I have been waiting so eagerly for this book for so long! Thankfully, it was worth the wait! At first I was a little thrown that we were in a totally different reality from Irregular Witches, but honestly I think I loved this version of UK witches even more? Either way it was all there - the cozy adorable whimsical moments perfectly balanced with nuanced emotional arcs and character growth, and even some spice. This is how I wish every "cozy fantasy" book could be - entirely cozy but not at the expense of the plot. I really hope Mandanna keeps writing adult books!

I loved the author's first book, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping" by Sangu Mandanna is a heartwarming, cozy fantasy about a witch discovering what truly matters in life.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain—until she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from death. That act cost her her magic and got her exiled from the Guild. Now, alongside her great-aunt, she runs the Batty Hole Inn, a whimsical magical inn that attracts an eclectic mix of guests: Matilda, who adores mushrooms; Nicholas of Mayfair, who enjoys dressing as a knight; her 11-year-old cousin Theo; a talking fox; and, of course, Roo-Roo—a zombie rooster.

Sera grumpily seems to be accepting her fate, but then she stumbles upon an old spell that might just restore her powers. The plot thickens when Luke Larsen, a handsome but icy magical historian, arrives at the inn with his autistic sister. He might be the key to unlocking the spell’s secrets. Throw in a curse, shenanigans, and eccentric characters, and you have all the ingredients for a delightful, whimsical tale.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Once I got past the slow start, the story really took off. I loved that the fantasy was set in the real world—seeing a witch with a cell phone and a car was a nice touch. I could have done without the profanity, though—they felt unnecessary. Beneath the lighthearted magic, the book explores themes of hate, anger, bigotry, immigration, belonging, societal acceptance, found family, and second chances. It also features neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ representation, as well as a slow-burn romance.

The world-building is just as intriguing as its inhabitants. The book is packed with unforgettable characters and meaningful messages. I appreciated the wit and humor—it made me often smile, and I’d love to be a guest at that inn. The characters all have distinct quirks and personalities, even the secondary ones.

That said, I felt that one minor character was included just to make a point (politically biased and distorted at that). The oversimplified take on his history further pulled me out of the story. It didn’t really have a place in a fantasy, nor did it add anything meaningful to the book. Ironically, he felt like an outsider in England, but given that he was gay, he would have likely faced even greater challenges in his culture.

As for the ending—it wasn’t anything to write home about. It made sense in its own way, but it wasn’t the resolution I expected or hoped for. That said, it was still a fun read, and I enjoyed most of it. I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4. I’d recommend it to cozy fantasy lovers who enjoy comfort reads with strong heroines, magic, and whimsical characters.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Feeling really sad because I had such high hopes for this. This one had all the cute cozy vibes that I think we expect from Sangu but it just kind of fell flat for me. I hold TVSSOlW so close to my heart so l was really anticipating I would leave this book feeling the same.

It wasn't a bad book by any means, but it just didn't really hit for me. I didn't feel really invested in the romantic or magical story line, and although I laughed out loud and had my moments for the found familyness it just didn't deliver exactly how I thought it would.

But a sweet book, with sweet people who I'm really happy for. Except for Sera's ending. That genuinely upset me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

Mandanna brings you into a cosy, magical world filled with love, acceptance and clumsy knights!

Sera, our protagonist, is such a well rounded character and her character development throughout the book is so strong and lovely!

I loved that all the characters were very human, no one was perfect and some of them I found so frustrating but understandable. I will say the ending did bring in one of my least favourite tropes, so that dropped the rating a bit for me but overall, a lovely, cosy easy read!

📖 Book Review 📖 At forty, I still cannot figure out at what point I need a light jacket, let alone what the ideal weather for resurrecting people from the dead…so I’ll keep the magic in delightful books like this for now! After using her powers to bring her dead aunt back to life, up-and-coming newbie, Sera, is banned from the magical world. Life in exile is a little less than glamorous but Sera does the best she can running a quaint little inn with her aunt and an amalgamation of magical misfits, including the zombie chicken. Life has a funny way of offering second chances. The arrival of some old familiar faces and the chance to earn magic back breathes new energy, bringing a hopeful awakening for Sera. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a truly delightful cozy read full of humor, life lessons (no need to be witchy), and a love story that hits all of the right notes.

I was anticipating this book so highly- and it did not disappoint! Take me to The Batty Hole Inn!

Quirky and delightful side characters abound, with plenty of sweet and diverse representation amongst them. Whimsy, wonder, and the power of finding people who love you as you are and not what you can do. It was sweet, comforting, and nothing but delight.

