Reading this book felt like receiving the perfect hug—comforting, warm, and filled with heart. It beautifully weaves themes of found family and everyday magic, reminding us that enchantment often lies in the little moments.

I absolutely adored Sera as the main character, and the quirky, lovable residents of the inn quickly found a place in my heart. The inn itself was so charming and vivid that I genuinely wish I could book a stay there!

This story is like sipping hot chocolate on a chilly winter’s day—a soothing balm for the soul. It’s a gentle yet powerful reminder that we are capable of facing hard things and that support and community can be found when we need them most.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars - cosy fantasy

Sera, a powerful young witch, finds her great Aunt Jasmine dead and uses her magic to resurrect her. In doing so, she loses the majority of her magic and is exiled from the magic community. Years later, Sera is running an Inn with Jasmine and their long term quirky guests, whilst searching for a spell to restore her magic.

I squealed when I received the arc for this as the secret society has remained my favourite cosy fantasy of all time, and this one probably takes second place. Both books are like sitting down with a cosy blanket and a big mug of hot chocolate. A story full of found family, learning to love yourself and a sprinkling of fairy tale magic.

The inns guests made the story for me and I would love a stay there even in the tea raining room! I loved and cared about them all equally but I especially loved Clemmie a witch cursed to live as a fox.

I loved how the restoration spell made Sera realise she was just as special and loved with or without her magic. The romance between her and Luke was sweet and I loved the side story with Posy.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a warm, whimsical hug of a book that delivers on its promise of cosy fantasy, although it may not cast a lasting spell.

The story follows a young witch named Sera who loses her magical powers after casting a spell to bring a loved one back to life. What follows is fifteen years of exile from the magical world, largely left devoid of any magical powers. The majority of the story is set in her great-aunt’s magical inn—a charming, almost sentient house that caters to magical guests. It’s a comforting premise, rich with potential, and Mandanna leans into the cosiness: enchanted rooms, old secrets, magical creatures, and a strong sense of found family. The worldbuilding is light but enjoyable, and the inn itself is a highlight— something along the lines of if Howl’s Moving Castle and Gilmore Girls had a magical B&B baby.

Where the novel shines is in its atmosphere. This is a book best read under a blanket with a cup of tea nearby. There’s grief and healing woven through Sera’s journey, and those emotional beats feel sincere, even if they occasionally lack depth.

The plot might meander a little—especially in the middle—and some of the conflicts resolve a bit too easily to feel fully satisfying. The romance subplot is sweet but maybe a tad underdeveloped, and certain characters could have used more fleshing out. It felt like the book wasn’t quite sure if it wanted to be low-stakes comfort or something more emotionally weighty.

This is also a novel that shows precisely how to include meaningful representation within a story without it seeming like tokenism. Misogyny, race, queerness, mixed families, neurodivergence—you can expect the lot.

If you’re in the mood for something gentle, escapist, and full of magical hospitality, this novel will likely leave you smiling. It’s not a perfect stay, but it’s a pleasant one—and sometimes, that’s all you need.

This book felt like a warm hug and a mug of piping, steaming hot chocolate. I adored this one so so much and finished it pretty much all in one sitting. The found family trope will always be something that speaks to me and the found family in this one was absolutely beautiful to read about and see unfold (I would die for everyone in this book, especially Matilda and Nicholas).

If you want to read about a witch who lost her powers living with a zombie chicken, a resurrected aunt, a medieval fair knight and talking fox all whilst running a magical Inn and falling in love then this book is absolutely for you. The characters are what make this book and I adored all of them so so much. I cannot wait to see what Sangu Mandanna writes next.

This book made me want to quit my job and run a magical inn with a talking fox, undead rooster, and maybe a ghost or two 👻🦊.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches around—until she brought her great-aunt back from the dead (minor oops) and accidentally got herself exiled. Now she's stuck managing a moody, magical inn in a sleepy English village, where a fox talks, the guests are chaotic, and a hot grump (hi Luke 👀) might actually be into her.

This book is the *coziest magical chaos* you could ask for. It’s like *if Gilmore Girls moved into a haunted cottage and fell in love with Practical Magic*. I laughed out loud, got misty-eyed, and constantly wanted to crawl into the pages for a cup of tea and emotional healing 🍵✨.

