Disappear in these Cozy Reads Full of Magic
We could all use a bit more magic in our lives! Who wouldn’t love to get the dishes washed or the laundry folded with a twitch of the nose? Or get the grocery shopping done with the flick of the wrist? Magic can help with a lot of the day-to-day minutiae of adult life, but it can’t fix EVERYTHING. Maybe love is up to us, too (but a little help won’t hurt)!
Grab one of these cozy core books and your beverage of choice (we’ve added some fun recommendations in case you need some guidance) and get down to the serious business of fall!
The Magic All Around
by Jennifer Moorman
Lillith was the only woman in the Russell family to ever leave the ancestral home in Georgia. She and her daughter, Mattie, live a nomadic existence. The only time you ever really know where they are is when they turn up in Ivy Ridge every year to drop Mattie off to her aunt, Lillith’s sister, Penelope, for the summer.
Lilith’s sudden death is a shock for both Mattie and Penelope. A series of bizarre random stipulations in Lilith’s will must be completed for Mattie to access her inheritance. Along the way, she’ll also learn more about the Russell family “gifts” and unearth some of her mother’s secrets….including the identity of her biological father.
Old friends leave town, but they often come home. And reunions? True magic!
'Charming, enchanted and delightfully Southern, Jennifer Moorman's The Magic All Around is a cozy story of family, love and finding yourself. Perfect for fans of Heather Webber and Sarah Addison Allen!' -- Liz Parker, author of In the Shadow Garden
'Full of Southern charm, second chances, and an opinionated old house that's as (lovingly) meddlesome as a well-meaning aunt, The Magic All Around is sure to delight. Jennifer Moorman's latest is equal parts magical and hopeful, revealing the healing power of love.' -- Susan Bishop Crispell, author of The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
Furever Enchanted
by B E Bang
Zuri is an anxious invert, but a report of recent burglaries in her area prompts her out of the house and head to the shelter to adopt a furry friend. She expected it to take some time for the two of them to adjust to each other, she expected some bumps in the road. She did not expect to find out that her new best friend poops gold. Literally.
It sounds amazing in theory, but in reality, Zuri is watching Gigi fade away. She has got to find a way to uncurse Gigi before it’s too late. Luckily, a hot veterinarian is ready to pitch in. With his help, and the help of a highly opinionated employee from the shelter, Zuri has the support she needs to disenchant her dog!
Pairing Note: have fun with this one! We’d recommend including Goldschlager…
The Midnight Bookshop
by Amanda James
Long ago, a bookshop was born - the beating heart of all those who find hope within the pages of a book. With the words penned upon the echo of old forests, new worlds are created.
It's ready and waiting to welcome all those who know where to find it…
Jo. Kye. Adelaide. Poverty. Abuse. Loneliness. Three strangers, all struggling with different challenges, are all surprised to find themselves drawn to a mysterious bookshop that none of them had ever noticed before. The unlikely trio forms their own book club, and their lives are changed forever.
In addition to appearing only to those in need of it, the mysterious bookshop has other not-quite-normal properties. For example, it always seems to present the perfect book at the perfect time. As their lives are changing through the healing power of books, Jo, Adelaide, and Kye learn that friendship and support can also be transformative.
Pairing Note: this lovely, atmospheric read deserves to be paired with an adult beverage that is also atmospheric! We highly recommend a cinnamon apple bourbon, perfect for sipping and snuggling. Mix bourbon, lemon, and grapefruit and an easy-to-make simple syrup at home. Top with cinnamon and ginger…and a pinch of cayenne if you like your drink with a kick!
The Amalfi Curse: A Bewitching Tale of Sunken Treasure, Forbidden Love, and Ancient Magic on the Amalfi Coast
by Sarah Penner
Haven Ambrose isn’t just your everyday average nautical archaeologist! She’s a trailblazer, making her own unique career path, when she starts investigating a series of mysterious shipwrecks that might hold incredible treasures and artifacts. She does have an ulterior motive—Haven is secretly searching for a trove of gemstones that her late father spotted while he was on the last dive he ever made.
Haven unearths more than she bargained for. She reveals a timeless tale of love, sorcery, and stregheria, an ancient magical ability to harness the power of the ocean. Could this lost magic be the reason for the many strange occurrences that Haven experiences as she explores Positano? The area has been plagued by strange storms, maelstroms that appear out of nowhere and wreak havoc. Could all of the damage really be blamed on a curse?
As she unravels the story of an ancient woman’s quest to save her lover, Haven wonders if nature is off balance or if she might really be dealing with a curse that has the strength to literally change the tides.
“A rousing story of witches, deep sea diving, and family secrets on the Amalfi Coast... Penner keeps the pages turning with cliffhangers and complex characters. The author’s fans will enjoy this adventure.” —Publishers Weekly
"A mystical page-turner that will leave readers spellbound.”Booklist
The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods
As if France weren’t already magical enough! In the town of Compiégne, people whisper about a certain bakery. A single bite of pastry might change your luck. A nibble of a sweet treat might reveal hidden passions.
