The Witches of Honeysuckle House is a beautifully atmospheric story about magic, a curse and the ties that bind us, both seen and unseen. Liz Parker weaves a story that’s haunting, magical and emotional. It’s set in a small town pulsing with secrets. It follows a woman who returns to Honeysuckle House after many years away, only to discover that her families past and her own powers are far more complicated than she ever imagined. I loved how the house had a mind of its own and the mystery of the curse kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a story about a curse, familial relationships, trauma and hope. This book is perfect for fans of haunting family legacies, magical realism, witches and women reclaiming their power. I really enjoyed reading this book!

The Witches of Honeysuckle House is a charming and enchanting read that beautifully weaves together magic, mystery, and family bonds. I loved how the story brought the house itself to life, making it almost a character in its own right. The blend of whimsical magic with deeper themes of grief and healing gave the book a heartfelt depth without losing its cozy, magical feel. The characters felt real and relatable, especially as they navigated their unique challenges together. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a gentle, atmospheric story with just the right touch of spooky and sweet. Highly recommend!

4.5⭐️

Thank you netgally, alcove press and Liz Parker for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

I really liked this story! It was the perfect amount of mystery, it kept me reading because I really wanted to know why there was a curse and how they would fix it.

I liked how there were multiple storylines, although it confused me at first. I had a hard time figuring out who was who but when I did figure it out it was so interesting. Even the house had its own pov🤭

I did not see the story with the curse coming. It surprised me in the best way, but it also was very sad. That being sad I do really like the ending. I love how both sisters found love and aren’t scared to lose them to the curse anymore. And the magic aspect of the book was just perfect!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read the eArc, very much appreciated.

This story is about two sisters who are in the shadow of a curse; every thirteen years someone close to them dies. Now, that definitely intrigued me and made me want to read this book. However, unfortunately I just wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. It was marketed as a cosy fantasy but there’s quite a few darker elements and themes that just don’t say cosy fantasy to me, especially with a bit of high stakes thrown in there.

A lovely magical bookshop, a little bit of romance and the fun sister vibes was definitely the good part of this story. Sometimes their decisions definitely made you feel like they were human and you could 100% relate in the decision making. I do wish there was more character development between them as their personalities did feel a little dull and similar. However, the author did really well at creating a realistic sister relationship.

3 stars for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was good. Loved all the witchy vibes throughout the book. For me, I just did not connect with any of the characters as much as I thought I would. Enjoyed the family element as well.

Witches of Honeysuckle House did not meet my expectations. This book pales in comparison to the author's first book In The Shadow Garden. There were many different types of magic such as candle magic, crystals, tarot, and a sentient house which did not work for me, it actually cheapened the story. If the story was a magical realism book about candle magic, it would have worked better because I have never read a book about that type of magic before. The writing was trying to be cozy and magical but it did not match the darker plot of ancestral trauma. I get the feeling that the plot was overworked. With that being said, I loved the title, cover and the overall premise.

I was hoping for a more herbalism focused story like the author's previous book which I loved. Witches of Honeysuckle House was trying to be too many different things that didn't quite work together.

I will continue to read Liz Parker's future books, this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

I think marketing this book as a cozy fantasy might have been a mistake because I think this would be too dark for cozy fans and too high stakes. "Healing fiction" is a better category. That kept me reading since I often get bored with a very cozy story. But I was hoping for something more character-driven so this didn't work for me.

Examples of how dark this is: There are on-page descriptions of physical abuse between mother and daughter like pulling hair; emotional abuse; murders; cat endangerment but no cat death, etc etc etc.

This is the story of two sisters, Florence and Evie, Evie's daughter Clara, and the magic house they call home. But the family is cursed to see someone they love die every thirteen years. Abuse runs in the family, mainly from the late mother and grandmother of the girls. Lonely protector Florence runs a magical bookshop and Clara summons a black cat for her one day.

The family works to stop the curse, with some romance mixed in.

Things I loved: The character of Regina, the evil grandmother, and Honeysuckle House were probably the most interesting characters in this. The author is a witch, tarot card reader and herbalist, and her technical knowledge really shone through in the way candle dipping and tarot were woven into the story. The queer love stories were lovely. I also liked the mystery behind unraveling the curse. Last but not least, I loved the bookstore cat, Ink.