Why You’ll Love This Book:
🪄 Found family
🦊 Talking fox with attitude
🏡 A magical inn that’s practically a main character
👩‍❤️‍👨 Grumpy x sunshine romance that *slow burns*
😂 Quirky humor + emotional depth = perfection

Tropes:

* Magical inheritance
* Grumpy x sunshine
* Second chances & starting over
* Found family
* Small village charm with witchy flair

Final Thoughts:
This book is like wrapping yourself in a fuzzy blanket and being handed a cinnamon roll by a witch. Pure comfort, with just enough mischief to keep it magical 💫

I described Sangu Mandanna's previous novel, "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" as "a hug in a mug" and the same description could easily apply to "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping". Both novels tell the story of witches who are hiding from the world- though in very different ways.
Sera Swan was one of the most powerful witches in Britain, but a hasty plan to resurrect her deceased aunt Jasmin, results in some unexpected consequences - including the return of a long dead rooster! But I'm getting sidetracked.
Instead of living the life that she had imagined, Sera finds herself running a magical inn, providing a home to a very loveable, if unusual group of guests, who eventually form a wonderful family.
There is love, loss, danger and plenty of comic moments in Magical Innkeeping and this is a book that I'll be keeping nearby to lift my spirits whenever needed.
A must for you bookshelf.

This was another gorgeous cosy fantasy novel from Sangu Mandanna. Sera Swann was once one of the most powerful witches in England but after resurrecting her beloved aunt, she now only has a fragment of her previous magic and uses that to keep her inn running smoothly. She’s perfectly happy with that state of affairs and the family group she has created there until she discovers the existence of an old spell that could possibly restore her magic.
Sangu Mandanna has created a beautiful haven at The Batty Hole Inn, Her descriptive writing is just gorgeous whether she is describing the inn, the surrounding countryside or the use of magic. I would love to go and stay there and look out over the rolling countryside before eating scones in the cosy kitchen. The book is quite slow paced at the beginning as we get to know Sera, Jasmine and the other characters but it does build up speed as the plot unfolds.
As with her previous book, there is romance here but the thing that holds the book together is the found family. As the inn works its magic, the random group of characters grows as they are all drawn to its promise of warmth and peace. I loved all of the characters even though like all families, you can’t necessarily trust every one. One of the main messages for me was that people have to be who they are meant to be and shouldn’t try to fit themselves into boxes created by others. Belonging is also a big theme of the book as several of the characters including Sera herself feel that they don’t quite belong .
The romance between Sera and Luke is a lovely slow burn affair which isn’t quite enemies to lovers but they certainly start off with very different views on life. I enjoyed seeing how Luke gradually felt more comfortable at the inn and how they both came to trust one another.
I loved the depiction of magic in this book. Here it is a very personal thing and each of the witches sees it differently. For Sera, the magic sends her soaring into a night sky whereas for Clemmie, it’s a thing of teeth and claws. All the spells are cast differently too rather than being set in stone. The author describes magic as ‘chameleon like’ which sums it up perfectly.
This was a lovely warm-hearted book that acts as a huge hug despite covering some quite serious issues. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book in one phrase - pure, cozy perfection. I have been looking forward to A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping so getting to read it early was such a blessing. If I had to describe this book in one phrase, I would use "pure cozy perfection" to describe it. It's witchy, it's magical, it's charming, it's delightfully funny, it's deeply romantic and has the found family trope. Literally the perfect recipe for a great read.

The writing is so comforting and feels like you're being wrapped in a warm hug. I love the way it immediately absorbs you into the story and takes you on a wondrous adventure with the characters. Seriously, I would pay good money to stay at this magical inn (which is lowkey sentient) and experience all the chaos that takes place within its walls. There are honestly not enough words to describe how much I love Sangu Mandanna's writing (the yapper in me wants to just yap for pages)

Sera is my girl. I love her and relate to her so hard. She's such a kind person and cares so much for all the residents of her inn, but often ignores her own feelings, but as she starts on a quest to restore her magic and break a curse, you can slowly see her recognize that it's okay to ask for help. Her character development is masterfully done. Also, I can't express enough how funny she is. I was laughing so much as some of her dialogue.

