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The Witches of Cambridge #1
The Witches of Cambridge
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK
The brand-new series from the bestselling author of Practical Magic, following two brilliant young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches at Radcliffe known as the Lilith Society.
Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam’s first wife—banished for refusing to do as she was told.
We Fly Together…
By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.
While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed.
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK
The brand-new series from the bestselling author of Practical Magic, following two brilliant young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches at Radcliffe known as the Lilith Society.
Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam’s first wife—banished for refusing to do as she was told.
We Fly Together…
By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.
While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Alice Hoffman
122 books27.1k followersAlice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew; The Marriage of Opposites; The Red Garden; The Museum of Extraordinary Things; The Dovekeepers; Here on Earth, an Oprah’s Book Club selection; and the Practical Magic series, including Practical
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
simply cannot resist the charm of Alice Hoffman’s beautifully crafted historical fantasies. She has such a unique gift for creating memorable heroines—resilient, bold, powerful, and fiery women who refuse to accept the limitations society places on them. They are the kind of characters who inspire you deeply. You admire them, you root for them, and at the same time they push you to question your own path and search for your own purpose during your personal journey of self-discovery.
This brand-new series takes us on a magical journey to 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, where we are introduced to a very special college: Radcliffe. In this world, Radcliffe quietly accepts young women who possess unusual gifts—descendants of witches who have a chance to become members of the mysterious Lilith Society, named after Adam’s first wife, Lilith: the rebellious woman who refused to obey, who refused the destiny forced upon her, and instead chose her own path.
This story is not just about the power of witches or the dark history of women who were persecuted, tortured, and demonized for centuries. Instead, it is a powerful story about finding your own voice, discovering your purpose, and embracing your true identity in a world that constantly tries to silence you.
The novel beautifully captures the rigid social atmosphere of the time. During the 1950s, women were still expected to remain quiet, obedient, and invisible. Female students were sometimes forced to attend science lectures in hallways so they wouldn’t disturb the male students inside classrooms. In such a restrictive environment, Radcliffe becomes a rare sanctuary where young women can finally learn about their history, their powers, and their true potential.
At the heart of the story are two young women: Ava and Lauren, who could not be more different from each other.
Ava grows up in a small Maine town called Genesis, raised by extremely protective parents who constantly warn her to stay quiet and unnoticed. She is told never to wander into the woods, always to lock her door at night, and never to attract attention. Her childhood is filled with loneliness and isolation. The local children bully her for being different—because of her strange aura, her fiery red hair, and the mysterious scar on her hand that marks the removal of an extra eleventh finger.
Lauren, on the other hand, comes from wealth and privilege. She has always embraced her differences with confidence. But tragedy changes everything. When her parents die in a terrible accident, Lauren becomes emotionally hardened. She blames herself for their deaths, and grief slowly turns her heart into stone.
Her brother Lionel processes the loss very differently. Instead of withdrawing, he dedicates himself to science and medicine, determined to save lives. At the same time, Lionel is also navigating his own personal journey, exploring his identity and searching for love in a world that is not always accepting.
When Ava and Lauren finally meet at Cambridge, their relationship begins with tension and dislike. They are forced to share a dorm room, and their personalities clash immediately. However, their lives become permanently connected when Ava saves Lauren’s life. Their blood literally intersects in that moment, sealing a fate neither of them can escape.
Slowly, both young women begin to discover more about their abilities and about the secret societies quietly operating behind the scenes of the college.
Ava soon finds herself drawn toward the most dangerous possible connection: Jamie Mathers. His family has hunted witches for centuries, making them sworn enemies of everything Ava represents.
But Jamie is the black sheep of the Mathers family. After being arrested for marijuana possession, he is sent to Harvard to finish his education and repair the family reputation. Yet Jamie carries secrets of his own. Like Ava, he bears the mark of an eleventh finger removed at birth. He suffers from strange dreams and possesses mysterious abilities that suggest his connection to the witch world may be far more complicated than anyone realizes.
Their relationship becomes a forbidden love—two people destined to be enemies, yet drawn together by forces neither of them fully understands.
Beyond the romance, the novel offers many fascinating subplots. One of the most intriguing storylines follows Lionel and his relationship with Billy, which adds emotional depth and another layer of complexity to the narrative.
At the same time, the book functions almost like a historical exploration of the Ivy League system itself. Hoffman skillfully weaves real history into the story, touching on the origins of institutions like Harvard and Yale, and examining the deeply unequal foundations on which these prestigious universities were built—especially when it came to gender inequality.
The ending of the novel is absolutely perfect. It doesn’t feel like a conclusion at all—it feels like the beginning of something much larger and more exciting. The story leaves the reader with a sense that these characters’ journeys are only just starting.
This is not only a captivating historical fantasy but also an inspiring and thought-provoking exploration of identity, power, and self-belief. It reminds us that even though centuries pass, many struggles for equality remain surprisingly similar. Yet the story also carries a powerful message: when people embrace who they truly are, believe in their own abilities, and dare to challenge the limits imposed on them, every locked door can eventually be opened.
I truly loved this book. It reminded me once again why Alice Hoffman is such a remarkable storyteller. I definitely need to read even more of her work.
This is easily one of the best books of the year, and I strongly recommend adding it to your reading list and devouring it as soon as possible.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for sharing this inspiring and beautifully written historical fantasy digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This brand-new series takes us on a magical journey to 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, where we are introduced to a very special college: Radcliffe. In this world, Radcliffe quietly accepts young women who possess unusual gifts—descendants of witches who have a chance to become members of the mysterious Lilith Society, named after Adam’s first wife, Lilith: the rebellious woman who refused to obey, who refused the destiny forced upon her, and instead chose her own path.
This story is not just about the power of witches or the dark history of women who were persecuted, tortured, and demonized for centuries. Instead, it is a powerful story about finding your own voice, discovering your purpose, and embracing your true identity in a world that constantly tries to silence you.
The novel beautifully captures the rigid social atmosphere of the time. During the 1950s, women were still expected to remain quiet, obedient, and invisible. Female students were sometimes forced to attend science lectures in hallways so they wouldn’t disturb the male students inside classrooms. In such a restrictive environment, Radcliffe becomes a rare sanctuary where young women can finally learn about their history, their powers, and their true potential.
At the heart of the story are two young women: Ava and Lauren, who could not be more different from each other.
Ava grows up in a small Maine town called Genesis, raised by extremely protective parents who constantly warn her to stay quiet and unnoticed. She is told never to wander into the woods, always to lock her door at night, and never to attract attention. Her childhood is filled with loneliness and isolation. The local children bully her for being different—because of her strange aura, her fiery red hair, and the mysterious scar on her hand that marks the removal of an extra eleventh finger.
Lauren, on the other hand, comes from wealth and privilege. She has always embraced her differences with confidence. But tragedy changes everything. When her parents die in a terrible accident, Lauren becomes emotionally hardened. She blames herself for their deaths, and grief slowly turns her heart into stone.
Her brother Lionel processes the loss very differently. Instead of withdrawing, he dedicates himself to science and medicine, determined to save lives. At the same time, Lionel is also navigating his own personal journey, exploring his identity and searching for love in a world that is not always accepting.
