: released on 7th April, 2026 💫
hi, hello and welcome back to fadhee's ranting podcast again after a month 🥰 Oh how I missed being here in this little corner, missing everyone here so much over the past month 🥺 I'm so glad to be back, and grateful to everyone who messaged and checked up on me, who prayed for our safety. Thank you so much besties, ily all so very much 🥹🫂💗 Now back to our real podcast review, here we goooo, enjoy 🤭
what to expect ☕:
🪄 book witch x duke
🪄 forbidden love
🪄 star-crossed lovers
🪄 small town
🪄 clean romance
🪄 secret coven
🪄 saving characters by going inside the books
🪄 solving mystery cases
“That’s why I love you, Rainy March. Because when I’m with you, I’m real.”
for starters, I went into this book blindly, with little to zero expectations because I am in the worst reading slump ever due to the war situation with barely any sleep. But OMG, I wasn't expecting this book to be good as at the beginning I felt this book was a little slow, I even thought to dnf it after the first two chapters but ahhh I'm glad I sticked and continued to read it because oh boy, THAT HOT DUKE OF CHICAGO TURNED DETECTIVE MADE ME FOLD SO FAST WITH HIS CHARMING FLIRTING SKILLS!😩💘 like I was giggling and blushing whenever he opened his mouth and said something to Rainy 🙈 I wish I was a book witch like Rainy, so that I could bring my favourite MMC back in real world and marry him or just go into that book world and be with him because real world is shit now (delulu is the solulu it is 🥹👉🏻👈🏻)
“You're my favourite story.”
secondly, I was actually surprised like really surprised to see myself enjoying this book like I used to when I was in school. I don't know if it's the writing style, but I felt it did take me back in time, like reading a book in 6th grade. Because I used to read a lot of crime novels that time and seeing Agatha Christie's work getting mentioned time and time again and also revisiting Alice in Wonderland and the Great Gatsby might also add to it. As all these titles were real and I have read them many times in school, so I was so excited that I went in google and search up "duke of chicago" and found no book series in that name. I felt that betrayal in my soul, like whyyyy would you do that to ME?😔💔 *CRYING*
“Immortatlity is overrated. I'd far rather be able to grow old.”
“Really? Why?”
“If I can't grow old, I can't grow old with you.”
lastly, I just wanted to give Rainy a big hug like my girl went through so much in the span of 2 days. The plot twists getting dropped over the last half of book was INSANE. Honestly my jaw was on the floor like really ON-THE-FLOOR. I just wish this book didn't end soon and was a bit longer with Rainy & her hot detective duke after they solved the mystery ughh 🤧
All I have to say is if you ever wished to have your favourite fictinal man in real life, or you love books about books and hot englishman who is a duke-turned-detective from the 20th century getting roped into the real world by a book witch of 21st century, then this book is for you 🙂↕️✋🏻
thank you to the Author, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this magical ARC in exchange for an honest review 💞
April 8, 2026
I was excited to read this because I really enjoyed Shaffer’s last book (“The Lost Story”). While I do prefer the aforementioned, “The Book Witch” is a super cute and fun read. The author puts her own twist on a world where some can actually enter stories. Known as Book Witches (male or female), they occasionally have to go on missions into books to save them from being erased by “Burners”, who are fanatical about destroying any books they deem unworthy.
A Book Witch has rules that must not be broken. You cannot eat, drink or sleep in a fictional world, or you risk forgetting about the real world. Also, and this is a big one, you must never fall in love with a fictional character.
And that’s exactly what main character Rainy March does—she begs to be sent into a Duke of Chicago mystery to oust a Burner, even though she’s been in love with Duke’s character since she was a teenager. When they meet in his story, sparks fly. Alas, the lovers were never meant to be, and Rainy is placed on probation in her coven and warned that she must stay out of his series, or be banned.
Then Rainy’s grandfather disappears, and someone has been in their house. She quickly realizes that she’s in over her head, and the one person she needs the most is the one she’s been forbidden to see.
