nut free nerd

This novel is like a warm mug of tea, a cozy blanket, catching up with an old friend over coffee.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches tells the story of — well, just what the title suggests. The book follows Mika Moon, a witch in Britain who has consistently moved around with her dog for years, never staying in the same place for very long and avoiding making deep connections with others in order to hide her true identity. Her life is abruptly turned upside down when she accepts a position tutoring three young witches at a mysterious, idyllic place called Nowhere House. Chaos ensues — with a bit of romance — as Mika learns that, just maybe, the kind folks of Nowhere House have been teaching her all along.

Warm. Heartfelt. A bit cheesy, yes, and incredibly sweet. This novel is the definition of a “cozy” read, one that has tension and things at stake but (spoiler) it all turns out okay in the end. Yet despite this predictability, the story still surprised me with plot twists and unexpected nuances that added some nice depth to the characters. I’m not usually much of a romance reader, but this one strikes a good balance between the romance and the rest of the plot.

The witchy vibes in this novel are immaculate, yet are not specifically tied to Halloween. I actually think this would be a great book to read around the winter holidays, given when some of the story takes place. Apart from the world-building and atmosphere, another major strength of this novel is the characters. By the end of the novel, I felt as though I knew these characters for far longer than three hundred or so pages. I couldn’t help but root for them. They felt so vivid on the page.

I’d heard great things about this one before picking it up, and I’m glad to say that it didn’t disappoint. I’m looking forward to reading more from Sangu Mandanna.

Any recommendations for other cozy reads? I’d love to know.

Take care xx