The Charmed Library
- Judith D Collins
- Jan 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 15
By: Jennifer Moorman
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Harper Muse
ISBN: 9781400343669
Publisher: HarperMuse
Publication Date: 01/06/2026
Format: Audio and e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
With her signature blend of magical and heartfelt storytelling, USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Moorman returns with The Charmed Library, a love letter to libraries, favorite childhood stories, and readers who have fallen for fictional heroes.
Like many other public libraries, the one in Blue Sky Valley, North Carolina, is a haven for readers. But it's also unlike any other. In this library, fictional characters step off the page into real life. Assistant librarian Stella Parker has no idea. Still reeling from her father's death and--more recently--a breakup, she hasn't noticed. All she knows is she's stuck in a job she's overqualified for and stumped about what to do with her life.
Everything changes when she burns her beloved journal.
Words matter to Stella. For as long as she can remember, she's seen them. Words appear--in varying colors and fonts--rising from surfaces, bouncing over objects, and even wiggling out of people. Words give her insight into emotions and untold stories. But the words change for Stella after she burns her journal. Suddenly they're demanding, urgent--and painful.
Then Stella stumbles upon strange characters in the library after hours. One is an oddly familiar World War II soldier who introduces himself as Jack--Jack Mathis, the main character from her favorite book. A fictional hero and Stella's first crush. Standing in front of her in the flesh.
Jack tells Stella about the magic hidden in the library. Skeptical, Stella rashly invites a villain to visit, and chaos ensues. As she discovers the importance of protecting the library's secret and gets to know the real Jack, words continue to appear. What are they trying to tell her?
Much too quickly, Stella is faced with the reality that all stories must end, and magic comes at a price. The characters who visit the library can only stay for fourteen days. And Jack's time is almost up.
A cozy, Hallmark-esque rom-com, The Charmed Library invites readers to escape to a world where words come alive and book boyfriends leap off the page.
Praise
'A whimsical, heartfelt escape that honors the emotional power of great stories--not just how they begin, but how they must end.' -
- Susan Meissner, USA TODAY bestselling author of A MAP TO PARADISE
'Moorman (THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS) delivers the perfect blend of magical realism and romance in this sweet tale about the power of books . . . With enough surprises to keep it from being predictable, Moorman's delightful story will charm readers.' -
- Library Journal
'Moorman (THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS, 2025) examines the consequences of losing oneself to grief and the magical, healing power of books. This enchanting and delightful read is a must for book and library lovers.'
-- Booklist
'THE CHARMED LIBRARY absolutely charmed me--a love letter to the magic found in libraries, to the words of our favorite books that open up whole worlds, to the power of love to heal. From the first page, I was enraptured by Stella's story. What book lover hasn't wished they could meet their fictional friends and crushes in the real world? But woven in the wonder of literary characters coming to life is a journey of self-discovery and the realization of how instrumental books are to a community and to a woman trying to find her way. This is Moorman's best book yet!' -
- Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of THE STAR OF CAMP GREENE
'THE CHARMED LIBRARY is a page-turning tale of renewal, redemption, and the powerful healing magic of books, community, and love. Jennifer Moorman's lyrical style and imaginative, surprising plot charmed me from the first page to the final chapter.'
-- Marie Bostwick, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN
'THE CHARMED LIBRARY is a reader's dream come true. With favorite classic characters come to life, book boyfriends made real, and intrigue around the corner of each enchanted bookshelf, Moorman has woven a satisfying tale of family secrets, lifelong friendships, and the joy of new beginnings. For anyone who has ever been swept away by the magical power of words.'
-- Lynda Cohen Loigman, USA TODAY bestseller of THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN and THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT
'Words literally come to life for a lonely assistant librarian in this exquisite tale from Moorman (THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS) . . . Moorman drops in plenty of delightful details, such as the appearance of Mr. Darcy from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, who dazzles the library's women patrons, and she makes it easy to suspend disbelief, considering that, as Arnie says, 'The world is full of the impossible.''
-- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
About the Author
Jennifer Moorman writes enchanting novels inspired by the everyday magic and whimsy in the world around her. She is the bestselling author of the magical realism Mystic Water series, The Baker’s Man, and The Magic All Around.
Born and raised in Southern Georgia, Jennifer has a deep love for nature, a fondness for honeysuckle, and childhood memories of whippoorwills singing her to sleep. She is a foodie, a self-taught baker, and has a travel bag ready for her next adventure. She can always be won over with chocolate, unicorns, or rainbows.
When she’s not writing, you can find her testing a new recipe, chasing rainbows, or stargazing. She lives in a magic house in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with Jennifer at jennifermoorman.com; Instagram: @jenniferRmoorman; Facebook: @jennifermoormanbooks; and BookBub: @JenniferMoorman. WEBSITE
My Review
In THE CHARMED LIBRARY, penned by master storyteller Jennifer Moorman, readers are invited to embark on a whimsical literary adventure that transcends the ordinary.
The story unfolds in the picturesque Blue Sky Valley, North Carolina, where we meet Stella Parker, an exceptionally talented and overqualified assistant librarian. Stella's world is transformed when she unravels a captivating secret: the quaint public library she cherishes is not just a sanctuary of books, but a mystical portal that grants access to myriad fictional characters.
