Guest post by Rewitched author Lucy Jane Wood
Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader and coziness-seeker from the Wirral, UK. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.
Consider this is your orange flag to start sprinting for the closest knitted blanket. Then fire up the coffee machine, grab the most thickly frosted cinnamon bun, and gather all forms of pumpkin-shaped novelty item that you can find. The weather (at least here in London) is finally miserable enough for us to declare Spooky Season 2024 officially open, and I can feel myself returning to my ultimate form. At this time of year there is no leaf too crunchy, no knitwear too maroon and most importantly, no Halloween-themed story too magical for me.
If you’re a firm believer in the enduring power of the pop culture witch that inspired my debut novel Rewitched, then this might just be the list for you. Here’s a rundown of the very best of witchy rom-coms across books, movies and television that are all guaranteed to make your ‘ber months a little more spellbinding… As if some of these haven’t been doing exactly that since about 1995, but still.
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
Now, how did that get in here…? Rewitched is the ‘90s-inspired, cosy and comforting story of Belle Blackthorn, a burnt out witch who’s just about to turn 30. She’s working at her beloved Lunar Books, protecting all of its charm of her awful toxic boss, and there’s also the small task of keeping her magical powers hidden from the non-wicche world.
But the day before her milestone birthday, Belle receives an unexpected summons from her estranged coven. It’s time for her EquiWitch Trial, where they’ll decide once and for all whether Belle is worthy of keeping her magic, or whether her neglected powers will be stripped from her for good.
At its heart, Rewitched is about rediscovering the power of your potential as you get older, and remembering that your own magic is worthy of attention and nourishment when life says otherwise. I hope you enjoy it!
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
A firm favourite of mine if you’re looking for a cosy story that sparks real, heartwarming magic. Mika is a witch who mostly keeps as much of a low profile as her powers will allow. But she does dabble in ‘pretending’ to be a witch on social media. The fact that her magic looks oh so real is such a funny coincidence…
One day, she receives a letter begging her to travel to Nowhere House, currently home to three baby witches who are learning to get to grips with their magic. Here, she meets a wonderful gang of side characters including an absent archaeologist, an effervescent actor and two long-suffering caretakers, along with the grumpy but handsome librarian named Jamie. It’s the found family trope that I adore, and a comforting story about stumbling across love when you least expect it.
Practical Magic
Of all the witchy movies, Practical Magic is surely one of the strongest contenders to take the very top spot. Whether it’s Nicole Kidman’s simply sensational hair, the house that I would willingly trade all of my loved ones for, or just the prospect of midnight margaritas, this classic is a film that ticks all of the ‘perfect witchy rom-com’ boxes.
The aesthetic is incomparable, and the storyline of supportive sisterhood that unfolds between Gilly and Sally is poignant. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
And while we’re on the subject, the prequel book has a very special place in my heart too. The Rules of Magic is the story of the wonderful, mysterious aunts who we know from Practical Magic, but this is their life as teenagers alongside their brother Vincent.
At the dawn of the ‘60s, troublesome Franny, beautiful Jet and heartbreaker Vincent visit their Aunt Isabelle in Massachusetts, where their family are blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong. Their mother warns them of all the usual rules; no walking in the moonlight and no wearing black. No books about magic, and never fall in love. But there are some kinds of magic and fate that you just can’t escape. Hoffman’s writing is utterly exquisite, hazy and lyrical. This book feels as enchanting as magic itself.
Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
A debut author who should definitely be on your witchy radar this year is Nadia El-Fassi, who’s first novel Best Hex Ever is coming your way soon. While still perfectly cosy and featuring an excellent, cheese-obsessed cat, this one has a healthy helping of (pumpkin) spice to go alongside your latte.
