Practical Magic Reading Order: Alice Hoffman's Owens Family Saga
June 4, 2026
With Practical Magic 2 — based on The Book of Magic — bringing Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock back in 2026, Alice Hoffman’s Owens family saga is having a moment. The good news: there are now four books to enjoy.
The Owens family books
By publication order:
- Practical Magic (1995) — the Owens sisters and the family curse on love
- The Rules of Magic (2017) — a prequel following Aunts Franny and Jet as teenagers
- Magic Lessons (2020) — the origin of the curse with ancestor Maria Owens
- The Book of Magic (2021) — the conclusion, and the basis for the new film
Publication vs chronological
Chronologically the curse begins with Magic Lessons, then The Rules of Magic, then Practical Magic, ending with The Book of Magic. Both orders work — publication order preserves the way Hoffman gradually reveals the family’s history, while chronological order reads as a continuous family epic.
Where to start
Start with the original Practical Magic if you love the 1998 film; start with Magic Lessons if you want the saga from the beginning. Either way you will want to read all four.
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