Also, Luke 🥰

Sera Swan's story in A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a whimsical, heartwarming adventure full of magic, humor, and found family. After losing most of her powers, Sera helps run an enchanted inn with her quirky relatives and an ever-present talking fox. When a mysterious spell appears to offer the chance to reclaim her lost magic, Sera’s world is turned upside down—especially when a stoic historian named Luke arrives to help.

Sangu Mandanna’s writing is light and charming, with a perfect balance of humor, romance, and magical intrigue. The chemistry between Sera and Luke builds delightfully, while the inn and its eccentric guests bring a cozy, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere to the story. The plot is cozy yet adventurous, and the themes of second chances and the importance of family make it a feel-good read. A lovely escape for fans of magical rom-coms!

I thought this was going to be a sequel to the Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches so at first I was disappointed because I loved the characters in that book and wanted their story to continue. HOWEVER, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping did not disappoint at all! I met a whole new cast of characters that I adore.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Sera Swan was once a very powerful witch. And then she brought her aunt back to life and lost her magical powers. Now she's a 30-something not-quite witch who has a trickle of power, a house with character and magic to spare, and an increasing number of borders who are brought in by the house's magic and just seem to stay.

When Luke Larsen arrives with his young sister in tow, the magical historian just might have an idea of how magic may come back to Sera. The longer Luke stays the more invested he becomes in the outcome and the more Sera can't imagine the magical inn without him.

Once again Sangu Mandanna has created a quirky, kind, and fully loveable cast of characters creating found-family at the inn.

I truly enjoyed this book. I had read her first book A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and have been waiting for this book to come out for what feels like forever and I have to say this book was well worth the wait. Sera was such a relatable character because despite everything she has been through she is there for her found family. Luke was also a very dreamy male main character, the way that he cares for his sister and inevitably cares for his new family at the Inn was so magical. While there was conflict in this book, there wasn't enough that I was overwhelmed or stressed out, this was very much a cozy fantasy read. I can't wait for this book to come out and share it with others.

This was absolutely delightful—what a wonderful escape during a time when honestly I could really use a sweet dash of unreality. I can't wait to see what Mandanna writes next!

Sweet. That's about the only word that comes to mind for a one-word summary. I enjoyed this for what it was—a cozy, low-stakes, witchy romantic fantasy. (They're ALL the rage right now.) There were multiple times when I thought strong comparisons could be made to India Holton's books (book titles aside).

Basically, if you loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, then you will adore this. I do think this is the more memorable of the two and that's largely because of the residents/found family of the Batty Hole Inn, who are all lovely and lively.

A Witches Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Grab your favorite sweater and a cup of tea, then settle in to read this delicious cozy fantasy. I seriously devoured this book. Witty banter between the main characters, friends who become family, and Roo-Roo the rooster. What more could you ask for!? The story gives me Gilmore Girl vibes with witches.

~Magical Inn
~Witch society
~Found family
~Neurodivergent representation

Pub date - July 15th, 2025

5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

#AWitchsGuidetoMagicalInnkeeping #NetGalley

Another warm hug of a book by Sangu Mandanna. Cozy fun read. It takes place in a familiar world with new characters. Would be a great recommendation for someone new to the genre.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book forever! I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and couldn’t wait to get back into Sandhu Mandanna’s magical world-building.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was a total delight! The author has a way of revealing characters’ personalities that feels natural and well-paced. It was fun to get to know the charming misfits that stay at the Batty Hole Inn, and to follow them as they fight to right magical wrongdoing.

A perfect witchy cozy book, perfect for fans of Lana Harper and Ann Aguirre (especially Aguirre’s The Only Purple House in Town- which has some similar vibes!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

This was a great book! At the beginning I thought it was a continuation of her last book, but it is set in the same world, but not the same people. Would have liked to have seen a cameo by the people from the last book!

I loved this so much, and I'm not even a fantasy reader. The fantasy elements were a big part of the story, but not the most important - they framed a story of found family, resilience, and love.

Everything I look for in a book: all vibes, constant chaos, found family, a sprinkle of romance and one skeleton rooster. This was my first Mandanna book and it blew me away! The pinnacle of a good book is one you're thinking about when you're not reading it, and wishing you were reading it when you're doing other things. This book lived in my head rent free and I have a feeling I'll be rereading it just to be back in this little whimsical world every now and then.

I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so naturally I was SO looking forward to this one. Very happy to report that it didn't disappoint. Mandanna's strength is conveying absolutely stunning ambiance. I could feel the coziness of the inn, the warmth of Sera's favorite sweater, the love oozing from Jasmine. I don't typically love stories with fantasy components, but this- like her previous novel- had just the right amount of magic and focused more on the characters' relationships and growth. I can't wait to read it again in the fall.

Enjoyed her other witch book but found this one to be a little too similar. I think people will enjoy it but I did not think it added much more to her book that was already published.