I'll premise this review with the fact that I LOVED Rachel Harrison's book The Return. It was the perfect spooky book. There was some gore, and mystery, and horror! As soon as I was finished I saw that she was releasing another book, Cackle, and I immediately added it to my TBR. Once I saw it on Netgalley I requested it. And waited. And waited. And FINALLY got the email that I was approved. In the meantime, I had read other reviews about how different this was from Harrison's previous novel. I try to never read reviews of books I have yet to read because I don't like being biased. However, I was happy I saw this because it allowed me to go into this book with the correct headspace. Instead of expecting the level of creep and grossness that The Return gave me, I went in just hoping for a good witch book AND I GOT IT!

This book is so fun. It really stays on the lighter side which was a nice break from the endless list of heavy, horror filled books I've been reading lately. It highlights friendship, sisterhood, and the reality that we are strong and capable alone, just as we are (maybe even more) in a relationship. It really gave me some girl power feels - and a strong feeling of self worth and capability. And gave me a strong dose of witchyness! This is perfect for the fall/spooky season. It made me want to grab my closes witch sister, head to the farmers market, then back to one of our houses to bake. I suggest grabbing a nice bottle of wine, finding a cozy spot with a comfy blanket, and settling in for a heartwarming book.

I suggest this to all fiction lovers. There's a bit of something for everyone. If you're looking for a dark and twisty tale, though, I'd go elsewhere (maybe try The Return).

*Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cackle by Rachel Harrison is not my usual reading fare, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Ms. Harrison's story of female empowerment has some spooky moments, but really it is more about breaking societal expectations. After all, what is a witch other than a strong, independent female who doesn't follow the rules set by others?

Annie starts out as a rather pathetic high school teacher struggling to adjust to life as a newly single woman after her long-time boyfriend decides they are better as friends than dating. For all that, she is equally relatable because of the fact that she always thought her path meant husband, children, and all the rest. Meanwhile, Sophie is quirky and charming even if she is a bit ominous. Watching Annie bloom under her tutelage is satisfying and inspiring.

You would think that a book that uses spiders as personal helpers would be a bit too much for this arachnophobe to handle, but I have to admit that by the end, I even found those damn spiders endearing. Cackle is what I would call a cozy witch story. It might take place in the dead of winter in an old and drafty mansion crawling with secrets, but the whole thing is just too damn cute with a great message about needing no one but yourself.

Happy publication week to Rachel Harrison and everyone on the team for this book, Cackle!
If you know me, you know that I tend to dip my toes into a lot of different genres but horror isn’t usually one of them. I am not usually one for gore and fear. Cackle might actually be a great stepping stone for me as I loved the tastefully-written horror scenes, [SPOILER ALERT] the prime example being when Annie reacted to the mushroom tea [END ALERT]. But what I loved even more was the positive feminist message that this book delivered. I think it is everything that we should be talking about when we talk about witches, so that we can change the perception from terrifying/ evil crone to independent and self-determined woman.

“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.” –Rachel Harrison, Cackle

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
Annie’s boyfriend has just broken up with her, so, heartbroken, she leaves Manhattan for a new teaching position in a small, picturesque town upstate New York called Rowan.

Annie is impressed with how friendly everyone in Rowan is and agrees it lives up to its slogan of “America’s Best Kept Secret.” She meets a local resident, Sophie, who takes her under her wing and encourages Annie to forget about getting back with her ex and focus on building her own life.

Sophie is beautiful, kind, and talented, but Annie notices that the town’s people seem nervous around her and treat her with cautious reverence, giving her the best of their wares with no charge. Despite this, Annie’s friendship with Sophie continues to grow, and they spend more and more time hanging out together at Annie’s charming apartment but mostly at Sophie’s huge but eerie castle home.

𝗜 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁
This book is categorized as a horror/paranormal book, but I would describe this as a cozy horror book with a feminist theme. There are plenty of scary scenes and spooky humor to keep you on your toes but not terrified.

There are also lots of spiders with exceptional skills in this book, so be warned if you have a fear of them. As a Scaredy-Cat, I was never scared or freaked out by their behavior and will never look at them in the same way again (although size matters in this regard). Ralph, the spider, became one of my favorite characters.
I loved that I wasn’t sure how the story would end and was happy with how things worked out.