When Ava and Lauren finally meet at Cambridge, their relationship begins with tension and dislike. They are forced to share a dorm room, and their personalities clash immediately. However, their lives become permanently connected when Ava saves Lauren’s life. Their blood literally intersects in that moment, sealing a fate neither of them can escape.
Slowly, both young women begin to discover more about their abilities and about the secret societies quietly operating behind the scenes of the college.
Ava soon finds herself drawn toward the most dangerous possible connection: Jamie Mathers. His family has hunted witches for centuries, making them sworn enemies of everything Ava represents.
But Jamie is the black sheep of the Mathers family. After being arrested for marijuana possession, he is sent to Harvard to finish his education and repair the family reputation. Yet Jamie carries secrets of his own. Like Ava, he bears the mark of an eleventh finger removed at birth. He suffers from strange dreams and possesses mysterious abilities that suggest his connection to the witch world may be far more complicated than anyone realizes.
Their relationship becomes a forbidden love—two people destined to be enemies, yet drawn together by forces neither of them fully understands.
Beyond the romance, the novel offers many fascinating subplots. One of the most intriguing storylines follows Lionel and his relationship with Billy, which adds emotional depth and another layer of complexity to the narrative.
At the same time, the book functions almost like a historical exploration of the Ivy League system itself. Hoffman skillfully weaves real history into the story, touching on the origins of institutions like Harvard and Yale, and examining the deeply unequal foundations on which these prestigious universities were built—especially when it came to gender inequality.
The ending of the novel is absolutely perfect. It doesn’t feel like a conclusion at all—it feels like the beginning of something much larger and more exciting. The story leaves the reader with a sense that these characters’ journeys are only just starting.
This is not only a captivating historical fantasy but also an inspiring and thought-provoking exploration of identity, power, and self-belief. It reminds us that even though centuries pass, many struggles for equality remain surprisingly similar. Yet the story also carries a powerful message: when people embrace who they truly are, believe in their own abilities, and dare to challenge the limits imposed on them, every locked door can eventually be opened.
I truly loved this book. It reminded me once again why Alice Hoffman is such a remarkable storyteller. I definitely need to read even more of her work.
This is easily one of the best books of the year, and I strongly recommend adding it to your reading list and devouring it as soon as possible.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for sharing this inspiring and beautifully written historical fantasy digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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August 22, 2026
No one is more surprised by this rating than I am.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I LOVE Alice Hoffman. I literally grew up on the Practical Magic series and love Hoffman’s other books, like The Bookstore Sisters. So, I was primed to LOVE this book.
Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.
The biggest issue that contributed most to my rating was the fact that there wasn’t a single, driving plot. One of the reasons I loved the Practical Magic books so much is that they plunge you into a magical world where the stakes are high. The Witches of Cambridge doesn’t do that, in my opinion. There are a few issues for the characters to overcome, but at page 200, I still couldn’t really tell friends and family who asked me what this book was about.
I am 100% ok with books that don’t have a plot. In fact, they often end up being favorites. However, for books like that to work for me, they have to have deep character development. I did not feel any connection to these characters. They had backstories, but there was a lot of top-level description of their traits (especially physical traits, in the case of Ava). I never felt like I got to be part of their inner worlds, though.
As hard as it is for me to admit, The Witches of Cambridge lacked the spark of inspiration that made Practical Magic and Hoffman’s other novels such a wonder for me. I am sure many readers will love this book, but, unfortunately, I’m not one of them.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I LOVE Alice Hoffman. I literally grew up on the Practical Magic series and love Hoffman’s other books, like The Bookstore Sisters. So, I was primed to LOVE this book.
Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.
The biggest issue that contributed most to my rating was the fact that there wasn’t a single, driving plot. One of the reasons I loved the Practical Magic books so much is that they plunge you into a magical world where the stakes are high. The Witches of Cambridge doesn’t do that, in my opinion. There are a few issues for the characters to overcome, but at page 200, I still couldn’t really tell friends and family who asked me what this book was about.
I am 100% ok with books that don’t have a plot. In fact, they often end up being favorites. However, for books like that to work for me, they have to have deep character development. I did not feel any connection to these characters. They had backstories, but there was a lot of top-level description of their traits (especially physical traits, in the case of Ava). I never felt like I got to be part of their inner worlds, though.
As hard as it is for me to admit, The Witches of Cambridge lacked the spark of inspiration that made Practical Magic and Hoffman’s other novels such a wonder for me. I am sure many readers will love this book, but, unfortunately, I’m not one of them.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
September 8, 2026
Happy Publication Day – September 8, 2026!
“For every book you could not find there is one waiting to be written.”
One thing readers can count on is that Hoffman always has a message woven through her stories. So, where will this new series take readers? Are there stories that were erased, burned, or deliberately left unwritten by history, thus leaving the responsibility of the living – especially women – to unearth the silenced voices and bring them back into existence?
Who am I, and why am I being denied my true authentic self?
These are the questions that have followed young Ava Abbott throughout her life, until she finds a place where “anything could happen now.”
In Hoffman’s new Cambridge series, Ava and her wealthy classmate Lauren are Radcliffe College students in the 1950s who become part of a secret society of witches. As they explore their magical abilities and form an unlikely friendship, members of the society begin to disappear.
The narrative moves between the girls’ college years and the 17th-century persecution of the original Owens family witches, linking the darker history of witch-hunting to the fears and political tensions of the 1950s McCarthy era.
Ava, a scholarship student from Maine, is determined to break free from her harsh upbringing. Lauren, her wealthy and wild classmate, offers a very different perspective on the world. Their friendship becomes one of the most compelling aspects of the story as they navigate their growing powers, the expectations placed on women, and the complicated legacies they have inherited.
Hoffman is a thoughtful and engaging storyteller. She brings emotional depth to her characters, creates an atmospheric academic setting, and weaves together magical realism, historical detail, and the darker consequences of power. The story explores women coming into their own, generational trauma, and the possibility of breaking cycles of violence.
There is also an ill-advised romance that adds another layer of conflict.
For fans of Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” series, this is an intriguing beginning to a new set of characters.
The timing of this book release coincides with the latest “Practical Magic 2” movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
“Practical Magic 2” Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho10_...
“Practical Magic” Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“For every book you could not find there is one waiting to be written.”
One thing readers can count on is that Hoffman always has a message woven through her stories. So, where will this new series take readers? Are there stories that were erased, burned, or deliberately left unwritten by history, thus leaving the responsibility of the living – especially women – to unearth the silenced voices and bring them back into existence?
Who am I, and why am I being denied my true authentic self?
These are the questions that have followed young Ava Abbott throughout her life, until she finds a place where “anything could happen now.”
In Hoffman’s new Cambridge series, Ava and her wealthy classmate Lauren are Radcliffe College students in the 1950s who become part of a secret society of witches. As they explore their magical abilities and form an unlikely friendship, members of the society begin to disappear.
The narrative moves between the girls’ college years and the 17th-century persecution of the original Owens family witches, linking the darker history of witch-hunting to the fears and political tensions of the 1950s McCarthy era.
