The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Mika Moon has spent her life following strict rules to hide her identity as one of Britain's few witches. She keeps to herself except for posting staged witchcraft videos online, which she considers a harmless way to express her true nature. An unexpected job offer brings Mika to Nowhere House, where three young witches need a teacher to help control their magic. The house's non-magical inhabitants include a librarian, a gardener, and a grumpy custodian named Jamie - all of whom are dedicated to protecting the children. The insular world of Nowhere House challenges Mika's lifelong practice of staying detached and hidden. As she bonds with her students and their makeshift family, she must balance her growing attachments against the witch community's rules about isolation. The story explores themes of chosen family, the tension between safety and connection, and the courage required to be vulnerable. Through its magical framework, it examines how fear of difference can lead to loneliness, and how trust can create belonging.

Readers describe this as a cozy, gentle romance with witchy elements. Many reviews note the found family themes and compare the atmosphere to House in the Cerulean Sea. Liked: - Character development and relationships - Warm, comforting tone - LGBTQ+ representation - British humor and dialogue - Magic system and world-building Disliked: - Slow pacing in first third - Some found it too sweet/predictable - Romance develops late in story - Magic elements could be more detailed "Perfect for when you need a hug in book form" appears in multiple reviews. Others note it's "light on plot but rich in character connections." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (46,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (5,800+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.25/5 Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) Critical consensus points to strong character work and cozy atmosphere outweighing plot limitations.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske A government bureaucrat discovers a secret magical society in Edwardian England and falls in love with his prickly magical counterpart while investigating the disappearance of his predecessor.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune A case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth visits an orphanage of dangerous magical children and finds his place among their unconventional family.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen Two sisters with magical abilities reunite in their family home, where their enchanted garden and cooking help heal old wounds and bring love to their small North Carolina town.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling A witch's playful curse on her college ex-boyfriend returns to haunt their small magical town nine years later, forcing them to work together to prevent supernatural chaos.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley A witch accidentally summons a demon while attempting a spell and must pretend to date him to save face in front of her magical community.

🌟 The author, Sangu Mandanna, drew inspiration from Diana Wynne Jones's novels, particularly "Howl's Moving Castle," which shares similar themes of found family and magical households. 🌙 In the book, British witches must follow strict rules about hiding their magic—a clever twist on the traditional "Statute of Secrecy" found in other witch-focused literature. ⚡ The main character's name, Mika Moon, reflects both her magical nature and her isolated upbringing—"moon" often symbolizing solitude and mystery in magical literature. 🏰 Nowhere House, the setting for much of the novel, is located in Norfolk, England—a region historically associated with witch trials and folklore, including the infamous Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed "Witchfinder General." 🌿 The book incorporates elements of "cottagecore" aesthetic, a popular internet subculture that romanticizes rural life and traditional skills, blending it with modern witch representation.