This was such a cozy warm hug and so worth the wait! A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is like Kiki's Delivery Service meets Gilmore Girls full of quirky characters, found family, slow burn romance, and laugh out loud moments. Like a good cup of tea, I could not put the book down and wish I savored it more until the last page.

Sangu Mandanna's second cozy fantasy book, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, knows just how to use the ingredients of a fantastical comfort read to create a result worthy of winning the Great British Bake Off. You know how it is: any book that uses the elements (slightly off-kilter sentient English cottage, talking animal, eclectic cast of characters, a curse, a garden) can be enjoyable, but it takes a true master chef (writer) to turn them into magic. Mandanna is that sort of magician. I simply did not want to stop reading. And knowing I had the book waiting on my phone to dip into at any moment made every day seem a little brighter and more hopeful.

Simply put, I think this ensemble cast is my favorite from any book I've ever read. I would happily take another book from the perspective of any of the characters involved. My only complaint is having to try to find any other books to read to live up to this experience.

If you like low stakes magic quests, strong found families, sassy cottages, and skeletal roosters, then this book is for you. The bubble Sera Swan has built for herself and her friends is nothing short of warm, welcoming, and charming for the reader. The atmosphere of the book is a warm blanket on a crisp fall day with more than a hint of magic swirling around. This is the kind of book you want to savor, to dwell in for much longer than it takes you to read it. I know that this story will stay with me for a very long time.

A cozy fantasy similar to Rebecca Thorne's series. Lovable characters and a story that focuses on human connections and the importance of the people around you.

I loved the personality given to the inn and how it played as its own character, similarly to Disney's Encanto. IT added a whimsical layer to the story that I really, really enjoyed. All the characters were sweet and lovable in their own way. I wish there had more emphasis on the romance, but the rest of the story made up for it and it was still a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A Witch’s guide to Magical Innkeeping is exactly the kind of fantasy book to recommend to those who like elements of lighter fantasy or want an introduction to the genre. As a bonus, if you loved the magic elements and how they play out in Practical Magic, then this will be a treat.

Sera is one of the most powerful witches to exist but her blossoming exploration of magic is cut off almost as soon as it begins when she does a spell that is beyond even her capabilities. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, but the fallout sees Sera living through the next 15 years with no magical community and a lot harder life than her magic granted her. Luckily what Sera does have is an Inn imbued with her girlhood magic (and unluckily, her own ghosts), and a less than magical community of inn residents who adore her. Add a very attractive wizard and his autistic sister to the mix, some hijinks you won’t be able to get enough of, and a bit of a quest and you have the most charming story that needs to somehow made into a series.

This was a stellar read and it will be an absolute hit with readers because it is all heart and soul and some stars and galaxies to boot.

the very secret society of irregular witches by sangu mandanna had quickly become one of my favorite reads of last year and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this new release!

i’m so grateful to have been approved for the ARC and loved this just as much as the first book in this companion series. the way the author crafts a magical world full of found family and cozy fantasy is unmatched, and I become so attached to every character in these books. this is definitely one to add to your cozy fantasy tbr!

if you want magic, found family, and romance look no further. I also loved the autism rep we see with one of the characters as well as a side character having palestinian roots. I almost cried reading that section..this book is amazing and I can’t wait for all of you to read it!!!

Another warm hug of a book by Sangu Mandanna! Sera Swan lives in a dilapidated inn that she has spelled into being unable to find unless you need it. Once the great hope of the witches, Sera now lives in exile there after she performed a forbidden spell. Sera’s life is a happy one with a cast of odd characters that live with her at the inn except for the fact that she used all her magic up on the forbidden spell . Finally a spell to get her magic back is found but is the price too high?
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The absolute queen of cozy fantasy that's extra sweet! I loved this authors previous book and this was just as feel good and heart warming, would make a great TV show!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC!

I loved Sangu Mandanna's previous title, and I loved this one too! It is cozy and sweet, and I WOULD love to stay a few nights at the inn! If you like the very gentlest romantasy, this might be for you.

Sangu Mandanna knows how to write a truly diverse cozy-ish fantasy! Loved this one and highly recommend

An absolute joy! Looking for the perfect escape from a fractured hostile reality? Get your pre-order in for this gem coming in July from the author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. You'll meet Sera, a once powerful young witch, who loses most of her magic saving someone close to her. As the years pass, an assemblage of quirky souls end up at the enchanted inn. This found family includes a witch who cursed herself into the body of a fox, a teenage knight errant, two children who haven't learned how to contain their magic, a zombified rooster and an intractable historian who may have the key to getting her magic back. Thanks to netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everything I could have hoped for and I know it'll be one I reread a ton. I loved the found family in this so much. I'd honestly love to read more of these characters day to day. I couldn't stop myself from smiling through the whole thing. I know I'll be recommending this to everyone once it's published and I cannot wait to read it over again. The ending has a lot going on, but ibreally enjoyed how the story came together at the end.

Cozy and sweet and not without charm, but a couple of the characters were a little...their motivations were not always completely transparent.

