20 magical realism books for Fall 2025

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Do you ever find yourself wishing for a touch of enchantment, a subtle magic to awaken the world around you? There’s no better way to experience this gentle wonder than by losing yourself in a truly spellbinding book. And what could be better for this than a magical realism book?
What is magical realism?
Magical realism is a genre where the fantastical is woven seamlessly into our familiar, everyday reality. Unlike traditional fantasy, you won't find dragons, elaborate magical systems, or entirely new dimensions here. Instead, imagine a quiet suburban town where a bakery's cakes can evoke forgotten memories; where a character can hear the whispers of ancient trees; or where a seemingly ordinary family’s heirlooms possess strange magical powers. The magic isn't questioned by the characters; it's simply a fact of their existence, often reflecting profound truths about humanity, culture, or the world around us. It's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, making the impossible feel utterly real, and inviting you to see the world through a lens of gentle, enchanting wonder.
2025 magical realism book suggestions
This year has been fruitful in terms of magical realism novels and I’m thrilled to share 20 below that will whisk you away from the mundane, each with their own particular kind of magic. So prepare your coziest blanket and warmest mug and remember, these aren't just books; they're invitations to step into worlds where the impossible feels utterly real and deeply personal.
Enjoy picking your next read!
Josephine, grieving her husband, stumbles upon her great-grandma's old house and wishes she'd never been born. Restoring it sends her back to a 1920s party, where her fate hangs in balance.
AMAZON
From the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Witch Sera Swan runs an enchanted inn in Lancashire but recently lost her powers. As she works to get her magical powers—and life—back on track, she welcomes guest Luke Larsen, a handsome and icy magical historian who has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn.
GMA book club September 2025 pick
Lisavet Levy, lost in a library of memories, battles government agents altering history. Years later, Amelia Duquesne seeks her uncle's book there, discovering the past isn't what it seems.
AMAZON
After fleeing her cheating husband, Bea discovers she's a powerful witch with a secret family. When her niece vanishes, she must harness her magic and defy a death prophecy to save her.
AMAZON
From the bestselling author of Reese's Book Club Pick Cassandra in Reverse
Margot experiences visions revealing her future with single-dad Henry. Realizing she cannot alter these pre-seen events, she must decide how to live and love fully.
AMAZON
A pen pal letter connects Chloe and Oliver. Years later, her yellow origami roses blanket NYC. One rose finds him, reigniting their unique bond.
AMAZON
From bestselling author of The Book of Doors
Magda investigates a new artifact for a secret society. Attacked by a killer, she uncovers the Society's deceptive mission and her family's hidden magical legacy.
AMAZON
Sisters Kennedy and Emma inherit a spooky trailer where a witch grants them three wishes: Kennedy wants money, Emma wants her ex. Halloween magic reveals family secrets and their true desires.
AMAZON
Alexis Spencer loves to use inspirational quotes to rationalize her failures but when she loses her job and her relationship fails, she goes on a bender. She wakes up disoriented only to discover she's in a different year.
AMAZON
Anita's quiet life in Ebey's End is upended when orphaned July arrives, bringing uncanny insights to the Island Grocery. Tiny gifts spark big changes, revealing secrets and forcing the quirky town to embrace forgiveness and family.
AMAZON
Seoul au pairs make wishes at a magical waterfall. Lydia finds fame, Jenny a forbidden romance, and Selene clues to her past. But when magic backfires, they are forced to choose between their wishes and their unexpected bond.
AMAZON
JUNE 2025 REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK
Monica, a lonely college freshman, seeks to reconnect with her grandmother Yun and her lost cousin, uncovering magical family secrets and memories woven through Yun’s past in wartime Shanghai.
AMAZON
Meg Bryan, a famous actress hiding her true self, finds herself in an alternate Irish life where her best friend Aimee is alive, forcing her to confront past mistakes and decide whether to stay or return to her world.
AMAZON
FEBRUARY 2025 GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
Junie, a 16-year-old enslaved girl about to be committed to marriage, commits a desperate act to free her dead sister's spirit.
AMAZON
APRIL 2025 GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
2019: Lucy flees to her missing sister’s eerie coastal town and makes a startling discovery.
800: Mary and Eliza, sent to Australia as convicts, realize the ocean is changing them—and it won’t let them go.
AMAZON
After eating dumplings given to her by an old woman at a mysterious stall, Noelle is trapped in a time loop, reliving the same Friday repeatedly and wondering what lesson she is meant to learn.
AMAZON
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist, arrives in Positano to find her father's lost gemstones but faces disturbances linked to ancient magic.
Read my book review
AMAZON
Liv Hall and her friends uncover letters predicting the future, linked to a closed psychic bureau. As a black ops group pursues them, they must unite with former psychics for survival.
AMAZON
Darby moves back to his old Illinois town looking for a reset. At his childhood bookstore, he encounters a teen resembling his younger self, offering a shot to change his past.
AMAZON
Looking for more book suggestions?
In an abandoned house, Serin discovers a ticket granting access to the Rainfall Market, where she and her magical cat companion Issha explore enchanting realms to redefine her life within a week—or risk disappearing.
AMAZON