The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (2022)

 

Mika Moon is a 31 year-old witch in England. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by fellow witch Primrose Everly. As a child, all Mika’s basic needs were provided for her but her time with Primrose was limited and none of the household was allowed to stay if they got a hint of Mika’s magical powers. Between Primrose’s absence and that fact the governesses never stayed long, Mika is convinced she is unlovable.

Mika has been taught to hide her magical abilities and stay away from other witches for fear of drawing attention to their powers. Being a bit of a rebel, Mika uploads a series of videos to the Internet of herself pretending to be a witch making potions. Elderly actor Ian Kubo-Hawthorn is convinced Mika is the real deal and asks her to interview for a job at Nowhere House. Nowhere House is the home of three young witches whom Ian wants Mika to teach to control their magical powers. Mika learns that the youngsters have been adopted by a witch who, much like Primrose is absent the majority of the year.

Taking the job breaks all the rules but Mika accepts the position. She arrives in her yellow hatchback named The Broomstick out of which she retrieves her potions, greenhouse, coy pond, and a golden retriever.

As Mika settles in at Nowhere House, she begins to think she might have found a place where she belongs after all but that is threatened when she discovers the real reason she was invited to Nowhere House and the secret all the adults have been hiding. With that knowledge comes danger and Mika must decide what she is willing to risk to protect Nowhere House and the inhabitants who have become like family.

Mika has a great personality and sense of humor and her sense of loneliness and lack of connection to others really comes through. The book’s other characters, the children, Ian, two long-suffering caretakers, and Jamie, the handsome and prickly librarian are all full of life as well and they all add to the story. Each has a distinct personality and readers are clued into their feelings as well as their unspoken thoughts.

Ultimately this is a story about recognizing what you need and then going after it. It's about finding people you love who love you back and making a home and a life with them even if it’s not the one you expected or how you were told it should be.

4.27 stars Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon