Friends, we have reached the end of our magical journey! Thank you for joining us on this read of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. What a cute, whimsical book this was! I hope you all enjoyed it!

Summary of the last section:

Chapter 22---

In the lead-up to the Winter Solstice, Ian and Lucie go shopping and decorate the house with fairy lights, while Mika teaches the girls to animate a large metal horse in preparation for Edward's visit

Altamira is feeling down about the lack of wintry festivities, but Mika promises to make the day special with some fairy wine. The girls suggest forming their own Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which Mika agrees to, but she also feels that this moment highlights her failure to not get attached to others.

Mika contemplates breaking the promise to herself of not getting attached to the people and the place she is currently in. She is scared of being rejected and not being loved in return, especially by Jamie. Meanwhile, preparations for the Solstice are in full swing, and the house is filled with decorations and preparations.

Mika, wakes up early to tend to her potions, only to find that everyone else in the house is already awake due to the excitement of the Solstice presents. She discovers that a prank war has broken out between the girls, with Altamira being the latest victim of Terracotta's revenge for being falsely accused of taking a missing puzzle. Terracotta had dumped a color-shifting potion on Altamira's hair, turning it green.

Mika helps to resolve the conflict by fixing Altamira's hair and removing the stench from Terracotta's room.

Mika and Jamie discuss the girls' behavior and the importance of teaching them responsibility. Right as Mika wants to talk about the kiss they shared and Jamie's distance afterwards, the conversation is interrupted by Ian's enthusiastic arrival announcing the start of the Solstice celebrations.

The festivities kick off with gifts, including homemade rainbow sweaters from Ian, potted plants, and a vintage journal for Mika. Mika gifts everyone custom magical tea.

Jamie receives a jar of tea leaves with a whimsical list of ingredients, causing him to smile at Mika in a way that takes her breath away. The group then embarks on a snowflake hunt, with Mika joining forces with Ian and Ken.

Afterward, Ian prepares a mouth-watering feast for everyone, causing a food coma. The group spends the rest of the day watching winter movies, playing board games, and indulging in apple cider and pudding. As the night wears on, the kids fall asleep and Mika asks Jamie if they can talk.

As soon as Mika left the room, Ian became extremely happy and wanted to express it, but he noticed a cold look from Jamje and decided to wait until he left too. Ian had hoped that their trip up north would lead to something, but Mika and Jamie returned home without speaking to each other, which made Ian very annoyed.

When Jamie finally left the room, Ian wanted to follow and listen in, but Ken and Lucie stopped him. Ian sat back down feeling sulky and resigned himself to not knowing anything until the morning.

Chapter 23---

Jamie follows Mika out into the garden and onto the dunes, where she lights up the path with glowing fireflies. Jamie knows that Mika is hurt and confused after he pulled away from her in the woods.

When she confronts him, Jamie admits that he thinks they wouldn't work out because she doesn't do serious and he doesn't think he can do anything but serious with her. Mika is hurt by this but understands that Jamie is protecting something or someone. Mika feels like an outsider again. She feels unloved and uncared for.

As she starts to walk away, Jamie stops her and confesses that they had lied to her. He then proceeds to tell her everything.

Chapter 24---

Mika strides up the dunes, firefly lights lighting her way. She casts a levitation spell on a patch of sunflowers, unearthing a skeleton wrapped in a striped wool blanket with a tarnished silver locket around its neck.

Jamie reveals that Lillian had left instructions for his guardianship of the girls to go to her sister (named Peony) upon her death and that they had kept her death a secret to buy time to come up with a better plan. They had hoped Mika could disguise herself as Lillian to keep Edward at bay, but she is hurt and betrayed when she realizes they had not trusted her enough to tell her the truth and that they were using her all along.

She packs her things and tells Jamie she will come back on the twenty-sixth to say goodbye to the girls and figure out a plan to fool Edward. She leaves, and Jamie watches with teary eyes.

Chapter 25---

Mika drives for over three hours and stops at a tall townhouse in the city of York- her childhood home which she owns. She spends the night cleaning and organizing the house and the following days researching and experimenting with her cauldron to brew a potion that will help her save the inhabitants of Nowhere House. The work distracts her from the feelings of betrayal and hurt.

On Christmas Day, Jamie knocks on her door and Mika is overwhelmed by her feelings for him but remembers that she is still hurt and angry. She assumes he is here to make sure she'll be at Nowhere House for Edward's visit, but Jamie tells her that's not why he is here. She reluctantly lets him in and they begin to talk.

Chapter 26---

Mika prepares tea, while Jamie plays with Circe in the living room. He tells her that the girls miss her and are angry with him and the others for taking her away. He tells her that they have left an open window for her to come back to Nowhere House and that everything they have said to her and their love has been real.

Mika is still angry but is also starting to understand why they did what they did. Jamie kneels in front of her and tells her that he wants her to stay, that he wants all of her, and Mika starts to feel the fear of being hurt again, but also the desperate wanting to stay. She wonders if she can take the risk and stay.

