Really enjoy Mandanna and all the books I've read by her! I loved the banter, the found family, and the overall storyline. Really enjoyed it!

While highly anticipated for me, this book didn't quite meet the mark when compared to The Very Secret Society of Magical Witches. There were lots of good elements of whimsy and coziness but the plot for me was too slow and couldn't hold my attention well. The found family characters were likeable, especially the undead rooster, however forgettable. The messages in the novel were sweet although it felt forced at times, like the underlying morals were being overexplained, repetitive, and cringeworthy at times.

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a masterclass in found family. I cannot even begin to put into words how much I loved this book. The grumpy main characters were so loveable and charming. If I could move into a book, I might move into this one instead of the Shire. If you are looking for a book that feels like a hug, look no further.

This story was hilarious, sweet and filled with the best kind of found family. I absolutey adored this book. It is whimsical with talking foxes, zombie roosters and historically inaccurate knights. It has some of the best autism representation I have read in a book in a while especially in a family where (it seems, we only know for certain that his sister has autism but the way Luke is described implies he may be undiagnosed) both siblings have autism and are magical and the parents do not know how to handle them. It also has club foot representation which I have never read a book about before and it was very interesting to hear about jasmine's story.
It also has mental health representation that is done extremely well and Sera is able to help her nephew Theo with his own challenges due to her previous experience. One of my favorite things is that several of the characters had terrible families who rejected them in some way or other so they all came together through the magic of.the house into the beautiful, ridiculous family. I loved the dynamic with all of the side characters.
While this is a romance and I enjoyed Luke and Sera's journey to finding each other the plot and mystery with her magic and the found family aspect were so interesting that it did not leave a lot of room for the romance. This is not necessarily a bad thing unless you are going into this book hoping for romance forward plot which it is not. This story is led by connection which was beautiful and I absolutely loved it!

This is amazing and so much more than I expected. At its heart the book is about found family and the lengths we’ll go to protect it.
Sera was an extremely powerful witch until she performed a reanimation spell when her beloved great-aunt who died. She lost most of her magic as a result, and has been running a magical inn along with a fox and a skeleton chicken. There’s a spell that will restore her magic, but she’s unable to access it.
Luke is a historian for the, and takes care of his brilliant autistic sister. When he shows up at the Inn, he translates the spell for Sera. He falls for her but can’t take the next step.
What will happen if Sera gets her magic back? Can Sera and Luke find a way to be together?
I enjoyed this very creative and amusing book!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

honestly such a cozy magical story filled with a girl who loves her home, her magic and everything she has once loved. sera, a witch fiercely protective, loyal and loving steps up to her biggest fear. i loved many many parts of this story — the side characters, the cozy magical duel, the little sub-romance, the found family. however, the ending definitely felt rushed and the plot twist had me fiercely protective of sera. i wanted to fight more for her at the end, feeling weirdly unfinished with the way the story ended.

This was delightful. I had read Mandanna's previous witchy book and while I enjoyed it I didn't love it as much as everyone else seemed to, but since she's coming to a local store in my area I decided to give this one a chance, and I'm really glad I did. I loved our main character, and all of the side characters were also really great. Our love interest was just the sweetest, and while I did see the ending coming I still thought it was the right way to end things, and it really came full circle. I knocked this book out in like a day, and had this lovely smile on my face the entire time. It's been so long since I read the previous adult novel by Mandanna, so I can't say for sure if there are any easter eggs in there for eagle-eyed readers to find, but I really wouldn't be surprised. Everything about this book just gave me the warm fuzzies, and I will happily be telling anyone who will listen about it. I also plan to write a shelftalker for it once it comes off of our new in paperback table. I'm not very excited to meet Mandanna, and I'll be eagerly awaiting her next adult romance/fantasy. Heck, I might even check out her middle grade novels!

Thank you publisher and Netgalley for this advanced reading copy

Just like her previous book, this one is very cozy, wholesome and romantic story

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 @berkleyromance & @berkleypub 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤! #BerkleyPartner #berkley

If you’ve read 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀, you know Sangu Mandanna writes the absolute best stories surrounded by found family, magic, and slow burn romance! 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵’𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 gave all those vibes and more! The story itself starts off when Sera Swan, the most powerful witch of her generation, uses her magic to resurrect her aunt who passed unexpectedly. The spell works wonderfully and brings back both her aunt Jasmine, and a bonus surprise, their very dead and zombified Rooster, Roo-Roo. With the use of such powerful magic, Sera loses most of her magical abilities and is exiled from the British Guild of Sorcery for using unsanctioned magic. Fast forward fifteen years, Sera is running the magical inn with her aunt, Roo-Roo, a talking fox, and an endearing set of guests who found their way to the inn when they needed it the most, which is when Luke and his adorable sister Posy enter the story. With a new possibility of retuning Sera’s magic, everyone jumps in to help.
I adored everything about this story and I’m definitely ready to reread it, just to get all the wonderful whimsical and wholesome vibes again. The found family elements in this book are probably some of my favourites so far this year, with the interactions and how they support each other, it’s honestly just the greatest. The romance might have been a slow burn but it also felt natural and rewarding to the story and the needs of the individual characters! I could go on and on about this one, but in final thoughts: 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
I always enjoy a witchy tale. I loved The Very Secret Society of the Irregular Witches so I was excited for this new one. This is a second chance book but this second chance is a second chance at Magic. This is a sweet one with love, second chances and the right touch of magic.