Edie Lane didn’t mean to wind up behind the counter at that particular bakery. She was actually on her way to Paris, but that’s how life goes sometimes. She left everything behind in Ireland to take her shot, and she keeps hearing things that make her think that eating one bite of delicious decadence might just improve her current situation and her future prospects. But maybe that improvement will come in ways she isn’t expecting!
Pairing Note: If you don’t have a PSL (pumpkin spice latte for anyone who might live under a rock) in your hand while you read this book, are you even in the autumnal spirit?
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
by Sangu Mandanna
Formerly uber-powerful witch Sera lost her magic when she resurrected her great aunt Jasmine from the dead (in her defense it was a VERY recent death, nothing oozing or . She was exiled from her guild, lost most of her powers, and got stuck helping Jasmine run an enchanted inn with no shortage of shenanigans and minor magical emergencies.
When a magical historian arrives on a dark winter night, Sera realizes that Luke Larson might just hold the key to restoring her powers. She may not be a witch anymore, but Sera certainly bewitches him, and Luke agrees to help her with the necessary spell against his better judgement. But life goes on around her in the meantime, and running the inn and avoiding the Guild is a lot for anyone. But for Sera, the true magic is not having to do everything on her own!
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
“A lush and comforting story.”—USA Today
“With snappy dialogue and a lot of heart, Mandanna’s latest explores how much pressure we sometimes put on ourselves, the ups and downs of the family we choose, and the importance of using your voice and power to stand up for others.…Witchy romances are all the rage, and Mandanna's cozy, uplifting tale will appeal long after the trend fades.”—Booklist
Magical Melee
by D K Bolton
The invitation to visit a friend in Stonewick Village couldn’t have come at a better time for Maeve. Her life goes off the rails when she finds out that her husband has an actual mistress, and a break in a cute tourist trap of a town sounds like a great idea. When Maeve sets foot in Stonewick Village she immediately feels a sense of belonging. It almost feels like she’s been there before, and she’s back to pick up where she left off.
As she settles into the adorable hamlet, a long-held secret suddenly reveals itself. And the adventure of a lifetime begins when the Stonewick Academy comes to life for the first time in 100 years. Has something been waiting for Maeve? What mysterious forces are waking up? She finds out just how strong she’s been the whole time!
Pairing Note: you need a fun beverage for this one! I recommend London Fog, the perfect drink for reading about ancient magic and life after forty.
The Unmaking of June Farrow
by Adrienne Young
June Farrow is living on her family farm, just waiting for her life to start. She’s been hearing things for about a year or so, faint chimes in the distance, voices in the air, and she knows that the curse is on its way. June is determined to sacrifice everything if she can end the curse wants and for all.
A series of cryptic clues regarding the disappearance of June’s mother presents itself, and then she starts SEEING things, too. A door appears, and she assumes that it is a hallucination…but she can touch the door. And she can open it. And she can walk across the threshold. What will she find out on the other side?
Pairing Note: June Farrow is also BADASS. This is the kind of woman who takes her whisky straight and her martinis stirred, not shaken. Make a drink that a strong, fierce human would have!
Send Flowers: A Magical Realism Exploration of Love and Loss
by Emily Buchanan
Fiona, who is better known as FoliageFifi, is an eco-influencer, inspiring her followers to make environmentally friendly choices. Fiona also has not left her apartment since Ed, her boyfriend, died. Working at home does come in handy at times!
Her world shifts again when a houseplant suddenly appears on her doorstep. It isn’t just any random plant; it’s Ed’s number one favorite. Could it be a sign? But a sign of what exactly? Deciding to hedge her bets, Fiona pours Ed’s ashes into the plant pot. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds that the plant has flowered and is incredibly colorful and vibrant. Oh, and the plant can talk. The only logical explanation? Ed has been reincarnated as a houseplant.
Fiona realizes that she can’t care for the plant adequately in her dark, depressing apartment. The urge to nurture the plant gets her outdoors again, and its voice becomes integral to her healing. But when Ed-the-Plant’s guidance leads her back toward the people and places that created lasting trauma for her, Fiona realizes that keeping Ed-the-Plant alive might mean she herself will wind up withering on the vine. Will she decide to keep him blooming at her own expense?
"Radical, hopeful stories are exactly what the world needs right now and through her characters, Emily gets to the heart of what drives activism now and throughout history: the simple hope that a better world is possible." —Will McCallum, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK
“A prescient love letter to activism and the natural world that serves as a timely call to arms for people and planet.” —Henry Fry, author of First Time for Everything
Embrace the Enchantment of Fall with Magical Realism
This is an excellent list (if we do say so ourselves), but there is so much more to magical realism. If you find you like these more recent titles, pick up a copy of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, considered by many to be the OG title in this niche!
So, grab your favorite blanket and a warm beverage, and let these captivating narratives sweep you away into realms where magic feels just a breath away.