This story was like a warm blanket of coziness with a bit of whimsical and quirkiness sprinkled throughout.

Sangu Mandanna is back with another heartwarming and humorous romance that will make you laugh, smile and laugh some more. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping tells the magical tale of Sera Swan and a menagerie of lovable, yet eccentric, cast of characters (and even a zombie rooster thrown in to keep it interesting).

Overall, this book was a cozy, heartwarming book. This book would be perfect for a quintessential cool autumn night wrapped in a blanket while drinking a hot beverage. It was a 4 star read (I rarely give 5 stars, and this one was pretty close). If you are looking for your next cozy romance, you definitely need to pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Sera Swan used to be a powerful witch. But when her beloved great-aunt suddenly died, 15-year-old Sera risked it all to resurrect her. Her great-aunt came back to life, but the spell was so powerful that Sera ended up losing most of her magic. The forbidden resurrection spell also led to Sera's expulsion from the guild. As it turns out, the answer to regaining her magic lies within the guild's library, to which she no longer has access.

Now, at 30 years of age, a grumpy Sera manages the family inn with her great-aunt. The inn itself is enchanted and its occupants are just as quirky as the magic woven into the very bones of the house. We have a talking fox, a resurrected rooster, a knight, and a wannabe farmer. And now, Luke Larsen, an icy magical historian, takes up residence at the inn with his younger sister, Posy. And Luke might just have the key to unlocking the spell Sera needs to regain her magic.

I absolutely love Sangu Mandanna's cozy witchy books. I love the way she writes about magic and she is especially good at writing found families. I fell in love with the magical inn and its quirky inhabitants. I laughed so much at their shenanigans. The romance between Sera and Luke was very sweet and swoony, a slow burn with just the right amount of unresolved tension. I also had a lot of fun deciphering the spell along with Sera. I love this magical world that the author has built. It took me a week to finish this book simply because I did not want to leave this cozy and magical universe. I wish I could just live at the inn with Sera and the others.

If you're looking for a cozy paranormal romance, then look no further. If you loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, then you will most definitely love A Witch's Guide to Magical Inkeeping. I hope the author keeps writing more magical witchy books!

I just finished A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. I received a free eARC from NetGalley.

Sera Swan is the strongest witch in her generation. Lauded for her skills, trained at an elite institution, there is a consensus that she is the future of Magic. That is, until her Aunt Jasmine dies and she loses most of her magic doing an illegal resurrection spell. Expelled from the witch community, Sera has accepted her fate as the keeper of an inn that she uses her scant magic to take care of. When she comes across a spell that can restore her magic, and an old acquaintance from her past (who just so happens to be a magic historian capable of translating said spell) Sera allows herself to hope that her magic can be restored. However, there are forces bigger than her that would happily see her fail, and remain unchallenged as the most powerful magician in the country.

I loved this book. I read it pretty much in one sitting. Sera is such an interesting main character-- she is loving and stern, sad and hopeful, and unshakable in her commitment to those she loves. The entire novel is her journey to finding her magic, and the people, places, and things that define who she is. It's not just Sera though-- Mandanna builds a completely lived in world. The characters have depth, range, and in such a small amount of time she makes us understand them so well. She also does love herself a gruff, emotionally avoidant, studious love interest-- and it works. With a broad range of diverse characters and a universal message of found family-- read this if you want a warm hug and to feel like the world is a little better than it is.

HOLY COW this book! Wow. I couldn't put it down, I read it in 24 hours. I remember liking The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so I felt confident I would enjoy this one, too. But it blew me out of the water!

I couldn't get enough of any of the characters. From the skeleton rooster to the grannies in love, each character provided something specific to the story and brought their own sense of heart and passion to the story. I absolutely loved the Autism representation, and appreciated all of the ways that the residents of Batty Hole came around Posy to accommodate her needs without a second thought.

I looooved Sera and Luke's relationship. A lot of times I may like characters on their own, but not together, or I like them together, but not necessarily who they are on their own. That wasn't the case here. I loved each of them individually, and even more together.

This will absolutely be a go-to, cozy reread for me anytime I need something to make me feel sparkly inside.

This was such a cute and cozy read! Exactly what I needed to beat the heat of summer. This book felt like stepping into a crisp autumn day with a cup of tea.

Sangu Mandanna, my beloved <3

I have to be honest and say I only read half because I was loving it so much, and I decided I wanted a physical copy to re-read and finish during Autumn. But wow, Sangu has absolutely done it again, and I think I may even like this one more?!?!? (Coming from someone whose favourite romance book of all time is The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches)

Sera Swan, a 13-year-old witch prodigy, was once considered one of Britain’s most powerful witches while training at the Guild. However, after casting a forbidden resurrection spell to save her Aunt, she lost nearly all her magic and was exiled from the Guild. Forced to leave, she returned to her family’s enchanted inn, the Batty Hole, a warm, magical refuge for misfits.

