The Honey Witch

By Sydney J. Shields

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a young woman who doesn't believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.

"The Honey Witch is a sweet feast, brimming with whimsy, magic, and tender longing." - Rachel Gillig
"Featuring a grumpy/sunshine queer romance, lovely imagery, and a distinctly cozy aesthetic, this one is a charmer." --Paste Magazine

Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who've tried to woo her. So when her grandmother whisks her away to the family cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence come with a price: No one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.

When Lottie Burke, a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn't believe in magic, shows up on her doorstep, Marigold can't resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. But soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie in ways she never expected. And when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home--at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.

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Published May 14, 2024

368 pages

Average rating: 6.97

105 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

MelCar
Jun 17, 2026
7/10 stars
Sweet story., but should of used a made up place and time. 1800s in England isn't a good setting.
cdlaw97
Sep 22, 2025
8/10 stars
My only issue with this book was how long it took for her to get to the confrontation with the Ash witch. The plot twist wasn’t too hard to figure out. I thought this was a cute sapphic, grumpy sunshine romance with a hint of spice. If you liked This Poison Heart, this is very similar but the FMCs are older
GJC
Jul 17, 2025
5/10 stars
More of a romance book and a bit drawn out. Not very believable for that time period. The ending was ok.
allisonbritney
May 14, 2025
8/10 stars
Loved how I could relate to Marigold! Very sweet story!
Jessica Yurkow
Jan 30, 2025
2/10 stars
Ooof. Another heart wrenching moment of admitting a book I was highly anticipating is a stinker. As other reviewers said: some vibes were there but this story was a snooze fest. Honey Witch had some obvious Alice Hoffman influences which means I want to want to finish it but alas, life is short, my TBR is long, and I gotta keep it movin'.......

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