I enjoyed this, and there are genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Shaffer does a fantastic job of worldbuilding, and you come to care about the characters. The mystery is especially interesting, and I loved how we got to enter classic stories to do some sleuthing.
My one complaint is that there are plot holes with the big reveal. I’ve been left with a lot of questions, and I’m ultimately feeling a little unsatisfied. This is not to say that it’s not a good book—it most certainly is! The issues with the ending just bring my rating down to 3.75 stars instead of a solid 4. I still recommend this as a quick, fun way to immerse yourself in a fascinating new world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC. All opinions are mine.
A Book Witch has rules that must not be broken. You cannot eat, drink or sleep in a fictional world, or you risk forgetting about the real world. Also, and this is a big one, you must never fall in love with a fictional character.
And that’s exactly what main character Rainy March does—she begs to be sent into a Duke of Chicago mystery to oust a Burner, even though she’s been in love with Duke’s character since she was a teenager. When they meet in his story, sparks fly. Alas, the lovers were never meant to be, and Rainy is placed on probation in her coven and warned that she must stay out of his series, or be banned.
Then Rainy’s grandfather disappears, and someone has been in their house. She quickly realizes that she’s in over her head, and the one person she needs the most is the one she’s been forbidden to see.
I enjoyed this, and there are genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Shaffer does a fantastic job of worldbuilding, and you come to care about the characters. The mystery is especially interesting, and I loved how we got to enter classic stories to do some sleuthing.
My one complaint is that there are plot holes with the big reveal. I’ve been left with a lot of questions, and I’m ultimately feeling a little unsatisfied. This is not to say that it’s not a good book—it most certainly is! The issues with the ending just bring my rating down to 3.75 stars instead of a solid 4. I still recommend this as a quick, fun way to immerse yourself in a fascinating new world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC. All opinions are mine.
July 20, 2026
💀 DNF at 36%.
Is Chick Lit Fantasy a thing? If it is, this book surely belongs to the genre. And it should definitely come with a content warning.
I mean, juvenile writing + a heroine who is 25-going-on 15 + trying-sooo-hard-to-be-funny-it's-lame + corny and one-dimensional and superficial everything + the most ridiculous main character name ever (Rainy March? Really? 🤦♀️🤦♀️) + insta love crap + sentences that read like social media quotes + a feline familiar that doesn't talk (worst rip-off ever) = out of here I am.
P.S. I
May 3, 2026
⭐️4.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ebook of The Book Witch! This story truly takes you on a journey. Imagine being able to jump straight into your favorite books, not only interact with beloved characters but actually help them. It’s every reader’s dream come true. The message behind this book is such an important one 👏🏽 I absolutely adored every part of it! The coziness, the book references, the familiar, the romance, the book settings, the mysteries, the humor, the magical realism aspect and the writing all came together perfectly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ebook of The Book Witch! This story truly takes you on a journey. Imagine being able to jump straight into your favorite books, not only interact with beloved characters but actually help them. It’s every reader’s dream come true. The message behind this book is such an important one 👏🏽 I absolutely adored every part of it! The coziness, the book references, the familiar, the romance, the book settings, the mysteries, the humor, the magical realism aspect and the writing all came together perfectly.
April 2, 2026
I really struggled with this book. From the first chapter, it leans heavily on telling rather than showing, dumping a huge amount of backstory all at once instead of letting the reader discover the world naturally. I much prefer stories that unfold gradually, but here it felt like everything you need to know was handed to you upfront, which took away any sense of intrigue.
The premise had so much potential—Rainy March, a “book witch” who can travel into stories using a magical umbrella, rescuing books from villainous book burners. It sounds whimsical and imaginative, but the execution didn’t live up to that promise. When Rainy enters her favourite detective series and meets Duke, a character she’s loved since her teenage years, things quickly fall flat. He instantly falls for her, and their dynamic becomes repetitive and unconvincing, with him persistently pursuing her while she half-heartedly tries to follow the rules she’s been given. There’s no real tension or chemistry, just a rushed, shallow romance that feels irritating.