But ultimately I found the characters bland and hard to tell apart; they didn't have distinct personalities and interests so I found it hard to connect to them. I did find the sisters pretty apt with the closeness and tension of sisterhood. Clara also sounded very young in the chapters from her point of view. I wanted a little more time spent on character development and I probably would have found the story more interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Witches of Honeysuckle House" by Liz Parker is a captivating blend of magic, family drama, and emotional healing. The story follows estranged sisters Florence and Evie Caldwell as they confront a deadly family curse that resurfaces every 13 years. Parker's writing beautifully captures the complexities of sisterhood and the struggle to overcome inherited trauma. The sentient family home and enchanted bookstore add a whimsical touch to the narrative, making it both cozy and haunting. While the plot occasionally slows, the rich character development and emotional depth keep readers engaged. This novel is perfect for those who appreciate stories of familial bonds, magical realism, and the journey of healing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Cozy, atmospheric, and just the right amount of witchy, Witches of Honeysuckle House blends small-town secrets and second chances into a warm, magic-laced hug of a story.

You know that feeling when a book finds you exactly when you need it? The Witches of Honeysuckle House was that kind of book for me—like a soft punch to the heart wrapped in lavender-scented parchment and family secrets.

Florence and Evie Caldwell are estranged sisters tangled up in grief, resentment, and a god-awful curse that kills someone they love every 13 years. No pressure. One’s living in their magical, possibly haunted family home-turned-B&B (which may or may not be trying to eat people??), the other’s hiding out in her cozy enchanted bookstore pretending that proximity is the same thing as dealing with her trauma. Spoiler: it’s not.

What unfolds is a gorgeously witchy story about sisterhood, inherited wounds, and the ways we try (and fail and try again) to protect the people we love. It’s got that perfect blend of cozy and aching—the soft magic of a bookshop and a cat who knows things, alongside the gut-wrenching unraveling of generational trauma and CPTSD.

I devoured this book. Then I sat there, misty-eyed and full of feelings, knowing I’d just had my heart laid bare in the best way.

This is for everyone who’s had to rebuild trust, re-parent themselves, or redefine what “home” means when the foundation is a little... cursed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, but let’s be real—I’m buying this one in hardcover so it can live on the shelf next to the other books that healed me when I didn’t know I needed it.

Wow. What an amazing book! After seeing teasers for this on TikTok from Liz Parker I knew this book was one I needed to read. As a fan of Alice Hoffman’s books the idea of a Practical Magic-ish book drew me in. Sometimes having too many viewpoints in a book can get confusing but each character in the book was so important. I can see so much potential for other books with the characters of Evie and Florence. Even a prequel type book that delves more into Violet and Regina. There were a couple instances when reading that the plot seemed to drag out but Liz Parker was able to wrap up the ending with a gorgeous conclusion. I highly recommend this story and look forward to more from her!

If I thought I love In the Shadow Garden, I'm not sure how to describe the fondness I have for the Witches of Honeysuckle House. To start I think this is a letter to complicated family relationships and that is something that I am unfortunately familiar with.

As a someone with a sister whom she loves dearly, I could see so much of myself in this. I could see the dynamic between Florence and Violet and it felt so familiar. I loved reading about their messy love for each other and how they both coped with a very toxic family environment. They kept their world small, but those they do let in- they love fiercely and I think that's so beautiful.

Following the mystery of the curse kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. I couldn't stop thinking about it and wondering how it started. It captured me right away, although I have learned that I can come to expect that from Liz Parker's writing.

I loved how the house was a sentient party and how much it loved the Caldwells'. I also loved how messy the characters were. The misguided rash decisions and reactions just felt so human. None of them were perfect and at times it felt like Florence, Violet and Violet's daughter Clara were working against each other. But they were trying their best and honestly it just felt so authentic.

This is story about a curse, but it's also a story about familial relationships, healing through trauma and most importantly hope. It was raw, emotional but also fun and magical. I would recommend it to literally everyone I come across, but especially sisters and elder siblings. It kinda feels like she wrote this book for us. I hope you love it as much as I do.

This is a tender, magical novel that gently explores trauma, but it never leaves you in the dark. Instead, it wraps you in warmth like a hug, reminding you that healing is possible, especially with a bit of magic and community.

Witches of Honeysuckle House is a spellbinding, heart-tugging, utterly magical read that had me hooked from page one. With witches, curses, tarot, and a house with a mind of its own, this book weaves together the perfect mix of family drama and supernatural intrigue. Florence and Evie’s journey to break their family’s deadly curse is as emotionally rich as it is enchantingly eerie, making every page a delight to devour. If you love stories about sisterhood, haunted houses(ish), and the power of magic (both literal and emotional), this book is an absolute must-read.

