“There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.”


This book takes place in a magical world of the Owens women (some may call them witches). Here wooden furniture never needs to be polished, butter melts in the fridge when passions are raised and the colour blue brings women good luck. In this world, love hits like lightning but is far more painful and Owens women are the unfortunate lightning rods.

"Real love was dangerous, it got you from the inside and held on tight, and if you didn't let go fast enough you might be willing to do anything for its sake.”

Less spells and more magical realism than the film, this book is nevertheless enchanting. A fairytale for adults, it is about sisterhood and the bonds that tie us together. Men in this tale are merely love interests.

The Hoffman’s language and descriptions are beautiful and kept me reading when I otherwise would have faltered as I am still not the biggest fan of romance.

“In time Sally stopped believing in anything at all, and then the whole world went grey. She could not see orange or red, and certain shades of green - her favourite sweater and the leaves of new daffodils - were completely and utterly lost. “

Recommended for those who wished Cinderella’s stepsisters were just a bit nicer and fans of the ending of Disney's Frozen. Oh and for those who don't mind a few four-letter words thrown in.