The constant references to other books ended up being more distracting than charming. Instead of enriching the story, it felt like a checklist of the author’s favourite reads.
On top of that, the plot twists are predictable, the characters lack depth, and the overall message feels overly simplistic. By the end, it all boils down to “books are great, don’t burn them,” which just didn’t deliver the cosy book vibes I was looking for.
I went into this hoping for a cosy, magical adventure celebrating books and imagination, but it ultimately fell short and left me disappointed.
The premise had so much potential—Rainy March, a “book witch” who can travel into stories using a magical umbrella, rescuing books from villainous book burners. It sounds whimsical and imaginative, but the execution didn’t live up to that promise. When Rainy enters her favourite detective series and meets Duke, a character she’s loved since her teenage years, things quickly fall flat. He instantly falls for her, and their dynamic becomes repetitive and unconvincing, with him persistently pursuing her while she half-heartedly tries to follow the rules she’s been given. There’s no real tension or chemistry, just a rushed, shallow romance that feels irritating.
The constant references to other books ended up being more distracting than charming. Instead of enriching the story, it felt like a checklist of the author’s favourite reads.
On top of that, the plot twists are predictable, the characters lack depth, and the overall message feels overly simplistic. By the end, it all boils down to “books are great, don’t burn them,” which just didn’t deliver the cosy book vibes I was looking for.
I went into this hoping for a cosy, magical adventure celebrating books and imagination, but it ultimately fell short and left me disappointed.
August 8, 2026
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for an ARC of this book!**
🌴A literary lover's PARADISE! 🌴
Rainy March has what many would consider to be a dream job...and she's determined to be the BEST at her craft. As a third generation Book Witch, her employ is unusual to say the least: Rainy gets to hop from book to book, removing aberrations and warding off evil so those who grace the pages of our beloved books can move through their stories without the sort of changes that would destroy the flow of the narratives...and have unforeseen consequences. With her affable yet persnickety feline familiar Koshka and her magical umbrella at her side, she's a cross between Nancy Drew, a Fairy Godmother, and a Mary Poppins of sorts...but staying under the radar? Well, it's not just encouraged...it is ESSENTIAL for her safety. You see, the fictional characters need to stay firmly in their worlds...and Rainy, firmly in hers.
So when Rainy ends up encountering HER favorite handsome, enchanting - AND fictional - detective, the Duke of Chicago, on her next mission, it's hard for Rainy to keep her focus on the task at hand. This becomes all the MORE complicated when it seems like she's not the only one who's caught feelings...and she can't help but be swept away. But as Rainy has been made well aware, she cannot consort with a fictional man...and she ends up banned from ever interacting with the Duke or dipping into any of his books to visit him. If she breaks this rule, she will be stripped of ALL of her powers as a Book Witch. When Rainy's grandfather goes missing, however, she can only think of ONE detective crafty enough to help her crack the code...and she decides to risk it all and enlist the Duke to help her solve the mystery.
As the two race through some of the world's most famous literary landscapes, from Gatsby's famous parties, to Nancy Drew's childhood home, can they piece together the clues AND keep their burgeoning relationship a secret?
Or will Rainy's desperation and recklessness expose them both...all but GUARANTEEING her grandfather's demise? Or will the reveal of an even BIGGER secret shock, stun, and STOP Rainy in her tracks...upending EVERYTHING she thought she knew?
I feel a bit ashamed saying this now...but I ALMOST didn't read this book. After being COMPLETELY blown away by the nostalgic, funny, magical, and charming masterpiece that was The Wishing Game, reading Meg Shaffer's second effort, The Lost Story? Well...let's just say I was very skeptical as to whether this author was even for me at its end. I was starting to look at the 5 star debut as sort of an aberration, and as badly as I longed to be swept away by The Lost Story...to say I 'lost' interest about halfway through that book is probably an understatement.
But I am now over the MOON to report that not only is the Meg Shaffer I fell in love with back...she's BETTER than ever!
