Nearly 30 years after its original theatrical release, Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series proves that it has some magic of its own. While the film had a modest theatrical release back in 1998, it’s grown into a cult classic that fans love to watch and rewatch. I mean, what’s not to like? The film stars fan favorites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, who play sisters Sally and Gillian. They’re joined by Hollywood legends Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. Plus, the film has ambiance thanks to the cozy, covet-worthy stylizing that’s reminiscent of Nancy Meyers.
Now, a new generation of fans are being introduced to these enduring characters thanks to the 2026 movie Practical Magic 2, which is based on the fourth book in the series, The Book of Magic. The film reunites the original cast, plus newcomers Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams and Xolo Maridueña. Fans have been enthusiastic about the series’ return to the big screen, with the film debuting at number one and grossing over $100 million worldwide.
Of course, the film’s appeal goes well beyond witchcraft. Family, love and identity are major themes in the book, and they offer the kind of timelessness, that keeps fans coming back. Whether you’re a fan of the movie or love the books, here’s what to read if you loved Practical Magic.
The Practical Magic Books in Order
If you haven’t already, the first thing you should do is read the entire Practical Magic book series. Here are all the books in order.
1. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
2. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
3. Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
4. The Book of Magic: Practical Magic 2 by Alice Hoffman
According to the author, you can also read the books in chronological order, which means starting with Magic Lessons and Rules of Magic before moving on to Practical Magic and finally The Book of Magic.
14 Books Similar to Practical Magic
If you’re craving more magic, love stories and spells, here are a few more reads similar to Practical Magic that are packed with witchcraft, supernatural powers, quirky families and magical realism.
The Witches of Cambridge (a Read with Jenna Pick)
by Alice Hoffman
Set at an Ivy League college in 1950s Massachusetts, Witches of Cambridge is a historical and political allegory that follows two college girls who are invited to the Lilith Society, as well as the young man who must shun the girl he’s infatuated with due to his family’s history. When girls from the society start disappearing, Ava and Lauren work to solve the mystery.
Paper Ghosts
by Sarah Addison Allen
Published in September 2026, Paper Ghosts is a sweeping Southern Gothic family saga set in quirky Hen Town, North Carolina. It follows the Wester family, from matriarch Willamena to her granddaughter Bailey who seems to have inherited some of the family’s supernatural powers. Like Practical Magic, this book places a strong emphasis on family, friendships, relationships, and of course, magic.
The Spellshop
by Sarah Beth Durst
If you enjoy cozy romantasies, The Spellshop by beloved author Sarah Beth Durst is the perfect book to read after Practical Magic. It features a quaint coastal setting, a sentient spider plant named Caz and a hunky neighbor who helps Kiela with her home repairs. Meanwhile, she starts her own cottage jam business using a family recipe, magical berries and illegal spells. The best part? It's the first book in its own series!
The Memory of Borrowed Books
by Meg Anderson
Determined to save the town’s historic library that’s up for development, Meg unlocks the secrets of the library’s magical basement machine, which is packed with patrons’ memories. The book blends fantasy, romance and magical realism.
Twice
by Mitch Albom
From bestselling author Mitch Albom, Twice follows Alfie Logan, who is blessed with the unique ability to revisit any moment in the past and live it just once more. Unfortunately, in the case of love, if he revisits the past, it’s gone forever.
Chocolat
by Joanne Harris
Don’t let the movie fool you, this modern classic is packed with Roma rituals, tarot cards and magical realism. It’s a literary voyage to the French countryside where morality and pleasure collide.
Books & Bewitchment
by Isla Jewell
A quirky, sweet paranormal rom-com/romantasy, Books & Bewitchment follows a young woman who’s inherited real estate from her witch grandmother in a town that her mother forbade her from visiting. Along the way, she meets a hunky handyman who encourages her to build her dream bookstore, if they can solve the building’s persistent poltergeist problem.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Original)
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In a forgotten alley in Tokyo, a historic cafe promises visitors the unique opportunity to travel back in time. The only catch? There are a few rules, and the most important one is that they must return before the coffee gets cold. An international bestseller.
A Pinch of Magic
by Emily Heil
When a tree falls on her grandmother's house, cookbook ghostwriter Cam Parker upends her life and commits to working with a notoriously difficult celebrity chef to pay for the repairs in this culinary mystery and small-town romance. She’s falling for the handsome, kind home repair contractor, but things are about to fall apart when she accidentally summons a ghost trapped in a cookbook she got at the city’s rummage sale.
Uncharmed: A Cozy Fall Fantasy
by Lucy Jane Wood
After her family falls out of favor in the witch community, Andromeda begins drinking a nightly potion to make herself “perfect.” She’s tapped by the coven to mentor a teenage witch with unruly powers. The pair are sent to a cottage in the English countryside that, unbeknownst to them, is owned by an angry warlock. Ideal for readers who love witchcraft, found family, baking and cozy fall vibes.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A classical piece of international literature, One Hundred Years of Solitude follows the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo as told by the Buendía family. Garcia’s writing style has been described as magical, and the book even won a Nobel Prize in Literature. It's also a Netflix original series.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
Like the Owens sisters, Henry has magical powers, but he’s not always in control of them. This literary novel follows Clare, who is the time travelers’ wife. Henry involuntarily travels though time, so they never know where he will be in his own life or in Clare’s.
The Lost Bookshop
by Evie Woods
The Lost Bookshop is a charming, magical, feel-good read about three unsuspecting strangers who find themselves again within a lost bookshop on a forgotten street in Dublin. Fans of Practical Magic will enjoy the book’s enchanting atmospheric vibe and dual-timeline plot.
A Witch in Notting Hill
by Alexandra Paige
The Owens sisters certainly know that not every spell goes as planned. So does actress Willow James, who also happens to be a witch. When she accidentally turns her manager into a cat to avoid starring in a sappy rom-com, she flees to London in search of a Notting Hill bookshop that may have a rare reversal spell.
There are so many ways to enjoy the Practical Magic series, whether you rewatch the film every year or are new to the Owens family world. Alice Hoffman is a prolific writer with more than 30 novels to her name. You can also find plenty of books like Practical Magic if you look for titles featuring witches or magical realism. Although this list is diverse, the books have a few things in common. They’re cozy, comforting and magical, and they put the spotlight on friends, family and finding a place where you truly belong. Maybe you’ll find your next favorite read with a quirky coven, in a small town with spooky secrets or in a haunted bookshop.