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Practically Magic
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26On the eve of Halloween, a sister’s well-intentioned love spell turns into a curse in this witchy, flirty rom-com perfect for fans of The Ex Hex, Gilmore Girls, and Practical Magic.
The Hadley sisters of Mystic Hollow are magic. Literally.
But for all the generations of witches behind her, Kat Hadley could swear that she’s utterly invisible to boys.
Then she learns that her perfect older sister, Harriet, cast a curse to protect her from heartbreak. Kat is so furious, she loses control—and it’s not just their sisterhood that shatters. It’s magic itself.
Suddenly, every spell a Hadley witch has ever cast starts reversing. Spells to do good start bringing evil. Curses to repel suddenly attract. And the veil between worlds begins to thin. If Kat and Harriet don’t do something fast, this Halloween might be Mystic Hollow’s last.
As they race to repair the balance of magic—and their relationship—Kat notices that every crush who’s ever rejected her is suddenly magically lovesick. Even her annoying class rival seems to have fallen under her spell. For the first time in her life, she feels practically magic. Who cares if it’s all just a spell?
The Hadley sisters of Mystic Hollow are magic. Literally.
But for all the generations of witches behind her, Kat Hadley could swear that she’s utterly invisible to boys.
Then she learns that her perfect older sister, Harriet, cast a curse to protect her from heartbreak. Kat is so furious, she loses control—and it’s not just their sisterhood that shatters. It’s magic itself.
Suddenly, every spell a Hadley witch has ever cast starts reversing. Spells to do good start bringing evil. Curses to repel suddenly attract. And the veil between worlds begins to thin. If Kat and Harriet don’t do something fast, this Halloween might be Mystic Hollow’s last.
As they race to repair the balance of magic—and their relationship—Kat notices that every crush who’s ever rejected her is suddenly magically lovesick. Even her annoying class rival seems to have fallen under her spell. For the first time in her life, she feels practically magic. Who cares if it’s all just a spell?
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Jen Calonita
84 books3,823 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 3, 2026
Ahhh so cute I can’t wait for Halloween!🎃
Thank you Edelweiss and Avon a for giving me the opportunity to read this early!
Thank you Edelweiss and Avon a for giving me the opportunity to read this early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Halloweentown and Sabrina the Teenage Witch fans, this is for you! Jen Calonita writes the cutesiest most wholesome YA contemporary out there (and I’ve been reading her books since I actually was the age of her target audience). If anyone grew up reading Bras and Broomsticks by Sara Mlynowski, this book was so similar in style to that. This was autumnal, light, witty, tongue in cheek, filled with magical mishaps, and absolutely adorable. The setting also has every halloween stereotype you can think of, from everything in the town named after something related to Halloween, to Kat living in a 200 year old Victorian house rumored to be haunted. Which is fitting for a family of witches. Down to the eccentric witchy aunts. And of course, this tiny halloween obsessed town named Mystic Hollow happens to be one of the places where the veil between the supernatural is the thinnest.
Speaking of, Mystic Hollow is a Halloween lovers dream. Aside from the small town New England coziness, there’s even a Halloween themed restaurant, a local coffee shop called Witches Brew, All Hallows Inn, practically every local shop named something Halloween related, ghost tours, pumpkin patches, you name it. This town takes Halloween verrry seriously. This is truly one of the most autumnal reads out there and as a fall lover, it made me giddy and excited for when the world feels like this again. The atmosphere is witchy, cozy and autumnal, down to the cider donuts, apple spice cookies, and PSLs served inside a pumpkin. Also, reading these really made me crave those waxy candy pumpkins. The ones that are made of the same thing candy corn is made of but tastes way better because the shape is more satisfying. If you know you know.
This was so much autumnal fun. All sorts of stereotypical Halloween creatures terrorizing a Halloween obsessed town. The veil between the living and the supernatural realm being thinner and one witch family tasked to prevent it from falling. It was like Goosebumps meets Halloweentown. I’m not the target audience, but honestly, I loved it. It was cute rather than spooky, and was like one of those family friendly Halloween movies, which tbh I prefer. Books like these make it easiest to romanticize my favorite season. I read this in the miserable dead heat of June and it gave me a spark of joy of my favorite time of year, when the weather cools, and life feels more fun and easier to romanticize. The cutesiest Halloween book I’ve read yet!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Speaking of, Mystic Hollow is a Halloween lovers dream. Aside from the small town New England coziness, there’s even a Halloween themed restaurant, a local coffee shop called Witches Brew, All Hallows Inn, practically every local shop named something Halloween related, ghost tours, pumpkin patches, you name it. This town takes Halloween verrry seriously. This is truly one of the most autumnal reads out there and as a fall lover, it made me giddy and excited for when the world feels like this again. The atmosphere is witchy, cozy and autumnal, down to the cider donuts, apple spice cookies, and PSLs served inside a pumpkin. Also, reading these really made me crave those waxy candy pumpkins. The ones that are made of the same thing candy corn is made of but tastes way better because the shape is more satisfying. If you know you know.
This was so much autumnal fun. All sorts of stereotypical Halloween creatures terrorizing a Halloween obsessed town. The veil between the living and the supernatural realm being thinner and one witch family tasked to prevent it from falling. It was like Goosebumps meets Halloweentown. I’m not the target audience, but honestly, I loved it. It was cute rather than spooky, and was like one of those family friendly Halloween movies, which tbh I prefer. Books like these make it easiest to romanticize my favorite season. I read this in the miserable dead heat of June and it gave me a spark of joy of my favorite time of year, when the weather cools, and life feels more fun and easier to romanticize. The cutesiest Halloween book I’ve read yet!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Want to Read
June 13, 2026Obsession meets the Gilmore Girls with magic. This sounds so cute.
July 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-ARC! The following is my honest review:
Sabrina The Teenage Witch meets the small town charm of Gilmore Girls in this perfectly cosy, slightly spooky, fall YA read.
If you're looking for a lighthearted Halloween read, this is it! Set in Mystic Hollow, a town that embodies Halloween on every day of the year, the story follows a young, boy-obsessed witch who is discovering her magic, learning she's been cursed by her well intentioned older sister, and navigating the magical fall-out as the break in their sisterly bond tears literal fissures through their home, unleashing supernatural chaos on the town.
Kat is genuinely the most stubborn FMC I've ever come across. (Admittedly, the story is very YA in this way.) It's the train wreck you can't look away from as every decision she makes amplifies the mayhem. But, of course, it's supposed to and all of her poor decision making culminates in a very entertaining Halloween night, when Kat hosts a Halloween party that is pure pandemonium, before unwittingly unleashing the Headless Horseman on the town.
Practically Magic is more funny than spooky. At its heart this is a story about sisterhood & family connections, and the coming-of-age realization that you're not half of a whole until the right person completes you. Sprinkled with cinnamon, pumpkin spice, ghostly apparitions, monsters, magic and a very sweet romance- this is the perfect cosy book I can see myself re-reading every October.
Honestly, I would love it if this was made into a movie; it would be pure fun and chaos!
* Notes: The publisher recommended age is 13+ which I agree with. This is very appropriate for lower YA readers and up.
* Content for those who find it helpful:
Some mild language, 1 use of the 's' word
A boy and a girl kiss
1 instance of vomiting
Violence is comedic, not graphic
- a vampire drinks someones blood through a curly straw
- a character is decapitated by the headless horseman. Not graphic- no gore detail. Character picks up their head and continues to behave as normal, through magic. They are healed later by magic
Sabrina The Teenage Witch meets the small town charm of Gilmore Girls in this perfectly cosy, slightly spooky, fall YA read.
If you're looking for a lighthearted Halloween read, this is it! Set in Mystic Hollow, a town that embodies Halloween on every day of the year, the story follows a young, boy-obsessed witch who is discovering her magic, learning she's been cursed by her well intentioned older sister, and navigating the magical fall-out as the break in their sisterly bond tears literal fissures through their home, unleashing supernatural chaos on the town.
Kat is genuinely the most stubborn FMC I've ever come across. (Admittedly, the story is very YA in this way.) It's the train wreck you can't look away from as every decision she makes amplifies the mayhem. But, of course, it's supposed to and all of her poor decision making culminates in a very entertaining Halloween night, when Kat hosts a Halloween party that is pure pandemonium, before unwittingly unleashing the Headless Horseman on the town.
