This is a delightful page-turner that is full of wit, wisdom and witchcraft. It's not spooky but more like a Hallmark movie. I adored it,

I am not sure that this book was exactly what I thought it was going to be. I thought that it was billed as a slightly scary/spooky book but I didn't feel that was the case at all. It is such a positive story though, so that is why I am giving it some leeway.

2.5 I liked this book up until the end which I found deeply dissatisfying. She became everything she didn’t like, and I don’t feel like her transformation was given any context or thought.

I don't typically read novels with a supernatural element, but this book may change that for me. I love the story of a woman coming into her own, but with the addition of a beautiful witch
... the book becomes magical. (Lame joke, I know). I read this book in a day and a half, which is quickly for me. I absolutely cannot wait to sell this book
(My mom and sister have literally pre-ordered it since they know how much I loved it). I cannot wait to look for more books in this genre, and to expand my horizons a bit more towards the supernatural. 5 stars, easily.

This book is adorable. It’s like a Disney version of The Craft. It’s a perfect cozy story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It brought a smile to my face numerous times. If you’re looking for something seasonal but not scary, this is your book. It’s hard to classify but I think people will love this one.

Annie is a good person, she’s nice and polite. After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend she moves out of NY and upstate to a small town called Rowan. People are friendly and warm, the town is quaint and beautiful, what’s not to like? Annie then meets Sophie, who quickly becomes her best friend. Sophie is charming, beautiful and mysterious. Annie can’t help but just gravitate towards Sophie. Once she realizes that the other people in town don’t feel the same way about Sophie, she starts to rethink things. Sophie is ageless, her mansion is perfect, and she seems to have an interesting power… What’s the deal with Sophie?

Annie’s boyfriend of 10 years just dumped her. She can’t afford to live in Manhattan on her salary, so she takes a teaching job in upstate NY. The other teachers are standoffish, but Sophie, a town resident, is really kind, and reaches out to Annie. She knows there’s something different about Sophie; why does everyone in town seem to fear her? When an obnoxious student becomes horribly ill in class after Sophie offers to curse him, Annie really starts to wonder. What was in that nasty tea Sophie gave her to drink? And is Sophie’s beautiful home haunted? But Sophie is so kind and encouraging, always helping to build Annie’s confidence. I enjoyed this unique, well written novel, with humor, great characters, and a bit of magic. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review an ARC.

What a refreshing story! I didn't know what to expect because the fabulous cover is so unprecedented -- most cover art gives you a clue as to what type of story, what tone, etc lies within. This story doesn't fit any particular mold though. It's not quite fun and frothy, but there's that element to it with the strong female friendship line. It's more of a dark humor. Also, there's sort of a hint that romance will happen lingering around in the background -- but it ends up being a very (very!) anti-romantic book. The ending is not what you would expect. The small-town setting with the enchanted forest at the edge is WONDERFUL and almost has a cozy feel -- so I will definitely recommend to people looking for a seasonal autumn read. The magic is fun but also scary and gross at times -- there's definitely a spookiness to this whole book. I can easily recommend it to cozy readers who don't mind scary stuff, and fantasy readers who are ok with a mostly realistic setting. BUT the most fun people to recommend this to will be the people who love stories about witches, and there are lots of patrons out there with that preference! They will LOVE these characters, and this story. Utterly original. Thank you!!!

I had this book on my TBR for October and was thrilled when I was approved for an ARC in mid-September. Spooky season, here we come, right?

I’d say Cackle has more of a fantasy vibe than even horror lite. It was a cute read that I enjoyed, and I was entertained for a good bit of it, but I’m sorry to say this one was not what I was hoping for.

With that said, my opinion might differ vastly from yours, so if you like fantasy, light witchy reads, I’d definitely give Cackle a try.

My thanks to Berkley Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its October 5 publication date.

I loved this one; I haven't read anything quite like it and found it funny, scary, and touching. The characters were a lot of fun, and I really liked the message. Recommend if you're looking for a fun, witchy, fall read.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book a long time to get better but it never lived up to my expectations. I just got tired of Annie feeling sorry for herself and doing nothing about it.

<b>Thank you to Berkley Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release October 5, 2021.</b>

<i>"It would be just my luck, wouldn’t it? To move to this charming, picturesque small town and befriend an impossibly cool, glamorous stranger, only to find out that I’ve wandered into some kind of creepy Halloween town with haunted houses and curses."</i>

The dichotomy of that description is perfectly balanced throughout this book, and I occasionally reflected, while I was reading, on how well the author managed to keep the setting and atmosphere both enchanting and menacing in equal measure. And part of me wanted to open this review by saying, "Oh, Annie, if you only knew," but the most interesting thing about this book is that Annie does know, or at the very least suspects, that something darkly magical is going on nearly the whole time.