Ava, a scholarship student from Maine, is determined to break free from her harsh upbringing. Lauren, her wealthy and wild classmate, offers a very different perspective on the world. Their friendship becomes one of the most compelling aspects of the story as they navigate their growing powers, the expectations placed on women, and the complicated legacies they have inherited.
Hoffman is a thoughtful and engaging storyteller. She brings emotional depth to her characters, creates an atmospheric academic setting, and weaves together magical realism, historical detail, and the darker consequences of power. The story explores women coming into their own, generational trauma, and the possibility of breaking cycles of violence.
There is also an ill-advised romance that adds another layer of conflict.
For fans of Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” series, this is an intriguing beginning to a new set of characters.
The timing of this book release coincides with the latest “Practical Magic 2” movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
“Practical Magic 2” Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho10_...
“Practical Magic” Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My two least favorite genres are romance and fantasy. So, it takes a special writer who can combine the two and I enjoy the book. Alice Hoffman is that writer. It’s because, at heart, her novels are all about the human condition. It’s the fight between good and evil, those who would persecute and those that resist. In The Witches Of Cambridge, we follow two young witches attending Radcliffe College in the 1950s. A time when it was more important that young women didn’t distract the male students than that they actually got a chance to learn anything. A time when they had to sit out in the hallways rather than be in the same science lab with the men or couldn’t go into the same libraries.
Ava and Lauren both share the unique traits that brand them as witches. They are both admitted into the Lilith Society, a secret society of witches dating back to the 16th century. Their backgrounds and personalities are very different, yet both refuse to accept the limitations society puts on them. Even as they clashed and fought, they remained bound to help each other. I was equally drawn to each.
Interspersed with the 1950s story is a journal from the 17th Century, telling of the witchcraft trials in Salem and beyond. It’s a reminder that human nature never changes, “by men like my master’s son, men who saw evil where there was none, who took it upon themselves to translate the words of God into a language that suited them”. The contrast between the witch hunts in the 17th Century and McCarthy’s witch hunts and the Purple Scare was especially striking. And here we are again, with men in power vilifying anyone not white, male and privileged.
I love the way Hoffman can blend historical facts in with a story without ever slowing the story down. I especially appreciated how she used real historical figures, Increase and Cotton Mathers, within the story. Her writing is lush, poetic even. It’s obvious this is meant to be the first in a series as the book finishes with an open ending for both our main characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
Ava and Lauren both share the unique traits that brand them as witches. They are both admitted into the Lilith Society, a secret society of witches dating back to the 16th century. Their backgrounds and personalities are very different, yet both refuse to accept the limitations society puts on them. Even as they clashed and fought, they remained bound to help each other. I was equally drawn to each.
Interspersed with the 1950s story is a journal from the 17th Century, telling of the witchcraft trials in Salem and beyond. It’s a reminder that human nature never changes, “by men like my master’s son, men who saw evil where there was none, who took it upon themselves to translate the words of God into a language that suited them”. The contrast between the witch hunts in the 17th Century and McCarthy’s witch hunts and the Purple Scare was especially striking. And here we are again, with men in power vilifying anyone not white, male and privileged.
I love the way Hoffman can blend historical facts in with a story without ever slowing the story down. I especially appreciated how she used real historical figures, Increase and Cotton Mathers, within the story. Her writing is lush, poetic even. It’s obvious this is meant to be the first in a series as the book finishes with an open ending for both our main characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2026DNF @ 35% | Sadly, I cannot bring myself to continue reading this. I am terribly bored.
I feel like there is absolutely zero plot and I am not intrigued with any of the characters. I was very excited for this but the writing for this particular one is just not for me!
I feel like there is absolutely zero plot and I am not intrigued with any of the characters. I was very excited for this but the writing for this particular one is just not for me!
September 24, 2026
The most perfect first read of fall! Thank you Scribner for the advanced copies.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was a much anticipated book for me and sadly I was disappointed.
PROS:
*Great premise - two girls from different backgrounds meet at Lillith House in Cambridge. It’s the house where girls are invited to join based on whether any of their mothers, grandmothers, etc had attended school here - and were witches of course.
*How would witches become part of a university campus? Could non-witches know they were different? Could they use their magic to pass classes?
CONS:
*There was a lot of history about witches, the Salem trials and how they were always persecuted. I’ve read quite a bit about the history so this wasn’t new for me
*Ms. Hoffman is such an amazing writer that I expected more magic, more well described characters and a quicker moving plot. At times this read like a YA novel.
*This is the beginning of a series and I’m not sure which characters would be coming back? Can’t imagine continuing the series at Cambridge??
This was a great buddy read with Mary Beth, Debra and Brenda. Please read their reviews for different views on this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
PROS:
*Great premise - two girls from different backgrounds meet at Lillith House in Cambridge. It’s the house where girls are invited to join based on whether any of their mothers, grandmothers, etc had attended school here - and were witches of course.
*How would witches become part of a university campus? Could non-witches know they were different? Could they use their magic to pass classes?
CONS:
*There was a lot of history about witches, the Salem trials and how they were always persecuted. I’ve read quite a bit about the history so this wasn’t new for me
*Ms. Hoffman is such an amazing writer that I expected more magic, more well described characters and a quicker moving plot. At times this read like a YA novel.
*This is the beginning of a series and I’m not sure which characters would be coming back? Can’t imagine continuing the series at Cambridge??
This was a great buddy read with Mary Beth, Debra and Brenda. Please read their reviews for different views on this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We Fly Together…
Alice Hoffman is a MUST-READ author for me. I don't even need to read the description of the book; I'll request it and read it, no ifs, ands, or buts. I love Alice Hoffman's books (Magic Lessons and The World That We Knew being my favorites), but her books on witches are pure magic! The Witches of Cambridge is a blending of dark academia, magic, friendship, family, relationships, love, lust, secret societies, power, sexuality, and being true to yourself. As with her other books, Alice Hoffman has written some beautiful passages that I found myself reading and re-reading. The Characters are vividly drawn and easy to either like, root for, or dislike.
1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts
At the heart of this book are two young women, Ava and Lauren, who are very different from each other. Both are recruited into the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe. This is a long running secret society which has gone back for ages. Although it was the 1950's, it was still a man's world. Women were mainly seen but not heard. Women were supposed to fit in, to be like other women, conform and be obedient. But for Ava, Lauren, and the women of the Lilith Society, they were different, they stood out, and they had their own minds. As Lauren and Ava become friends, their relationship changes as both grow into their magic, their relationships with others, and their friendships. As time goes on, girls from the Lilith Society go missing....
The Witches of Cambridge is an atmospheric book which is also full of facts about witches, the persecution of witches, those who hunted witches, and society's reaction to those who lived outside of the 'norm' of society. Although there are history of witches and their persecution especially in the New England area in this book, I found that I was not learning anything new. But if you are new to Alice Hoffman and her books on witches, you might learn a thing or two. I do wish that some of the history would have been inserted more smoothly.
Although this was not my favorite book by Alice Hoffman, I did find it to be captivating, atmospheric, tense, and hard to put down.
*This was a wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth and Dorie - Cats&Books :). Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on The Witches of Cambridge.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Scribner 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.
