Cackle

by Rachel Harrison

Contemporary

Supernatural

319 Pages

"I gobbled it up in a weekend, cackling all the while. A perfect cozy fall read with just the right amount of magic."

Synopsis

After ten years together, Annie Crane's boyfriend Sam has relegated her to the friend zone, leaving her devastated and searching for a fresh start. Fleeing Manhattan for the quaint upstate village of Rowan, Annie accepts a teaching position and settles into what seems like the perfect small town. The locals are welcoming, her cottage is charming, and the picturesque setting feels like something from a fairy tale—except for the persistent spider infestation that plagues her new home. Everything changes when Annie meets Sophie at the local liquor store. Beautiful, confident, and magnetically charismatic, Sophie takes an immediate interest in befriending the lonely newcomer. Unlike anyone Annie has ever known, Sophie lives entirely on her own terms, unapologetically embracing her power and encouraging Annie to stop shrinking herself for others' comfort. As their friendship deepens, Annie begins to discover her own strength, but she also starts noticing that Sophie might be more than she appears. The townspeople whisper about Sophie with a mixture of fear and fascination, and strange things seem to happen around her. Cackle is a darkly funny exploration of female friendship, empowerment, and the magic that comes from learning to embrace your authentic self.

Our Take

Rachel Harrison crafts a brilliant blend of contemporary women's fiction and supernatural elements that works as both a cozy autumn read and a sharp feminist commentary. While marketed as horror, Cackle is more accurately described as magical realism with gothic undertones—think Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls with a modern edge. Harrison's greatest achievement is making the supernatural elements feel metaphorical for women's empowerment, using witchcraft as a lens to explore how society fears women who fully embrace their power. Annie's character development from people-pleaser to self-possessed woman is beautifully executed, though some readers may find her initial passivity frustrating. The book's humor shines through cultural references ranging from Beauty and the Beast to Britney Spears, keeping the tone light despite deeper themes. Even Ralph the spider becomes an unexpectedly endearing character that will change how readers view arachnids forever. Fans of The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec or The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson will appreciate Harrison's fresh take on witchy fiction. Perfect for readers seeking empowering stories about female friendship, self-discovery, and learning to stop apologizing for taking up space in the world.