This is a solid follow-up to 'The Very Irregular Society...', but it still didn't quite live up to the standards of that first volume. It's cozy and the found/created family elements are still great, as is the snarky fox-witch, but the world felt less lived-in and fully developed, for some reason.

Thank you, NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is PURE MAGIC, in every sense of the word. If you're looking for something to curl up with this spooky season—preferably with a hot drink, twinkle lights, and maybe a candle that smells like “mossy spellbook”—A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is the vibe.

Sangu Mandanna has once again crafted a witchy world that feels like a warm hug and a soft nudge all at once. Sera Swan is prickly, powerful, a little broken, and completely lovable. Watching her navigate magical burnout, messy found family dynamics, and the grumpiest (and hottest) magical historian this side of the veil had me fully enchanted. Also: CLEMMIE THE FOX. I would die for her chaotic commentary.

What sets this apart from other cozy fantasies is how it balances whimsy with weight. Yes, there’s an enchanted inn. Yes, there’s slow-burn romance, enchanted windows, and snow-dusted scenes worthy of a rom-com montage. But there’s also sharp commentary on power, community, and the systems that exclude people—especially marginalized folks—from belonging. The representation was beautiful and organic: disability, autism, queerness, desi identity—it’s all here, and it matters.

It’s rare to find a book that makes you giggle, swoon, and think. This one? Nailed it. I’ll be shouting about this one all fall long. Cozy readers, spooky season lovers, and witchy romantics: don’t miss this gem.

This was a delightful, heartwarming read that won't disappoint fans of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" and new readers alike! Mandanna has created a world that I hope we get the pleasure of revisiting again!

I have never openly wept reading a romance book, but we all have our firsts. this book healed an emotional wound I did not know I had. There I was in bed at 2 am on a weekend vision blurry from the tears running down my face because this book got me in my feelings. I need more of this cozy whimsical magical romantic book in my life.

I adored returning to Sangu Mandanna's witchy world after loving The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. We meet Sera Swan when she's 15, extremely powerful, and just discovered that her great-aunt Jasmine has died. Her cursed-witch-turned-fox companion, Clemmie, advises her on how to resurrect her aunt, and she succeeds! But Sera loses all but the littlest bit of her power to the spell, and gets kicked out of the magical Guild for performing illegal magic, banished from the libraries where she may be able to discover how to restore her magic. And that all happens right at the beginning!

Then the story jumps ahead, and we see Sera as an adult, running her aunt's inn along with her, catering to an eclectic few guests (Nicholas the 23-year-old Knight is a delight) and struggling to maintain the building. While Sara has lost most of her magic, her enchantment on the inn remains, hiding it away from all except those who most need its refuge. That includes Luke Larsen and his younger sister, Posy, who is autistic and has struggled to conform in both the regular world and the magical one, and finds the inn to be the perfect sanctuary. Plus, Luke might be just the person Sera needs to figure out the restoration spell at last, if they can ever get along.

There's a lot of charm and sweetness in this book, and plenty of humor, but it also confronts some ugly truths about our world, including racism, ableism, and privilege. Readers who enjoyed Mandanna's Irregular Witches will delight in returning to this world, but new readers will also find much to love in this romantic fantasy. This one will fly off the library shelves, just like the first still does (at least at our library!)

I think Sangu Mandanna must have written this lovely story especially for me. I mean, we’ve never met, but I loved this cozy fantasy so much that I can almost not put it into words. Let me try.

Sera Swan lost her magic after an illicit act of heroism straight from her heart that resurrected her beloved great aunt but cost her nearly all of her immense magical power.

Banished from the Guild and cut off from the repository of magical knowledge that could help her get her power back by a villainous bully of a man that I just know has a punchable face, Sera settles into life without magic and tries really hard (with mixed results) not to be too angry about its loss.

She runs the Batty Hole Inn, which calls to those who need its refuge while repelling those who would threaten its safety or peace.

Along the way, Sera and the Inn assemble the most lovable crew of misfits that need each other, really see each other, and love each other despite (and indeed because of) all the things each member hates most about themselves.

The found family trope is difficult to do well, but Sangu Mandanna has such a gift for it. The characters are quirky but not just for the sake of quirkiness—they feel real and I would go to war for any one of them. There is solid neurodiversity representation that feels natural and authentic.

