Thank you NetGalley for giving me the eARC copy for my honest review.

This was definitely a cosy fantasy with a little sprinkle of romance.

Have a bad day? Don’t want anything complicated and still get your heartstrings pulled, this is the book for you.

It is a lot slower than the irregular secret society of witches, but also I don’t think you should go into this comparing the two as they are completely different books.

There were very important messages in between the pages about looking at yourself, getting to know who you are and about the people around you.

That brings me to the found family, a bunch of quirky cast offs that come together to cause chaos and love from a skeleton chicken, a heroic knight, a handful of humans, witches and a cunning villainous fox, with an agenda!
Everyone was a delight to meet and I loved them all.

I will admit that I felt like there was something about the book that was missing for me, I can’t really explain it, while it was still cosy and beautiful and magical it felt like it was missing just that extra sparkle of magic for me.

This was a 3.75 read.

If you're in your cozy fantasy era—or looking for a gentle escape filled with whimsy, warmth, and found family—A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a perfect pick. With its heartwarming charm and enchanting setting, this book is another magical success from Sangu Mandanna, offering the same delightful atmosphere of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

The story centers on Sera Swan, a witch who lost her magic after a heartfelt but reckless act to resurrect her beloved great-aunt, Jasmine. Now running a magical inn with said aunt—who’s back from the dead and as opinionated as ever—Sera tries to live a quiet life, until the arrival of Luke Larsen, a grumpy and mysterious historian. Their slow-burn romance unfolds alongside a deeper quest: unlocking a spell that could restore Sera’s lost powers.

The inn itself is a standout character, and its eclectic cast makes every page sparkle. From Clemmie, the sarcastic fox-turned-witch, to Roo-Roo the zombie rooster, every inhabitant brings something weird, wonderful, and touching to the story. The blend of humor and heart is spot on, and Mandanna handles themes of grief, redemption, and self-acceptance with a light but meaningful touch.

The pacing isn’t perfect—the first half leans into the slice-of-life charm, while the second half suddenly ramps up into plot resolution territory. Some readers might wish for more time spent unpacking key emotional beats near the end. Similarly, the magical system and world-building serve more as a cozy backdrop than a richly developed fantasy framework. But that’s part of the charm—this is a story more about heart than high stakes.

With inclusive and thoughtful representation, quirky dialogue, and a setting that feels like a magical hug, A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a warm, comforting read. If you loved The House in the Cerulean Sea or Mandanna’s previous work, you’ll find much to adore here. It’s the kind of book you curl up with on a rainy afternoon, a cup of tea in hand, and a smile on your face.

‘Sera had never planned to run the inn. It creaked, it leaked, and worst of all, it had people in it.’

This was the perfect palette cleanser; a great lighthearted choice for a summerween read!

The found family and cozy aesthetics paired together were absolutely perfect and exactly what I needed right now. Delightful representation and really loveable characters!

I enjoyed the writing a lot and would say my only criticism would be that I wish the romance plot was just a little more fleshed out…there could have definitely been more build up to them being together which would have upped my overall review.

That being said this was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more books by this author!

After adoring The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I couldn’t wait to dive into A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping and it delivered everything I was hoping for. Warm, whimsical, and brimming with heart, this is one of those books that feels like a blanket and a cup of tea in story form.
We follow a witch who takes over a magical inn—and with it, a house full of complicated histories, charming surprises, and a chosen family of flawed, lovable characters. It’s part romance, part self-discovery, all wrapped up in that soft, sparkling magic Sangu Mandanna writes so well.
✨ My Thoughts
I loved this book. It’s got such a cosy, feel-good energy, but it also explores deeper emotional threads with grace and honesty. The character development really stood out, there’s a lovely balance of light and shade, showing not just the magic, but the messiness of being human (or witch, as it were).
There’s also a real emphasis on found family, belonging, and healing without ever feeling overly sentimental. The diversity within the cast is truly refreshing. It feels natural, inclusive, and genuine.
It’s funny in places, tender in others, and always comforting. The kind of book that leaves you with a full heart and a quiet smile.
🪄 What I Loved
• Cosy, heartfelt atmosphere that draws you in and holds you gently
• Incredible, diverse characters with real emotional depth
• Character development that feels authentic, flawed but lovable
• Themes of healing, love, and self-acceptance wrapped in soft magic

Final Thoughts
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is an utterly charming and beautifully written celebration of love, growth, and magic, inside and out. Sangu Mandanna has once again created a world I didn’t want to leave. If you love witchy stories with warmth, heart, and a sprinkle of romance, this one is for you.

Sadly this one wasn't for me. Very whimsical and sweet but lacked on the depth I felt from the authors first book. Would still be keen to check out this authors other works, but just this one was a bit of a miss for me personally.

A great cute cosy fantasy!

This book had:
👩‍👧‍👦 Found family
❤️ Romance
🐓 Magical animals
🧙‍♀️ Guild politics
✨ A magical based "quest"

I loved all the characters, you could really tell care and attention was paid to each and everyone of them. They all had their own personalities that made them stand out in their own way.

