On Open Book With Jenna, Hoffman talks about her new novel chosen as Read With Jenna’s September pick, the central role of female friendship in the book, childhood reading mischief, and the authors she admires.
The Witches of Cambridge was chosen as Read With Jenna’s September book club pick and centers on friendship between two college freshmen who discover a secret society of witches.
Hoffman told Jenna Bush Hager that the novel is “more about situations with friends” and explores how friendship can be as important as romantic relationships for women.
You can listen to the interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.
Alice Hoffman joined Jenna Bush Hager on the Open Book With Jenna podcast to talk about The Witches of Cambridge, the novel Bush Hager selected as her Read With Jenna pick for September. The conversation revisited Hoffman's influences, her approach to the new book and a few personal reading memories.
College in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts. The pair uncover a secret society of witches called the Lilith Society, and the book examines how that discovery strains and tests their friendship. Hoffman told Bush Hager, "This book was more about situations with friends." She added that for women, friendship can sometimes feel more important than romantic relationships.
Bush Hager framed the appearance as a full-circle moment: she grew up on Hoffman's magical novels such as Practical Magic and Here on Earth, and called Hoffman "one of my favorite authors," saying, "I've loved your work for—I don't know how many years it's been—but definitely 20-plus years." That endorsement set the tone for a conversational interview that mixed literary talk with personal anecdotes.
When asked about writers she admires now, Hoffman singled out Toni Morrison: "For me, Toni Morrison was, is and always will be the greatest American writer." She also said she enjoys Elizabeth Strout for the emotional depth of her work and reads Jodi Picoult for socially engaged fiction even though Hoffman's own work doesn't usually tackle social issues in the same way.
The conversation included a brief note on tone and theme: while The Witches of Cambridge isn't focused on a specific social issue, Hoffman described it as a feminist book in the sense that it centers women's relationships and agency. Bush Hager described the novel as "a novel about love, friendship and finding your power," calling it "perfect" for welcoming the fall season.
If you want to hear the full interview, Open Book With Jenna is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube. The episode provides a short, approachable look at Hoffman's new book alongside the author's reading influences and personal anecdotes about books that shaped her.
Finding an author whose books you love–a writer whose novels become auto-buys—can be difficult sometimes, but Jenna Bush Hager has you covered. Over the years the Today show co-host and Read With Jenna book club founder has shared some of her favorite writers, and they range from Ann Patchett to Alice Hoffman. To learn
Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 works of fiction, including the four-book Practical Magic series that explores the world of the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian. After first meeting the pair in Hoffman’s 1995 novel Practical Magic, audiences got to see the whimsical, fairy tale-es
Romance readers rejoice! Emily Henry just announced her new novel—which she previously teased on Jenna Bush Hager’s podcast Open Book With Jenna—and fans everywhere are celebrating. Also celebrating? Other authors and even Barnes & Noble. Below we reveal what everyone is saying about Henry’s new novel and reveal when y
Ever wonder what a woman who writes about witches, curses and generations of magic likes to curl up with herself? As it turns out, Alice Hoffman is just as big a book lover as the millions of fans who’ve made Practical Magic a classic. Over the years, the author has shared some of her favorite […]
The co-owner of NZ's most enterprising Christian bookstore recommends 10 books on their shelves The post <a href="https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/09/...
It’s Scholastic book fair season, and since no one has invented a grown-up version of the beloved event, we’ve made a list of book recommendations inspired by everyone’s favorite fair purchases. Book fair classics like The Baby-Sitters Club to Little House on the Prairie are timeless—and so are their adult counterparts
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.