Such Familiar Magic

Brought to you by Penguin.

Always Be My Maybe meets Practical Magic in this joyful, enemies-to-lovers romcom from New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan.

Laila Chu is from one of three magical Chinese families in Silverwood Cove, a cosy English seaside town where magic is less “glamorous chosen one” and more “please come home every weekend to polish the family shrine while your ancestors heckle you.”

When her parents leave for Malaysia, Laila is trusted with the ancient cosmic potion that has allowed generations of Chus to communicate with the other realm. Naturally, she ruins it on Day One.

The only one who can help? The infuriatingly successful, insanely attractive Anthony Lim - a hot nature witch with a wildly popular skincare line because some people build an empire, while others accidentally destroy their family’s spiritual infrastructure before dinner.

Oh, and he just happens to also be her childhood rival and not-so-secret teenage crush which she is totally over. Of course. Absolutely.

Sparks fly as they're forced into a quest to find the ingredients before her parents get home. Now Laila and Anthony must work out whether they’re brewing disaster — or something that feels a lot like magic...

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MAY CONTAIN:

*Childhood rivals*
*Forced proximity*
*Cosy small town*
*Found family*
*Magical quest*
*Witty banter*
*Meddling mother*
*Disco-ball tortoise*

Ok... that last one isn't a trope but it should be...

For fans of The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling and Abby Jiminez's Just For the Summer this funny, swoony and emotionally rich love story is about family pressure, second chances, and working out where you belong.

‘Beautiful, funny and dizzyingly romantic’ Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

© Natasha Ngan 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026