Sera was a fantastic main character,.you could really feel her love for the inn, magic and other characters. And it was great being able to see her growth and learn the journey she has been on.

Luke was also a great main character, trying to balance his care and love for his sister while also battling with what he wants for his life.

The overarching plot was enough to keep me interested, and I really wanted to know what happened, but it never gripped me. I didn't find myself sitting down to read for long periods, I always ended up picking up this book in short bursts.

That often can be the curse of a cosy fantasy, where there's a lack of urgency to power through and know what happens next.

I would definitley read more in this world, I really do enjoy it! It's sweet, wholesome and just an all around great read!

4.5⭐️

I really loved The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches so I've been so looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. Such a cute, heartwarming cosy fantasy about found family and finding yourself.

We follow Sera Swan, a once formidable witch, as she gets a chance at regaining her magic which she lost performing an illegal spell to resurrect her beloved Aunt Jasmine. Sera runs her a small delightful inn, which attracts those who need it most.

This was the most delightfully warmhearted story full of whimsy, featuring a whole host of mix matched characters from a knight named Nicholas to a resurrected rooster called Roo-Roo. I really enjoyed seeing Sera come to discover things about herself as was faced with different experiences along the way. It leaves you feeling hopeful and warm inside, just what I needed.

Thank you to @netgalley and @hodderscape for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Such a sweet cosy book, filled with hope, love and found family. The rooster is my new favourite book pet! I thought this was a really beautiful story that just felt like a warm blanket. Sera was a really great MC and I loved reading about the kids relationship, they were both great characters.

If you know me, I've probably recommended A Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches to you a million and one times because I adored that book from the very first page to the very last! You can now add A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping to that list because it's just as delightful.

I don't know how Sangu does it, but she writes the most magical, comforting stories that just heal my inner child and make me feel like I've been wrapped up in a warm hug.
Her stories are so beautifully inclusive, and honestly, the representation for so many communities in this book is just wonderful to see.

Following Sera Swan, a once powerful witch as she gets a second chance of regaining her magic after losing it due to using illegal magic where she performs a resurrection spell on her deceased Aunt Jasmine.
Sera also co-runs the most delightful inn fondly called The Batty Hole, and I actually could envisage booking a room there it seems like so much fun.
Full of the quirkiest characters, including a semi-villianous talking fox. a resurrected skeletal chicken called Roo-Roo and a Knight called Nicholas, who I would personally die for.
This book is just joy personified.

Of course, there's also romance in the form of a grumpy magical historian called Luke Larsen and is full of all the swoon worthy moments you would expect.

I'm low-key obsessed with Sangu and her stories, and if you love cosy fantasy, then this should be high up on your tbr.

What a beautiful story. full of found family and an Autistic characters that shines a light on struggles but doesn't diminish them-- an entertaining tale.

I had such a good time with this, partly because I read this book at the right time. It was what I needed, and full of such joyous characters and world- I couldn't help but smile the whole time. The romance, while a core part of the story was a slow build and for those non-romance readers, enough to the side that this story would still appeal to them if they wanted a cosy book.

I enjoyed the trials the characters went through, and how they all came together to help each other out, but the ending, while I can see how others may call it bittersweet, fit the book perfectly.

This was lovely and heartwarming and just a beautiful found family story. I loved the characters so much they all brought something different to the story. I loved that many of these characters were older too. And for me personally I loved that it was set in Lancashire because that’s where i’m from!! I need a physical copy to read again and again

I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not a romance reader; in fact, romance is my least liked and read genre, hence me usually avoiding it. But in 2023 I happened to have read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and enjoy it more than expected (gave it a 4 star rating at the time), so I’ve been on the look out for Mandanna’s next novel since it got first announced. Well, I’m happy to confess it wasn’t just an isolated event, and that I actually had an even greater time with A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping’s characters and their shenanigans. Even more, Sangu Mandanna is now on my “auto add to tbr” list. I can love love, apparently.

What typically doesn’t work for me in romances is how cheesy (if not straight up cringe) the narrative style and the storyline can get, plus a general dislike for most of the popular tropes out there; I won’t lie and say there wasn’t the occasional tacky description or dialogue here and there, but I felt they weren’t so overabundant to particularly annoy me, and a solid writing style definitely made up for them. Ultimately, I found the whole cast multifaceted and easy to care for, the plot strong enough to hold my interest throughout the whole book, and the various themes and tropes explored - I won’t spoil them for you - to be done considerately.

This story managed to make a self proclaimed love grinch feel extra giddy, so it’s only fair for her (me) to reward it with a stellar rating. Until next time, Sangu Mandanna!

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the author’s previous novel ‘’the very secret society of irregular witches’’ so I was extremely excited to finally get my hands on her new witchy novel!!

Honestly, Sangu Mandanna is my new to go to author for cosy fantasies. Just something about her writing feels like wrapping your hands around a warm mug of tea after being caught in a rainstorm (if that makes any sense?). I love it when a found family doesn’t make any sense but at the same time also makes the most sense. Found family seems to be a recurring theme in her books (judging of the two i’ve read), and i am extremely sat for it each time. Keep it coming please, thank you!