Practically Magic is more funny than spooky. At its heart this is a story about sisterhood & family connections, and the coming-of-age realization that you're not half of a whole until the right person completes you. Sprinkled with cinnamon, pumpkin spice, ghostly apparitions, monsters, magic and a very sweet romance- this is the perfect cosy book I can see myself re-reading every October.
Honestly, I would love it if this was made into a movie; it would be pure fun and chaos!
* Notes: The publisher recommended age is 13+ which I agree with. This is very appropriate for lower YA readers and up.
* Content for those who find it helpful:
Some mild language, 1 use of the 's' word
A boy and a girl kiss
1 instance of vomiting
Violence is comedic, not graphic
- a vampire drinks someones blood through a curly straw
- a character is decapitated by the headless horseman. Not graphic- no gore detail. Character picks up their head and continues to behave as normal, through magic. They are healed later by magic
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚ARC REVIEW📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
🌏Location/Setting/Atmosphere🌌:
🔮 Mystic Hollow, Connecticut
🧙♀️☕️ Witch's Brew Coffee Shop
🎃🍽 Halloween Themed Restaurant
🛏🍳 All Hallows Inn B&B
👻📚 Spirited Books
I LOVED the town so much. It really gave historical, cozy, witchy, fall vibes. There is also a candle shop, ghost tours, cider mill, haunted corn maze, pumpkin patch and more. I wanted to jump right into this book and live there. This is exactly what I was hoping for when I requested this book— a cozy Halloween town, and I was not disappointed.
📖: "They each have a tiny pumpkin filled with iced coffee, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon, and fall sprinkles."
I need this so bad, I can almost taste it. 🎃☕️ I'm so obsessed with the atmosphere of this book.
📚Bookish Thoughts💭:
Love the cover so much! It definitely made me want to read this and the best part is, the story is as good as you'd hope based on the cover.
I thought it was a very quick and easy read. I literally just kept turning page after page, not wanting to put it down (though, unfortunately, sometimes I had no choice but to).
Harry is such a well intentioned, sweet big sister who looks out for Kat. But Kat feels like she exists in Harry's shadow. She's stubborn, annoying and naive. Everything that went completely wrong was a result of her stubborness. She's book smart but not much common sense when it comes to boys. Totally boy crazy. Oftentimes hard to like. Zach, on the other hand, was very likeable and sweet. Wish we got more of him.
I also liked the Mystic Hollow Community Page at the start of each chapter. It was such a clever idea by the author to incorporate that. Some of them were hilarious, especially when combined with the reply comments.
This book was like Love Potion No. 9 meets Halloween Town meets Practical Magic.
Definitely a fall must read! It would even make for a good movie on Prime or Paramount+, too.
🙏Thank you Netgalley, Jen Calonita and Harper Collins Childrens Books for the ARC.🙏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
🌏Location/Setting/Atmosphere🌌:
🔮 Mystic Hollow, Connecticut
🧙♀️☕️ Witch's Brew Coffee Shop
🎃🍽 Halloween Themed Restaurant
🛏🍳 All Hallows Inn B&B
👻📚 Spirited Books
I LOVED the town so much. It really gave historical, cozy, witchy, fall vibes. There is also a candle shop, ghost tours, cider mill, haunted corn maze, pumpkin patch and more. I wanted to jump right into this book and live there. This is exactly what I was hoping for when I requested this book— a cozy Halloween town, and I was not disappointed.
📖: "They each have a tiny pumpkin filled with iced coffee, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon, and fall sprinkles."
I need this so bad, I can almost taste it. 🎃☕️ I'm so obsessed with the atmosphere of this book.
📚Bookish Thoughts💭:
Love the cover so much! It definitely made me want to read this and the best part is, the story is as good as you'd hope based on the cover.
I thought it was a very quick and easy read. I literally just kept turning page after page, not wanting to put it down (though, unfortunately, sometimes I had no choice but to).
Harry is such a well intentioned, sweet big sister who looks out for Kat. But Kat feels like she exists in Harry's shadow. She's stubborn, annoying and naive. Everything that went completely wrong was a result of her stubborness. She's book smart but not much common sense when it comes to boys. Totally boy crazy. Oftentimes hard to like. Zach, on the other hand, was very likeable and sweet. Wish we got more of him.
