Escape Into Books
Your home for book news, reviews, and bookish fun. Follow along on Facebook.
Practical Magic is getting a spellbinding new look. Alice Hoffman has unveiled a celestial deluxe edition of her beloved 1995 novel, arriving just months before the long-awaited film sequel hits cinemas. For readers who have cherished the Owens sisters for decades, this is the kind of news that feels like fate.
The new hardcover edition of Practical Magic: Deluxe Edition publishes July 21, 2026, from Berkley. It features a shimmering celestial redesign with foil details, plus stenciled and sprayed edges that make it a true collector’s piece. Hoffman has also written a revised introduction, offering fresh perspective on a story that continues to enchant new generations.
A Timely Return to the Owens Sisters
Originally published in 1995, Practical Magic follows sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small Massachusetts town that fears their family’s witchy lineage. After both flee in search of ordinary lives, trouble pulls them home again, forcing them to confront their history—and their power—head on.
The novel became a cultural touchstone after the 1998 film adaptation starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. Despite mixed reviews at the time, the movie grew into a cult favorite and grossed $68.3 million worldwide. Now, Bullock and Kidman are set to reprise their roles in Practical Magic 2, scheduled for theatrical release on Sept. 18.
Hoffman has said she’s thrilled to see this new edition arrive ahead of the sequel, praising the heart both actresses bring back to the Owens family story. “We need magic now more than ever and there are no better stories than ones about sisterhood and love,” she said.
A Series That Keeps Growing
Practical Magic launched an expansive literary universe spanning more than 200 years of Owens family lore. Hoffman later returned to the family with The Rules of Magic, Magic Lessons, and The Book of Magic, deepening the mythology and drawing readers further into her world of curses, resilience, and fierce female bonds.
The renewed spotlight on the franchise arrives amid a wider boom in book-to-screen revivals, from Emily Henry’s Beach Read adaptation to the resurgence of classic fantasy properties. For longtime fans, this deluxe edition feels like both a celebration and a promise: the Owens sisters are far from finished casting their spell.
Preorders are already live through major retailers including Barnes & Noble. With a new introduction, luxe design, and a sequel on the horizon, this summer may be the perfect time to return to the midnight margaritas and moonlit magic that started it all.
