A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She's stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That's how Sophie lives. Annie can't help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem...a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie's appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power...but she couldn't be...could she?

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304 pages

Average rating: 6.64

104 RATINGS

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9 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Anonymous
Nov 01, 2024
10/10 stars
Everything Rachel Harrison does is PERFECTION. This is definitely my favorite novel of hers!!
VicChic20
Sep 21, 2024
10/10 stars
It was a quick read but quirky, humorous, descriptive. The author pulls you in fast into this story. I loved the characters.
poptart626
May 31, 2024
10/10 stars
read this book at a relatable time in my life and boy was it liberating! a good read and really kept me intrigued the whole time. finished it real quick. love the witchy vibes and the great advice entwined in conversations between the characters.
paige.tysick
May 24, 2024
6/10 stars
it would’ve been better if the main character wasn’t so whiny😭😭 still good enough to finish but yeah
Anonymous
Mar 23, 2024
2/10 stars
DNF @ 40%

I know that everyone loved this book, but I honestly don’t see it. I mean, I’m glad people liked it! I just felt like the characters were so shallow and I couldn’t get behind any of them. Annie was just obsessing over her bf basically the whole time which got incredible tiring, and Sophie was someone who I didn’t get to know outside of her relationship with Annie. I read a review that said both of these people were toxic and I totally see it. Annie wants to be controlled by someone in her life and Sophie is happy to be controlling (despite her message to Annie that she should live for herself).

I tried to get myself to finish out the book, but every night I just ended up picking something else up, so I figured it was time to just call it quits. I skimmed the rest of the book, so I know how things turn out. (Also 100% agree on the fact that Annie getting magic was just glossed over. Like what?? And also Annie’s reaction to Sophie being a witch was just so…blah. Just like /yeah okay I’m down with this)

Anyway this is definitely not horror lol. Much more of a chick-lit/feel good book. Which is fine but I like a darker edge to my books.

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