4.6 (7,369 ratings)

The Book of Magic (Practical Magic 2): A Novel

Name: The Book of Magic (Practical Magic 2): A Novel
Rating: 4.6 (7369 reviews)
Author: Alice Hoffman
ISBN: B08WG2F6JQ

by Alice Hoffman

witches

About this book

Continuing the spellbinding saga of Practical Magic, master storyteller Alice Hoffman returns with the stunning sequel, brimming with lyric beauty and vivid characters.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING NICOLE KIDMAN AND SANDRA BULLOCK!

For over three-hundred years a curse has kept the Owens family from love—but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

A heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to a beloved series, Practical Magic 2 celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B08WG2F6JQ

Reader Reviews

You’ll grieve when you’ve read the very last book in this memorizing series.

March 1, 2024

I listened to this book on audible. This is the 4th and last book in this series. You’ll grieve these books after reading this last one in the series. As a series I became so attached to the characters. The entire series overall was a mesmerizing story for me. When I started this last book in the series, I was perplexed by how some of the characters seemed to drastically change, or were not a main character in this final book. For instance, I loved Gillian in Practical Magic, and felt she was...

A beautiful ending to the series (no spoilers)

June 4, 2023

The Practical Magic series is my favorite series of books, and this book is such a beautiful ending. Alice Hoffman is a master storyteller and I’ve read many of her books and enjoyed all of them, but following the Owens family through 400 years of history has been truly magical. This book takes place when Sally’s daughters reach young adulthood. So there’s a gap of, say, 6 or 7 years between the end of Practical Magic and the beginning of this book. Having read the previous books several times,...

Satisfying ending for the series

February 3, 2022

I gave the book 4 rather than 5 stars because, for me, it started off slowly. Also, I felt a disconnect from how the aunts were portrayed in Practical Magic and how they appeared in Magic Lessons and The Book of Magic. I found that to be a good thing. I read Practical Magic after I saw the movie and enjoyed the movie much more. The aunts were more shadow figures in the book and much more vivid in the movie. The Book of Magic presents them as formidable, complex women just as I imagine them to...

Loved this series!

September 9, 2024

This is the last book in this series. When Jet hears the deathwatch beetle one morning, she knows that she only has 7 days to live, and live she will. Sally has banned her daughters from ever learning about magic or the curse. As a result, Kylie has hidden her relationship with Gideon from her mom and the Aunts. Before Jet dies, she sets things into motion, leaving Franny in charge of breaking the curse. But when Kylie's boyfriend gets hit by a car and is a coma, Kylie has taken Jet's note to...

Goodbye to the Owens Family!

October 12, 2021

5.0 stars First off, I must confess that I have loved and adored The Practical Magic series. The Owens family has been so incredible for so many reasons! I am so sad to say goodbye to them and am tearing up as I write this. The most important and best part of this series is it is a book about women as the main characters, witches (who doesn't like them?), love, and a woman author!! I have read many of Alice Hoffman's books and The Book of Magic was brilliant. The author has a lovely, luscious...