Whimsical from page one, The Book Witch is a love song to literature, an ode in its purest form. Shaffer once again manages to craft a tale with all the charm and magic you'd expect from a YA fantasy novel amidst a veritable 'who's who' of literary characters. This is the sort of book that word nerds CRAVE...and also the type that encourages you to BECOME one, if you don't fully consider yourself to have earned that title just yet! Anytime I can pick up a book, and blow through 40-50% of it without so much as looking up? It's a sign of only good to come, and the sort of reading experience that stays with me long after I've completed the book. This love story to the written word is crafted with such care, such thoughtfulness, and such FUN: Shaffer was 1000% intentional with EVERY choice made here, and it's pretty rare to find that sort of devotion to the craft being displayed with ease.
This book manages to honor and nod at the greats without EVER becoming referential, which is a feat in and of itself. For this story to work, your reader needs to FEEL like they understand the gist of so many different worlds, characters, settings, and writing styles WITHOUT necessarily having read the original works...and Shaffer executes this BRILLIANTLY throughout. It was giving me all the thrill and excitement I used to get reading "Choose Your Own Adventure" books as a child: it's simply THAT unpredictable! The story manages to feel wryly meta throughout, winking and nodding at the audience without ever tipping its hand, losing focus, or becoming conventional.
It feels like Shaffer has truly created something new and original here, with a sweet romance and an exciting mystery helping to drive the story towards its conclusion. And JUST when you think you might have it all figured out? Shaffer WALLOPS you with a twist that turns EVERYTHING on its head...and will have you GASPING out loud! I didn't think it was possible to love the book EVEN more, but it somehow managed to top itself in the third act...a feat of MAGIC that only a true book witch could have accomplished!
Shaffer's passion for the page and the written word is what takes this book to the next level, and brings to mind a book lover's most painful reading conundrum: you both want to finish the book and are desperate NOT to finish it, lest your incredible journey come to an end.
And much like a good cup of tea, or a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup on a 'Rainy March'you'll want to sip and savor this one for as long as you can, because THIS type of literary magic will TRULY soothe your soul. 🪄☕
5 stars, rounded up from 4.5
🌴A literary lover's PARADISE! 🌴
Rainy March has what many would consider to be a dream job...and she's determined to be the BEST at her craft. As a third generation Book Witch, her employ is unusual to say the least: Rainy gets to hop from book to book, removing aberrations and warding off evil so those who grace the pages of our beloved books can move through their stories without the sort of changes that would destroy the flow of the narratives...and have unforeseen consequences. With her affable yet persnickety feline familiar Koshka and her magical umbrella at her side, she's a cross between Nancy Drew, a Fairy Godmother, and a Mary Poppins of sorts...but staying under the radar? Well, it's not just encouraged...it is ESSENTIAL for her safety. You see, the fictional characters need to stay firmly in their worlds...and Rainy, firmly in hers.
So when Rainy ends up encountering HER favorite handsome, enchanting - AND fictional - detective, the Duke of Chicago, on her next mission, it's hard for Rainy to keep her focus on the task at hand. This becomes all the MORE complicated when it seems like she's not the only one who's caught feelings...and she can't help but be swept away. But as Rainy has been made well aware, she cannot consort with a fictional man...and she ends up banned from ever interacting with the Duke or dipping into any of his books to visit him. If she breaks this rule, she will be stripped of ALL of her powers as a Book Witch. When Rainy's grandfather goes missing, however, she can only think of ONE detective crafty enough to help her crack the code...and she decides to risk it all and enlist the Duke to help her solve the mystery.
As the two race through some of the world's most famous literary landscapes, from Gatsby's famous parties, to Nancy Drew's childhood home, can they piece together the clues AND keep their burgeoning relationship a secret?
Or will Rainy's desperation and recklessness expose them both...all but GUARANTEEING her grandfather's demise? Or will the reveal of an even BIGGER secret shock, stun, and STOP Rainy in her tracks...upending EVERYTHING she thought she knew?
I feel a bit ashamed saying this now...but I ALMOST didn't read this book. After being COMPLETELY blown away by the nostalgic, funny, magical, and charming masterpiece that was The Wishing Game, reading Meg Shaffer's second effort, The Lost Story? Well...let's just say I was very skeptical as to whether this author was even for me at its end. I was starting to look at the 5 star debut as sort of an aberration, and as badly as I longed to be swept away by The Lost Story...to say I 'lost' interest about halfway through that book is probably an understatement.
But I am now over the MOON to report that not only is the Meg Shaffer I fell in love with back...she's BETTER than ever!
Whimsical from page one, The Book Witch is a love song to literature, an ode in its purest form. Shaffer once again manages to craft a tale with all the charm and magic you'd expect from a YA fantasy novel amidst a veritable 'who's who' of literary characters. This is the sort of book that word nerds CRAVE...and also the type that encourages you to BECOME one, if you don't fully consider yourself to have earned that title just yet! Anytime I can pick up a book, and blow through 40-50% of it without so much as looking up? It's a sign of only good to come, and the sort of reading experience that stays with me long after I've completed the book. This love story to the written word is crafted with such care, such thoughtfulness, and such FUN: Shaffer was 1000% intentional with EVERY choice made here, and it's pretty rare to find that sort of devotion to the craft being displayed with ease.
This book manages to honor and nod at the greats without EVER becoming referential, which is a feat in and of itself. For this story to work, your reader needs to FEEL like they understand the gist of so many different worlds, characters, settings, and writing styles WITHOUT necessarily having read the original works...and Shaffer executes this BRILLIANTLY throughout. It was giving me all the thrill and excitement I used to get reading "Choose Your Own Adventure" books as a child: it's simply THAT unpredictable! The story manages to feel wryly meta throughout, winking and nodding at the audience without ever tipping its hand, losing focus, or becoming conventional.
It feels like Shaffer has truly created something new and original here, with a sweet romance and an exciting mystery helping to drive the story towards its conclusion. And JUST when you think you might have it all figured out? Shaffer WALLOPS you with a twist that turns EVERYTHING on its head...and will have you GASPING out loud! I didn't think it was possible to love the book EVEN more, but it somehow managed to top itself in the third act...a feat of MAGIC that only a true book witch could have accomplished!
Shaffer's passion for the page and the written word is what takes this book to the next level, and brings to mind a book lover's most painful reading conundrum: you both want to finish the book and are desperate NOT to finish it, lest your incredible journey come to an end.
And much like a good cup of tea, or a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup on a 'Rainy March'you'll want to sip and savor this one for as long as you can, because THIS type of literary magic will TRULY soothe your soul. 🪄☕
5 stars, rounded up from 4.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, what a whimsical and fun book!! The writing was beautiful and the story was so creative. I pretty much finished it in one sitting. I found myself laughing, hoping, cheering and tearing up, so many emotions felt. This book captured the beauty of stories and what it means to be a reader. It also beautifully represent the importance of books in our culture. Meg knocked it out of the park!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
While I had a fun time with this one, it paled in comparison to her other 2 books for me!
While I had a fun time with this one, it paled in comparison to her other 2 books for me!
Did Not Finish
July 27, 2026dnf @10%
Interesting premise, but the story feels juvenile and superficial in a way that doesn't appeal to me. I was surprised to learn that Rainy is 25. I thought she was 15. More telling than showing, flat characters, cringy dialogues. During the first 10% I've already started skimming a bit. Not for me.
Interesting premise, but the story feels juvenile and superficial in a way that doesn't appeal to me. I was surprised to learn that Rainy is 25. I thought she was 15. More telling than showing, flat characters, cringy dialogues. During the first 10% I've already started skimming a bit. Not for me.
June 16, 2026
"Every story, in one way or another, is a journey of self-discovery.”
This is a book for book lovers, and at this point, I will read anything Meg writes.
---------
I am so giddy
This is a book for book lovers, and at this point, I will read anything Meg writes.
---------
I am so giddy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,770 reviews