I also liked the Mystic Hollow Community Page at the start of each chapter. It was such a clever idea by the author to incorporate that. Some of them were hilarious, especially when combined with the reply comments.
This book was like Love Potion No. 9 meets Halloween Town meets Practical Magic.
Definitely a fall must read! It would even make for a good movie on Prime or Paramount+, too.
🙏Thank you Netgalley, Jen Calonita and Harper Collins Childrens Books for the ARC.🙏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very fun fall read, cozy as a comfy sweater. It definitely felt on the younger side of YA. Tone and content wise, it would probably be fine for even middle grade readers. Kat was relatable, even though she was VERY self-centered and boy crazy. She reminded me a little of Georgia Nicolson from the Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, minus the British slang.
For all Kat’s professed smarts in school, she was kinda slow on the update about what was happening with the spells and who the one guy was who obviously genuinely liked her from the start. And to be honest, I’m not sure she was really ready for a romantic relationship with anyone. It seemed like she was more in love with the idea of love than actually looking for anything real. She definitely wasn’t ready to be the town’s sole protector from the forces of darkness, at least at the start of the book. The true villains of the book are the parents and aunts for leaving her in charge.
While I wish Kat and Harry had patched things up a teensy bit sooner, I won’t deny that the chaos that ensued from them both being stubborn as mules was an absolute blast. It was pretty much turning into Sunnydale on a very bad day towards the end of the book.
Zach was great. I loved him and all his banter with Kat. I kept waiting for her to wake up and smell the hottie who kept hooking her up with all the pumpkin spice lattes. Kat, he was not giving you those free goodies by snacksident!
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy Halloween book.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
For all Kat’s professed smarts in school, she was kinda slow on the update about what was happening with the spells and who the one guy was who obviously genuinely liked her from the start. And to be honest, I’m not sure she was really ready for a romantic relationship with anyone. It seemed like she was more in love with the idea of love than actually looking for anything real. She definitely wasn’t ready to be the town’s sole protector from the forces of darkness, at least at the start of the book. The true villains of the book are the parents and aunts for leaving her in charge.
While I wish Kat and Harry had patched things up a teensy bit sooner, I won’t deny that the chaos that ensued from them both being stubborn as mules was an absolute blast. It was pretty much turning into Sunnydale on a very bad day towards the end of the book.
Zach was great. I loved him and all his banter with Kat. I kept waiting for her to wake up and smell the hottie who kept hooking her up with all the pumpkin spice lattes. Kat, he was not giving you those free goodies by snacksident!
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy Halloween book.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
Kat comes from a family of witches who have protected the adorable town of Mystic Hollow from monsters and other creatures for centuries. Kat and her sister Harriet (Harry) were always very close, but now that Harry is in college, Kat feels like not only does she live in her sister's perfect shadow, but she is ignored by boys (except for her chemistry partner Zach whom she finds annoying) and has had nothing but awkward, unhappy experiences with the boys she's had crushes on.
It is almost Halloween, and Kat has decided she will be the one to do the annual protection spells because her parents, aunts, and of course Harry will be out of town. Kat tells everyone that she and her "boyfriend Peter" will do the spell together. Harriet unexpectedly comes home because she is concerned Kat will mess up the spells and believes the boyfriend is a fake. Kat isn't happy, and as they argue, the house begins to split and crack and strange things begin happening all over town. Will the girls make up in time to fix the mess?
I personally thought the pacing was uneven and not everything made sense, but fortunately, the book wasn't written for me, and I don't think my students who love cozy fall romances will mind this and will love the bookstore, coffee shop and the cute town. The cover is delightfully adorable (though I wish Ronald/Fred was on the cover too). I will definitely purchase this for my fall booktalks when this one comes out August 25th. In fact, I'll probably purchase more than one.
Kat comes from a family of witches who have protected the adorable town of Mystic Hollow from monsters and other creatures for centuries. Kat and her sister Harriet (Harry) were always very close, but now that Harry is in college, Kat feels like not only does she live in her sister's perfect shadow, but she is ignored by boys (except for her chemistry partner Zach whom she finds annoying) and has had nothing but awkward, unhappy experiences with the boys she's had crushes on.
