Tis Me Michelle

I’m happy this was one of the books that kept getting BookTok recommended to me. This review is a bit late in the game because I picked up the book for Spooky Season, only got to it after Halloween, and then finished it probably about a month ago. So it’s been a minute, but it was definitely one of my favorites of last year.

The only ‘spookiness’ that goes with this book is the fact that the main character, as per the title, is a witch. Which honestly, is the type of spooky I’m looking for. I started reading an actually scary book the other day and it was too much for me to handle so I had to put it down. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, what a mouthful, on the other hand, is much more of a cozy wholesome read.

This book follows a young witch, Mika Moon, who is one of not so many witches in the UK. She lives a relatively isolated life because her witchiness has to be hush-hush as per the rules of the unofficial witch meet-up society. So it’s just Mika and her sweet doggo and her ‘fake’ witch YouTube channel. From that very channel she is found by family in need of a witch to teach their very own little witches how to wrangle their magic. Mika’s hesitant, but it’s good money and she can’t help but be drawn into the lure of being part of a family.

Along with the wholesomeness of Mika finding her place at the Nowhere House and most of the motley housemates being enamored with her, there’s a very cute romance that brews. Not even because of Mika’s magical teas. She and the broody librarian, Jamie, have a very cute grumpy + sunshine opposites attract story.

Simply such a cozy, sweet read. I also appreciated the touch that Mika is of South Indian descent. Even more so that it is a part of who she is, and yet not all that she is. This is a great example of why representation matters and why having BIPOC authors is so important. Even in a fantasy/magical book, it’s important. Mandanna has a book coming out this year, and I will definitely be picking it up.

If you want a light, sweet, cozy read – I highly recommend it.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️