Practical Magic Book Series Reading Order
If you’ve been here a minute, you already know how much I adore the Owens women. There’s just something about this family—love, loss, everyday magic—that pulls me in every single time. And with so many readers asking where to start, I figured it was finally time to put together a simple guide to the Practical Magic book series reading order. Whether you’re diving in for the first time or settling in for a cozy reread, this world is such a joy to explore from beginning to end. Let’s walk through the magic together.
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Intro to the Practical Magic Series
Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series is a decades-spanning journey through the lives of the Owens women—strong, complicated, and a little magical. Across generations, they grapple with a family curse, the pull of love, and the weight of their own history. Each book stands on its own, but together they create a rich tapestry of sisterhood, fate, and the kind of everyday magic that feels woven into the fabric of real life. It’s a series that mixes family drama with a touch of witchcraft and a whole lot of heart.
A Quick Look at Each Book
listed in publication order
Practical Magic
Sally and Gillian have lost everything, only to find themselves on the doorstep of their eccentric aunts, Franny and Jet. Years later, they learn the limits of their bond and discover their own power as they try to hold everything together. read my review here
The Rules of Magic
1960s NYC, young Jet, Franny, and Vincent are sent to Aunt Isabelle's, only to discover the truth about their family and themselves. Romantic and nostalgic, this coming-of-age novel is steeped in magic, both light and dark. read my review here
Magic Lessons
Maria Owens is where it all began. This is her epic story, full of love, loss, and betrayal. Discover the origins of the Owens family curse in this adventurous 19th-century tale. read my review here
The Book of Magic
Kylie Owens is ready to do anything it takes to save her one true love. When she learns of the family curse that caused his injuries, she sets out to bend magic to her will in an effort to bring back her beloved. read my review here
Practical Magic Book Series Guide
Though I've reviewed and rated each book, I wanted to carve out a space for my recommended reading order. Most of these books would be a great standalone, but they are intended to be read as a series. In my opinion, the Practical Magic book series should be read in chronological order. The Book of Magic, in particular, holds keys and hints to past events, some of which you'd be disappointed to learn out of order.
If you want to follow the Owens women from the very beginning, start with Magic Lessons, which takes you back to the 1600s and the life of Maria Owens—the original witch and the source of the family curse. Then move into The Rules of Magic, where we follow Franny, Jet, and Vincent through the 1960s and beyond as they try to navigate love, family, and the magic they never asked for. After that comes Practical Magic, the book that started it all, following Sally and Gillian’s story as adults and showing how the legacy of the Owens line continues to shape each generation. Finally, wrap it all up with The Book of Magic, where the entire family comes together in the present day for one last attempt to break the curse and choose their own future. It's the most rewarding way to watch this family grow, struggle, and ultimately find their way back to each other.
1. Magic Lessons
2. The Rules of Magic
3. Practical Magic
4. The Book of Magic
Before You Go
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