Sangu Mandanna’s A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a whimsical, heartwarming, and utterly enchanting tale that will sweep you off your feet and into a world of magic, mischief, and found family. At its heart is Sera Swan, a once-powerful witch who has fallen from grace after a series of unfortunate (and slightly hilarious) events, including resurrecting her great-aunt and befriending a delightfully mischievous talking fox. Now exiled from her Guild, Sera finds herself running an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where the guests are as quirky as the magic is unpredictable.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with every corner of the enchanted inn feeling alive with magic and possibility. Mandanna’s writing is brimming with charm and wit, making it impossible not to fall in love with the story’s whimsical tone and vivid characters. The talking fox, in particular, is a scene-stealer, providing both comic relief and unexpected depth.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy, strong-willed witches, and stories that blend humor, heart, and a touch of mischief. It’s a book that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page, and it’s a perfect escape for anyone who loves a good magical adventure. Highly recommended!

I loved the first book of this series, and the second book is just as fantastic! This book was so wonderful, whimsical, and cozy. It is the best book to read curled up in a blanket with a cup of hot tea. I'm already planning on adding this as a book club book as my library.

I’ve been itching to get my hands on this book ever since it was announced, I’ve had it preordered for what seems like forever so I was SO stoked when I got approved for the eARC, I dropped everything and immediately dove in.
This book hooked from the very beginning, I was immediately drawn to these characters (& ROO ROO) and I found myself not wanting to put the book down for even a minute.
I highly recommend this book and the authors previous, THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES, for everyone, including those (like myself) who don’t really enjoy cozy fantasy.

I read this so fast, and stayed up late with it more than once. It was just the right amount of funny and dramatic tension. I'll be looking at other works by this author.

What a delightful read! A slightly different world than Sangu's other novel but amazing in it's own right. I adored all of the characters and while I don't normally like the grumpy/sunshine trope this was done superbly and both main characters showed nuance.

4.5. stars! GIRL, if you enjoyed THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES, Sangu Mandanna has got you covered with A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING. For those wondering, this is a standalone cosy fantasy that doesn’t really tie in with the previous book, so while I recommend you read that one, it’s not necessary to enjoy this story. Aunts and roosters raised from the dead, fox companions, and a slow burn romance with an icy hot blonde that still finds time to take care of his autistic sister? All I see are green flags.

Welcome to the Batty Hole Inn, not the name of a corn, but a sanctuary for kind hearted oddballs and a source for found family. The Swedes use the word, “hygge” to describe a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort, and that’s precisely what this Inn and book is - hygge magic. I mean, apple blossom tea rains in a bedroom every Sunday. Magnificent. But what I loved most about this book, is that at the center of this story is a cast of characters trying to be good to one another, and in hostile and uncertain times like these, I can’t think of anything more refreshing.

Our FMC, Sera, has lost most of her magical abilities and feels obligated to run the Inn that her parents abandoned her with. Riddled with guilt, shame, and sadness, she often mourns the loss of her magic and finds it hard to cope with her new reality. Like me, she’s often kind to others, but not herself, and with the help of her kooky friends, she soon learns that when others abandon you, you make your own family. The characters are so lovely and diverse - she’s Indian, there’s autism rep, queers, disability rep, and more! I’m so here for it.

And Luke, our MMC, might be cold, but he has a heart of gold - he’s just scared to bring down his walls for fear of others leaving him. Poor guy. But the two of them really see the good in each other, and it benefits them both tremendously. This is a sweet, slow-burn romance with a pinch of spice, but I was content with the amount, considering the genre. This is a story about love sneaking up on you, and having the courage to accept healthy love from others...and yourself. Sometimes you need to take a chance to see things differently, but as Mandanna says, there’s something lovely about the weird, wonderful, ordinary everydayness of living. Good friends and a hopeful outlook on life can certainly help bloom wildflowers.

A very special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this one. It brought me the cozy vibes I so desperately needed. If you liked her previous book, or TJ Klune's THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA, this one's for you babygirl. Or boy. Or both. I don't discriminate.

Things that would please me immediately:
- An enchanted, cozy inn in the English countryside
- A questionable friend trapped in the form of a fox.
- A bony, undead rooster.

Is that too much to ask?

Genuinely, though, this book is a fresh plate of warm chocolate chip cookies. Everything about it, from the setting to the homely descriptions of said setting, made me immensely envious.

I was so excited to read this after A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and I enjoyed this one much more (Is it the pink cover? We will never know). I felt more connected to Sera than I did with Mika, and Sera’s relationship with Luke didn’t feel as stale. I honestly thought I would tire of the “cold” love interest, but Sera’s grouchy sass balanced it out.

Her journey with magic was beautiful. We saw more concrete depictions of it here. Explanations on usage and scope were more in-depth, and there was even a small fight, which was cool! This plot felt like it had higher stakes, which was engaging to follow. Each step felt like a riddle.

The only thing that disappointed me was the very end. And I get it. I do. It does make a lot of sense in context and within the main theme of the story. Not to mention that it’s practically shoved down your throat in the form of great foreshadowing the whole time—I was just in denial. But still. I just felt that twang of disappointment.

Despite the end, the quirky, diverse cast of characters made up for it. Especially knowing that they’re all still tutting around the Batty Hole. I fell in love with all of them. Crossing my fingers for more books in this universe!