Drop this in your Trick or Treat bag if you’re looking for an unusual Spooky Season read!

Did I have any idea what sort of story I was getting myself into when I started this book? No. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I told myself to just power through when I wasn’t hooked a couple chapters in. And I’m so glad I did.

It’s not exactly my favorite book (don’t get me wrong, it’s good, just not always my cup of tea—mainly because it’s a bit slow and I was hoping for a bit more suspense), but it is one that I think I needed to read. I’m not a serial dater like Annie is, but her struggle with who she is outside of men’s expectations resonated with me. In fact, at one point she mentions reading Infinite Jest because a guy she liked said DFW was his favorite author, and I had to put my kindle down and stare at a wall, because I myself had very nearly read Infinite Jest for a boy. A boy who didn’t even like me romantically! I felt attacked, but I also related so strongly to Annie and her conflicting desires of love and certainty and self-acceptance and confidence.

I also love the way that women’s self-possession and happiness by themselves parallels Sophie’s and Annie’s experiences with witchcraft, being feared and ostracized but also being able to care for themselves, all because of their power. At one point, all of this is articulated rather beautifully, and summed up with, “What is it about a woman in full control of herself that is so utterly frightening?” And I can already tell that’s a line I'm going to be thinking on for a while.

Towards the end, a bit of disdain for ANY woman who wants to get married and the implication that they’re all wasting themselves on mediocre men crept in, which feels like a tired take to me, but for the majority of the novel, Annie’s non-linear progression towards self-acceptance was nuanced and honest. She would make progress, push against Sophie’s advice, backslide, make progress again—all of which felt very real to me.

As I said, I could’ve used a bit more suspense and a few more spooky happenings, but there are several paranormal encounters that made my skin crawl a bit just reading them. Nothing too intense, but definitely eerie. For the most part though, it’s a story about a woman coming into her own power—supernatural and personal—and what’s scarier than a woman who knows what she’s capable of and doesn’t shy away from that for the comfort of others?

I love a well-written, witchy book and Cackle is now one of my new favorites in this category. I flew through this book because it was the perfect combination of creepy, witty, comical, and of course WITCHY! Annie is such a relatable character and when combined with the beautiful and intriguing Sophie, it was a story that I could not stop reading! I definitely recommend this one if you are into this genre!

*Sigh* This book made me fall in love with a freaking spider. I hate spiders but Ralph 🥺 ❤️ This is a wonderful light hearted book about friendship, relationships, acceptance and finding yourself, mixed with a little witchcraft & ghosts. I really enjoyed it. It was cute, yet not overly cute. It kept me turning pages and didn’t really hit any lulls. I enjoyed all the characters and loved watching the main character find her independence throughout the book.

I loved this book- so witchy and good. The perfect October read. I enjoyed the story of finding yourself, growing and friendships

Holy cross bones, it's spooky season!! And, to kick it all off I've finished my first book of the Month.

Thank you @netgalley, @berkleypub and @rachelharrisonsghost for the E-ARC. I enjoyed it, a lot!!!💚💚🥰
🕸🌿🕷🌿
When Annie is dumped by her boyfriend, who also happens to be her best friend, she moves from Manhattan to a small town in Upstate New York. Here, the locals are friendly, the kids she's teaching are little shits and the town's anomaly, Sophie, wants to be her friend. Her best friend. When Annie and Sophie started hanging out, tongues start wagging, things start moving and Annie starts changing.
🕸🌿🕷🌿
Thoughts
I absolutely loved the dark and inappropriate humor way too much😂😂. My ass was cackling with glee while sipping wine, oh so much wine. I loved the friendship between Annie and Sophie, even though I was wary of their connection for most of the book because Sophie knows who and what she is while Annie was on a path of self discovery. But ever so slowly, Annie was able to find herself and her power, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
🕸🌿🕷🌿
It's a cozy little horror with a healthy dose of girl power. Add this one to your pile guys, so worth the read. Also, I may have to get a spider and name him Ralph, even though I loathe spiders😂😂

I loved this book! I was hooked by the story from the very start and I liked it more and more as I worked my way through the book. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Annie next and hated to set the book aside. I thought that this book was smartly written and I loved the sense of humor throughout the book. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book.