It is almost Halloween, and Kat has decided she will be the one to do the annual protection spells because her parents, aunts, and of course Harry will be out of town. Kat tells everyone that she and her "boyfriend Peter" will do the spell together. Harriet unexpectedly comes home because she is concerned Kat will mess up the spells and believes the boyfriend is a fake. Kat isn't happy, and as they argue, the house begins to split and crack and strange things begin happening all over town. Will the girls make up in time to fix the mess?
I personally thought the pacing was uneven and not everything made sense, but fortunately, the book wasn't written for me, and I don't think my students who love cozy fall romances will mind this and will love the bookstore, coffee shop and the cute town. The cover is delightfully adorable (though I wish Ronald/Fred was on the cover too). I will definitely purchase this for my fall booktalks when this one comes out August 25th. In fact, I'll probably purchase more than one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is way too stinking cute.
I’m going to be honest, the synopsis of this book isn’t even what drew me into reading it.
It was the COVER!
I mean come on, just look at how beautiful it is? How could you not want to read it?
Luckily, I ended up being pretty happy with how the writing turned out as well.
It’s witchy, it’s cozy, it’s comforting and it’s fun. Basically all I would really ask for in a seasonal young adult romance.
There are some pretty quirky and awkward aspects to the this, which I don’t always love. But I think it worked out really well.
It definitely added to the overall vibe, and made it feel like an early/mid 2000s Halloween Disney channel movie!
It’s also worth pointing out that it has a variety of cool spooky creatures that I want expecting (which I love).
I would say that the one thing that threw me off just a little bit, was that it wasn’t as romance focused as I thought it would be.
There is definitely a romantic part of the plot, but i would say it’s mostly focused on sisterly bonds.
It wasn’t a bad thing though! I think it just added to that Disney movie aesthetic I mentioned earlier.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collin’s Children’s books and author Jen Calonita for providing me with the eARC of “Practically Magic” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 25, 2026
I’m going to be honest, the synopsis of this book isn’t even what drew me into reading it.
It was the COVER!
I mean come on, just look at how beautiful it is? How could you not want to read it?
Luckily, I ended up being pretty happy with how the writing turned out as well.
It’s witchy, it’s cozy, it’s comforting and it’s fun. Basically all I would really ask for in a seasonal young adult romance.
There are some pretty quirky and awkward aspects to the this, which I don’t always love. But I think it worked out really well.
It definitely added to the overall vibe, and made it feel like an early/mid 2000s Halloween Disney channel movie!
It’s also worth pointing out that it has a variety of cool spooky creatures that I want expecting (which I love).
I would say that the one thing that threw me off just a little bit, was that it wasn’t as romance focused as I thought it would be.
There is definitely a romantic part of the plot, but i would say it’s mostly focused on sisterly bonds.
It wasn’t a bad thing though! I think it just added to that Disney movie aesthetic I mentioned earlier.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collin’s Children’s books and author Jen Calonita for providing me with the eARC of “Practically Magic” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 25, 2026
June 30, 2026
she's a witch from generations of witches and STILL can't get a boy to notice her. that's the real curse. 🧙♀️💔
kat: hadley witch. magic in her blood. cursed to be invisible to boys —
by her own sister. to "protect" her. 😤
kat loses it. magic loses it harder. 💥
every spell starts reversing. good spells turn evil. curses attract instead of repel.
the veil between worlds is THINNING. 👻
mystic hollow's last halloween, potentially. no pressure.
while fixing the magic, kat notices something —
every boy who ever rejected her is suddenly lovesick. 😳
even her rival.
is it real, or just the spell?
does it matter? 💛
Absolutely adorable! If you liked the movie Practical Magic, with a bit of Charmed & Gilmore Girls thrown in, this one is for you. Chaos reigns in this story of sisterhood, true love and the ties that bind a family. Ah sisterhood, the one thing that will make or break a family, in this case "good intentions" just about destroys Mystic Hollow! This book put me in the mood for Fall and Halloween and all things that go bump in the night! In addition to the witches, this story is a nod to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! I had to remind myself that Jen wasn't writing about Tarrytown NY...#IYKYK Anyone from NY will understand that reference! Congrats on your latest book, my Long Island Bestie! Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!!
