Listen free for 30 days

Preview

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Practical Magic

Written by: Alice Hoffman
Narrated by: Christina Moore
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.24

Buy Now for $25.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Alice Hoffman's enchanting witch's brew of suspense, romance and magic - now a major motion picture from Warner Bros.

When the beautiful and precocious sisters Sally and Gillian Owens are orphaned at a young age, they are taken to a small Massachusetts town to be raised by their eccentric aunts, who happen to dwell in the darkest, eeriest house in town. As they become more aware of their aunts' mysterious and sometimes frightening powers - and as their own powers begin to surface - the sisters grow determined to escape their strange upbringing by blending into "normal" society.

But both find that they cannot elude their magic-filled past. And when trouble strikes - in the form of a menacing backyard ghost - the sisters must not only reunite three generations of Owens women but embrace their magic as a gift - and their key to a future of love and passion.

Funny, haunting, and shamelessly romantic, Practical Magic is bewitching entertainment - Alice Hoffman at her spectacular best.

©2012 Alice Hoffman (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2
activate_samplebutton_t1

What the critics say

"Huffman's best since Illumination Night. ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Practical Magic

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    86
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    82
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

nothing like the movie but just as great

makes me really question where the movie came from because this story is nothing like that. same characters but so much more info and so much different circumstances that it's shocking. loved the movie and also the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not like the Movie - not a bad thing though

Like many books Hollywood has touched, this book is no exception. I was such a fan of the movie, I wanted to read the book. Boy was I surprised. Key elements are there, but the tale is much more complex and takes place over a longer period of time. I'm not disappointed, it was great to listen to. Best not to compare it too closely to Hollywood's rendition, though or you'll be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I definitely struggled to finish this book. Practical Magic seems to have been written with a completely different idea or inspiration from Maria's origin story.
Not worth the listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it

While I really have enjoyed the book I hate to admit for the first time I may have enjoyed the movie more. However that being said I am glad I listened to the book and I do recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

This is the weakest book in the series

Like many others, I saw the movie Practical Magic and loved it (it is still one of my fave nostalgia movie picks). The book and movie are vastly different - and I think that is perfectly fine. I had also read The DoveKeepers by Hoffman and really enjoyed her storytelling ability.

I decided to read the Practical Magic Series in chronological order from time versus when Hoffman wrote the books. The other books in the series had more depth in my mind but I realize that the framework was set by Practical Magic initially to dive deeper in the prequels (which she did beautifully). I felt this one fell short after reading Magic Lessons and The Rules of Magic.

I didn't like the narrator, she didn't keep me captivated like the narrators of the other books. The story was good, but I'm glad I read the other books or I may not have decided to read the entire series if I'd started with Practical Magic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Story

Once again, Alice Hoffman weaves a beautiful story with her words and beautiful character development. I love so many of her books but Practical Magic is one I will read/listen to over and over. it continues to delight and charm me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story

While the writing itself could use some editing, I very much enjoyed the story. I saw the movie so many years ago that I can’t really remember it well enough to compare it to the book. My biggest complaint is the narrator. She sounds like someone’s grandmother reading a bedtime story that she doesn’t really care about. I definitely hope book 2 is done better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Feel-good, heartwarming with Strong Female Leads

Practical Magic evokes feelings of sunshine on a rainy day. It is a simple story about the bonds of sisterhood and family with a hint of magic. I appreciated the detailed imagery the author provided and the perfectly flawed characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always wanted to read this as I loved the movie

The book is very different from the movie. They took out bits and pieces of the book to make the movie. But I very much enjoyed the experience of listening to this story regardless. I’m going to get the next one in the series now and I’ll be listening to them all I think. The author is great and the performance of the audio book was enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical Murder Mystery & Family Drama

I enjoyed this book & the story of two sisters whose lives have been affected by magic & mystery. This is a rare example where I enjoyed the movie more than the book! I must admit I saw the movie first though & that might have coloured my perception.

The writing is still good though as weaves the tale of very different sisters & their family along with a bit of a magical murder mystery. I did not enjoy the narration as much as I have in other books. Overall a diverting tale that kept me engaged throughout & a fun story.

#Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful