This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it's going to be an absolute focussing disaster.

This book was the right mixture of everything without overdoing it on one or the other. There was a sprinkle of romance, a touch of magic and some surprises along the way.

From the first chapter The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches grabbed my attention and didn't let go. Sangu Mandanna writes in a very casual way that allowed me to read a short chapter in a single sitting or go for hour plus reading sessions.

Magic meant well, but it did so want to be used and it had an irksome habit of taking matters into its own hands if witches didn't take the hint.

Magic isn't a focal point in the book and Mandanna doesn't go into the details of how the magic works because that's not what this book is about. There are Rules for the witches to follow, and for better or worse their clandestine relationship with each other was a main motivator for Mika. Our past shapes who we are but doesn't need to shape who we become.

It's not always enough to go looking for the place we belong...sometimes we need to make that place.

This book is about a sense of belonging and finding your community. In some form or another we have all experienced cliques, being on the outside of the majority and feeling like you didn't have someone that shared your views and interests. This is a book about friendship and how a family can persevere, and just so happens to feature a few witches along the way.