The Owens Women Return: Alice Hoffman’s ‘The Book of Magic’ Comes to Life in Practical Magic 2

The Quick Read

It’s time to break out the tequila and mix up some midnight margaritas!

The Owens women are returning to the screen with Practical Magic 2, a sequel inspired by Alice Hoffman’s beloved novel The Book of Magic. After decades of fans rewatching its predecessor, we will finally get another dose of this magical family and the curse that has haunted generations of Owens women.

The Details

Who could forget the first time they saw Sally and Gillian Owens, with their fabulously long brown and red hair, on the silver screen in Practical Magic? Released in 1998, it portrayed two women born into a long line of witches, carrying both the gift of magic and an extraordinary burden.

The original film was based on Alice Hoffman’s 1995 book of the same title, Practical Magic, and went on to become a cult favorite. Although tinged with heartbreak and a little darkness, audiences immediately fell in love with the magic, romance, cozy atmosphere, and lovable characters, such as the aunts and Sally’s little girls.

This fall, Practical Magic 2 will hit the big screen on September 11th, 2026. This sequel draws inspiration from Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, the final novel in the Practical Magic series.

The full book series includes:

Practical Magic
The Rules of Magic
Magic Lessons
The Book of Magic

Why Readers Are Talking About It

For lots of book and movie buffs, Practical Magic is more than your typical witch movie.

It’s a warm blanket by a cozy fireplace.

It’s a hot cup of coffee or cocoa on a crisp fall day.

It’s midnight margaritas, messy family history, complicated women, and finding love even when you’re afraid of losing it.

The reason the story of the Owens women has become one of the most watched witchy movies is because it feels real, lived-in, and relatable.

We see ourselves in one or more of the themes throughout their story: sisterhood, generational trauma, family legacy, love, grief, and the courage to choose your own path.

At its heart, Practical Magic reminds us to find magic in the little things.

The Novel Broads Take

So will Practical Magic 2 live up to the hype?

Will they be able to bottle the same magic that made the first movie so memorable and loved?

Our opinion is: it’s very likely yes, yes they will. And here’s why…

We are blessed that almost all the cast has returned, minus the original actresses who played Sally’s daughters. While it would have been awesome for them to reprise their roles, the actresses that will fill them are amazing at their craft.

Some fans of the movie are wondering why the love interest from the original movie will also not be present, but this is exactly what happens in The Book of Magic. He is mentioned and then the book moves on to the heart of the story, fighting the curse that has followed them from the day Maria uttered those fateful words.

Others have also asked, “Didn’t they break the curse?” And the answer is no. According to the first book, they did not break the curse. The writers and producers of the original movie never thought they would make a sequel, and tied the story up at the end by breaking the curse. As The Book of Magic was published over twenty-five years later in 2021, how could they have known to keep it open-ended?

If Practical Magic 2 is able to pay homage to the book it’s inspired by while capturing the on-screen magic in Practical Magic, we are all in for a fantastical cinema experience.

Who Should Pay Attention

You’ll want this on your radar if you love:

🌙 Witchy fiction
🌙 Magical realism
🌙 Family sagas
🌙 Generational stories
🌙 Sister relationships
🌙 Second chances
🌙 Stories about women reclaiming their power

Sources & Further Reading

Sources used to write this article are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Hoffman

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32588798/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

https://alicehoffman.com/

Keep the Conversation Going

Are you ready to return to the world of the Owens family?

And the real question…

Are you preparing the midnight margaritas? 🍹🌙