Alice Hoffman is a MUST-READ author for me. I don't even need to read the description of the book; I'll request it and read it, no ifs, ands, or buts. I love Alice Hoffman's books (Magic Lessons and The World That We Knew being my favorites), but her books on witches are pure magic! The Witches of Cambridge is a blending of dark academia, magic, friendship, family, relationships, love, lust, secret societies, power, sexuality, and being true to yourself. As with her other books, Alice Hoffman has written some beautiful passages that I found myself reading and re-reading. The Characters are vividly drawn and easy to either like, root for, or dislike.
1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts
At the heart of this book are two young women, Ava and Lauren, who are very different from each other. Both are recruited into the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe. This is a long running secret society which has gone back for ages. Although it was the 1950's, it was still a man's world. Women were mainly seen but not heard. Women were supposed to fit in, to be like other women, conform and be obedient. But for Ava, Lauren, and the women of the Lilith Society, they were different, they stood out, and they had their own minds. As Lauren and Ava become friends, their relationship changes as both grow into their magic, their relationships with others, and their friendships. As time goes on, girls from the Lilith Society go missing....
The Witches of Cambridge is an atmospheric book which is also full of facts about witches, the persecution of witches, those who hunted witches, and society's reaction to those who lived outside of the 'norm' of society. Although there are history of witches and their persecution especially in the New England area in this book, I found that I was not learning anything new. But if you are new to Alice Hoffman and her books on witches, you might learn a thing or two. I do wish that some of the history would have been inserted more smoothly.
Although this was not my favorite book by Alice Hoffman, I did find it to be captivating, atmospheric, tense, and hard to put down.
*This was a wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth and Dorie - Cats&Books :). Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on The Witches of Cambridge.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Scribner 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.
October 5, 2026
I really liked the vibe of this one. The mix of witches, history, dark academia and the 1950s setting gave it a really interesting feel, and I especially enjoyed Ava and Lauren and watching their friendship develop. Unfortunately it was too much of a slow burn for me and I didn’t connect with every part of the story, but there was something about the magic woven through it that kept me reading.
September 21, 2026
As always in Hoffman’a writing, the atmosphere and magical realism were gorgeous and just right. The plot and characters… a little all over the place. I really wish this book would have focused more on the Lilith Society, their studies, and the disappearances. Unfortunately all of this was merely an often forgotten backdrop to the romance plotlines which I frankly did not care much for.
The characters felt surface level and I often did not feel part of their inner worlds. Hoffman’s writing style is very much telling, not showing, which sometimes works beautifully, but this time often left me feeling disconnected. The worst thing however was that this book claims to be about friendship. It barely is. The two female main characters hardly interact in the book and when they do, it’s to betray each other, even though the narrator keeps claiming they’re best friends. How? Why? When did that happen?
There were also so many random passages about the political background of the time, but it did not hold any deeper connection to the plot? Almost as if Hoffman had to remind herself sometimes that this book was set in the 1950s.
And, in the end, I guess I hoped for more of a witchy dark academia, secret societies and dark magic. Although this book was much darker than the practical magic series, it did center love/men way too much for my liking.
But her writing! I just want to bathe in some of these sentences.
The characters felt surface level and I often did not feel part of their inner worlds. Hoffman’s writing style is very much telling, not showing, which sometimes works beautifully, but this time often left me feeling disconnected. The worst thing however was that this book claims to be about friendship. It barely is. The two female main characters hardly interact in the book and when they do, it’s to betray each other, even though the narrator keeps claiming they’re best friends. How? Why? When did that happen?
There were also so many random passages about the political background of the time, but it did not hold any deeper connection to the plot? Almost as if Hoffman had to remind herself sometimes that this book was set in the 1950s.
And, in the end, I guess I hoped for more of a witchy dark academia, secret societies and dark magic. Although this book was much darker than the practical magic series, it did center love/men way too much for my liking.
But her writing! I just want to bathe in some of these sentences.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Loved this one
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautiful. Poignant. Powerful.
Hands down the best witchy novel I've read in ages. It's Alice Hoffman so that's not surprising but I wasn't expecting the 400+ pages to fly by. I couldn't get enough of the young witches in a 1950's college setting. Meanwhile, the excerpts from the older timeline during the witch trials was every bit as riveting. And that cover art 🌹🖤 flat out stunning!
Cambridge, Massachusetts home to Radcliffe and a secret society of witches who call Lilith House home. We follow two students who like many opposites find they do attract. Ava is a scholarship student from Maine seeking the freedom to find out who she is out from under the thumb of her controlling family. At Radcliffe she meets Lauren audacious and from a wealthy family with deep ties to the town and school. The two learn about the legacy they share as they navigate friendship and power. When their fellow housemates begin to go missing the girls soon realize that perhaps the witch hunters of old are not as far removed as they thought.
The characterization was strong and the symbolism on point. Each scene rich in detail and development sparked with life. Nothing felt extraneous. I felt like I could see the trees, crows, and cemetery all while the cold seeped through. The feeling of being transported into a story with much to say that explores paranormal aspects without feeling flighty or formulaic is like coming home. The way the atmosphere felt grounded and imaginative simultaneously won me over.
An absolute gem!💎
All the stars!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Be sure and check triggers.*
Thank you to Scribner for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hands down the best witchy novel I've read in ages. It's Alice Hoffman so that's not surprising but I wasn't expecting the 400+ pages to fly by. I couldn't get enough of the young witches in a 1950's college setting. Meanwhile, the excerpts from the older timeline during the witch trials was every bit as riveting. And that cover art 🌹🖤 flat out stunning!
Cambridge, Massachusetts home to Radcliffe and a secret society of witches who call Lilith House home. We follow two students who like many opposites find they do attract. Ava is a scholarship student from Maine seeking the freedom to find out who she is out from under the thumb of her controlling family. At Radcliffe she meets Lauren audacious and from a wealthy family with deep ties to the town and school. The two learn about the legacy they share as they navigate friendship and power. When their fellow housemates begin to go missing the girls soon realize that perhaps the witch hunters of old are not as far removed as they thought.
The characterization was strong and the symbolism on point. Each scene rich in detail and development sparked with life. Nothing felt extraneous. I felt like I could see the trees, crows, and cemetery all while the cold seeped through. The feeling of being transported into a story with much to say that explores paranormal aspects without feeling flighty or formulaic is like coming home. The way the atmosphere felt grounded and imaginative simultaneously won me over.
An absolute gem!💎
All the stars!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Be sure and check triggers.*
Thank you to Scribner for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 8, 2026
DNF- I wanted to LOVE this book. I got to chapter 5 and realized there’s no way I’m finishing this book.
It is a feminist version of The Rules of Magic. I’m not an anti feminist, nor am I homophobic. I am, a live and let live person. I am exhausted by authors writing the same political theme in every newer book about witches (or in general!) We are the witches they didn’t burn, hooray, good for you; can someone come up with something ORIGINAL? PLEASE?!
The Witches of Cambridge is written for its market that is for certain and will be highly recommended. It’s being released three days before PM2 comes out in theaters. I have my suspicions that this is a put it in the blender of already used tropes, slap some new names on old characters, throw in some current political references via the guise of history and abracadabra, you have The Witches of Cambridge! Everyone will gobble it up because they loved PM, and someone will make a good bit of money. Great marketing!!!