Sera herself is a bit of a grump, and who could blame her? She suffered the huge loss of her magic that had made her a wunderkind chosen one from the time she was a child, had a lot on her plate running an inn that seemed at times determined to fall to pieces around her, and was generally too hard on herself. I adored her.

The main romance that unfurled through the story was not quite the grumpy and sunshine trope, but I loved that Sera’s curmudgeonly self and Luke’s recovering people-pleaser self could really see each other enough to fall slowly and deeply in love.

The plot was intriguing and compelling without causing me one tiny bit of anxiety, and I really appreciate a story that can do that.

Thank you to Sangu Mandanna for one of my very favorite reads in a long time, and thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Witches and cozy settings have always been my jam. I felt so safe, understood and just straight up comfortable reading the first book in this series and I knew that I would love the sequel just as much. I have to clarify, that these are interconnected books, so you don't have to read them in order. They could be read as standalones. Don't forget to grab a hot drink, your favorite blanket and put on your favorite background music to read this when it comes out because it's a delight.

"A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping" does such a wonderful job at portraying the found family trope and making the reader fall in love with every single character. I don't know how else to put it but this was just adorable in every single aspect. It was refreshing seeing characters like Sera and Luke being vulnerable and experiencing all types of emotions through this story and how they overcome their problems by the end. The tension was exquisite and I was giggling and blushing with their interactions (when they were hiding 🙂‍↕️) so so good. I loved how they found each other when they needed it the most and the overall message of this story and how we can create our own families in the long run.

The representation was perfect, we had autism rep, queer characters, disability rep and the FMC was Indian too. Also, Luke is so fricking hot. A misunderstood grumpy hot blonde historian? On my knees.

Definitely would love to pick the audiobook of this gem around fall because it's so cozy and perfect for the season (even though it could be read at anytime tbh, you just have to be in that mood to make the experience even better)

Mandanna just understands the vibes of a cozy witch book. She gets the way it should make us feel and she drowns us in that feeling. This made was so sweet and funny and romantic. I love a “found family” theme and this book dished that out in buckets. Can’t believe this didn’t even come out yet because I’m already anxiously awaiting her next book.

This book was so cozy and enchanting! I found myself giggling and cackling with delight while reading the couple’s interactions. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with this found family like I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Disappointed in this. I’ve had the hardest time finishing this book. I couldn’t wait to keep reading Irregular Witches. This doesn’t have the same spark. There’s lots to enjoy with the found family and quirky characters. But the romance was really flat and there are just too many societal check marks. Lesbian characters, gay characters, nonbinary kid, immigrants, fear of Christian faith, autistic character. Mandanna does a better job than most incorporating all of these but it’s overkill. It’s not a cozy fantasy if ideologies are constantly being thrown at you. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

"A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping" by Sangu Mandanna is a spellbinding and whimsical journey that immerses readers in a world where magic and hospitality collide. Mandanna’s writing is imaginative and vibrant, painting a rich tapestry of enchanting characters and captivating settings that draw you in from the first page.

The story follows a charming protagonist who navigates the delightful challenges of running a magical inn, filled with quirky guests and unexpected adventures. Mandanna expertly blends humor, heart, and a touch of romance, creating a delightful narrative that is both entertaining and uplifting.

Overall, "A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping" is a captivating read that showcases Sangu Mandanna’s unique storytelling talent. This book is a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy and those looking for a delightful escape into a world of magic. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

I loved this. This is a perfect Maggie book. It’s cozy, it’s sweet, it’s witchy, it’s romantic. The found family is perfection, the magical inn, the incredible representation in so many different characters also perfection. Roo Roo is going to be top contender for favorite character. I have been waiting to read this book for months and months and it was lovely. I will be buying a copy as soon as it comes out.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna is a cozy fantasy with a twist of romance and found family.

This is a charming and comfortable read, and I loved the family and friendship relationships. However, I found the first 40% to be quite slow, and didn’t love the ending resolution to Sera’s magic. I don’t think this is Mandanna’s strongest work, but it was still enjoyable.

Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was basically a dnf at around 60% for me, but as I am too stubborn to ever not finish a book, I very much skimmed through the dialogue & other parts of the rest of the book. I feel very badly saying this, especially when I really enjoyed the prior book a lot, but I just found that I couldn’t read this book. It had such good & fun bones, but to me there really was no story or chemistry so it just made for a bunch of sweet moments tied together with loose thread. Maybe listening to this would’ve been better? Unsure. I really loved the idea of Sera & Luke!! I really loved the idea of a magical inn!! There was just not enough to keep me in it. Maybe it’s cause I’ve been in a high of all the other new releases that are out, so I’m gonna give it two stars & think maybe someone else will really love this & it’s just me.

Thank you to NetGalley & to Berkley for the eARC!

Your review is delightful! I’ve made a few grammatical and stylistic edits to improve the flow and clarity:

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🪄 *Arc Review: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping* 🪄

Thank you to Berkley for an early copy of *A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping*! I sincerely appreciate it 💗

I’d like to start by saying how much I absolutely adored the first book in this series. It was cozy, fun, and the perfect palate cleanser! The second book follows the same cozy fantasy formula, but this one is a bit more emotional and sentimental.

The book begins with our FMC, Sera Swan, who lost her magic while trying to bring her aunt back to life. As one of the most powerful witches of her generation, this was a pretty big deal. The story then picks up 15 years later, where we see how the loss of her magic has impacted Sera to her core. This definitely brings out all the feels, and Sangu does an amazing job of making you root for Sera and her hodgepodge found family.

Our MMC, Luke Larsen, is a grumpy caretaker to his disabled sister. He’s currently working for a witch while balancing the care of his autistic sister, who also has magical powers. As a reader, you can’t help but relate to and love the dynamic between Luke and Posy.

Overall, I really enjoyed *A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping* and highly recommend it to any fantasy/romance lovers! It’s the perfect mixture of cozy and heartwarming!

Read if you love:
🪄 Cozy fantasy
🪄 Magical inn
🪄 Found family
🪄 Grumpy x grumpy
🪄 Talking animal sidekick

Thank you again to Berkley for the ARC!

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These edits should enhance the flow of your review while preserving your original thoughts!

THIS is my new comfort book! I savored every single second of this I did not want it to end. This had literally everything I love in a cozy fantasy. I absolutely loved our FMC and the inn was full of wholesome and quirky characters— gave me House of the Cerulean Sea and Emily Wilde vibes! AND don’t get me started on our sweet MMC— the most tender slow burn that had be blushing and giggling! I already want to re-read and can’t wait for everyone to read this summer! Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC! :)

I've been waiting for this book for a long time! Its release date kept being pushed. This author has a magical way of writing cozy, feel-good found-family stories and I can't get enough of them! Sera Swan was one of the most powerful witches until she lost the majority of her magic after she cast a forbidden resurrection spell when she was a teenager. Now, as an adult, Sera is trying to find a way to get her full magic back while also keeping the inn she inherited from falling into complete disarray.

5/5

Just a woman and her live chicken skeleton, her friend cursed into the body of a fox, her resurrected aunt, the dungaree wearing aspiring hobbit in love with said aunt, a 20-something cosplaying as a knight, two small children, and a stoic historian. Now that’s a family. Sangu Mandanna’s long awaited, Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is here, and wow what a triumph of a novel it is. Sena Swan, a young witch, depleted her well of magic performing a forbidden resurrection spell on her aunt fifteen years ago. She was subsequently exiled from the Guild and left with nothing to do other than to help run the magical inn that serves wayfaring travelers in need. But one day, she hears of a spell that could restore her magic and just like that, Sena embarks on a quest to reclaim what she lost. The Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a lovely beacon to the lost, the caregivers who burn themselves out in service to others who deserve to be taken care of and so much more. Mandanna recaptures the magic with her debut. From the eclectic mix of people who make the inn their home, the comforting atmosphere of baked goods and twisted magic—including a guest bedroom that rains apple blossom tea, the ghosts of Sena’s past that wander the house, and the wildflowers blooming in teacups—all of it left me utterly enchanted. The Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping contains the kind of magic only Sangu Mandanna is capable of drumming up and I want nothing more than to remain under its spell.

This review is now on my blog, a longer feature to come closer to publication.

I really enjoyed this novel; the characters felt real, and the well-paced plot kept me engaged from start to finish.

Oh, my heart! Mandanna does it again. This book is absolutely lovely, I wish I could erase my memory just to experience it all over again. It’s funny, brilliantly emotional, and shines so brightly in a sea of books chasing tropes. A true gem.