Now, years later, Sera manages the inn using the little magic she has left, all the while longing to regain her lost powers. When she uncovers a mysterious spell that might restore her magic, she partners with Luke, a reserved magical historian, embarking on a journey filled with healing, magic, and unexpected emotions.

The Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a cozy, charming fantasy featuring a whimsical inn, quirky characters, and heartfelt themes of healing, found family, and second chances. The romance unfolds slowly and sweetly, the writing sparkles with wit, and the story celebrates diverse representation. It’s perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

I loved it!

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program, all opinions are my own.

This book was the cozy hug I needed. Sera lost most of her magic when she cast a spell to save her beloved Aunt Jasmine. Sera is always sacrificing and taking care of others, despite the grumpy facade she puts on. She helps Jasmine run the Batty Hole Inn (great and appropriate name by the way), where people who need a comfortable and safe place to stay always find one for as long as they need. Together they have built a wonderful found family with a skeleton chicken, a talking fox, a knight, and a quirky gardener among others. When an old friend gives Sera the key to gaining her magic back, it just so happens that Luke Larsen is the only one who can help her translate the spell and he and his sister happened to show up at the inn shortly after the spell lands in Sera's hands. Coincidence? I think not! Luke much like Sera will do anything to take care of his sister Posy and the people who mean something to him, but he has spent years building walls and conforming to the rules of magical society. He wants nothing to do with the shenanigans that make up the inn, but soon realizes that it might be what is best for Posy and maybe for himself.

I absolutely loved the dynamics of the Inn and Sera's family and friends. While I don't run an inn, I related to her so well with taking care of the people around me. I wish I could magic all the laundry away and make my appliances more efficient with magic. I really loved that we got to see her both with an without magic in the book on her journey of self discovery. Sera and Luke's romance was super slow burn, but they were really cute together. Every character was so lovable and while there were big conversations on big topics, at the end of the day they just wanted to be near each other The characters were wonderful, the messages this book holds are even more wonderful, and I delighted in every moment spent within the pages of this book!

🦊 3.5 Stars 🦊

I read Sangu Mandanna ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ last year and LOVED it - it was one of my favorite reads of 2024… so obviously this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025.

And, once again, Mandanna nails the cozy setting and loveable characters in this.

I would love to live in this inn. Who wouldn’t want to curl up on the couch and read a book with some boozy coffee or tea, chat with a talking fox, and enjoy all the magic and whimsy around you?!

It passes the vibe check.

However… I just didn’t love the ending in this one. If the last 20 pages of this were a little different this would probably be another 5 star read for me.

RATING: 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

PUB DATE: July 15, 2025

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: Sera’s late night cookies and peaches concoction - I topped mine with cool whip instead of double cream and it was delicious

“Sera stirred a splash of rum into the condensed milk, drowned the sliced peaches and broken biscuits in it, and found some double cream in the fridge to pour over the top.
‘And now,’ she said triumphantly, holding out a spoon, ‘we get to eat it.'”

TRIGGERS: animal death, abandonment, dying/death, depression, ableism, emotional abuse

brilliant and heartwarming, mandanna does it again.

the whimsical cast of misfit characters finding themselves under the dilapidated roof of a magical inn captures your heart nearly immediately. the author has a way of jumping through time to give you the history of her characters as well as furthering a plot line to engage your curiosity throughout.

the depictions of grief and longing were particularly effective and how these themes showed up for every character was endearing, i found myself unexpectedly tearing up.

the critique i had was wishing the author sat with some more of the character backstories she introduced. some passed so quickly it made it hard to understand the purpose, and some left you questioning and wanting more as the book progressed.

this was the cozy cheesy romantic book i was seeking, while also being a heartwarming and fun take on found family. i can’t wait to read more from this author!

I absolutely adored this. It was lush with magical fun and low stakes political intrigue. I was hooked from page one of this book. Its start was just absurd but in the best and most fun way. I had to keep reading, to understand what or why or how this happened--how did Sera have a decomposed, skeletal rooster and how was Clemmie a fox?--to figure it out. I was totally enveloped by the warmest circle of friends and adoptive family with a dash of a sizzling romance. I worried I would get bored but the pacing never wavered. This book moved so quickly--I started it and seemingly am somehow already at 25%, then I'm almost done. The writing was the kind of beautiful yet succinct writing I enjoy. I loved the development of all of the characters as well.

