News and Updates
I’ve been looking into book and author events coming up this summer and fall, and there are quite a few I’m hoping to attend—I’m especially excited about some of the lineups! Are you planning to go to any events this season? Drop a note in the comments and let me know which ones you’ll be at—I’d love to meet up!
This Week
Portal fantasy has always intrigued me. Some of the most beloved young adult classics center on stepping through a doorway into another world—but when I was younger, that idea felt just as unsettling as it was magical. Opening a door and suddenly finding yourself somewhere entirely unfamiliar? That was a bit too much adventure for me at the time!
Monthly Reading Challenge: Fantasy
Weekly Reading Challenge: Portal Fantasy
Two of the most iconic portal fantasy stories are Alice in Wonderland and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The latter has been a perennial Christmastime read in our home since our youngest was born—he never tires of its magic and adventure.
Portal fantasy invites us to imagine the possibilities: what if that creaky attic door really did open into a world filled with wonder and discovery? But there’s often a twist—the sense that once you step through, getting back isn’t so simple. For me, that edges just a little into the unsettling. What about you—do you find portal fantasy fun, or a bit freaky?
If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these reads recommended by our StoryGraph community:
- Coraline, Neil Gaiman
- Gate to Kagoshima, Poppy Kuroki
- The Lost Story, Meg Shaffer
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum
New This week
It’s another week without any of our preview picks hitting store shelves, but we do have one highly anticipated title from a favorite author already on pre-order!
If you loved Better Than the Movies, this one is for you. Lynn Painter is back with a fresh sports rom-com featuring a PR stunt gone hilariously wrong. While we’ve seen plenty of hockey romances lately, Painter shifts the spotlight to the world of pro football—complete with a memorable mishap involving a team mascot.
In Case You Missed It
Last Week’s Prompt
Secrets and broken hearts run deep in Sweetgrass, Alabama, where the women seem to carry more than their fair share of both. In In the Middle of Hickory Lane, what begins as an effort to uncover the truth behind a long-buried secret becomes something far more profound—an emotional journey that has the power either to mend fractured relationships or to break them beyond repair. As more truths come to light, one question lingers: will the magic rooted in the Hickory Lane garden be enough to bring this family back together?
Heather Webber has long been celebrated for her signature blend of magical realism, infusing her standalone novels with touches of wonder that make her fictional towns feel vividly real. Since discovering her work in 2021, starting with Midnight at the Blackbird Café, I’ve been drawn to her ability to weave heartfelt storytelling with subtle enchantment. With In the Middle of Hickory Lane, she once again delivers a deeply satisfying reading experience—and completes my journey through her backlist. I highly recommend her work to anyone who enjoys emotionally rich stories grounded in reality yet elevated by a hint of magic, because every small town seems to hold a little bit of the extraordinary.
This novel earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. The dual protagonists are compelling and relatable, navigating family tensions and personal growth in ways that feel authentic and engaging. The evolving relationships, particularly the romantic arcs, kept me fully invested from beginning to end, with each moment of hope and uncertainty adding to the emotional depth of the story.
One of Webber’s greatest strengths lies in how she incorporates magical elements into everyday life. In previous works, this magic has often taken flight through birds or delicate creatures like butterflies and fireflies. Here, it is beautifully grounded in bees and the land itself, lending the story a richer, more organic sense of wonder that feels especially fitting.
Fans of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series or Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics will find much to love in this novel. In the Middle of Hickory Lane is a heartfelt, enchanting story about family, healing, and the quiet magic that connects us all.
Last Week’s Articles
May is bringing all the fantasy magic! Last week’s article dives into a genre I never get tired of exploring — from dreamy magical realism that makes everyday life feel enchanted to sweeping fantasy worlds full of dragons, adventure, and unforgettable wonder. I also pulled together reading challenge inspiration, StoryGraph-inspired picks, and a curated playlist to make the whole experience feel even more immersive.
If you’ve been craving your next escape-into-a-book moment, this roundup is such a fun place to start.
Last Week’s Preview
Evie jumps at the chance to leave city life behind and become the caretaker of Thornwood House, hoping to build a better life for her daughter. But her new beginning comes with complications: a resentful employer, wary townspeople, and a house with a will of its own. As she settles in, Evie must decide whether she can truly belong—or if Thornwood House isn’t meant to be hers after all.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for its blend of magical realism, portal fantasy, and a touch of mystery. The house itself is a standout “character,” and I loved the strong themes of found family, identity, and trust. Evie’s protectiveness of her daughter adds emotional depth, and the world-building—especially toward the end—is vivid and atmospheric.
If you enjoy cozy, character-driven fantasy with a magical house, strong emotional core, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches vibes, this is definitely worth picking up.
You can read the full review here.
Reading Challenge Prompts
I always say that fantasy isn’t a genre I read very often… and then I look at the list of fantasy sub-genres and realize I absolutely do. Think Practical Magic, The Hobbit, and so many others—they all belong here. Magical realism, in particular, hooked me a few years ago through Heather Webber’s writing, and I can’t wait to share some longtime favorites with you. I’m also excited to step a little outside my comfort zone this month and explore a sub-genre I don’t read often at all: paranormal fiction.
May is Get Caught Reading Month, and with several of our favorite authors celebrating birthdays in the weeks ahead, it felt like the perfect time to lean into imaginative, transportive reads. I can’t wait to see which fantasy books you choose to pick up this month!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Tom Clancy Rules of Engagement, Ward Larson
- Current audio book: How to Sell a Haunted House, Grady Hendrix
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Pretty Dead Things, Kelsey Cox
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