Jamie comes to stand beside Mika, telling her of how he was able to heal after being fractured. He explains that it requires a leap of faith to love and be loved, and tells her that he will take whatever she can give him, but she can have all of him if she wants it.

They have tea and mulled wine, and Jamie tells her a funny story about the girls. Mika laughs for the first time in days and invites him to go to bed with her. He asks her if she is sure she wants this. She responds positively and they make love. After, Mika falls asleep in Jamie’s arms and he promises not to go anywhere. (Who else screamed after this chapter?)

Chapter 27---

Edward Foxhaven is solicitor a with extraordinary attention to detail. He is currently working with Lillian Nowhere, a wealthy client who has taken in some "questionable" people. Edward is suspicious of them and determined to find out what is going on at Nowhere House. He visits the house on the morning of the twenty-sixth and is met by a dressed-up skeleton after which everything goes wrong.

Mika and Jamie arrive at the barn to find an unfamiliar car in the driveway, signaling Edward's early arrival. They find the girls perched side by side on the fence, and Terracotta informs them they have locked Edward in the garden shed. They notice a pile of bones and clothes outside the front door and realize the girls have unburied Lillian. The girls explain that they animated Lillian's corpse to convince Edward she is fine.

Now, Edward knows Lillian is dead, and the girls are scared he will take them away. The adults discuss how to handle the situation, and Mika decides to go talk to Edward. Everyone expresses their love and concern for Mika, and she promises the girls she won't let Edward hurt them.

Mika and Jamie unlock the shed, revealing Edward Foxhaven. Edward is red-faced and sneering. Mika tries to be understanding, but Edward interrupts her and says he will report them to the police. Jamie is furious, and Mika twitches a single finger. Vines grow out of the ground, binding Edward. Mika explains that none of his demands will be met and that he is outnumbered. She releases the spell and they go back to the other side of the garden.

In order to make Edward forget all that occurred, Mika suggests the undesirable solution of calling Primrose for help, and they agree to do whatever is necessary to protect the people they love.

Chapter 28---

Mika is sitting in the attic when Jamie comes to find her. He sits with her and offers his support for her plan. Mika then goes to meet Primrose, who she had called for help, but when she arrives, the others realize that Primrose is actually Lillian's twin sister. They were identical sisters and were separated as children. "Peony" was Primrose's old name.

Primrose reveals that Lillian had been searching for a place where witches could live openly and without fear. Primrose then goes to the garden shed to erase Edward's memories of the events of the day while Mika checks on the children. When Primrose is done, they will place Edward in his car with Primrose in the driver's seat and he won't remember a thing. The group then realizes that this will be the perfect cover, as Edward will think Primrose is Lillian.

Primrose exits the shed and says that Edward will wake up with no recollection of what happe. He will have a headache but be fine. Mika suggests a plan to get rid of Edward, which Primrose listens to in silence with almost amusement.

They move Edward from the shed to his car and Primrose wakes him. Edward, as planned believes she is Lillian. Primrose (as Lillian) scolds him for wasting her time and basically fires him. Everyone watches as Edward leaves, confused and slightly intimidated by Primrose.

She suggests they report Lillian's death in two or three months and use magic to mask her age if her remains have to be examined. Primrose plans to be legally responsible for the children and wants to separate them. but Mika insists that Jamie should be their guardian instead. Mika is determined to fight Primrose and win.

Chapter 29---

Mika and Primrose are engaged in a tense conversation about the rules and the risks of having three young witches living together. Mika argues that the love and happiness they have together are worth the risks, and points out the consequences of the way Primrose chose to raise her. Primrose is taken aback and ponders Mika's words. She eventually agrees to let the children stay together, and when the kids come out, Primrose gets to know them. She leaves, and Terracotta declares that Mika belongs to them. Mika recalls Jamie's words about the leap of faith needed to love, and she takes it, allowing herself to be loved by the children, Jamie, and the others.

Chapter 30---

Mika is preparing the Very Secret Society of Witches for a meeting on a beautiful spring morning in Norfolk. Mika had to convince Primrose and Jamie, who were both intractable in their own ways, to agree to her plan to invite everyone, witches and non-witches alike. Jamie said he'd agree to have Mika's meeting in their backyard only if she finally started her magical tea shop.

Mika finally opened the shop in the abandoned barn in the Nowhere House. It was a success and her first batch quickly sold out.

At the Very Secret Society of Witches meeting, everyone is enjoying themselves, drinking tea, eating cheesecake, and showing off their spells and spellbooks. Belinda Nkala has brought her older brother, Hilda has brought two aunts, five cousins and her fiancée, and Agatha Jones has brought her boyfriend.

Mika is then waylaid by Primrose, who compliments her for the gathering she has put together. Mika then goes inside to find Jamie, who resists attending the meeting, but eventually agrees when Mika promises to make it up to him later. They then go outside together and everyone is happy. Mika reflects on how she has created a better world for witches by creating a community and a family for them, and how she, herself is finally happy, loved, and satisfied.

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