Of course, I have to mention (not-so) ice-cold Luke....I need someone like him. Like, he might be one of the most attractive men that I've read in romance this year. Behind that cold exterior is a man who cares deeply, for his sister, for his work and eventually for Sera. Their dynamic is honestly so adorable, and even before they realise their attraction towards each other, you can see the sparks between them. The progression of their relationship feels so natural, and they're perfect for each other.

The book has decently high stakes, but also is a cozy romance at heart, striking a flawless balance between the two. Also, there's such a really chaotic and fun cast of side characters and they're all so so lovable (Nicholas you have my heart <333). I had such a blast reading this and I can't wait to own a physical copy!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book early, my views are my own.

I read The very secret society of irregular witches a little while ago and adored it, and my feelings about reading A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping isn't much different.

I loved Sera, her unwavering loyalty to those she loves and a seemingly infinite capacity for love itself. She created what is basically another character in this novel itself: the Inn. It reacts to her feelings, and plays with magic, and is somewhere I think I would love to live if it existed.

All the characters feel really solid and real, which is what I expected from a Sangu Mandanna novel as she writes characters with so much depth that there isn't really anyone I didn't care about or understand. Though a small part of me wanted a smidge more focus on Posey as I have people I care about who are on the autistic spectrum too and I would have loved to see her story developed just a little bit more - though maybe this will be followed up in a future book.

The romance plotlines also felt very true and I was rooting for them all the entire book.

Oh, and the running theme of parental neglect was very interesting - it made me want to see some flashbacks to everyone's childhoods to really delve deeper into those. I think it really balances the beautiful found family everyone has in the Inn by showing that blood isn't everything, and you earn the trust of those you love, you don't just get it because you're genetically related to someone. Though how anyone could leave Sera or Posey I don't know, they are the loveliest people.

I don't know how much more I can gush about this book, so just hear me when I say it's a beautiful and cosy read that I think everyone would enjoy.

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟳𝟱

꒰ Sera Swan finds herself in a predicament after discovering her great-aunt dead in their garden. Determined to restore things to how they were, Sera believes she has the power to bring her back, but this decision leads to her exile from the guild.

Fifteen years later, Sera now hosts an unusual group of guests. Amidst all the chaos and challenges, she has created a family of long-term guests, each of whom finds solace and a sense of belonging in the cozy embrace of their inn, Batty Hole. One day, she unexpectedly encounters Luke Larsen, the guild's magical historian, along with his sister Posy, who also find refuge in the inn and might hold the key to all her problems. ꒱

𓈒⟡₊⋆∘ ❝She still longed for the stars and the sky, because they were a part of her and nothing would ever replace them, but there was, nevertheless, something rather lovely about the weird, wonderful, ordinary everydayness of living. ❞˚⊹ ࿔


release date: july 15, 2025 ⟢

⌞ what to expect: ⌝
⌗ cozy fantasy
⌗ whimsical characters
⌗ found family
⌗ dream job in a magical inn
⌗ second chances

Sangu does a fantastic job with her writing and creating a magical atmosphere that initially drew me to her other book. i am so glad i experienced the same enchanting feel in this one as well. it was a blast, filled with many crazy yet fun moments, featuring a wild range of diverse characters.

❝ You always expect to leave, so you’re always waiting for it. ❞


we beautifully explore the theme of trauma, allowing us to connect deeply with each character's journey. Sera’s quest for self-redemption and Luke’s struggle to keep one foot out the door for most of his life stand out. Sera and Luke's deep understanding and respect for one another are something that i admired, apart from their camaraderie. taking responsibility for others can make a person forget about themselves, and they find comfort and support in one another.

❝ Funny, isn’t it?” Her twinkling gaze fixed on Sera. “Families share a name, apparently, yet here we are. ❞


i particularly appreciated how the minor characters, despite being joyful and bubbly whenever we catch them, each also carry their unique stories and challenges, which i rarely see in supporting roles.