To be completely honest, I found Annie very relatable, from her despair at her relationship ending to her denial that there was something unsettling about her new friend and, really, to her sense of humor and use of it as coping mechanism to deal with her situation. I don't know what all of that says about me—or rather, I don't actually want to examine that, just like Annie doesn't want to think too closely about the way the townspeople are so deferential to her new best friend.

And scared of her. And wary of her. And of what she might be doing to Annie. But all Sophie is doing is teaching Annie to live life to the fullest, to forget about her ex—though Sophie's pretty forceful about it, to put it mildly—and to embrace the burgeoning power inside her. (As a side note: the sudden development of magic in Annie is never really explained, although we do see a sort of kick-starting of it that's a lot to take in. 'Course, it's a metaphor, so we don't really need to have it explained.)

I'll admit, I have the biggest crush on Sophie, even though she is everything the people of Rowan say she is and more. Her relationship with Annie is unhealthy, yet intense and affirming, and I really liked that there were these two sides to her; it just makes sense, given her character. She's aspirational, if not inspirational, and I was utterly obsessed with her confidence and her propensity for making slightly worrying jokes-that-weren't-jokes. As is the case with Annie, she's everything I wish I could be (enjoyment of being casually cruel aside), and she's such a charming wish-fulfillment character that it's impossible not to be drawn in by her charisma. She has the thing we want: freedom, and a way to get it. Who wouldn't be lured into the woods by that?

There were just two things I didn't particularly care for, or thought could have been done better. The first is the amount of spiders. This is just a personal thing; I have a huge phobia and it make's my scalp itch, but reading about them isn't as bad as seeing them. That being said, I will reluctantly admit that Ralph is cute (again, there's that creepy-whimsy aspect) and does some cute things, so he is one of maybe three spiders I wouldn't squash on sight. (Three is pushing it.) The other bit of the book that stood out to me in a not-so-great light was just how fixated Annie was on maintaining a friendship with her ex, who really, truly sucked as far as I can tell; I was right there with Sophie, begging her not to contact him.

But I'm not entirely sure if, without that, we would have gotten what I thought was the most horrific part of the book (which is more cozy horror than anything else; thank you to the reviewer who likened it to a cozy mystery's treatment of murder) and it is, shockingly, not a supernatural moment at all. Not really. The scariest part of the book is the fear that Annie is going to choose the mundane thing she has wanted for so long, and I was honestly so worried that she would follow through. Because all I really wanted was for Annie and Sophie to be pals and run around the forest and living their best witchy cottagecore lives.

Guess which one of us got her wish, and only had to use the magic of reading and not the magic of bones? Overall, a cozy and creepy book that is perfect to curl up with at any time in autumn. Preferably with hot apple cider and candy apples that you made with your witchy BFF.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

Annie is plain, mundane and has just been dumped. A more accurate description of Annie would be to call her a doormat. At least that is what she was to Sam all these years before he dumped her for wearing pajamas too much during their relationship. So what does Annie do? She takes a new teaching position in upstate NewYork in a town called Rowan. Rowan is quaint, pristine and revolves around one woman - Sophie. Sophie is exotic, mysterious and singled out Annie to be her new best friend. However, the town has conceptions of Sophie as a witch and the more time Annie hangs out with Sophie the more she realizes her life starting to change either for the best or darkest.

This was a cute, quick read. It's has very modern language but isn't over the top chatty or immature like some books about women are. The concept of Annie finding herself and becoming "awaken" can be seen as a woman trying to find herself after a breakup. It highlights the whole process of being someone else for someone yet realizing that that's not who you are. Her whole breakup comes full circle and she finds herself even though she stumbles throughout the whole journey. Definitely a chick book, but it was entertaining and I don't regret reading it.

Rate:

3.75/5
Fiction
Author: Rachel Harrison
Pages: 304

This was so much fun! Not at all what I expected because The Return (author's previous book) was dark asf and Cackle was more like a slightly dark finding-yourself story.
Like how Stella got her groove back, but with a witch bff. Or Cinderella with spiders and if she said "nah, I'm good" to the prince.

The spiders, or one spider named Ralph was favorite part about this book ..well, Ralph and imagining the costume dresses.
Swoon.

Read this if you want to have a light spooky read with feminist style. Just make sure you've got some wine and whiskey on hand and cake because this book has a lot of that.

