A lonely young witch hiding in plain sight finds acceptance and family in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, the romantic, effervescent first adult novel by YA and middle-grade author Sangu Mandanna (Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom; A Spark of White Fire; The Lost Girl).
Mika Moon chafes at the Rules, a set of regulations established for witches, chief of which is that witchcraft remain secret. Her tiny act of rebellion is posting social media videos of real magic tricks. She expects viewers to say she's a fake. However, "in a big house in a quiet, windy corner of the Norfolk countryside, a skinny old man in a magnificent rainbow scarf and enormous fluffy slippers was saying exactly the opposite." Mika receives a direct message requesting a live-in tutor for three magically gifted girls at remote Nowhere House. She accepts. In addition to the precocious children, she meets elderly Ian and Ken, devoted husbands; the kindly housekeeper, Lucie; and grumpy, gorgeous librarian Jamie. Mika finds that she fits into this makeshift family, but her happiness may unravel when she learns the denizens of Nowhere House have a bigger secret than magic.
This cozy, charming fantasy about found family and self-acceptance enfolds readers in a delightful cocoon of magic and humor. The slow-burn romance between Jamie and Mika progresses satisfyingly from adorable to steamy, but the story's strength lies in its diverse ensemble cast. Relationships among characters are well-drawn and heartwarming, and the author's kidlit background shines in her well-realized child characters. Readers looking for an affirming comfort read will happily succumb to Mandanna's spell. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads