10 Witchy Romcom Reads for Spooky Season
I adore October. Something about the shift in seasons that invites a shift in ourselves too. Leaves explode in technicolor and shed gently to the earth, reminding us that we can shed the layers of ourselves that are too heavy to carry too. A chill in the morning air beckons us to bundle up and turn inward, honoring the space between summer and winter with a playful reverence. Best of it all, Halloween invites us into this space of play and joy, to decorate our houses, ourselves and our communities in fun and festivity for this hallowed event of the season.
My favorite part of Halloween might be my dedication to the Halloween romantic comedy book - a genre of witchy wonder that makes me feel like I could get my letter from Hogwarts at any moment. I jump into worlds of reformed ogres manning cozy bookshops, fly through towns where a witch’s magic has gone awry, and spell myself into novels where fae and warlocks fall in love under the most magical circumstances. It brings me so much joy and marks this transitional season with fun and adventure that I’d love to share with you all. Here are my top 10 favorite witchy magical romantic comedy books to mark this special season. I hope you enjoy and have a truly magical season.
Read this if: You want a book that feels like a warm hug with a side of romance
This warm and uplifting book is one of my favorites. It follows Mika Moon, an orphaned witch who has to hide her powers which she does through an online account where she ‘pretends’ to be a witch. When an unexpected message arrives, she is called to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. Mika is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House who would do anything to protect the children. There’s some great romantic undertones here and a lot of love in the heart of Nowhere House that really is a story about finding community and a sense of home.
Read this if: You want a beautiful story that makes you cry and feel better about the state of the world
This may just be in my top 10 books of all time and it is astounding to me it hasn’t become a major motion picture yet. It is absolutely charming, heartwarming, and I was simply enchanted by this story from the first word to the very last page. It follows Linus Baker, a forty year old leading a quiet life as a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth. He spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days. Without revealing too much - Linus is faced with many choices like who he’ll choose to love, what he’s willing to protect and if what he’s been told his whole life is really the path that is right. Do yourself a favor and just start it! Follow with Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the epic conclusion to the series.
Read this if: You love a story about misfits coming together and protagonists who come into their own
This is very similar vibes to The House in the Cerulean Sea - cozy, heartwarming, and community oriented. It follows Iris Collins who is a down-on-her-luck, never had magic witch in a family of rude vampires who suck emotions rather than blood. But when she inherits a quaint purple Victorian in the quirky town of St. Claire, she seizes the chance to start over away from her family--on her terms. She looks to turn the falling apart house into a home for anyone who hasn’t felt like they belong and in walks a bizarre and loveable cast of characters who bolster each other amid an anti-magic regime that feels a lot like our modern day political sphere. There’s a steamy-light romance with a shapeshifter from her past and a great twist at the end worth sticking around for.
Read this if: The world is feeling too heavy and you want a fun escape
This book is described as ‘high fantasy with low stakes’ and it’s perfect if you’re looking for a light book you can escape into for awhile that feels like a warm hug. Viv, a battle-weary orc who is ready to hang up her sword, opens the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. The cast of travelers and workers in the shop is nothing but a delight and I found myself entranced by the world Baldree creates here and the mysticism of the city of Thune. There’s a nice mystery throughout this one with LGBTQ+ romances that fuel this and subsequent novels in the Legends and Lattes world by Baldree.
Read this if: You’ve always wanted to step inside your favorite book and are looking for a bit of magical realism
I love everything Ashley Poston writes and A Novel Love Story is no exception. The magical realism queen takes the question: ‘What would happen if you could live in your favorite book?’ and creates an actual book in response. The main character Eileen finds her car broken down on the way to her annual book club retreat and she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…and it is. Eloraton, the own of her favorite romance series where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story. Elsy must bring the storybook ending to fruition except for the sexy character who she can’t place, who wants to make sure she can never help the town write that last chapter.
Read this if: You’re looking for Gilmore Girls vibes with a side of magic
I’m currently on book two of this series that explores the stories of a coven of witches plotting to overthrow the current coven regime. This first book highlights Emerson Wilde, the youngest Chamber of Commerce president in St. Cyprian history with incredible best friends. But when Emerson is attacked by creatures that shouldn't be real, and kills them with what can only be called magic, Emerson finds that the past decade of her life has been...a lie. St. Cyprian isn't your average Midwestern river town--it's a haven for witches. When Emerson failed a power test years ago, she was stripped of her magical memories. Turns out, Emerson's friends are all witches. And so is she. Her and her friends must uncover her magic and find a way to save the town which has evil brewing in its rivers before its too late. Oh, and Emerson must figure out her feelings for her childhood friend--cranky-yet-gorgeous local farmer Jacob North— who might just hold the key to saving the town…and her heart.
Read this if: You want a time bending mystery with a side of romance and sass
I am a big nerdy Dr. Who fan but even if you’ve never heard of Dr. Who this story is an incredible mysterious time-bending adventure written by Alex Kingston (who plays River Song on the show). It’s set in 1939 where two stories run in parallel. First, private eye Melody Malone who is hired to find a stolen ruby that holds the secret location of Cleopatra’s tomb - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. Can Melody escape the ruby's curse? Second, River Song, author of the series is forced to find a reality-altering weapon that seems to be cursed as well. Crossing New York, Egypt, London and more, Melody and River’s stories run in parallel to understand the curse and solve the mystery before fiction becomes fact. This book had me laughing and cheering Melody and River on, with a daring twist at the end that kept my mind running for days.
Read this if: You want a fun series with some steamy scenes and laugh out loud funny characters
Another fun series with some extremely steamy scenes which follows a cast of magical beings and the hijinks they get into. The first book tells the story of Mariel Spark who is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain. Ozroth the Ruthless is a powerful demon who is unnervingly attracted to Mariel and when they need to start fake dating to keep up appearances, real attraction blooms between them which complicates matters for the whole soul stealing bargain thing. Laugh out loud funny and fun with endearing characters and a swirling plot that keeps you guessing till the end.
Read this if: You want a boundary bending read or want a romance novel with a side of sisters who have your back
This is less comedy but a beautiful novella from the author of one of my favorite books This is How You Lose the Time War who expertly crafts stories that speak volumes about the human condition. This story follows two sisters who live on the edge of Faerie who tend and harvest the enchanted willows and sing to them to thank them for their magic. But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favor of a love from the land of Faerie, two risky love stories ensue that cross boundaries of time and space. One of Esther and the man from Faerie’s love, and perhaps the even more beautiful love between the sisters whose bond is simply beautiful.
Read this if: You love books about books, stories of found family, and a good mystery
How I love books about magical bookshops, let me count the ways. This is a genre to itself and perhaps I should do a full post on just magical books about bookshops but this one by Evie Woods takes the cake (book?) for me. In three parallel stories, we see Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder... where nothing is as it seems.
Honorable Mention:
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida (Translated by E. Madison Shimoda)
Read this if: You are an animal lover, dig magical realism, or want a cozy feel-good novel
Another genre I’ve been a big fan of lately is cozy Korean and Japanese magical realism novels. This one doesn’t really have romantic undertones but is funny and poignant all at once. The Kokoro Clinic in Kyoto can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.
Health coach, meditation teacher, reiki master and woman on a mission to help you live life on your terms.
Read More