Save yourself the trouble of condemning my review, because honestly, I care about as much as I liked this book. I don’t.
It is a feminist version of The Rules of Magic. I’m not an anti feminist, nor am I homophobic. I am, a live and let live person. I am exhausted by authors writing the same political theme in every newer book about witches (or in general!) We are the witches they didn’t burn, hooray, good for you; can someone come up with something ORIGINAL? PLEASE?!
The Witches of Cambridge is written for its market that is for certain and will be highly recommended. It’s being released three days before PM2 comes out in theaters. I have my suspicions that this is a put it in the blender of already used tropes, slap some new names on old characters, throw in some current political references via the guise of history and abracadabra, you have The Witches of Cambridge! Everyone will gobble it up because they loved PM, and someone will make a good bit of money. Great marketing!!!
Save yourself the trouble of condemning my review, because honestly, I care about as much as I liked this book. I don’t.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Alice Hoffman’s talent for creating a beautiful, atmospheric world is undeniable, and that’s one of the book’s biggest strengths. The historical setting is richly imagined, and I loved the way she blends magical realism with everyday life, giving the story that dreamy, slightly mysterious quality she does so well. Her writing is gorgeous, and Cambridge itself feels almost like a character, brought to life through her vivid descriptions.
Where I struggled was with the characters and the overall sense of connection to the story. I never felt as emotionally invested in them as I wanted to be, and I often felt more like an observer watching their lives unfold than someone truly immersed in their joys and struggles. I also found myself missing a stronger present-day storyline or plot thread to help ground the historical narrative and give the story a clearer sense of momentum. There’s so much to admire here, particularly Hoffman’s writing and her ability to create a world that feels both magical and grounded, but ultimately, the emotional connection just wasn’t quite there for me. If you love atmospheric historical fiction with a touch of magic, especially if you’re already an Alice Hoffman fan, there’s definitely plenty here to appreciate.
Where I struggled was with the characters and the overall sense of connection to the story. I never felt as emotionally invested in them as I wanted to be, and I often felt more like an observer watching their lives unfold than someone truly immersed in their joys and struggles. I also found myself missing a stronger present-day storyline or plot thread to help ground the historical narrative and give the story a clearer sense of momentum. There’s so much to admire here, particularly Hoffman’s writing and her ability to create a world that feels both magical and grounded, but ultimately, the emotional connection just wasn’t quite there for me. If you love atmospheric historical fiction with a touch of magic, especially if you’re already an Alice Hoffman fan, there’s definitely plenty here to appreciate.
August 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Alice Hoffman excels, always, at creating interesting setups that are high on vibes: I'm not always a fan of her work, admittedly, but couldn't resist the notion of a secret society of witches existing at Radcliffe College in the 1950s. And in terms of the vibes, there was plenty here that worked: young women practicing witchcraft at a time when they aren't even allowed inside the lecture halls of Harvard (if they wish to take classes there, the novel tells us repeatedly, they must stand in the hallway outside the lecture hall, so as not to "distract" the men) is compelling. There are also some interesting, if surface-level, comparisons made between the way the witches have had to hide from witch hunters throughout the centuries and the era in which the novel is set, where the threat of McCarthyism hangs over everyone's heads.
However, the sum of these parts just really never became a cohesive whole for me. Hoffman's signature writing style is reliant on telling rather than showing, which some may not be bothered by; I personally found it frustrating. A lot of plot threads are just left to dangle where they could've been made into compelling side plots--for instance, Lionel, a minor character, experimenting with LSD, and the comparisons between that and the theory that ergot poisoning was responsible for the Salem Witch Trials (a theory that, by the way, has been THOROUGHLY debunked, but I'd have given it a pass if it was used as a way to explore magic use and LSD; it wasn't). The biggest sin of this book, however, rests on the way it claims to be about female friendship...but really just doesn't seem to care that much about female friendship. Our two POV characters, Ava and Lauren, have an instant dislike for each other when they meet--a dislike which quickly turns into friendship when they accidentally save each other's lives that very same day. And that's about all we get of the two of them until the last 25% or so of the book, apart from some brief interactions and the occasional assertion that the two of them are each other's best friends. If I'm reading a book about two women who become best friends, I'd like to actually see them interacting as friends, and it was really disappointing that the book focused instead almost entirely on their respective love stories.
Alice Hoffman excels, always, at creating interesting setups that are high on vibes: I'm not always a fan of her work, admittedly, but couldn't resist the notion of a secret society of witches existing at Radcliffe College in the 1950s. And in terms of the vibes, there was plenty here that worked: young women practicing witchcraft at a time when they aren't even allowed inside the lecture halls of Harvard (if they wish to take classes there, the novel tells us repeatedly, they must stand in the hallway outside the lecture hall, so as not to "distract" the men) is compelling. There are also some interesting, if surface-level, comparisons made between the way the witches have had to hide from witch hunters throughout the centuries and the era in which the novel is set, where the threat of McCarthyism hangs over everyone's heads.
However, the sum of these parts just really never became a cohesive whole for me. Hoffman's signature writing style is reliant on telling rather than showing, which some may not be bothered by; I personally found it frustrating. A lot of plot threads are just left to dangle where they could've been made into compelling side plots--for instance, Lionel, a minor character, experimenting with LSD, and the comparisons between that and the theory that ergot poisoning was responsible for the Salem Witch Trials (a theory that, by the way, has been THOROUGHLY debunked, but I'd have given it a pass if it was used as a way to explore magic use and LSD; it wasn't). The biggest sin of this book, however, rests on the way it claims to be about female friendship...but really just doesn't seem to care that much about female friendship. Our two POV characters, Ava and Lauren, have an instant dislike for each other when they meet--a dislike which quickly turns into friendship when they accidentally save each other's lives that very same day. And that's about all we get of the two of them until the last 25% or so of the book, apart from some brief interactions and the occasional assertion that the two of them are each other's best friends. If I'm reading a book about two women who become best friends, I'd like to actually see them interacting as friends, and it was really disappointing that the book focused instead almost entirely on their respective love stories.
October 1, 2026
I am not a YA reader and this one is just that! So disappointing!🥲🥲🥲
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4+
Once upon a time, women are drowned in rivers, the crows are witnesses. They keep themselves hidden, secretive, until isn’t.
1950’s - Ava Abbot knows she’s different from her strict parents who own an apple orchard in Genesis, Maine. They keep her under control until clever Ava gains a scholarship to Radcliffe College, Cambridge- a Harvard annex. She arrives highly excited, shaking off Genesis as twelve Maine crows watch over her. Here she is, it’s the life she’s wanted and she can do exactly as she pleases and anything can happen and rest assured, it will. She meets Lauren Bell and they are both recruited into the Lilith Society and they form a strong bond. However, these are the days of McCarthyism and perhaps Cambridge isn’t the safe haven they hope it will be but hopefully, they will fly together.
Woo hoo, a new Alice Hoffman series is a cause for celebration, magic, witchery, McCarthyism, friendship, love, lies and betrayal. It’s very well written and I thoroughly enjoy the two central characters in Ava and Lauren, with their friendship changing, adapting and evolving as the pair are required to show grit, determination, bravery and resilience.