✶⋆.˚. ❝ The ones I used to see every time I closed my eyes. There used to be whole galaxies there, but I only see a few constellations now.❞


Sera, accustomed to her remarkable powers, comes to cherish the beauty in the quirky and extraordinary aspects of everyday life, highlighting the magic that exists in our daily experiences.

there was one scene from her other book that i wished had been removed, as it felt out of place in a story that was so cozy, whimsical, and comforting. but other than that, this book truly warmed my heart, and i hope everyone gives it a chance when they're looking for a delightful and fun fantasy about a magical innkeeper and her quirky yet charming guests.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and of course, Sangu Mandanna for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑

✿˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚

i've been waiting for sangu mandanna's follow up to the very secret society of irregular witches for years. and i'm so happy to report that this is just as charming and fun

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I loved this cosy fantasy, its full of fantastic characters, an engaging story and a beautiful magic system. I only wish it were longer!

This might be my favourite book of the year, and I loved it even more than Mandanna's last adult book (my best book of 2024).

It was warm, whimsical and genuinely heartwarming. A rabble of chosen family live at a run down magical B&B up in Lancashire, where rain can fall for a few minutes each afternoon and a zombie chicken runs around.

This magic is overflowing at the expense of one woman's loss of abilities and community though. Soon a new, nerdy, grumpy kind of man will come to the B&B with his daughter and some long asked questions start to be answered.

This book is to me what cosy fantasy should be, a whole bucket of fun and therapeutic adventure for adults wanting to please or heal their inner child.

In A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping we follow Sera Swan, who used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Until one day when resurrecting her aunt (and an accidental rooster) takes almost all of her power. After this event, Sera decides to focus on running an inn together with her aunt. Nowadays, the inn is filled with lots of quirky guests. She gets a chance to get her powers back, but she’ll also risk to lose everything she’d built.

Unfortunately, A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping didn’t live up to my expectations. I really liked its predecessor, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and while both are similar in themes, I feel like that book hit the mark better. That being said, I think it’s still a good cozy romantasy novel.

The characters were all very well developed. I really liked Sera, but also all the inn residents. They were all very lovable, layered and funny. The found family aspect of the story was very well written. The romance between Sera and Luke was cute, but not really noticeable. I wish this was a bit better developed, because it didn’t add a lot to the story in my opinion.

The magic system is quite simple, and not very developed, but that’s okay for a cozy, low-stakes kind of fantasy.
I can definitely recommend this story if you’re more of a cozy reader and liked books Legends and Lattes and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another wonderful work from Sangu Mandanna. She honestly has such a way with warm, comforting stories; but more than that, her writing is also very clever (that whole passage that describes Malik and Sera’s friendship!!!). After Nowhere House, it’s Batty Hole Inn’s turn in North West England to serve as a safe haven for our characters. Those mad people make for a colourful bunch and you can’t help but love every single one of them (even you, Clemmie). I truly enjoy books about found families, about finally being accepted the way you are after wandering for so long, not fitting in anywhere. Luke and Posy’s journey was particularly painful in this regard, but it ended so beautifully. The novel itself ends so beautifully. This reading experience was a magical adventure with profound messages I’ll keep close to my heart.

(Side note but the thing about witches and alliterative names is weirdly satisfying? Also, the drawing of Roo-Roo at the end is just perfect.)

“You’ve built a beautiful world, Sera Swan”.

Those words, sweetly uttered by Luke, the magic historian, are the perfect words to sum up Sangu Mandanna’s “A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping”, a standalone novel in a witchcore world hidden in contemporary England, very much like “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches”. This book is the perfect read for the rainy autumn days with a fresh cup of tea and a warm blanket.

When Sera Swan was 15 she was on her way to be the most powerful witch in England, an honour only to be shared with her mentor, who is a prideful man who seems to only live to gain power by bullying everyone in the witch world, Sera included. Sera’s only close relative is her great-aunt Jasmine and a sentient fox named Clemmie, and together they live in the family inn in Lancashire. All of a sudden Jasmine dies, leaving her niece alone with Clemmie, who happens to know of a spell that would resurrect Jasmine.