.

In this cozy fantasy, the witch no longer has power, it is the inn itself which is magical. Sangu Mandanna has written a fantastic tale of found family and second chances. This slow burn paranormal romance has all the magic and charm that you could wish for and is sure to enchant any reader.

When she was a child, Sera cast a spell that turned her aunt's inn into a safe harbor for those who are in need. A weary traveler with no place to go may find it and stay the night. But others have stayed. After casting a forbidden spell, Sera lost almost all of her magic. Although the plot of this novel is about witches, the true magic in this story is in the found family of guests that have stayed. The author has populated the inn with quirky characters. Sera, her disabled aunt, her young cousin who has been rejected by his nonmagical parents, "an aspiring hobbit" who loves to garden and eat, a knight in armor, and a witch who is spell bound in the the body of a fox. These misfits who were never accepted by family have found a place where they can be themselves and they are loved. The author does such a great job creating this world, that the reader will find herself wishing to stay at the inn too. She also spins a great story with power struggles, and a slow burn romance. The guild has been run by the same powerful families for years All white and English. Anyone else is an interloper who is encouraged to study magic at home, instead of the elite school. It is run by a man who has more powerful magic than anyone. And with that power he now controls his world. The only one who could have challenged him would have been Sera, before she cast the spell that stole her power. When Luke takes a break from his research to find a new home for his autistic sister, he ends up at the inn. This time the inn has not only provided a place that has what someone needs, but has attracted the very person who can help Sera get what she needs. As Luke and Sera strive to create the spell which will restore her magic, they each find a different magic in store.

I was fortunate to read an advanced copy of this book provided by Berkley. I was interested in the book because I loved the author's middle grade fantasy, Vanya and the Wild Hunt which came out just a few months ago and because it includes representation of an autistic character. Luke's parents refuse to deal with their daughter's autism, and the support that she finds from found family at the inn, shows readers just how much the right environment can help an autistic child thrive. I can't wait to read the author's best selling The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches which is set in the same world, but is a completely separate story. This inclusive book includes main characters who are Indian. There is also great LGBT representation. The characters includes a lesbian love story, a gay couple with a baby and a nonbinary youngster. I can honestly recommend this novel to anyone who loves stories of found family or paranormal romance.

This was so worth the wait! A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was my most anticipated 2025 release and oh my gosh it did not disappoint! I loved every second of this book. It’s all about family and the meaning of home. Every single character had my heart especially Nicholas who is a true knight in shining armor! I’m already looking forward to an audiobook reread.

If you loved, "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" and are looking for an adorable cozy fantasy just like it, then you won't be disappointed with Sangu Mandanna's "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping"!
Sera lost her magic when she was 15 and is on a quest to figure out how to get it back, which takes all the quirky characters that are staying in the inn she runs to figure out how to do it. The found family aspect is so heartwarming and the neurodiverse representation doesn't feel stereotypical, which combines into a story that is just so sweet.

Thanks so much to @berkleypub for the free book!

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a cozy fantasy with romance elements by Sangu Mandanna.

The publication date for this book got pushed a few times, but I'm so glad the author was able to take as much time as she needed to write it. I loved it!

I followed along in my physical review copy while listening to the audiobook via my Spotify Premium subscription. (Remember, if you have Spotify Premium you have 15 hours of audiobook listening time per billing cycle!) The Narrator does a phenomenal job, especially with character voices.

Similar to her previous book that I've read, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I adored this one. I teared up several times throughout. Mandanna has such a way with words, and both of these books felt like a warm hug for me. The publisher blurb is correct in calling it "whimsical and heartwarming."

There's so much diverse representation in this book. Sera is British-Indian/Icelandic and Luke is Scottish. Both feel "othered" within the magic guild, which is majority older cis-het white men who are stuck in their ways. They both have strained (to put it lightly) relationships with their parents for various reasons. There's several queer side characters, one with a limb difference, and another character that has autism (and is nearly non-verbal).

As a neurodiverse person, I think Mandanna did a great job, especially with the descriptions and portrayals of depression in this book.

I love a good found family trope, and this book has it in spades. The inn will only allow people who really need a room/safe place rest to find it. There are also a few lodgers who basically end up staying there indefinitely for various reasons, including:

- Sera's great-aunt Jasmine (who basically raised her, and whom she resurrected)
- Clemmie (a witch who accidentally transformed herself into a fox)
- Matilda (a middle-aged lady who loves gardening, chickens, and goats)
- Nicholas of Mayfair (who works as a knight at a medieval faire and really leans into it)
- Theo (Sera's young cousin from Reykjavik)
- and Roo-Roo (a zombie rooster that Sera accidentally called into being)

Rep: sapphic and gay side characters, autistic side character (+ their caregiver), side character with a limb difference (club foot)

CW: realistic descriptions of depression and identity crisis, parental abandonment (mostly prior to book, but mentioned throughout), hazing, verbal and magical abuse

4.5 ⭐️
This book is a hug for your heart. If you enjoyed The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches, you’ll love this book just as much, if not more! I thoroughly enjoyed the wholesome found family, kooky hijinks, and the cutest, most lovely autumn/winter countryside setting. I sometimes have a hard time with cozy fantasy books being too fluffy to the point of being ridiculous, but A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is just emotionally impactful enough and the romance is just adult (and spicy) enough to hold real weight. Love!!

Awww - I just love this book!! It's whimsical, funny, and full of so much heart.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain...until she broke some major rules to save a loved one and lost most of her magic. Now she's helping her great-aunt Jasmine run a quirky enchanted inn in Lancashire - complete with a talking fox, oddball magical guests, and a whole lot of chaos. Just when she thinks her future is lost, a mysterious magical historian named Luke Larsen shows up, and together they begin to unravel the spell that could bring her powers back.

I couldn't have loved these characters more. This author has such a gift for creating the most unique and special groupings of people (and animals), and the found family theme is incredibly strong. The inn feels like a place you'd want to visit - even if it means turning into a teacup for a few minutes. (smile)

If you love strong-willed witches, whimsical magic, and stories where misfits come together to create something beautiful - this is your next read.

HAPPY PUB DAY to A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna ✨☕️🌿

▫️Genre: Whimsical Fantasy
▫️Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5)
▫️Pub day: 7/15/25 (today!)
#gifted @berkleypub tysm

Delighted to report that, A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping, was another cozy and warm read by Mandanna! 🥹 Two years ago I read, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by this author and I LOVED IT. It was such an easy five-star for me and it’s still a book I recommend come fall. 🍂

AWGTMI was just as charming, magical, and full of enchanting misfit characters. The found family feels were beaming! 🫶 It was easy to fall in love with all the characters, but Sera’s loss of magic made her character perfectly flawed. Clemmie the fox was definitely so darling lol! 🦊 But one of my favorite things about this novel was the autistic rep! As someone who works with autistic children everyday, I thought the author did a wonderful job with sweet Posy! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Authors, please keep including autism in fiction!! It’s much needed 👏♾️

The first half of the novel was stronger for me than the second half. I had the best time exploring life at the inn, breaking a magical curse, and finding a little romance along the way 😘 Lmk if you plan on reading this one! A great early fall read.

A skeletal rooster, troublesome fox, loyal knight, aspiring hobbit, and an icy hot historian all walk into a magical inn.. Cue the chaos.

Sera has unfortunately lost her magic, but is somehow holding everything together. She is so fiercely protective of the people living in her magical inn, though they are sometimes a bit much. Luke is a grump, he is cautious and is detached from many things in life outside of work and his younger sister Posy. He has always felt the need to be on guard. That is until he meets Sera and he eventually finds himself wanting to be part of her oddball family. He reluctantly helps in her quest to get her magic back and their romance slooooowly blossoms from there (the stolen glances, hello??).

In all seriousness, it was so comforting to be in a house full of people, everyone doing their own thing but together. This is one of my favorite things in the world and is such a treat to find people that you just want to be with even if you’re not all doing the same thing. The found family is what really kept me engaged. I wanted to know what everyone was up to and where their stories would go.

I love the way Mandanna teaches us how to navigate our emotions; that it’s ok to feel big feelings or it’s ok to feel differently from others in the same situation, and ultimately it’s ok to ask for help. She teaches us it’s ok to be unapologetically ourselves in the face of those we fear. I know this isn’t for everyone, but it hit me when I needed it.

Overall I loved the found family, the slow burn romance, the diverse representation, the laugh out loud humor and sass.. Sangu Mandanna is an auto buy author.

Nobody does cozy like Sangu Mandanna! Ever since reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches I have been waiting so impatiently for this next book, and it was everything I had hoped for!

This found family cozy fantasy had me grinning from beginning to end. I love the cozy vibe and quirky characters that include a zombie chicken and a witch who has trapped herself as a fox and can’t undo the spell. There is a cute romance that is just enough without taking over the plot.

The witch’s guide to magical Innkeeping will definitely be one of my best books of the year. It’s a great reminder of what is really important in life, being yourself, and doing what makes you happy.

I enjoyed the coziness of this fantasy.’ The zombie rooster was my favorite character. The found family and romance was also lovely.