Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

This book just feels like a warm hug from a good friend. It's so sweet without being saccharin, the found family element is so well-done, I just loved every bit of it! I wish I could be friends with Mika, she's a delight!

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novella42's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Completely charming and cozy. Lovely low-fi speculative fiction!

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rorikae's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

'The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' by Sangu Mandanna is a cozy fantasy about one witch finding the family she's always dreamed of.
Mika Moon lives alone, isolated from other witches but using her 'magical abilities' on her YouTube channel. But one day she gets a strange request in her inbox. She has been invited to tutor three young witches living under the watchful eye of a few people in an isolated house. Mika takes up the offer but the girls and the situation surrounding them may be more than she can handle.
Mandanna does an excellent job of creating a whole cast of characters that it is easy to care for. They each have their our faults and positive traits that makes them easy to love. Mika and her background in particular, make her easy to root for, especially as she starts to believe she's found a family after so long. The plot itself isn't overly complex but I think this book is best for people looking for something with a lot of heart and coziness. I do wish that more time was spent with the three girls. Their dynamic with Mika was wonderful to see. This book is a great read for the cozier, winter months and there is even a scene during the Winter Solstice. I'm very excited for the second book in this series as this was a truly cozy, heartwarming book.

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thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book has been on my fall TBR since it published, and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a cozy fall read! This is such a feel-good book with a lovely English setting and a charming cast of characters. At times, it does suffer from having too many characters, but each of them is so lovely and feels so fully realized that it's hard to stay mad about it.
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here!
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months.

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lunep's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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clarabooksit's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I couldn’t put down this sweet story of a lonely young witch bonding with a houseful of strays that have made a home in each other.

This gem of a feel-good story was a very happy surprise, for me. I just loved it.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a cozy, engaging and diverse read with a likable lead, cute kids, found family and a soft enemies-to-lovers romance. I fell hard for the way Mandanna wove loneliness and whimsy together in her writing and I’m really looking forward to the sequel coming out this year.

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daphne_430's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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boba_n_books's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was like a warm hug. Each personality was so distinct but worked with the others so well to create a beautifully diverse family in more ways than one.

I loved Mika and the way she was able to work through her trauma and even help Primrose with hers. Mika was able to create space for everyone around her including the three young witches who needed it most. The slow burn between Jamie and Mika was really sweet and showcased the grumpy x sunshine trope well.

Overall, I came to love each of the characters and the way they fit into the family. Was it a tad predictable? Sure. But was it heartwarming and fun? Absolutely.

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