First Witches Club: A Novel

First Witches Club was exactly what I wanted from three women realizing they are allowed to want more from their lives. Nora, Daisy, and Soraya enter Lady’s Mantle Apothecary after their marriages unravel. Their growing friendship becomes just as satisfying as watching their husbands receive a little karmic payback. I ended up liking all three women for different reasons. Aggie's guidance was my favorite part of the women's transformation. She helped these women move toward lives that existed beyond disappointing husbands. Soraya tested my patience the most. Her sheltered upbringing and complete lack of romantic experience made her incredibly naive. Her devotion to her church’s teachings was difficult for me to connect with. Watching her finally explore what she wanted outside of those expectations was much more fun. A very attractive man with considerably more experience entered the picture once Soraya was open to the opportunity. Girl had some very enjoyable catching up to do. The magic did not feel like dramatic paranormal witchcraft. It was more like intuition, confidence, and three women finally trusting themselves enough to act on their instincts. This approach worked with the larger message about finding yourself later in life. Nora, Daisy, and Soraya stop accepting poor treatment simply because society's view of marriage taught them to tolerate it. They establish boundaries, try new things, and begin deciding what happiness looks like without consulting the men who previously shaped their lives. A standout part for me was when Nora delivered a poignent observation about how men and women are often encouraged differently throughout life. Men can grow up constantly hearing how wonderful they are from their mothers, partners, and workplaces. Women are frequently taught to examine how their actions affect everyone around them. Her frustration with that reality was recognizable. I did enjoy watching these husbands discover that their wives were no longer willing to make excuses for their bad behavior. The First Witches Club nickname was adorable. Three first wives reclaiming the insult after an ex-husband calls them witches perfectly captured the playful spirit of the book. First Witches Club mixes female friendship, fresh romance, personal reinvention, and a sprinkle of witchiness into a warm story about women choosing themselves. Watching Nora, Daisy, and Soraya realize their lives can become bigger after divorce was the real delight.