This book was darling. There’s been so many witchy romances and this is one is the best I’ve read. The full cast of characters are well developed and charming. The found family trope in this book is like getting a big hug. The arc of the plot is perfectly paced. I think that the reason so many witchy romances aren’t satisfying is because the pacing with the world building is often not done well. But Sangu Mandanna nailed it. The magic system makes sense, but I hope there’s another book to expand on it. The plot is perfectly wrapped up, I wished for more because I was enjoying it so much, but I was perfectly satisfied with the ending. Also, a grumpy / sunshine romance never hurts!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! It gave us all the feels and warmth and was such a comforting book to read. I will most definitely be purchasing a copy for my personal collection when this gets released.

I thought this was a cute story. Could have used a bit more spice in my opinion, but still a great little story. Will be purchasing for the collection.

This was a really sweet and fun book - heartwarming, charming, and really well written characters. To be honest my main complaint about the book is that it ended too quickly - it almost would have been better as a trilogy - really let you build out the characters, and story, and ending. Sincerely a delight of a book though, exactly what I've been wanting to read.

3.5. While there were whole moments that are perfectly charming, the lack of tension made the narrative...well there just isn't much spice. The characters, while pretty well drawn, are all basically reasonable. There isn't anyone to dislike or thwart...there just isn't much to keep this in my thoughts when the pages are done.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun read despite it involving some heavy topics at times. It was funny and heartwarming while it also made me tear up at certain points.

The characters were my favorite part, by far. I felt like they were all very well written. Despite the number of characters in the book, I felt like they were all fully fleshed out. From the main character Mika, to grumpy Jamie, to the adorable children, to meddling Ian and the others at Nowhere House, I grew fond of them all.

Mika though, was my favorite character. I loved that despite all she'd been through in life, she chose to face it head-on with a sunny personality. And yet, she wasn't a flat character; she showed other emotions, too. It was amazing to get to see her relationships with everyone at Nowhere House evolve as she got to know them. Her interactions with the children were adorable. Her changing relationship with Jamie from enemies to friends to possibly something more made it hard to put the book down.

My only complaint is the ending. First, this book ended far too quickly. It felt like everything got resolved and wrapped up in only the last 5% of the book, which seemed far too quick after the tension was built up over the entire book. Second, I felt like the ending was too easy. After everything the characters went through, it was a bit of a letdown for all of the pieces to fall into place conveniently and predictably at the end.

Overall, though, this was a fun read that I definitely recommend!

Overall, a very charming book. I would recommend to readers that enjoy this genre. I found my connection to the main character a little light but over time in increased. Thank you for the advanced reader copy! I am sure readers will enjoy this story!

This is a charming read! It's a unique take on the life of the witch. It's lighthearted and even comical, which was just what I needed in a book. I really enjoyed Mika. There's a romance angle, but it's not overpowering. Mika's desire to find her place and be accepted may resonate with readers.

Mika is a witch. Like all witches she keeps herself hidden because she knows how dangerous it is for anyone to find out. She decides to hide in plain site: she has an Instagram account where she shows off her witchy tricks. She’s in love with magic and she knows no one will believe it is real. Out of nowhere an ad appeared in her Instagram account: “Witch Wanted.” As she’s between jobs and housing she decides to investigate.

Jamie is a librarian, albeit a grumpy one, described as devastatingly handsome. He lives and works at Nowhere House along with three other adults, Ian, Ken and Lucie, who care for three little witchy girls. Now those girls need a teacher to teach them how to fit in ‘out there’ in the larger world. Jamie is mistrustful at first but watches as Mika begin to help the girls and to bond with them. He comes to believe in her… and more.

But the number one rule of being a witch is that no one can find out and the number one rule of Mika is to move on before anyone can get to know her- for fear of rejection. She’s never been loved, as a child or adult. But Nowhere House begins to feel like Home, a place she’s never had before. And Jamie begins to feel like a Love and she knows where that leads. But there is a powerful secret brewing in Nowhere House. It is a secret that feels like an awful betrayal to Mika and may blow everything apart. Is there anywhere and anyone that can be love and home for Mika and the rest of the irregular crew?

This book is full of secondary characters that seem so real and so dear. The girls run the gamut of accepting Mika and of displaying their magic. They are sweet and full of mischief and bickering. Ian and Ken are octogenarian husbands. Quiet Ken is a botanist while Ian is a former Stage Actor and is constantly throwing Jamie and Mika together in between knitting flamingo pink scarves for Ken.

I look forward to recommending this book to my patrons- an adult book by this well loved YA and JF writer.

What a fun and delightful book! I loved the characters, the slow-burn romance was spot on, and the magic was so fun! Highly recommend.

This is truly one of the coziest books that I've ever read. There was a whole world inside this book, and every moment of it was comforting, sweet, and delightful.

A lonely witch joins a family of kindred spirits when she’s hired to tutor three young girls at a secluded house by the sea. “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” is a cozy, relaxing read, like a warm hug or a nice cup of tea. I fell in love with the misfit residents of Nowhere House and was genuinely sad when I got to the end of their story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This was my first book by Sangu Mandanna and I am now a huge fan. Absolutely delightful book!

Mika Moon is a 31 year old orphaned witch who moves around frequently and doesn’t put down roots. Witches in Britain are encouraged to not spend time together so as to not bring attention to themselves. She is contacted by the guardians of three young witches to help train the girls.

I loved the characters—Ian, Ken, Jamie, and Mika especially. I laughed out loud multiple times. I highly recommend getting lost for several hours at Nowhere House.

I hate sounding like a cliché, but this book is a warm hug. Highly recommended for readers looking for witchy fiction with a strong romantic arc (there is on-page sex), found family feels, and English countryside coziness.

I've adored Sangu's previous books, but she hit the ball out of the park for her adult debut (please, please write more adult romance!).

My one hesitation: all three orphaned witches are BIPOC (Palestinian, Black, and Vietnamese) and the found family in question is white, with the exception of Mika (Indian ancestry) and Ken (Japanese ancestry). When I consider the sad circumstances of how the children were brought to Nowhere House (which I won't spoil, but they were not born in England and I felt uneasy that they were removed from their home country), it makes me wish the girls had more on-page interaction with other BIPOC witches in the society. We see a glimmer of this interaction in the epilogue, but I wanted more. The Nowhere House plot setup makes perfect sense considering the witch worldbuilding rules, but still. Something to think about.



Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The author said “ I wanted to work on was a warm, cozy, romantic story about magic and family.”. They nailed it. A charming well written story about choosing your family, going the extra step from nice to kind and taking a risk for love.

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

I really loved this and so hope there will be more by this author as I am looking forward to it. Well done📖📖📖

I loved this read. It was a new take on the life of a witch. I enjoyed the light and even comical aspects of the story. I could see it playing out as a movie in my head and can't wait for my readers to have the chance to enjoy it!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna, is about one of the few witches in Britain, who lays low except for her hobby of posting videos online “pretending” to be a Witch. After someone sees through her pretending, she ends up traveling to a remote location to teach 3 witchlings how to control their magic—romance, danger, and hilarity ensue.
I loved this book! So unique, so truly magical. The lead character, Mika Moon, was so well-written and fully-rounded, I truly forgot I was reading a book at times, and the setting was so alive and vivid, particularly Nowhere House, where much of the action happens. I loved the themes of embracing your “different-ness”, and chosen family. This book is really something special, and I look forward to looking up the author’s other works.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Magic(both literal and figurative)in their reading.
I give this book a well-earned 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thanks very much to Berkley and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. All Opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheVerySecretSocietyofIrregularWitches

Charming and insightful, this books shines with magic! The story tackles loneliness, being different, unexpected love, and finding your chosen family. A book of pluck and comfort when you need something to read (and re-read) that will lift your spirits. Highly recommended for people who loved Mary Poppins and Practical Magic. Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me with this early manuscript in exchange for an honest review.