Cackle

Finally! A supernatural story that isn't ruined by forcing the narrative into a romance. I'm sick of choosing books about witches or magic and finding instead men with ripped chests and obscure coloured eyes who charm the knickers off the heroine but bore me silly. This is the book I've been searching for - chick lit, Hallmark Christmas movies and Stephen King, but in a good way!

After being relegated back to the friend zone by her best friend turned boyfriend, Annie Crane leaves New York on her thirtieth birthday and moves upstate to a new life and new job in Rowan, a small town with a secret. Main Street is like a scene from a Hallmark movie, with coffee shops, bakeries and a farmer's market, and everyone is friendly and welcoming. The show more only downside seems to be the spiders in her apartment. Annie is battling her own demons, however, feeling depressed and lonely. Until she meets the stunningly beautiful Sophie, the best friend she has always longed for, who takes the newcomer under her wing and invites Annie out to her mansion in the woods. But why is everyone else seemingly afraid of this enigmatic beauty with a kind heart?

I absolutely loved this story, from the characters to the setting - in fact, I wanted to be both Annie and Sophie! And the only man on the scene is Annie's ex, Sam, who is likeable enough but neither an Adonis or a romantic risk. I enjoyed Annie's new start in Rowan, shared her neuroses while teaching a class of obnoxious teens, but was glad that she was allowed to find herself rather than a man. I'm not sure about the message - all single women over 30 are witches? - but I was all for not having to endure another romance. Sophie is also a fabulous character, comfortable in who she is but understandably lonely. The darker scenes - mostly involving spiders and ghosts - were also well written and unnerving.

Funny, moving, comforting, spooky, relatable, Rachel Harrison has thrown every emotion into the cauldron bar lust, which is fine by me! Definitely recommended, and I might even buy a printed copy to read annually during spooky season! show less

Cackle by Rachel Harrison is not my usual reading fare, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Ms. Harrison’s story of female empowerment has some spooky moments, but really it is more about breaking societal expectations. After all, what is a witch other than a strong, independent female who doesn’t follow the rules set by others?

Annie starts out as a rather pathetic high school teacher struggling to adjust to life as a newly single woman after her long-time boyfriend decides they are better as friends than dating. For all that, she is equally relatable because of the fact that she always thought her path meant husband, children, and all the rest. Meanwhile, Sophie is quirky and charming even if she is a bit ominous. Watching Annie show more bloom under her tutelage is satisfying and inspiring.

You would think that a book that uses spiders as personal helpers would be a bit too much for this arachnophobe to handle, but I have to admit that by the end, I even found those damn spiders endearing. Cackle is what I would call a cozy witch story. It might take place in the dead of winter in an old and drafty mansion crawling with secrets, but the whole thing is just too damn cute with a great message about needing no one but yourself. show less

“What is it about a woman in full control of herself that is so utterly frightening?”

Starting my favorite (i.e. the best) time of the year off both early and right with another great Rachel Harrison read!

This novel is perfect for anyone starting over in their late 20’s/early 30’s. The protagonist, Annie Crane, is relatable in both some good and bad ways. She’s got a way of holding up a mirror to the page until you can see yourself looking back from the ink. Sometimes you might not like what you see, but don’t fret! There’s still time to change what you reflect back into the world, and that is, ultimately, the entire point of this story, in my opinion.

Equally atmospheric and spooky, Rachel has crafted a touching tale about show more the search for personhood and identity outside of our relationship to the people we pour our love and precious time into. And managed to portray an incredibly special form of female companionship at the same time!

Drop in a few heaping spoonfulls of magic, adorable spiders in top hats, and an ancient witch determined to show you the fullest extent of your potential, and you’ve got the perfect autumn read! 🍂🎃 show less

I really liked this book. The brisk narrative kept me on my toes and I really did not know where things were going to go with Annie’s friendship with Sophie or what kind of book this was going to be in the end. Without giving too much away, I would classify this as a cozy fantasy with dark elements, and ultimately as a self actualization story.

While Annie frustrated me at times by not asking enough questions or being curious or cautious enough, I do realize this is an important element of her personality that needs addressing as part of the plot. Sophie is an enigma, a lonely witch who love bombs her new best friend. It’s hard to really know Sophie’s true nature throughout the book, and I loved that it kept me wondering.