This book has some fantastic representation: physical disability rep, a queer side couple, a southeast Asian fmc, and a side character with autism. I will say that there was a small part of the autism rep where "pure" was used as describing her actions and personally I just really hate when pure/innocent is used in connection to autistic people. It feels a little infantilizing and unfortunately this did have that, but it was only once and I can clearly tell it was not the author's intention for it to be anything but lighthearted and "pure".

The messages in this book were so beautiful to read. For Sera, for Luke, for Clemmie, for Jasmine. Everybody had a moment where they let go of that ghost on their back and it was so heartwarming to see them figure it out. They all truly loved each other so much and it just felt like a family you want to be a part of immediately. This is the perfect book for fall and winter (since it takes place over winter) when you need some sunshine to warm you up. The setting was just so dreamy, especially having just finished rewatching LoTR for the hundredth time (I cry) I was definitely in my cottagecore vibe.

Also, I would die for Nicholas.

Thank you to Berkley for an early review copy.

After the massive success of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches", readers will be excited for Sangu Madanna's next book. This follows Sera, a witch, who lost her magic bringing her aunt back from the dead. After 15 years, she's finally given the key to restoring her magic, and the visiting historian, Luke, might be the key in interpreting the spell. This book is a delight with a magical inn, talking fox, and an endearing found family.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping follows Sara who used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. One day she brings her great aunt Jasmine back from the dead. That changes everything. She is exiled from the Guild and no longer has much magic. Sara now helps Jasmine run an inn. She soon finds out that there might be a spell to help her get her magic back. But there’s just one problem she doesn’t know how to do it. Right when she thinks she is out of luck Luke shows up. He is a magic historian and knows how to get the spell to work. He agrees to help Sara. Will Luke helping Sara lead to something more?

Happy summerween!!! I was so excited to read this one because I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I did like that book more. But I also really enjoyed this one. I did think this book lacked romance. I thought Luke and Sara were so cute. But the romance wasn’t really there until the book almost ended. However, I didn’t really care too much about the romance. I loved the found family aspect of the book. I thought this book was just so cute and cozy. I will say I did have to start it three times. I thought the book started off a bit confusing. Just a lot of information being thrown at once and it was a little hard to follow. But once I really got into it I loved the story. I highly suggest this one.

Thank you so much Berkley for the ARC of this book. This comes out July 15!

Thank you Berkley for the eARC and PRH Audio for the free audiobook.

A whimsical and heartwarming cozy fantasy about a witch trying to get her magical powers back and her life on track.

Finally, this long anticipated story from Sangu Mandanna is here! I loved Mandanna’s previous novel. And while the tone is a little darker, I absolutely adored the heartfelt found family and enchanting setting.

Luke and Sera’s opposites attract, slow burn romance simmers in the background. There is a bit of romantic tension. Yet, the surrounding cast of characters stole the show for me. 🥹🥰

Read if you enjoy:
🦊 found family
🍄 emotional warmth
🐐 magical mishaps
🔑 eccentric characters
🐓 slow burn romance
☕️ personal growth

My rating: 4.5⭐️

After reading and absolutely loving The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I had high hopes heading into this book. Thankfully, this was everything I was hoping it’d be!

This was the epitome of a cozy read. We have an old, enchanted inn setting filled with all sorts of colorful characters. Everyone had such a distinct personality, and I loved seeing the dynamics between these characters. Each person at the inn had their own little subplot, and I enjoyed seeing how they all turned out.

Sera was a lovable main character, and it was so easy to root for her. She had a fierce loyalty to those she loves, and made a lot of noble choices. There was a little bit of romance thrown in that was a lovely addition, but I’d say it took a back burner to the bigger plot (which wasn’t an issue at all). I will say I was surprised by the ending, and still unsure how to feel about it, but do think it was fitting considering the rest of the story.

If you’re looking for your next cozy, magical, and funny read, look no further!

such a tender and cozy story. considering how much i loved the very secret society of irregular witches, i knew this one would be a hit for me. Sangu Mandanna has such a way of writing stories that feel like a warm hug. i loved the diversity in all of the characters and how they all felt like fleshed out characters. 5 star read for me!

This story was super cozy and cute, and I REALLY loved the found family theme. The characters were all mostly likable, and you have to love a book that includes a zombie rooster!

As is the case with many cozy books, however, the storyline was predictably predictable, and I was left feeling a little disappointed by the way things ended. Also, the sex scene felt a little out of place, and I think it may have worked better as closed-door activities.