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy from the author; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. There's queer representation, romance, siblings coming together breaking generational curses, it's dark and mysterious. And there's a cat! It's cozy but also has hard hitting topics that I think have it that much more depth.

I never expected to go on the emotional journey I did when I picked up this ARC. It was so beautiful and emotional and bittersweet.

Witches of Honeysuckle House is a story of love, family, generational trauma, and creating a new beginning from a tragic childhood. It goes over multiple timelines but the way it’s presented is easy to follow.

I was so drawn in to this book I could not put it down. Liz Parker had me crying over a fictional house! Throughout the entire story you not only have the Caldwell witches as protagonists but also this house they live in. I love the lore of a witches home coming to life, having its own special magic. You got to really see this come through in the story. I loved it so much.

There is so much LGBTQ representation throughout the whole book it makes my bisexual heart so happy. These are the types of stories young people need when they’re growing up and questioning who they are. Once’s that show that this is normal and okay. That someone’s sexuality doesn’t need to be a big song and dance when there is a “come out”. That people can acknowledge it and continue on, because that person is still them no matter who they’re attracted to or love. Liz Parker put this to life in this book, and when I read it I felt so seen and understood.

In this novel about the Caldwell witches, sisters Evie and Florence have made a life in a small Tennessee town. Florence owns a magical bookshop and Evie runs a bed and breakfast from their sentient family home. But the sisters are living in the shadow of a dark curse; every thirteen years someone dear to them dies and they are determined that this will not happen again.

Efforts made to lift the curse created a suspenseful atmosphere in the novel and the way that the curse’s origin was explored through a dual timeline worked well. The transition between events in the past and present felt seamless and multiple points of view helped to sustain my interest. The sibling dynamic between Florence and Evie felt real, though I thought that their individual personalities needed further development to make their characters feel more distinct from one another.

This novel had some aspects of the cosy fantasy genre, but it felt too high stakes to be a comforting read and became progressively darker as the story developed. I’d recommend this novel to readers who enjoy magical realism. Thank you to the publisher – Alcove Press – and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The premise was great, the mystery side of the story kept me guessing and hooked the whole time. I loved how we were jumping in time from present to the past and learning a bit more about the curse and how it started.
Ink was by far my favorite character, I have a thing for cats... also, what a great name for a cat.
The inclusion of queer characters was appreciated and really I liked how this book dealt with past trauma of some of the characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press fir the ARC of this book.

Florence and Evie Caldwell have long disagreed on how to break their family’s curse, and tension has been high since their mother’s death thirteen years ago. Honeysuckle House, the family estate where every Caldwell has lived, now only houses one of the sisters. Evie has crafted it into an enchanted bed and breakfast while Florence runs a magical bookstore in town, refusing to even set foot inside Honeysuckle House.

But when the house starts behaving dangerously and catches fire, Florence and Evie must set aside their differences and dig into past generations of their family and the town’s history before the curse claims someone they love.

Unfortunately I did not care for this book. It had promised from the description, but fell shirt for me. I didn't like the characters nor the storyline.

2 out of 5 ⭐️

A beautiful exploration of generational trauma through the whimsical ways of magic. This book was, at its core, a story of sisterhood. The beauty and the pain that it can be.

I quite enjoyed that we saw it not only through the eyes of the current generation, but from a different pair of sisters too. Women whose experiences and lives informed the lives of others they never even got to meet. Pain has a way of carrying through generations in ways we ourselves may never know. It was interesting to see that in the pages of this book.

I quite enjoyed how both women that we mainly followed had vastly different ways of dealing with their trauma, but ultimately the same goal. Their combined efforts brought a satisfying conclusion.

A story about overcoming, even not without our scars, and being the cause for hope for the future generation.

The same walls that saw so much pain, love, grief, suffering also hold the hope for a brighter tomorrow.

I thought this book would be a good fit for me.
There were a number of plot characteristics
that I normally enjoy reading about (magic, witches, enchanted places, bookstore to name a few).

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped. I didn't find the characters,the plot or the magic/rituals being performed engrossing.

I did enjoy reading about the special hand painted tarot decks.

Publication Date October 21, 2025
Alcove Press

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return from my honest opinion.

#arc #netgalley
#WitchesofHoneysuckleHouse #alcovepress
#lgbtqiap+ #Fantasy #curse #Witches #secrets #house