OMG I loved this book. The characters are great and well developed, The story is fun and a little disturbing at times. Read this book

Cackle was a fun little cozy story. Perfect for Halloween, not too spooky or creepy and just enough magical twinkle to make it fun.

"A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously 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. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. 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…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?"

It's the most witchiest time of the year!

While Cackle by Rachel Harrison is technically a paranormal horror novel this one is not overly scary horror but more on the humorous side. There are a few moments that could give a reader chills but this is more like a chicklit paranormal. Think of what a cozy mystery does with a murder instead of a darker thriller and then you’ll be more on the right track of what you may find in Cackle.

At only thirty Annie has spent the last ten years of her life with the man she thought she would be with forever living in Manhattan. Now though Annie finds herself alone and packing her things to move upstate and begin her life again. Annie has taken a teaching position in a charming little town and is moving in a quaint little apartment on her on for the first time in years.

After arriving in the town the only thing Annie can complain about are the spiders she has to keep shooing away. The residents are all so welcoming wherever she goes in the new town but Annie does find herself a little lonely. Then Annie meets the mysterious Sophie. Sophie just has the personality that draws Annie into her world and makes her feel special, so what if the others in town seem a little afraid of her and she lives in that spooky old mansion.

Being someone that absolutely adores books that are just a little bit out of the ordinary and don’t fall into the same old mold following a singular genre Cackle was right up my alley. This one has a little bit of several genres thrown in and mixed together, perhaps in a witches cauldron, and I loved every minute of it. I will certainly never look at a spider the same way again or think twice about that quick swim. At the core of this one though was character growth and discovery magically molded in a humorous but slightly spooky package just in time for the Halloween season.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I totally confess that I picked this book solely on the cover and title. Although reading the blurb did seal the deal. But I have a feeling that the cover and title will sell this book more than anything else. But cover aside this was a great read and I am so glad that it did catch my attention.

Annie finds herself in a place that any woman will recognize and relate to. I loved her journey throughout this book and how much she grew. She started out being timid and so unsure of herself but by the end she is glorious. There were a few minutes when I did worry about her though, and thought things were not going to go her way, but there is a happy, yet somewhat creepy ending to this tale.

Sophie, on the other hand, was at times hard to like. She was both lovely and scary at the same time. I thought she pushed Annie a little to hard at times, and I really didn’t like her condescending tone at others, but I can’t argue with her results.

I have to give a little shout out to Ralph, the spider and Annie’s sort of familiar. I loved him, and I am afraid to admit that I found him a bit adorable. (In real life I am somewhat afraid of large hairy spiders, so to admit that I liked Ralph is a surprise to me.) He certainly steals a few scenes and I think this would have been a much darker book without him.

The story is well done, although there were some issues with pacing and slow sections. It is a really good story about a witch, but it is also about self-empowerment and self love. The magical element is there, but it does not overpower the story, but instead enhances it. The setting of a small town was also perfect for the story and the woods that surround Sophie’s house totally made it that much more creepier. The ending of the story does get pretty creepy, but on the whole, it was a dark comedy with a really good message.

If your book club is looking for a witchy story that is dark, creepy and yet has some moments of humor, this is one you should consider. There is a lot to sink your teeth into and discuss with this one.

A wonderful mix of paranormal and spook. Rachel Harrison has created a wonderful witchy story for the era.

Annie is a mess. I could really feel that from the beginning. Her relationship with her boyfriend wasn't really even a relationship. It was more of a roommate situation, but Annie never admitted to herself that things were over. When things get worse, Annie moves herself to a small village upstate to have a fresh start, but strange things keep happening.

Sophie only wants someone who can understand her, and she thinks she found that in Annie. All she has to do is convince Annie that her ex boyfriend isn't worth the effort.

The interactions between Annie and Sophie are odd and cringe worthy at times, but they really set the story up for some wonderful conversations toward the end. Also, did I detect a little bit of a love interest between the two of them? Didn't see that coming.

All together, a wonderfully spooky read for the coming Halloween season.

My review will be live on my blog Book Confessions on 9-30-21.

Darkly funny and just a little creepy, Cackle is a delightful feminist witchy treat. Annie, devastated by a break up, relocates from NYC to a charming upstate town. She is immediately taken up by Sophie, a devastatingly beautiful woman who lives in a mansion in the woods. The locals all treat Sophie like a Queen they are terrified of and she has so many spider friends that Annie is put on her guard. Sophie, however, treats Annie like gold and only seems to be encouraging her to be her best self. Should Annie trust her? I can’t wait to recommend this - I read it straight through.