by Meg Shaffer
First published 2026
Rainy March carries a magical umbrella and works alongside her cat companion to patrol the world of fiction. As a third generation book witch, she leaps between novels to repair damage and control wayward characters. The rules are clear: real people stay in reality, fictional beings remain in their stories, and witches never fall for characters they encounter. Rainy has already broken that last rule with the Duke of Chicago, a British detective from her favorite mystery series. Her coven has banned all contact with him. When her grandfather vanishes and someone steals a valuable book, Rainy faces an impossible choice. She needs the Duke's help to solve both mysteries, but working with him again means losing her magical abilities forever. Their investigation pulls them into the pages of Alice in Wonderland and The Great Gatsby, where family secrets emerge and hidden enemies reveal themselves.
Genres: romance, mystery, fantasy, urban-fantasy
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-love, found-family
Setting: Alice in Wonderland, Chicago, The Great Gatsby
Period: 21st-century
300 pages · Paperback · Arcadia