As you would expect from a writer of Alice Hoffman’s calibre, the writing is vivid, colourful and whilst it might centre around magic it’s also about what can happen if you’re different. This is demonstrated in the historical perspective via the Mather family of witch finders and the witches of Boston, Salem and Cambridge. It’s also about identity, learning who or what you are, a dangerous thing in the past and not so different in the 1950’s USA of McCarthy. I think this is a clever element of the book as the author makes it fit perfectly. It’s also about gender inequality via the past and lack of female power and via the Ivy League Universities with Radcliffe being a beacon of light.
The atmosphere created is fantastic in every sense of the word and the crows! The crows! They add a little extra je ne sais quoi to an already richly atmospheric read.
However, what shines through it all is the special bond between Ava and Lauren and thank goodness, because they certainly need each other. A very compelling novel which the author makes me buy into. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster : Scribner UK for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Once upon a time, women are drowned in rivers, the crows are witnesses. They keep themselves hidden, secretive, until isn’t.
1950’s - Ava Abbot knows she’s different from her strict parents who own an apple orchard in Genesis, Maine. They keep her under control until clever Ava gains a scholarship to Radcliffe College, Cambridge- a Harvard annex. She arrives highly excited, shaking off Genesis as twelve Maine crows watch over her. Here she is, it’s the life she’s wanted and she can do exactly as she pleases and anything can happen and rest assured, it will. She meets Lauren Bell and they are both recruited into the Lilith Society and they form a strong bond. However, these are the days of McCarthyism and perhaps Cambridge isn’t the safe haven they hope it will be but hopefully, they will fly together.
Woo hoo, a new Alice Hoffman series is a cause for celebration, magic, witchery, McCarthyism, friendship, love, lies and betrayal. It’s very well written and I thoroughly enjoy the two central characters in Ava and Lauren, with their friendship changing, adapting and evolving as the pair are required to show grit, determination, bravery and resilience.
As you would expect from a writer of Alice Hoffman’s calibre, the writing is vivid, colourful and whilst it might centre around magic it’s also about what can happen if you’re different. This is demonstrated in the historical perspective via the Mather family of witch finders and the witches of Boston, Salem and Cambridge. It’s also about identity, learning who or what you are, a dangerous thing in the past and not so different in the 1950’s USA of McCarthy. I think this is a clever element of the book as the author makes it fit perfectly. It’s also about gender inequality via the past and lack of female power and via the Ivy League Universities with Radcliffe being a beacon of light.
The atmosphere created is fantastic in every sense of the word and the crows! The crows! They add a little extra je ne sais quoi to an already richly atmospheric read.
However, what shines through it all is the special bond between Ava and Lauren and thank goodness, because they certainly need each other. A very compelling novel which the author makes me buy into. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster : Scribner UK for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
October 4, 2026
The Witches of Cambridge, eloquently written by Alice Hoffman, was a cozy, slow paced, atmospheric novel filled with all the things….
forbidden love, deeply woven sisterhood, dark friendships, loyalty, crafty magic, spells, and evil lurking in broad daylight.
This story is rich with historical fiction, a bit of adventure and wrapped up tightly in magical realism.
And whoa … what a treat this was! 🥀
⌛️Our Timelines:
This magical story has two alternating timelines. The first timeline, “Now” follows our two, very different main characters Lauren and Ava and their time at Radcliffe college (a college for girls) in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1950-1954. Radcliffe college sits just adjacent to Harvard University (where boys attended).
Our second timeline, “Then” is formed by the discoveries of letters found in a rare book which date back to the Salem Witch Trials and colonial Cambridge in the 1690s. These letters connect the past with the present and provide clear evidence about Lauren and Ava’s ancestors and their mysteriously linked past…. 🖤
🏚️The Lilith House:
The Lilith House is a Radcliffe residence which is associated with the secret Lilith Society (the secret witch society.) This enchanting, magical house receives two girls each year, legacies, to live in the house with others just like them. Generations of women with magical gifts. Here these women practice their craft together, dine together and manage gardens, relationships, and classes together.
👉A Peak inside:
Arriving at Radcliffe, a well-mannered Ava, a scholarship student is ironically roomed with a wildly prickly girl named Lauren (two polar opposites). After a quick introduction, Ava is surprised, stunned actually, at Lauren’s abrasive demeanor. She tells Ava not to fully unpack, as they will likely find a secret invitation to the Lilith House under their pillows tonight …
Absolutely convinced she won’t, Ava, the sweet, self conscious, but beautiful red headed girl from a farm in Maine, knows very little of her magical heritage….
But… Lauren, well…. she knows better and they would NOT have bunked them together, if they weren’t both magical.
Confused, Ava fights this at first … unsure and bewildered… but she remembers…
the crows 🐦⬛
the 11th finger,
And the black apples on her windowsill…
I want to know about my life… I want to live and be free.
To her shock … Lauren is correct and together they find their invitations to the Lilith House…
Lauren and Ava jump out of the window… without injury or fuss- and they run and run and run. A beginning of an unlikely friendship….a forever bond.
“We Fly Together…”
This beautifully tragic, yet lovely tale of witches who study “The Unnamed Art” is a strangely calming novel. It is filled with discovery, challenges, missing Lilith sisters, and passion.
BUT… I think for me, I loved the letters and the historical parts most-seamlessly linking the past with the present. ❤️
I give this magical novel 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨stars. I enjoyed it so much and I hope you get a chance to also!😊
forbidden love, deeply woven sisterhood, dark friendships, loyalty, crafty magic, spells, and evil lurking in broad daylight.
This story is rich with historical fiction, a bit of adventure and wrapped up tightly in magical realism.
And whoa … what a treat this was! 🥀
⌛️Our Timelines:
This magical story has two alternating timelines. The first timeline, “Now” follows our two, very different main characters Lauren and Ava and their time at Radcliffe college (a college for girls) in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1950-1954. Radcliffe college sits just adjacent to Harvard University (where boys attended).
Our second timeline, “Then” is formed by the discoveries of letters found in a rare book which date back to the Salem Witch Trials and colonial Cambridge in the 1690s. These letters connect the past with the present and provide clear evidence about Lauren and Ava’s ancestors and their mysteriously linked past…. 🖤
🏚️The Lilith House:
The Lilith House is a Radcliffe residence which is associated with the secret Lilith Society (the secret witch society.) This enchanting, magical house receives two girls each year, legacies, to live in the house with others just like them. Generations of women with magical gifts. Here these women practice their craft together, dine together and manage gardens, relationships, and classes together.
👉A Peak inside:
Arriving at Radcliffe, a well-mannered Ava, a scholarship student is ironically roomed with a wildly prickly girl named Lauren (two polar opposites). After a quick introduction, Ava is surprised, stunned actually, at Lauren’s abrasive demeanor. She tells Ava not to fully unpack, as they will likely find a secret invitation to the Lilith House under their pillows tonight …
Absolutely convinced she won’t, Ava, the sweet, self conscious, but beautiful red headed girl from a farm in Maine, knows very little of her magical heritage….
But… Lauren, well…. she knows better and they would NOT have bunked them together, if they weren’t both magical.