Dina is a cafe-owning kitchen witch who’s holding onto a big secret. No big deal, but she was cursed by an ex, ensuring that Dina would hurt anyone who she dared to fall in love with. Meanwhile, Scott is about to begin his new job as a curator at the British Museum. His best friend’s wedding is on the horizon, but little does he know that he’s about to be completely spellbound by the Maid of Honour. Three guesses who that is… Best Hex Ever is simultaneously lovely and extremely steamy, like some kind of extra delicious hot chocolate.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
I know the brief said ‘witchy’, but a vampire or two thrown into the mix never hurts (unless their fangs are out). An honorary shoutout for Buffy The Vampire Slayer here, purely for the inclusion of one of the greatest TV witches of all time, Willow Rosenberg.
Her arc over the years from cute, clever best friend to complex and compelling witch is a large part of why I continue to rewatch this classic show over and over. At one stage, Willow’s magic goes full ‘dark forces’ for understandable reasons, and many of her spells are morally questionable, which adds even more depth to her wonderful character. Throw in some truly inexplicable but nostalgic ‘90s fashion, and it makes the Must Watch list.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
The premise of this TikTok fave really spoke to my soul. Back in the day, Vivienne was faced with a particularly painful breakup, so of course she handled it the only way that a young witch knows how. It involves vodka, a bubble bath, and a very messy curse.
Fast forward nine years later, and Rhys is finding that every move he makes seems to always end in one big mess. That includes when he returns to the quaint town of Graves Glen to recharge the magical ley lines. The curse that has befallen Rhys begins to affect the town, resulting in murderous Halloween toys, a particularly outraged ghost and a very chatty cat. Vivienne and Rhys are going to have to put their bitter feelings aside to work together and break the curse… Cue spooky fun and romance.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch
I am of course referring to the original rather than the Netflix remake. In my humble opinion, the ‘90s were the unrivalled season of the witch in her coolest and most relatable form, and the top of that list for me will always be Sabrina Spellman. Actually, she might be third behind Hilda and Zelda. I grew up obsessed with this show and the nostalgic love for it has never really left, it was a huge inspiration for Rewitched.
Sabrina, in all of her chaos and constant mistakes, embodies why I love that age of pop culture witch. The magic is there not to solve all of her problems, but help her to understand herself further, to learn life lessons, and grow as a person. She is hilarious, and best of all, her powers are FUN. Surely that’s the whole point of having magic at your finger tips, anyway?
The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst
For a sprinkle of innocent, warm and beautiful cottagecore, it has to be The Spellshop, a cosy fantasy that follows wallflower Kiela’s unexpected dabbling in illegal spell-selling.
Up until now, she’s been librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, and she and her assistant Caz (a sentient spider plant, because of course) have been holed up among the empire’s precious spell books, protecting the magic for the elite. But there’s a revolution afoot, and suddenly the library is up in flames. Magic usage is banned for anyone who isn’t a sorcerer, but Kiela has crates full of spell books… If you’re looking for a highly magical and witchy story combined with Studio Ghibli vibes, this is the book for you.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Like all good fictional witches, the Revelare witches are horribly cursed. Providing they continue to put their magic to use, they’ll be doomed to four heartbreaks through a lifetime. Sadie is already at her third, so she’s doing everything she can possibly do to protect herself from facing tragedy all over again. It’s not looking good, though. Her grandmother is sick, and Sadie’s not sure she can handle losing her.
Her third heartbreak was Jake, her first love, who has returned to town after a decade away just as Sadie’s life is starting to unravel. Sadie must face that age old question that always rolls around just in time for spooky season… Love or magic? Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, the autumnal vibes are strong, and it’s peppered with some delicious food-related spell work.
Charmed
And last but not least, when it comes to witchy rom-coms there are three sisters who can never be forgotten. In fact, that probably applies to Hocus Pocus too, now that I really think about it.
Another nostalgic classic, Charmed follows the lives of the three Halliwell sisters who, after their mother dies, discover that they are descendants of a line of good witches. That’s the fortunate news, but the unfortunate side is that they’re destined to fight five seasons worth of the forces of evil. The show is everything that ‘90s witches stood for—girl power, slightly cheesy one liners, occasionally hilarious special effects, and killer outfits. What more could a witch want?