Annie and her boyfriend of almost 10 years just broke up and she is needing to start over. She is not happy about the break-up and would do anything to get him back. Her new life takes her to a small town upstate where she has a nice apartment and a job at the school the next town over. It isn’t long before she meets Sophie and Annie is thrilled to finally have a friend even if that friend is a little different.

I really liked the characters. Annie showed a lot of growth throughout the story. She had a lot of insecurities to work through but I think that helped to feel more authentic. Sophie was mysterious and rather glamorous. She knew what she wanted and what she liked and wouldn’t let anyone get in her way. I really loved the interaction between these two women. Ralph doesn’t make an appearance until the later parts of the book but once he showed up he stole the show.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this book an absolute joy to read and I loved the message of doing what brings you joy and standing up for yourself when necessary. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

I loved The Return so naturally this was on my list for most anticipated reads and I absolutely LOVED IT.

If you want a spooky read for October, but still want to be able to sleep then I think this is a fabulous pick. There were a couple mildly scary scenes, but nothing graphic or truly scary. I don’t want to give too much away because I think this is a great one to go into blind, but I’ll honestly never look at spiders the same way again.

If you loved The Return, I’m sure you will love this one too. @rachelharrisonsghost does a great job in with bringing her characters and scenes to life in this one as well.

Thank you to @rachelharrisonsghost and @berkleypub for my copy!

This was quite an interesting tale. It was promoted as dark and frightening, but I don't think it was either of those. It is a little spooky so a great read for October!

Annie is a bit lost in her life after her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her. So she decides to start over in a small town in upstate NY. I don't think she is very happy there, but then I think she doesn't know what in her life will make her happy. She admits to focusing all of her energy on the relationship she is in versus having her own interests and hobbies. I think we might all be able to relate to that to some degree.

However, Annie does meet Sophie and from the beginning, I wondered about her. Something seems a little off. She doesn't drive, doesn't have a phone or any sort of technology, lives in a massive home. She is off the grid without being off the grid if that makes sense. Sophie does see something in Annie, a better woman and one that is not so obsessed with finding a relationship to lose herself in. She works hard to bring out the best in Annie and is met with some resistance because Annie can't seem to let go of Sam (the ex).

The citizens of the town act strangely towards Sophie and once you discover why it makes sense. Should they treat her that way? Maybe. But perhaps they can look past their pain and to the future just like Annie? Only time will tell.

While I am not a big fan of spiders, the ones in this book are cute and the personalities are so much more than the spider. This doesn't mean I won't try to relocate spiders I find in my own home!

This book is about finding yourself and becoming the best version of yourself that you can be and exploring the paths set in front of you.

We give this book 4 paws up.

This was a fun Halloween read, but it's difficult to decide how to rate it - Annie's passivity and inability to exist outside the confines of a relationship with a man is on purpose and central to the book, but it's VERY ANNOYING. I did like the book quite a bit, could have stood to have a smidge more of the dark side of the witchcraft made clear (Sophie is definitely hiding a lot!)

Annie is dumped by her long time boyfriend Sam and decides to take a job teaching in a small town in upstate NY. She finds the town completely different from Manhattan, with friendly faces and small town charm. Her apartment is great too, except for the spiders. She meets beautiful, self possessed Sophie and starts to finally make a friend. The people in town seem afraid of Sophie. She lives in a mansion in the middle of the woods and possibly, maybe has ghosts at her house. Annie starts to wonder if she could be a witch, but that’s crazy right?

This book is so cute. Seriously, it’s a book about a witch but it is cozy and cute. It’s about friendship, finding yourself and living to make yourself happy. Also, I’m terrified of spiders but Ralph kinda has my heart🕷🖤

If you’re in the mood for witches but don’t want anything scary I would recommend this one! Loved it:)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC for review.

Happy Pub Week to Cackle- this can be picked up wherever you find your books! First off, thank you to @netgalley, @rachelharrisonsghost, and @berkleypub for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💫🕸

My thoughts: Look no further then Cackle if you are looking for a fun Halloween read. I loved how this book dipped its toe in the horror genre without being to graphic- it would be perfect for those who want to test this genre out before filling jumping in. I loved the development of Annie throughout the story and her friendship with Sophie was also fantastic. I loved that we got to see her grow after a 10 year break up (which had me rooting for her) Plus, who wouldn't love a book with Ralph, the pet spider. 🕷

After ten years with her boyfriend, Annie expected a proposal, not a breakup. Unable to afford Manhattan on her own and ready for something new, she accepts a teaching job upstate.

