Three generations of magic. Two rogue exes. One Tarot deck.
The perfect recipe for chaos.
Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters, the story of one woman’s Halloween homecoming to the town where gave up on magic, only to discover that magic refuses to give up on her.
Flair Hardwicke knows three things: magic is real, love isn’t, and relying on either is disastrous. So while she’s grateful for the chance to take over her grandmother’s Kansas bakery after she finally leaves her cheating husband, she won’t be embracing Nana’s fortune-telling side-hustle. Hers is a strictly no-magic operation—until the innocent batch of Tarot card cookies Flair bakes for the town’s Halloween celebration unleashes the power of the family deck, luring Flair’s mother to town, tempting Flair’s magic-obsessed daughter, and bringing back Flair’s first love while ensnaring her ex in a curse she can’t break.
Flair’s attempts to control the chaos only make things worse, playing right into the hands of a powerful witch. Suddenly there’s far more at stake than her status as the most reluctant witch in town, and the magic Flair has long rejected becomes the only card she has left to play.
“An enchanting story of small-town magic, love, family, and friendship as delicious and captivating as Flair's tarot-themed cookies. It'll have you craving both witchy baked goods and a visit to your nearest swoonworthy magical town.”
—Lana Harper, author of Payback’s a Witch and the Witches of Thistle Grove series
“Dell'Antonia perfectly captures life in a small town in this delightful family saga. … It feels strange to say that a book about witchcraft and magic that won't take no for an answer is 'cozy' but I really did get cozy vibes from this book! It put me in a fall, pumpkin-spice sort of mood, and is the perfect read for curling up next to the fire.”
—Jessica Clare, author of What the Hex
“Buckle up your broomsticks, people. Playing the Witch Card is an absolutely delightful wild ride … An exploration of identity, freedom and the power of letting things go, this one will stay with me for a long a long time.” —Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script
I write what I like to read--so if you like my books, fill your #tbr with my weekly update, #AmReading and never miss a chance to find a book you'll love.
KJ Dell’Antonia is a New York Times best-selling author whose novels The Chicken Sisters and In Her Boots explore the same themes she once explored as a journalist: the importance of finding joy in our families, the challenge of figuring out what makes us happy and the need to value the life we’re living more than the one in our phones and laptops, every single time. Her third novel, Playing the Witch Card, throws magic into the mix, but witchcraft, like reality TV and literary fraud, rarely really solves anyone’s problems. She is also the former editor of the New York Times’ Motherlode blog, the co-host of the #AmWriting podcast, and a passionate bookstagrammer (@kjda). She lives in Lyme, New Hampshire, with her husband, children and assorted dogs, cats, chickens and horses.