kat: hadley witch. magic in her blood. cursed to be invisible to boys —
by her own sister. to "protect" her. 😤
kat loses it. magic loses it harder. 💥
every spell starts reversing. good spells turn evil. curses attract instead of repel.
the veil between worlds is THINNING. 👻
mystic hollow's last halloween, potentially. no pressure.
while fixing the magic, kat notices something —
every boy who ever rejected her is suddenly lovesick. 😳
even her rival.
is it real, or just the spell?
does it matter? 💛
Absolutely adorable! If you liked the movie Practical Magic, with a bit of Charmed & Gilmore Girls thrown in, this one is for you. Chaos reigns in this story of sisterhood, true love and the ties that bind a family. Ah sisterhood, the one thing that will make or break a family, in this case "good intentions" just about destroys Mystic Hollow! This book put me in the mood for Fall and Halloween and all things that go bump in the night! In addition to the witches, this story is a nod to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! I had to remind myself that Jen wasn't writing about Tarrytown NY...#IYKYK Anyone from NY will understand that reference! Congrats on your latest book, my Long Island Bestie! Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!
I have been trying to force fall to come quicker by reading this fun halloween themed romance books and this one did not disappoint. I just want it to be cold and windy and spooky! i’ll just read until we get there!
I loved the setting of this story. naturally it is cozy, warm, pumpkin spice and all that nice stuff. The witchy vibes are on point and the romance is adorable and so well written. I enjoyed watching the characters develop a friendship and eventually having more love for one another.
My main favorite thing was the sisterly aspect. As a girl who lost her brother (her only sibling.) i love seeing sibling relationships in books. I love seeing when a sibling relationship isn’t the best and they slowly realize that they are all they have and they have to have a stronger bond. the younger sister looking up to the older sister. I used to always look up to my brother. it’s so comforting to not only have the romance but to have the sibling aspect too.
if you want a cozy halloween romance that will make you actually laugh out loud and also cry a little, you have to read this one!
I have been trying to force fall to come quicker by reading this fun halloween themed romance books and this one did not disappoint. I just want it to be cold and windy and spooky! i’ll just read until we get there!
I loved the setting of this story. naturally it is cozy, warm, pumpkin spice and all that nice stuff. The witchy vibes are on point and the romance is adorable and so well written. I enjoyed watching the characters develop a friendship and eventually having more love for one another.
My main favorite thing was the sisterly aspect. As a girl who lost her brother (her only sibling.) i love seeing sibling relationships in books. I love seeing when a sibling relationship isn’t the best and they slowly realize that they are all they have and they have to have a stronger bond. the younger sister looking up to the older sister. I used to always look up to my brother. it’s so comforting to not only have the romance but to have the sibling aspect too.
if you want a cozy halloween romance that will make you actually laugh out loud and also cry a little, you have to read this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so so cute, and I couldn’t put it down (finishing the whole thing in a single sitting)! From the local coffee shop, Witches Brew, to the bookstore, Spirited Books, everything described in Mystic Hollow felt perfectly fall. The spaces were so lived in and well loved that picturing the town, community, and characters was easy and natural. And I loved Kat as a main character. She definitely lived in her own world and didn’t always make choices that I could stand beside her with, but even through her mistakes, she was determined to find solutions to make everything right. I wish Zach had played a larger role in Kat’s story, but I liked the ways in which Kat’s relationship with Harry took the focus, and the emphasis was instead on finding importance in different kinds of love. This story had the best spooky vibes for the Halloween season along with all the warm, good feelings for fall, and I definitely recommend it as an addition to your autumn tbr!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the opportunity to read Practically Magic in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the opportunity to read Practically Magic in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
🎃👻🐈⬛🍂🍬🪦💀
I absolutely loved this!! This book is so perfect for Halloween season. I went into this book expecting more of a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that it leaned more into the spooky Halloween vibes and it also focused more on the bond between the two sisters in the story. I hope the author will turn this book into a series because I want to see more of this world and characters!
Possible spoilers below!