Although her new apartment has an alarming spider infestation, the town itself is charming with quaint shops, parks, and a farmer’s market. What’s more, Annie befriends Sophie, a beautiful, seemingly ageless woman. Not only is Sophie confident and fearless, she can bake, cook, make soap, and sew. Annie’s a bit in awe of her and just a little surprised that Sophie wants to be her friend. Yet, they spend every weekend together with Sophie encouraging Annie to forget her ex and instead focus on her own wants and needs.

Sophie seems like the perfect BFF but the other people in the town defer to her, even acting afraid at times, her opulent mansion in the woods seems out of a fairy tale, and a student who was harassing Annie happened to get sick in the middle of class after she told Sophie about his antics.

This is an ideal October read that I enjoyed for its focus on women’s independence and friendships. I also loved the epilogue and its call-backs. Annie’s self-deprecating humor was funny and relatable while Sophie’s poise and confidence were inspiring.

It wasn’t critical to the story, but I wanted to know more about the why of Annie’s situation and thought that Sophie could have been more of a mentor instead of hiding information. And while I loved the sass and power of the women, it bothered me that they were so insensitive to the people around them. I was also a little uncomfortable at how drinking excessively was normalized in the novel. None of the other reviews I’ve read have mentioned this, so I might be being oversensitive.

I had fun reading the book and couldn’t help but delight in certain moments of revenge. The book also does a lot to rehabilitate the image of spiders! 🕷

This book reminded me of a Hallmark Fall Harvest feel good movie. It did have some spooky elements but I wasn't scared or will be losing sleep. This story is about Annie who was dumped by her long term boyfriend and moves to a new town to start fresh. Along the way she tries to make friends and does a lot soul searching and reflection. For majority of the book Annie was a mess, but it was nice to see her come into her own towards the end of the book. I would have preferred reading more of the new and improved Annie, but it was still a good read.

Annie has always played it safe. After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate.

When Annie meets Sophie, they become fast friends. Sophie takes a special interest in Annie, and wants her to stop apologizing and start living for herself. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem afraid of her. Is there more than meets the eye with Sophie?

I really liked Rachel Harrison's previous book, The Return, and I had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint! Annie was looking for a fresh start and found all that and more when she took a teaching position in a small town in upstate New York. Annie was kind of a mess, but she was a fun mess and very relatable. Sophie helped Annie to start living for herself and not worry so much what other people thought about her. I loved the spooky/Halloween vibes even though this book didn't contain as much horror as The Return. There were also some funny moments that made this book really fun.

Thank you Berkley books for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Not only was this such a fun witchy read, it had such a positive message to go along with it! Honestly, this may be one of my new favorite books to read of the season! The characters are so lovable, the story line is unique and draws you right in and leaves your heart so full. It's funny with a touch of spooks. It's the perfect book for anyone to read! This comes highly recommended!

Ok, so... Cackle is a prime reason why I never write an author off after only reading one of their books. Her previous book, The Return, was just an ok read for me and I wanted to see where Cackle was going to take me. I love the title and it makes SO much sense once you get to a certain point in the book.

At first I thought this was going to be a bit annoying in the terms that the dialogue seemed weird at times and not natural. And I found the book to be just about as cheesy as Jill BUT then something just clicked and I found myself relating a ton to Annie and loving her inner monologue: "She stares at me. Seconds pass. in these seconds babies are born, people die, stars burn millions of miles away and I may or may not have let out a silent, nervous fart." And for some reason, one of my favorite lines, "Am I going to have to eat sausage in front of strangers?" 🤣 Yeah, I'd be friends with Annie for sure. Just in case her and Sophie are listening, "hi, hello, I'd like some of that tea please!"

Remember when I read Bunny and groaned about the word 'bunny' being in it so many times? That's how I felt about Sophie using the word 'pet'. UFF. That's now my least favorite term of endearment and for those who have read this already, you'll know the part where I actually cheered. 😉 But really, the star of this show is RALPH. I want to make tiny little hats for him. At the very, very least, read this book for him.

This was an amazingly entertaining read and gave me a little Drag Me to Hell vibes. A bit like a horror comedy but with a LOT of heart. Any New Yorkers want to road trip upstate? 😈