The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
5/5
This is the first book I've been excited for its’ release in a while and it did not disappoint. This is the fictional biography of Franny and Jet Owens, the aunts from the 90s movie Practical Magic.
I found Hoffman to be so very subtle in her story weaving. She put in just enough eccentric details to immerse you in the landscape of the story and completely overtake you by the life of the Owens witches. The characters are vibrant, stubborn, and completely real for the reader. I can picture each and every one of them in my head, and understand the personality associated with them.
I enjoyed every moment of the book, but what I found most wonderful was the emotions that Hoffman is able to evoke in her readers. I had to work not to actually physically cry at death, and found myself laughing out loud several times, regardless of where I was in my actual life. 
The sense of passing time is very real, and I found it was easy to follow the girls through all of the peace and turmoil each stage of their lives brought them. I loved every word of every page.
As I am a huge fan of the movie Practical Magic, was surprised when I realized I'd never questioned the fact that the aunts had another sibling… which is why they are the aunts. It was a very interesting family dynamic that I hadn't considered before, having assumed that Jet and Franny had always lived in the big white house on Magnolia Street. I think it would make a great movie adaptation, too.
I can't recommend this enough, and I'm off to make popcorn and watch part two: Sally and Gilly’s story, Practical Magic.