Contemporary Fiction Archives - She's Becoming Bookish

Practical Magic Book Series Reading Order

Discover the best way to read the Practical Magic book series and follow the Owens family from their earliest origins to the final chapter. This guide walks you through the full reading order, key story arcs, and why this magical series deserves a spot on your TBR. Perfect for fans of witchy, character-driven fiction.

Practical Magic: Is It Worth the Hype?

A lyrical tale of sisterhood, love, and a touch of magic, Practical Magic may not be the witchiest book in the series, but it’s still an essential read for fans of the Owens family saga.

The People We Keep: Book Review

Heartbreaking yet hopeful, The People We Keep is a coming-of-age story about music, resilience, and finding family in unexpected places. Follow April’s journey through the 1990s as she learns what it means to truly belong. Perfect for fans of emotional, character-driven fiction

Our Missing Hearts: Book Review

Celeste Ng’s Our Missing Hearts is a powerful, emotionally charged novel set in a chillingly familiar dystopian America. Centered on a boy’s search for his missing mother, this story explores themes of censorship, racism, resistance, and the quiet power of love. If you love literary fiction that makes you think—and feel deeply—this is the book for you. Bonus: Lucy Liu’s audiobook narration takes it to another level. A must-read for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Little Fires Everywhere. 🔥🎧✨

Spells for Forgetting: Book Review

Looking for your next atmospheric fall read? Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a beautifully written novel full of small-town secrets, long-lost love, and just the right amount of witchy magic. Set in a misty Pacific Northwest village, this moody and mysterious story will completely pull you in. Perfect for fans of slow-burn suspense, emotional depth, and stories that linger long after the last page. Add it to your autumn TBR now! 📖🕯🍎

Happy Place: Book Review

Dive into the heart-tugging world of Emily Henry’s ‘Happy Place’, a contemporary romance that beautifully intertwines love, friendship, and second chances. This beloved author weaves a story full of highs and lows that’s perfect for contemporary romance lovers. Experience Henry’s signature warmth and wit, stirring hearts in unexpected ways.

Meet Me at the Lake: Book Review

Immerse yourself in this charming small-town setting of ‘Meet Me at the Lake’, Carley Fortune’s sophomore novel. Indulge in the heart-strings tugging second-chance romance that screams late summer. A must-add to your end of summer reading list if you love romance novels!

Hello Beautiful: Book Review

Unearth the complexities of familial ties and bittersweet love in Hello Beautiful, a riveting, character-driven literary fiction novel that brings family drama and heartrending romance to life. Discover a narrative rich in raw emotion and profound characters that will leave you thinking, long after you’ve turned the last page. Through this character-driven novel, we explore profound truths about love, loss, and the fragility of human connections.

The Celebrants: Book Review

Delve into a raw and gripping journey of love and loss in this review of ‘The Celebrants’, a tour de force in contemporary fiction. This beautifully written friendship story explores the profound realms of grief, offering a powerful testament to human resilience and the power of connection. A masterclass in storytelling, ‘The Celebrants’ might just be the emotional catharsis you need.

Carrie Soto Is Back: Book Review

Dive deep into an enthralling tale of determination and resilience with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel, Carrie Soto is Back, a compelling blend of women’s fiction and powerful drama. Retired tennis superstar Carrie stages a massive comeback, stirring emotions and making waves in the sporting world. This gripping novel has is an especially captivating audiobook, immersing listeners in every serve, setback and triumph of Soto’s emotional journey.