A magical story of found family, resurrection and rebirth, love, and the everyday joy of finding a home where you belong. This story has a lot of sadness in it. There’s loss and grief, both of the things that make you *you* and the life you thought you’d live; there’s fear that what you’ve lost is gone forever; there’s sadness and anger at not being loved or protected by the very people who should have done so the most; there’s betrayal and hurt from those you least expect. But on the flip side, there is also overwhelming hope. There’s a family of people who might not be related to you by name or blood but who would die to protect you; there’s the resilience and resistance you have in your refusal to let the pain of your past keep you down; there’s love and joy in the most unexpected places when you bravely open your heart and eyes to those around you; there’s forgiveness for those who one hurt you and regret it. And on top of all that, there’s the house who is always there to be your home and the magic that will never truly leave you because you love it.

I love the way Sangu Mandanna writes about magic in her books - it’s not just a force that can be wielded by those with power, but a loving, breathing entity that interacts with each magical person in a unique way, depending on their own personality and character. It lives and breathes and almost has a will of its own, which you can feel in Sera’s house as the magic protects, guides, and delights them, with Sera’s power but also seemingly at its own whims. I love way Sera, Luke, and the others worked together to figure out what unique elements would work in the spell to return Sera’s power to her, not only because it was uniquely related to her magic itself but because they wouldn’t have figured it out alone.

These characters are all so unique and special, but they do all have something in common - they had all felt abandoned and unloved, unworthy of happiness and joy, wandering without a place to truly belong, until they came to the Inn. Especially once Sera placed her magical hedge around the Inn, the only people who could find it were the ones who desperately needed it, and the ones who stayed are the ones who most needed a home and a family. The Inn and its residents, magical or not, were accepting, caring, and open to providing the kind of home each individual needed. Pretty much everyone who called the Inn home had been abandoned, ignored, or minimized by their parents, and that’s not a wound that heals easily, whether you’re 10 or 70, but it is possible when you’re surrounded by people who are determined to remind you how much you are loved and wanted.

I especially loved Luke and Posy’s relationship: he was so determined to protect her from being forced into an unhappy life because he had been, and he knew how much it broke you. They were both neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, and while Luke was able to make himself small and emotionless to fit into the box his parents expected, the toll it took on him was enormous and he refused to let them or anyone else do the same to Posy. He stood up for her in ways he couldn’t seem to stand up for himself. Luckily, the Inn brought them in (with some help lol) and when his fears were about to drive him away and close him off from happiness again, he had a friend there to snap him out of it. I loved Sera and Luke together almost as much as Matilda, Jasmine, and the others did - they fit together so naturally, comfortably, happily.

As for Sera’s journey with her magic, I was so hopeful when it returned to her, and the galaxies and stars back in place in her mind. I really thought she’d be able to keep it for good, that the fear of being bested would somehow hold Albert in check. But that’s not how egomaniac dictators work, and I can see how Sera’s plan was really the only option. If I had any foresight, I would have seen Sera and Luke discussing his researching into Magic stealing early on in the book for what it was - the Chekhov’s gun of this story, pointless to include unless it’s going to be shot at some point. But I truly didn’t until she said she didn’t need to win the duel to defeat Albert. And it’s really a testament to Sera’s growth throughout this book, from viewing her ghosts from the past as fragments of herself that rose from the ashes and survived instead of pieces that left her, to realizing if she would have always sacrificed her magic to save her family. It’s a rather fitting end, and one I can hold happily in my heart.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book for review purposes. It comes out in just a few weeks, on July 15, and you can preorder it from your local bookshop today! Also if you haven’t read Sandu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I highly recommend that one as well.

cozy fantasy’s are truly the key to my heart and this book is no exception.

it reminded me a bit of the house in the cerulean sea. loved the found family!! all of the characters were so adorable and unique, but dare i say the house was my favorite. for such a light comforting story, it still had some really nice messages and that plot twist at the end rlly caught me by surprise.

will def be reading more of sanju’s books!!

There’s something about books that take place in the UK that just charms the socks out of me. Albeit slow to start, the newest Sangu book got its magical paws on me mid way.

It was cute, a book cleanser (possible YA?) fantasy read that is neither too long or too short. Which made me happy.

A love story with a dash of curmudgeon magic leads these two MC’s to find safety in a home that holds a mix bag of personalities. A young autistic girl, a young boy finding his home and then two buttoned up adults who slowly learn to let the other in.

Oh and a mad man on some Guild council. A bones rooster (aka dead), a talking fox; and a side splash of a love story for a couple of older women who aren’t necessarily front and centre in the story but find themselves ready for love again.

As I said, book cleanser for me. Cute story. Loved the distraction of it but I will say that it wasn’t quite as good as her last (“the very secret society of irregular witches”) .