She can hop into any novel, she just can’t stay there. Come along with the book witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.
Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes.
Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.
Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.
Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes.
Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.
Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.
Title: The Book Witch
Author: Meg Shaffer
Publisher: Ballantine
Expected Publication Date: April 7, 2026
Review:
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine to providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is one of my most anticipated books of 2026. I've really enjoyed Shaffer's other magical realism books. They were warm hugs. This one was no different. I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the world. There seems to be nothing Shaffer can write that I won't enjoy.
What book lover won't like a book about books? Not this girl. The Book Witch takes all the tropes we love, all the stories we have grown up with, and puts them in danger. That's right, DANGER! Danger of being changed or erased from existence. And we cannot have that. Enter Rainy March, a book witch who enters stories and ensures they proceed as they were written. Saves them from being changed by the characters within or the book burners who want the stories gone completely.
I absolutely adore the story within a story theme Shaffer presents. It's such a clever premise. Rainy and her all time favorite book character, The Duke of Chicago, hunt down the mystery of why stories are being altered, leading us on many adventures within books so many know and love! Stories like Nancy Drew, Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and even The Count of Montecisto! Shaffer takes the idea of the love of books and pushes the limits of what one would go through to ensure their stories survived no matter what. It's a nod to the power of books; how books shape lives and help people through hard times.
Shaffer's characters are well developed and relatable. It's impossible not to fall in love with them and root for them to win in the end. Her side characters are fun and give depth to the story line.
What Shaffer does phenomenally is make you believe in the magic of her stories. It's so easy to suspend your disbelief as you walk through the plot with the characters. She builds a world that just makes sense. From how the witches are able to save stories, to how they get into those stories in the first place. A story infused with emotion and heart. Shaffer has us asking if we could be thrown into a story, which one would we choose? And once there, how would we ensure the story proceeds as we know it to be? And if you were given the chance to stay there, would you?
There is a great twist Shaffer throws into the plot. One I cannot say here without completely ruining the entire story but let's just say, I was pretty surprised by it and didn't even think it was how things would pan out!
If you're a book lover looking for a charming story that feels like a warm hug and will resonate with the booknerd inside of you, don't ever miss picking up one of Shaffer's books!
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