I started reading Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series at the end of 2020 after borrowing Magic Lessons (the first chronologically in the series, her third published). Set in 1600s Salem, it traces the Owens family curse back to its start with Maria Owens. Think of Magic Lessons as the Owens origin story and The Rules of Magic as the true "prequel" to Practical Magic. Here we get a 1960s era coming-of-age story for Franny and Jet, a stunning character study that borders on historical fiction in its use of pivotal events (the Vietnam War, Stonewall, etc.) to round out the central plotlines. I loved Magic Lessons, but The Rules of Magic feels so special to me, because as dark as it is, it's also such a moving story of three siblings who find life-altering loves and have to forge their own paths through fate and circumstance. 

And gosh the LAYERS of fate vs. freewill in this add so much depth to the story - an enchanted mirror that grants Vincent a vision of his future he will initially fear and later embrace, the curse that is both cause and effect, reality and myth, the loves they claim and disavow. The construct of the Owens family curse creates a framework for generally reflecting on the roles we play in shaping our own lives. We learn through the Owens siblings that we should love more, not less, despite the certainty that this will bring us both joy and pain. 

This is one I can't stop thinking about, that helped me to articulate something that I do fundamentally believe - that not one of us is guaranteed a life without suffering, and that it's all still worth it, anyways.

As Aunt Isabelle teaches Franny: 
"'Don't try to hide who you are, Franny. Always keep that in mind.'
'Or I'll be turned into a rabbit,' Franny quipped.
Isabelle went to embrace her favorite niece. 'Or you'll be very unhappy.'"