Overall I show more would give Cackle five stars, but I knocked one off for a pretty specific gripe I had. Annie/the author seem to have a real problem with German restaurants, to a degree that seemed excessive. It was just strange and distracting! A comment or two on the goofiness of a German restaurant would be fine, but the comments just went on and on and on, about the décor, the disgusting food, the embarrassment of being there. And then it gets brought up again later in the book! That it’s “embarrassing” to drink out of beer steins etc. It was just so strange to me! Maybe this is because I’m Midwestern so the concept of a German restaurant seems pretty normal to me. But I have a hard time imagining talking this way about any other ethnic restaurant, even other white cultures. It would be considered offensive to go on and on this way about a British pub, or a Russian, Polish, Italian, Spanish restaurant, let alone any other ethnicities like a Mexican restaurant or an Ethiopian one. Why was this ok and what is this author’s beef with German restaurants? Anyway, outside of this the book was an enjoyable romp. show less

I struggled with the rating for this book because the beginning was rough (underlined & italicized). I'll give you a synopsis. Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, I can't believe I'm alone, Sam, Sam. I almost put the book down and DNF. I was waiting for Pet (this is what I called Annie whenever I thought about her when not reading because she was such a forgettable character I couldn't remember her name) to break out into Olivia Newton John's song "Sam.' Then she met Sophie. I'm 150% head over heels in love with Sophie; she is the saving grace of this book. Oh, and Ralph too. His little clothes!!

Sophie is sophisticated, 400 years old, knows what she wants in life and can be your best friend or worst enemy; just what I like in a person. I want to be her show more friend, I want her to make me clothes and tea and roast chicken, lol. I'm sad the book is over because I don't get to see if exacts revenge on anyone like she says she loves to do.

I'm not sure why they put frightening in the synopsis, besides a few ghosts popping up, nothing scary happens. There is some humor, Sophie is very sarcastic and Ralph is very cute, but its not really belly laugh/laugh out loud funny.

I'm wondering if there is going to be a second book because of the way the author left things. Two of the townsfolk are still very much skeptical of magic and Sophie. She kind of eludes to the fact that their families have been there for generations, and she has been a victim of attempted murder by the villagers hundreds of times throughout the centuries so maybe those two try to take things 'into their own hands.' Pet also comes into contact with an old acquaintance and she wants to help her and meet Sophie but never gets the opportunity. So that could be a possible story arc.

Anyways, maybe this review will help you see why I had a hard time rating this book. Rough beginning, too much Sam, all throughout the book really not just the beginning, Pet is annoying and forgettable, but Sophie is one of the best characters I have come across in a really long time. And I need Ralph in my life. show less

Cackle is the story of Annie and how she found her own power after being dumped by her boyfriend. They had been together for years and still shared their Manhattan apartment after he decided they should just be friends. It was too painful for her so she found a new teaching job upstate. She also found a furnished apartment in a small, picture-perfect town with a fabulous coffee shop, farmers’ market, and all the trimmings of cozy Americana. Well, except there are an awful lot of spiders.

Annie meets Sophie, a mesmerizing woman of extraordinary beauty. She is warm, effusive, and charming. She builds up Annie’s self-esteem and introduces her to the town. Oddly, the people seem uncomfortable around Sophie. Annie goes to Sophie’s show more house, reached by a creepy walk through the woods past some graves but arriving at this fabulous mansion where Sophie lived alone. Well, except there are an awful lot of ghosts.

Are the townspeople right to fear Sophie? Should Annie be warier of her new friend? What about when Annie’s ex comes to ask her to come back?

Well, I loved Cackle. It is not the usual sort of feminist consciousness-raising but that is what makes it fun. Annie does grow from the passive beaten-down woman who left Manhattan brooding constantly about her lost love to a confident woman who can stand on her own. How she does it may not work for you or me, but I am happy to see her cackle.

I received an e-galley of Cackle from the publisher through NetGalley.

Cackle at Berkley | Penguin Random House
Rachel Harrison author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2021/10/16/9780593202029/ show less

5 ⭐ I would totally read this one again. I loved all the growth and fun characters while still being a horror novel.

🔮 For Fans of:
- horror
- paranormal drama
- witches
- post break up
- character growth
- self-worth
- friendship
- small town
- fantasy

📖 Summary
Annie gets broken up with a moves to a small town upstate. There, she meets Sophie, a magical woman who befriends her. The rest of the book is a introspective and creepy-vibes journey of self worth, friendship, and a bit of magic.

✏️ Spoiler-Free Review
The more I read by Rachel Harrison, the more I WANT to read by Rachel Harrison.

All of her characters are late 20s to early thirties and have REAL problems with REAL reactions to the magical (paranormal?) situations that occur. show more This book has creepy spider friends, feelings of being watched, a town who is suspicious of her new friend, so it really gives you the horror and creepy vibes yet is somehow heartwarming by the end!

I love the banter, the wit, and the wisdom of her writing and will continue to recommend her books to people!

📚 Book: Cackle by Rachel Harrison
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2022)
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 show less