As the pages turn, readers find themselves entangled in a rich tapestry of imagination, where the line between reality and fantasy blurs, and every corner of the library brims with enchanting possibilities.
About...
Grieving her father’s death and a recent breakup, Stella impulsively burns a journal filled with notes to her ex in the library's furnace.
For years, Stella has seen "floating" words that give her insight into emotions. After burning the journal, these words become aggressive, urgent, and physically painful, demanding she pay attention to them.
Since childhood, the words have given Stella a unique understanding of people's inner thoughts and feelings, often appearing as harmless, floating fragments of text.
After Stella burns her ex's journal, the words change dramatically, becoming demanding, urgent, and even painful. This shift acts as a magical trigger, pulling her into the library's hidden secrets and forcing her to confront her own potential and emotional stasis.
Stella encounters Jack Mathis, the World War II soldier from her favorite novel, Beyond the Southern Horizon, who has stepped out of the pages into the real world.
Skeptical of the library's magic, Stella accidentally releases the villainous Captain Hook from Peter Pan. Hook is far more dangerous than his literary counterpart, forcing Stella and Jack to work together to capture him.
Stella learns from her mentor, Arnie Cohen, that fictional characters can only remain in the real world for fourteen days before they must return to their stories.
As Stella falls for Jack, she must navigate her grief and writer's block to determine if she can move forward without him and "write" her own next chapter.
Key Characters
~Stella Parker:
An assistant librarian with a hidden gift for seeing words.
~Jack Mathis:
A handsome WWII soldier and Stella's literary first crush.
~Arnie Cohen:
Stella’s boss and mentor, who has been guarding the library's secrets.
~Captain Hook:
The primary antagonist released by Stella's mistake.
~Mr. Darcy:
One of several classic characters who make cameos in the library
In addition to Jack Mathis, Captain Hook, and Mr. Darcy, The Charmed Library features several other notable literary cameos and secondary characters: Benjamin Button, Meredith and Olivia, Ariel, and Nana. The novel includes various other well-known "book boyfriends" and classic characters who visit the library under the 14-day rule, which mandates that they must return to their respective stories after two weeks in the real world.
My thoughts...
The central takeaway of Jennifer Moorman’s THE CHARMED LIBRARY is the transformative power of storytelling and the importance of choosing to author your own future despite grief or past heartbreak.
The floating words Stella sees in The Charmed Library are a manifestation of her innate magical gift, which provides insight into emotions and untold stories. Their significance evolves throughout the novel.
Ultimately, the words serve as a guiding force on her journey of self-discovery and healing, encouraging her to "reclaim her own story" and move past heartbreak. They help her understand that she has the power to change her life and guide others to the stories they need most.
The Power of Words: The title encapsulates the novel's core theme: the belief that stories and words have a powerful, enchanting influence on our lives, capable of shaping us and calling us back to ourselves.
Key themes & messages:
~The Healing Power of Words: The novel serves as a "love letter" to libraries, emphasizing how books act as a catalyst for healing and renewal. For Stella, her magical ability to see words represents how literature provides insight into complex human emotions.
Self-Discovery: Stella’s journey moves from a state of being "stuck" in a job and life she feels overqualified for toward a path of self-acceptance.
The narrative encourages readers to "reclaim their own story" rather than letting past regrets or missed chances define them.
~Embracing Impermanence: The "14-day rule" for fictional characters serves as a metaphor for the reality that "all stories must end". Stella must learn to savor the magic of the moment while accepting the necessity of letting go to move forward.
~Courage to Face the Unknown: By facing both literal literary villains and her own internal struggles, Stella learns that the "impossible" can become possible when one possesses the courage to follow one's own path rather than the expectations of others
The title THE CHARMED LIBRARY signifies both the literal and metaphorical magic within the novel. The library is physically "charmed" with the power to bring fictional characters to life, while also representing the power of stories to enchant, heal, and transform real lives.
The words are a central symbol of the novel's overarching theme: the transformative power of words and stories to influence, heal, and shape our lives.
The "charm" extends to the emotional journey of the characters. The library acts as a safe haven and a catalyst for Stella's self-discovery, helping her move past grief and heartbreak to "author" her own future.
In summary, if you have delved into the works of Jennifer Moorman before, you are familiar with the enchanting experience that awaits you—an exquisite fusion of literary depth and the ethereal charm of magical realism that will transport you to realms both familiar and fantastical.
The audiobook...
I had the immense pleasure of diving headfirst into the mesmerizing world of the book, while simultaneously reveling in the audio version, which was expertly brought to life by the extraordinarily talented and award-winning narrator, Kathleen McInerney (a favorite). Her enchanting voice wove a spell that transformed each magical character into a vivid presence, creating an experience that felt utterly transcendent for any avid book lover. The story whisked me away to an enchanting realm filled with wonder and intrigue, leaving me with a profound and resonant message about the transformative power of books—an insight that lingered in my mind long after I turned the final page.
Recs...
Readers who enjoy the blend of magical realism, romance, and the power of literature, as in The Charmed Library, might like other novels where books and fictional characters intersect with the real world or feature similar themes of self-discovery and destiny by the following authors, I recommend, and Moorman's previous work.
~Meg Shaffer
~Patti Callahan Henry
~Lynda Cohen Loigman,
~Sarah Addison Allen
~Matt Haig
~Heather Webber
~Evie Woods
~Sarah Jio
Special thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 06, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