I had nothing but fond feelings for the main character, Sera. She deserved the world and even more. I could really see a bit of myself in her (even thought I sadly don’t have any magical powers), and that made it even more intriguing to see what kind of way her story would go.

I have to say, i’m not the biggest fan of a certain trope that was featured towards the end. I get that it has to happen plotwise sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.

Can’t wait to read more of this author’s amazing work!

This is a gorgeous, gentle and magical story with all the feels.

It has a crumbling old inn that is a safe haven for people who really need it, but is invisible to everyone else. It has a found family of quirky souls who live together as their most authentic selves, supporting and loving each other just as they really are. It has a fox who used to be a witch until her own spell rebounded and cursed her, and it has a hidden magical community with corrupt leadership and a once powerful witch who lost her magic saving the aunt she loves.

Sera is a fabulous main character. She runs the inn with her aunt Jasmine, wishing she could reclaim the magic she lost when she brought her aunt back to life all those years ago. But she loves her family, and looking after them is her life. When Luke, a witch from the Guild and her teenage crush, arrives at her door with his little sister Posy, her found family becomes more complicated and she has to choose whether or not to go after her dreams.

I loved Luke. He is driven by the need to protect his little sister, who is neuro diverse and misunderstood by her own parents and the everyone at the Guild. Both Luke and Sera have their own fears and baggage, but they are both lovable and always trying to do the right thing.

This is a beautifully romantic, relaxing and gentle story that carried me through and made me cry at the end. If you love cosy stories packed with magic, quirky characters and found family, then this is definitely for you.

"A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping" is a cozy story about a woman maintaining her magical inn. Sera after one very surprising incident in her youth, has lost almost all of her magic. She felt like some part of her went missing, but she has never gotten it back. When one opportunity presents itself, Sera will need to choose if she wants to pursue the search for her magic.

I think this book will be a great choice for every cozy fantasy reader. It checks all the boxes of an entertaining read, yet not that demanding.
You'll find here:
- found family trope, which I personally like quite a lot
- very cute and slow burn romance
- two adorable kids
- a talking fox
- magic quest that can change a lot

I've read the previous book by this author, and I think Sangu Mandanna's writing is getting better with this one. I think it's more mature than the previous and focuses more on the lives of adults, not the children. However, they still play an important role in the plot.

"A Witch's Guide to Magical Inkeeping" is a story that brings tons of warmth and hope. Perfect for a cozy evening under your blanket with a cup of favourite tea :)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this a lot.Sera my grumpy queen was a wonderful main character and therewas an amazing, eclectic cast of supporting characters that just filled the story with richness. Sera’s journey to try and restore her magic supported by her found family was emotional and engaging. More than once I teared up at the author’s description of what Sera lost, her rage, grief and sadness and the love and support that held her together. Luke was lovely and his own journey and self discovery in this was great. Some really nice chemistry between them. A heartfelt book filled with magic, touching moments and an excellent cast of characters. 5 ⭐

This is such an enjoyable cosy fantasy with the most heartwarming found family as well as a little dose of emotional turmoil from Sera - a witch desperate to get back the magic she lost. It was so lovely to spend time with the characters at the inn, they all had strong personalities and really showed what a community can look like. Clemmie was a bit of a grey area but also served to show that you don't have to be generous or perfect to deserve the love of family either. The way the relationship between Luke and Sera developed, each tackling their own issues but drawing closer together through the book, sharing all those small moments that make a charming love story. Posy was a fantastic character and I loved how she was always herself, and that she found the acceptance she deserved. The way Luke looked out for his sister was so lovely, making sure Posy had what she needed both mentally and physically. This book is full of terrible parents but with those gaps filled with brothers, great aunts, cousins, and even strangers turned family. Though it's incredibly warm, it also has some darker moments, particularly looking at Sera's past and how she reacted to losing her magic. There's pain woven into the joy of this book and it's really balanced well. It doesn't turn out how I expect and that in itself it commendable to Mandanna - she doesn't take the easy route with her writing!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I love Sangu’s writing so much! This book is like a cosy little hug of self acceptance, finding your people, and standing up for yourself. Cosy fantasy at its best!

All the characters are literal cinnamon rolls I would die for. Sera is a grumpy, heart-of-gold sweetheart. Luke is the best brother and slowly learning to be himself fully. Theo and Posy are the cutest. I was shipping Matilda and Jasmine from their first interaction. Nicholas is a golden Labrador of a human in a suit of armour. I dare you not to fall in love with them in the book!

4.5 stars.

I really struggled with this one, which is a shame because I loved her first book. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters and it felt a bit flat

Adored this one. About failing and getting back up again, and finding magic in the everyday. Some deeper themes too, like the struggles of not being accepted by society or feeling like an outcast. Perfect found family vibes with a lovable cast of characters that kept making me burst out laughing. Matilda is my idol. Highly recommend to anyone who needs a hug in book form ❤️