The Library Vault

Midnight margaritas, anyone? If that phrase has you dancing around your kitchen, I’d wager that you’re itching with anticipation as we creep closer to the autumn equinox. It’s also quite possible that you’ve already been to the theater to see the newly released, Practical Magic 2. It’s been 31 years since author Alice Hoffman began building a world around the infamous Owens sisters—28 years since the original movie release, at the time receiving mediocre reviews, but ultimately reaching cult classic status. Her 4-book Practical Magic series spans 300 years and seven generations of witchy women. 

If you’re new to these books, you may be interested to learn that there are two distinct ways to go about reading this series. To be fair, both have their challenges, but it’s helpful to know what you’re getting into before charting your personal path forward. It’s also worth noting that the series boasts a wide array of jacket covers for each title, so your copy may look vastly different from other members of your coven. 

The most logical way to approach a series is generally by starting with the first novel and working your way through in chronological publishing order. However, this approach may leave you waving your wand in frustration. The first book, Practical Magic, was written in 1995, but there was a long stretch of time before the release of the second book in the series. The Rules of Magic was published in 2017, followed by Magic Lessons in 2020, ending with The Book of Magic in 2021. Reading the series by publication date causes confusion when the reader realizes that they are missing centuries of Owens family history. 

If you want to approach the story in timeline order, you should start with the third book in the series, Magic Lessons. This novel is set in the 1600s and follows the life of Maria Owens, the woman who cursed the family line after a devastating heartbreak. Without Maria Owens we don’t have a book series, so her story is crucial for understanding the Owens lineage. The chronological story continues with The Rules of Magic, book two in the published series. This novel is set in the 1960s and focuses on the infamous aunts, Franny and Jet, as they navigate the world as young witches. Fans will know these characters as the wise women aunties from the first Practical Magic book, which is the next stop on our timeline.

Practical Magic is set in the 1990s, it highlights the sisterhood of Sally and Gillian Owens, and was the inspiration for the 1998 cult classic film. The storyline and series concludes with The Book of Magic, set in the 2000s. This tale includes three generations of Owens witches on a quest to trace their lineage and break the curse that has plagued the women in their line for centuries. This book is the premise of Practical Magic 2, released in theaters on September 11, 2026.

There’s a strong argument for approaching the series in timeline order, because it provides a solid foundation for understanding the mystery surrounding the Owens women. That being said, some readers still struggle with inconsistencies in the backstory from book to book. There are also pop culture references that don’t neatly fit into the timeline, not to mention the incongruous ages of the aunts, are they in their 80s or their 50s? The truth is, you may be left with a few questions no matter which path you choose, but reading this series is still worth the journey.

So what will it be? 1, 2, 3, 4 or 3, 2, 1, 4? Either way, you’ll encounter majestic black cats, enchanting gardens, magical houses, and midnight margaritas! There’s more than a healthy dose of magic in each of these books. As you ponder your chosen path, please don’t forget… Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.