⚠️Content warning⚠️
Language:
1 sh**
1 hell
2 piss
8 oh my g**
1 thank g**
1 screw
2 crap
1 sucks
1 heck
Sexual content: A boy and girl kiss
Violent content: A vampire drinks blood from a straw, a character gets their head cut off (but no mention of blood and it’s more comedic)
Other: A character throws up
🎃👻🐈⬛🍂🍬🪦💀
I absolutely loved this!! This book is so perfect for Halloween season. I went into this book expecting more of a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that it leaned more into the spooky Halloween vibes and it also focused more on the bond between the two sisters in the story. I hope the author will turn this book into a series because I want to see more of this world and characters!
Possible spoilers below!
⚠️Content warning⚠️
Language:
1 sh**
1 hell
2 piss
8 oh my g**
1 thank g**
1 screw
2 crap
1 sucks
1 heck
Sexual content: A boy and girl kiss
Violent content: A vampire drinks blood from a straw, a character gets their head cut off (but no mention of blood and it’s more comedic)
Other: A character throws up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 Stars
Practically Magic by Jen Calonita follows Kat and Harry, two teen sisters who come from a long line of witches who protect their town each Halloween from dark, evil forces. Kat is boy-OBSESSED, and while I'm sure readers of the intended age group for this book would eat this up, I found myself cringing at times. This trait didn't make Kat a particularly likable character, and I didn't love how the majority of this book centered around needing attention from boys. That being said, I loved the uplifting message about the importance of sisterly love. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite Calonita read, I think many teens would enjoy curling up with some hot cocoa and reading this in the fall!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Practically Magic by Jen Calonita follows Kat and Harry, two teen sisters who come from a long line of witches who protect their town each Halloween from dark, evil forces. Kat is boy-OBSESSED, and while I'm sure readers of the intended age group for this book would eat this up, I found myself cringing at times. This trait didn't make Kat a particularly likable character, and I didn't love how the majority of this book centered around needing attention from boys. That being said, I loved the uplifting message about the importance of sisterly love. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite Calonita read, I think many teens would enjoy curling up with some hot cocoa and reading this in the fall!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
With a cozy Stars Hollow-esque setting plus a twist of magic, this funny romance-driven fantasy about two witchy sisters--boy-obsessed, boyfriendless Kat whose magic rarely gets anything right; and perfect Hattie, who cast her first spell at age three--centers sibling-versus-sibling fight so epic, it accidentally breaks the protective wards that keep their town safe...and can only be repaired by a spell cast with a soulmate...which is gonna be hard, since Hattie secretly placed a curse on Kat that prevents boys from noticing her.
Frothy and fun, but I wish the empowering message about sisterhood and daring to come-of-age without a boyfriend hadn't gotten muddled in the happily-ever-after.
Frothy and fun, but I wish the empowering message about sisterhood and daring to come-of-age without a boyfriend hadn't gotten muddled in the happily-ever-after.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A perfect Fall read! The vibes of this book are unmatched! I’m always a Fall girl and this book had everything I could ask for! The town Mystic Hollow is everything I could dream of, it was such an immersive setting and a town I’d definitely want to visit! A perfect cozy fall book! I’ll definitely revisit this book in future Octobers! I loved the balance of romance, humor and most of all, sisterhood. Age appropriate for YA, but definitely a book all ages will love!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
July 7, 2026
*Review of ARC from Netgalley*
Any book from Jen Calonita is a must read for me, so I was so excited to see she wrote an book about my favorite season of the year.
This book was the perfect blend of magic, friendship, family and even YA romance. I loved how the story went back and forth from past to present, tying everything together bit by bit. Fantastic character development, magical conflict and overall the perfect cozy fall story.
Any book from Jen Calonita is a must read for me, so I was so excited to see she wrote an book about my favorite season of the year.
This book was the perfect blend of magic, friendship, family and even YA romance. I loved how the story went back and forth from past to present, tying everything together bit by bit. Fantastic character development, magical conflict and overall the perfect cozy fall story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
On the eve of Halloween, a sister’s well-intentioned love spell turns into a curse in this witchy, flirty rom-com perfect for fans of The Ex Hex, Gilmore Girls, and Practical Magic.
This is such a great mixture of all of these stories.
I loved this book so much!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is such a great mixture of all of these stories.
I loved this book so much!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A cute & fun magical Halloween story, perfect for fall
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly perfect! Love every character. Loved that there were stakes but that they weren’t too high. A really fun YA Halloween read! Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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