Sera manages to bring Jasmine back to life, but in the process she loses almost all of her magic, leaving her with only enough power to keep protecting the inn and its people. She is expelled from the Guild, an organization that governs and protects all the witches in England, and so, she becomes simply Sera the innkeeper.

The Inn is the center of the novel. This is a much deeper an darker novel than “The Very Secret Society…” but still it has the same cottage core, witch core and acceptance feel to it. A timeskip of 15 years finds Sera still keeping the inn, a safe place full of a magic that hides it from the eyes of the world except those who need shelter, comfort and a guiding light. There she lives with lovely Jasmine, Theo, Sera’s tween cousin, Matilda, a retired former ballet teacher, Nicholas, a young man who dresses as a medieval knight, Clemmie, the mischievous fox and… a rooster made of bones that Sera brought back to life along with Jasmine. Soon, two more people will join the inn, someone at the guild sends Sera help in the person of Luke, a magic historian, who brings his very young sister Posy with him.

All of the people of the inn have something in common. They have all been rejected by the people who were supposed to love them the most. For one reason or other, they find themselves forming a new family full of love, support, understanding, and above everything else, acceptance. The inn keeps them safe like a protective mother who makes tea and scones and hugs you when you’re sad. That’s what makes this book so special, that and the characters’ unique to them quirks, they’re all adorable. Sera and Luke becoming friends despite not seeing eye to eye at the beginning, their chemistry slowly turns into something else throughout the novel, a feeling that influences everyone else at the inn.

All of the characters help each other and Sera deal with depression, anxiety and the shared feeling of not fitting in anywhere but here. There are still more battles to be fought, but in the meantime, we’ll share good times with the people who chose us as theirs. This is, indeed, a comfort read full of unforgettable characters and a heartwarming feel that lingers.

Firstly thank you to netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the chance to read this arc.

I've been trying to decide on a rating for two days now . what was a very highly anticipated read for me turned out to be abit flat. Now don't get me wrong it was a nice easy read, good characters, but something was missing. I feel like some parts were abit rushed, and then some parts were completely unnecessary (mainly the "spice" scene) I know a lot of people have rated this 4/5 stars which is great for them. For me personally I just didn't get that feeling. I always dislike when everyone loves something but I always feel like maybe I'm in the wrong, but that is just the book industry. Some people will give 5 stars and love something, other people will rate it lower and not love it. All of these opinions are valid.

3.5 (we need half stars please netgalley)

I have went into this expecting delight and that's what I got. Mandanna has woven us a story of love, self-acceptance, finding ones own place, one own magic, finding self, family and healing. In an ensemble of lovely characters we saw what love, acceptance and growth mean to wounded and traumatised souls. This will be a book I recommend a lot and Sangu Mandanna a auto-buy author.

My rating is 4.25 and that's due to intimacy and "spice" feeling quite unnecessary.

I have waited an impossibly long time to read this book for has faced multiple delays, but it was worth the wait. I loved the author’s first book and knew she’d become an auto-buy author for me.

Sera and her found family as Batty Hole Inn was just everything you need in a cosy fantasy book. This is a true testament to how much your found family is just as special as your actual family, sometimes even more. With such a mix of eccentric and weirdly wonderful characters, this stood as the core of the story.

But we also have Sera who is looking to reclaim her magic. Sera was a fantastic FMC and I loved everything about her. You feel her anguish at having lost her magic, but also her protectiveness of the life she has created for herself without it. I almost didn’t want her to get it back, but she was the true hero and I won’t ruin why that is.

Luke and Sera were a great couple, but I just wish we got a smidge more of them together as this part felt quite hastily put together. But no complaints from me as Luke is just a cute little cinnamon role.

Safe to say, this book did not disappoint and I will continue to read Sangu’s books as long as they’re released.

I really enjoyed Sangu Mandanna's previous book The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches so I was very excited to pick up her latest release A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping. Whilst this has a similar vibe to her previous book it features separate characters and a new world. I really loved this book. It is a cosy, heart-warming magical fantasy that is really well done. There is just enough intrigue and plot to keep it interesting and wanting to read on whilst also striking that cosy balance. The characters are extremely lovable and the found family aspect is brilliantly done. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoyed the authors previous book and anyone looking to read a heart-warming and cosy magical book.