Confused, Ava fights this at first … unsure and bewildered… but she remembers…
the crows 🐦⬛
the 11th finger,
And the black apples on her windowsill…
I want to know about my life… I want to live and be free.
To her shock … Lauren is correct and together they find their invitations to the Lilith House…
Lauren and Ava jump out of the window… without injury or fuss- and they run and run and run. A beginning of an unlikely friendship….a forever bond.
“We Fly Together…”
This beautifully tragic, yet lovely tale of witches who study “The Unnamed Art” is a strangely calming novel. It is filled with discovery, challenges, missing Lilith sisters, and passion.
BUT… I think for me, I loved the letters and the historical parts most-seamlessly linking the past with the present. ❤️
I give this magical novel 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨stars. I enjoyed it so much and I hope you get a chance to also!😊
May 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.
This is the perfect mix of witchy goodness and historical fiction. Alice Hoffman never failed me, and this book is no exception. The interwoven stories of past and present that appear within this book flow effortlessly, and the journey of each character is flawless in execution. There is nothing about this book I didn't love or enjoy. I might even re-read it in the fall, just to find my way back to Lilith House and Cambridge.
If you love a good story of magic and mystery and love, this one is for you.
This is the perfect mix of witchy goodness and historical fiction. Alice Hoffman never failed me, and this book is no exception. The interwoven stories of past and present that appear within this book flow effortlessly, and the journey of each character is flawless in execution. There is nothing about this book I didn't love or enjoy. I might even re-read it in the fall, just to find my way back to Lilith House and Cambridge.
If you love a good story of magic and mystery and love, this one is for you.
August 11, 2026
I never would have connected this book with Alice Hoffman if her name wasn't on the front. This book reads like a Young Adult novel. I'm just appalled by the whole of this one. I can tell you what it's about but in all honesty it doesn't matter. The few characters that are explored are completely flat. The themes will make you roll your eyes again and again. The only thing interesting are the bits of history that are hurled at you in the middle of a scene and completely throw you off the story. This reads like bad teenage witch drivel to me. No magic to this one at all.
September 29, 2026
I didn’t know what to expect from the author of Practical Magic, but this book was so comforting in its familiarity despite being entirely new to me. A witchcraft story set within an American college, this story is the sort to remind you just how intrinsically tied to history we are. There’s a lighthearted airiness to the tone, yet dark history - and current events - are touched upon with a breeze that makes apparent how normal they are. It’s a beautiful story of connecting destinies, stories and lifetimes, And seeing the folklore of witchcraft heavily woven into this tale (such as ‘witches can’t drown’) provided a subtle level of fantasy that could be easily imagined in daily life.
Admittedly, the plot line didn't entirely seem...like a line? A mystery of missing women is breezed past with barely an explanation, and the interconnecting timelines barely seemed to serve a purpose beyond solidifying the story in history. It's said that where Practical Magic is a family story, The Witches of Cambridge is a story of friendship - if that's the case, may this kind of friendship never find me, because it was rather a story of friendship failing. But either way, there was something oddly alluring to this story, and it kept calling me back as if that, too, was as inevitable as Ava and Lauren's friendship.
It's a bittersweet kind of story, and one I can imagine those who long for a coven of their own would adore. I haven't read Hoffman's earlier books, but I'd certainly be intrigued to see what those are like after my foray into this one.
Admittedly, the plot line didn't entirely seem...like a line? A mystery of missing women is breezed past with barely an explanation, and the interconnecting timelines barely seemed to serve a purpose beyond solidifying the story in history. It's said that where Practical Magic is a family story, The Witches of Cambridge is a story of friendship - if that's the case, may this kind of friendship never find me, because it was rather a story of friendship failing. But either way, there was something oddly alluring to this story, and it kept calling me back as if that, too, was as inevitable as Ava and Lauren's friendship.
It's a bittersweet kind of story, and one I can imagine those who long for a coven of their own would adore. I haven't read Hoffman's earlier books, but I'd certainly be intrigued to see what those are like after my foray into this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Know your story and don't be afraid to tell it."
When it's Alice Hoffman, you just know the story is going to be beautiful. The way she writes her witchy tales gets me in a chokehold every time.
Set in the 1950s in Massachusetts, we follow Ava and Lauren as they try to work their way through their tangled history. Sometimes, finding out where we came from is more than we could ever expect.
Another lovely book from Alice Hoffman! Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for an Advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date : September 8, 2026
When it's Alice Hoffman, you just know the story is going to be beautiful. The way she writes her witchy tales gets me in a chokehold every time.
Set in the 1950s in Massachusetts, we follow Ava and Lauren as they try to work their way through their tangled history. Sometimes, finding out where we came from is more than we could ever expect.
Another lovely book from Alice Hoffman! Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for an Advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date : September 8, 2026
September 6, 2026
**Happy Publication Day!**
*3.5 stars. This is the beginning of a new series for Alice Hoffman and it seems to have been based on studies she did while attending Harvard Divinity School. In her own words, 'What began as my term paper ended up as a novel about witches, love, magic, sorrow, betrayal, sisterhood and best friends.'
The best friends in this story are roommates at Cambridge in the fall of 1950. Lauren is from old money while Ava is a scholarship student who comes from a farm in Maine. Both are invited to Lilith House, a secret society where they and other budding witches can live and study in peace.
Of course for college girls of this age, falling in love is a major preoccupation--or, in Lauren's case, a distraction to be avoided. Class status becomes a major concern, as does who might be right for them, or who would only hurt them. Does a best friend have the right to meddle if she thinks she knows best? Does a parent? The magic and spells were an interesting part of the story but I felt the best aspects were the relationships and how much trouble they can cause.
Interspersed throughout this story are letters Ava finds from a woman calling herself 'the first witch of Cambridge.' They begin in the year 1692, when she is brought to Boston as a servant to Mistress Maria Mather, wife of Reverend Increase Mather, who will play a major part in the Salem witch trials, along with his son, Cotton. Interesting that the young man Ava loves is a descendant of this family. Trouble with a capital T!
As background to the girls' lives in the 50s, Senator John McCarthy is conducting what seem to be modern day 'witch hunts' of his own in Washington DC, searching for communists, socialists, homosexuals, etc, in government, the entertainment industry and American society at large. What an interesting comparison to earlier persecutions.
The pace of the novel plods a little at first, but all these threads come together to make for fascinating reading. I think witches could be called the original feminists!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley.
*3.5 stars. This is the beginning of a new series for Alice Hoffman and it seems to have been based on studies she did while attending Harvard Divinity School. In her own words, 'What began as my term paper ended up as a novel about witches, love, magic, sorrow, betrayal, sisterhood and best friends.'
The best friends in this story are roommates at Cambridge in the fall of 1950. Lauren is from old money while Ava is a scholarship student who comes from a farm in Maine. Both are invited to Lilith House, a secret society where they and other budding witches can live and study in peace.
Of course for college girls of this age, falling in love is a major preoccupation--or, in Lauren's case, a distraction to be avoided. Class status becomes a major concern, as does who might be right for them, or who would only hurt them. Does a best friend have the right to meddle if she thinks she knows best? Does a parent? The magic and spells were an interesting part of the story but I felt the best aspects were the relationships and how much trouble they can cause.
