S1 E5: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic: Sisterhood, Spells, and Slightly Less Magic Than Expected

Bound Sisters Podcast Recap

This month we read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman—and honestly? We had thoughts. Big ones. This was one of those books that had us expecting spells, potions, and midnight moonlight chaos. What we got? A lot of lavender, some serious sister tension, and a ghost problem in the plumbing.

“I kept waiting for more magic. I expected more magic.” – Myranda

So… Where Was the Magic?

Look, we knew it wasn’t going to be all wands and sparkles, but we definitely thought there’d be more actual magic. Most of the “witchcraft” was like… giving women garden herbs and vaguely sensing vibes. Which is fine! But when you’ve got a haunted backyard and frogs showing up with jewelry, we’re gonna need more than candlelit conversations.

Sally, Gillian & One Very Problematic Dead Guy

Here’s the gist: Gillian shows up at Sally’s house after being MIA for years—with a boyfriend who’s dead. Or maybe not. Either way, they bury him in the backyard and try to pretend like that’s totally normal. Spoiler: it’s not.

“Big sister pulls up her pants and helps her bury a body in her backyard.” – Jyl

And that backyard? Flowers won’t stop growing, frogs are getting weird, and ghost Jimmy is apparently not done haunting.

The Structure? A Little All Over the Place

We had some gripes about the way this story is told. It jumps around a lot. No chapters. Hardly any dialogue. You blink and suddenly it’s been three years and Sally’s kids are teenagers.

“The whole book was a setup. I kept checking my Kindle like, how am I 84% in and the story still hasn’t started?” – Kellye

Still, there were some great moments—especially between Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia. Kylie ends up being the most magical character of them all, and we loved her energy.

Enter: Gary. Yes, Fried Chicken Is Involved.

We didn’t meet Gary (the investigator/love interest) until nearly the end, but once he showed up, things got interesting. He falls in love with Sally basically after reading one letter she wrote to her sister. The man pulls up with fried chicken, and we were like… okay, maybe this is magic.

“She goes to the hotel and he’s not there. So she waits. He comes back with fried chicken.” – Myranda

Movie vs. Book? Let’s Just Say… More Nicole Kidman, Please.

We couldn’t help comparing the book to the 90s movie. The movie is dramatic, fast-paced, and way more magical. The book? Quiet and a little dreamy. We actually think whoever made the movie read the book and said, “Let’s keep the vibe and just add way more chaos.”

“Someone read this and said, ‘This is a great start—let’s rewrite it with more ghosts and Nicole Kidman.’” – Jyl

Was It Worth Reading?

Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something slower, kind of poetic, and moody, you might like it. If you’re craving witchy drama and magical action… you might be better off rewatching the movie.

“I think if someone likes light reads, it’s a good book… but I want every page to have action.” – Myranda

Wanna Hear All the Tangents and Laughs?

Listen to the full Practical Magic episode wherever you get your podcasts. We cover everything—from ghost frogs and garden herbs to 90s nostalgia and why fried chicken might be the new love language.

• Check out the episode

• Leave us a review (pretty please!)

• Come hang with us @boundsisterspodcast on Instagram and TikTok—we’re always sharing behind-the-scenes book chat, sister silliness, and the occasional magical hot take.

Next up: Once Upon a Broken Heart! We’ll see if it brings the fantasy drama we were hoping for this time

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