Interspersed throughout this story are letters Ava finds from a woman calling herself 'the first witch of Cambridge.' They begin in the year 1692, when she is brought to Boston as a servant to Mistress Maria Mather, wife of Reverend Increase Mather, who will play a major part in the Salem witch trials, along with his son, Cotton. Interesting that the young man Ava loves is a descendant of this family. Trouble with a capital T!
As background to the girls' lives in the 50s, Senator John McCarthy is conducting what seem to be modern day 'witch hunts' of his own in Washington DC, searching for communists, socialists, homosexuals, etc, in government, the entertainment industry and American society at large. What an interesting comparison to earlier persecutions.
The pace of the novel plods a little at first, but all these threads come together to make for fascinating reading. I think witches could be called the original feminists!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley.
July 18, 2026
If you love atmospheric reads, especially magical ones, this book may be right up your alley. Alice Hoffman absolutely excels at creating rich atmospheres, and that is easily one of this novel’s greatest strengths.
I was thrilled to receive an eARC from Scribner via NetGalley ahead of publication because the description immediately reminded me of my longtime love for Practical Magic.
Once that initial excitement faded, though, I remembered that I actually enjoyed the movie more than the books. Oops! Add in the fact that historical fiction isn’t usually one of my go-to genres, and I found myself feeling a little uncertain going in.
Thankfully, Hoffman’s writing quickly swept me away. She has a remarkable talent for creating magical worlds that still feel rooted in reality. The setting is rich, vivid, and enchanting while remaining wonderfully grounded. I also found myself really enjoying the 1950s time period, which added another layer to the novel’s atmosphere.
While I didn’t connect with the characters, that was a minor disappointment rather than a dealbreaker. Sometimes a book wins you over purely through its vibes, and that was very much the case for me here.
I think Hoffman fans are going to love this female-empowering, secret-society-driven historical journey. Between the magical elements, the historical setting, and Hoffman’s beautiful prose, there’s something here for a wide variety of readers.
I was thrilled to receive an eARC from Scribner via NetGalley ahead of publication because the description immediately reminded me of my longtime love for Practical Magic.
Once that initial excitement faded, though, I remembered that I actually enjoyed the movie more than the books. Oops! Add in the fact that historical fiction isn’t usually one of my go-to genres, and I found myself feeling a little uncertain going in.
Thankfully, Hoffman’s writing quickly swept me away. She has a remarkable talent for creating magical worlds that still feel rooted in reality. The setting is rich, vivid, and enchanting while remaining wonderfully grounded. I also found myself really enjoying the 1950s time period, which added another layer to the novel’s atmosphere.
While I didn’t connect with the characters, that was a minor disappointment rather than a dealbreaker. Sometimes a book wins you over purely through its vibes, and that was very much the case for me here.
I think Hoffman fans are going to love this female-empowering, secret-society-driven historical journey. Between the magical elements, the historical setting, and Hoffman’s beautiful prose, there’s something here for a wide variety of readers.
September 24, 2026
This was bad. So bad that I am debating if AI wrote it. There is almost no plot. The characters are boring & poorly developed. The dialogue is so stilted & strange. Tough to get through.
March 25, 2026
Alice Hoffman is back with another tale about witches, and I was not going to miss it. I will read every book she puts out on the subject of witches. She is the master of the subject. The story is very atmospheric & moody. It follows two girls’ college experiences at Radcliffe College in the early 1950’s. They have both been invited to live in the Lilith House, where only witches are allowed to reside. We get to see how women are still inferior to men and how men use that to their advantage. And if a man is wronged in any way, he can just accuse a woman of being a witch. Any woman who stood up for herself and spoke up was surely a witch! Imagine how insecure of a man you had to be to think like this. Get over it, men, we women are not going away.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Scribner for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Scribner for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 23, 2026
4⭐️ Just in time for spooky season comes this great story of witches told in dual timelines set in the Cambridge area. Combining historical fiction, academia, romance and fantasy, Alice Hoffman has written a story that’s the first in a series that really delivers!
In the 1950’s, Ava and Lauren are freshmen at Radcliffe College in Cambridge and new initiates to the Lilith Society, a secret society of witches. Each has a back story with secrets and a hidden legacy.
The 1600’s timeline during the Salem Witch trials is told as journal entries interspersed between chapters, from an ancestor, and one of the persecuted witches.
Well written with well fleshed out characters, I loved Ava’s and Lauren’s friendship and love interests. There are sub plots and mysteries culminating in a great open ending. Can’t wait for Book #2.
Thanks to Scribner Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
In the 1950’s, Ava and Lauren are freshmen at Radcliffe College in Cambridge and new initiates to the Lilith Society, a secret society of witches. Each has a back story with secrets and a hidden legacy.
The 1600’s timeline during the Salem Witch trials is told as journal entries interspersed between chapters, from an ancestor, and one of the persecuted witches.
Well written with well fleshed out characters, I loved Ava’s and Lauren’s friendship and love interests. There are sub plots and mysteries culminating in a great open ending. Can’t wait for Book #2.
Thanks to Scribner Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
September 10, 2026
Got to 20%, no character development, no storyline.
September 9, 2026
When I heard Alice Hoffman was writing a new book, I immediately had it marked so that I was notified when it came out. I am so beyond sad to say that I’m DNFing this at 40%. To say that I’m bored is an understatement, and I can’t name a single character that I like, let alone feel connected to. The story jumps all over, person to person, time to time, with no redirection in between scenes. This one was an unfortunate miss for me.
June 19, 2026
Thanks Scribner and NetGalley for the e-arc!
Witches of Cambridge follows two young women in the “Lilith Society” in 1950’s Cambridge. It is historical fiction with magic imbued in its bones.
While this book was deeply atmospheric and you can tell that Alice Hoffmans specialty is weaving magic in with history, I left this one feeling very disconnected.
Often times I felt like I was dropped in a scene without prior information on what was happening, other times things ended abruptly before we got any emotional depth from anyone. While this style sometimes works in literary fiction, I felt it was a detriment to my enjoyment of this story in particular.
This felt disappointing because it could have really worked. The atmosphere is rich, the story is one I would naturally be drawn to, and Alice Hoffman is at top form in her prose and ability to craft a magical setting but my inability to connect with the characters really took me out of the story itself.
If you’re a fan of Alice Hoffman give this a shot, maybe you’ll have better luck connecting with Ava and Lauren than I did.
Witches of Cambridge follows two young women in the “Lilith Society” in 1950’s Cambridge. It is historical fiction with magic imbued in its bones.
While this book was deeply atmospheric and you can tell that Alice Hoffmans specialty is weaving magic in with history, I left this one feeling very disconnected.
Often times I felt like I was dropped in a scene without prior information on what was happening, other times things ended abruptly before we got any emotional depth from anyone. While this style sometimes works in literary fiction, I felt it was a detriment to my enjoyment of this story in particular.
This felt disappointing because it could have really worked. The atmosphere is rich, the story is one I would naturally be drawn to, and Alice Hoffman is at top form in her prose and ability to craft a magical setting but my inability to connect with the characters really took me out of the story itself.
If you’re a fan of Alice Hoffman give this a shot, maybe you’ll have better luck connecting with Ava and Lauren than I did.
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