Jenna Bush Hager has selected Alice Hoffman’s “The Witches of Cambridge” as the September 2026 Read With Jenna book club pick. The TODAY co-host called Hoffman one of her “absolute favorites” and said the novel is a perfect way to welcome fall.
Set in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, the book follows two Radcliffe College students who discover a secret society of witches. It hits shelves on September 8, 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Book Club | Read With Jenna |
| Month | September 2026 |
| Title | The Witches of Cambridge |
| Author | Alice Hoffman |
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Release Date | September 8, 2026 |
| Genre | Historical Fantasy |
| Setting | 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts |
About the Book
The novel follows two young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, who become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches known as the Lilith Society.
Ava is a bright young woman from a small town in Maine who arrives at Radcliffe College on a scholarship. Lauren is her opposite—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. They are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times.
As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is tested as they navigate their new power, friendship, and love. The book is set against the backdrop of McCarthyism, and when girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, the two realize that the witch trials of the past may not be as buried as they once believed.
Alice Hoffman described the book as focusing on “how important friendship is for women, and how deep it is for women.”
“I cannot think of a more perfect book to welcome us to fall. It’s a novel about love, friendship and finding your power.” — Jenna Bush Hager
Release Date
The book is published on September 8, 2026. It will be available in:
- Hardcover
- eBook
- Audiobook
The audiobook is narrated by Mena Suvari and has a runtime of approximately 12 hours and 50 minutes.
Alice Hoffman: The Author
Alice Hoffman is the author of more than 30 works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, and Magic Lessons. She’s best known for writing about witches, magic, and women’s relationships.
Her novel Practical Magic inspired the cult classic 1998 film starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. Hoffman is now working on a sequel to The Witches of Cambridge, confirming there’s “more to the story.”
The inspiration for the novel came when Hoffman enrolled at Harvard Divinity School. In her toughest class, she was asked to write a paper about someone at Harvard she disagreed with. She chose Increase Mather, a former Harvard president involved in the Salem witch trials, and asked the professor if she could write it as fiction.
Is This Related to Practical Magic?
The books are connected through their author and Hoffman’s interest in magic, but “The Witches of Cambridge” is not a direct sequel to “Practical Magic”.
It’s a brand-new series with a distinct setting and characters. Hoffman noted that where Practical Magic is about sisters, her new book focuses more on friends.
Early Reviews
Kirkus Reviews called the book “a welcome novel for Hoffman fans and readers of fantastical fiction.” The reviewer noted that Hoffman “again draws on lore and a strong sense of place to root her tale of magic, feminism, and sisterly love.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Read With Jenna September 2026 pick?
Jenna Bush Hager selected “The Witches of Cambridge” by Alice Hoffman.
2. When does The Witches of Cambridge come out?
The novel is published on September 8, 2026.
3. What is The Witches of Cambridge about?
It follows two Radcliffe College students who discover a secret witch society known as the Lilith Society in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts.
4. Is The Witches of Cambridge related to Practical Magic?
Both are by Alice Hoffman and deal with magic, but the book is not a direct sequel—it’s a new series about friendship rather than sisters.
5. Who are the main characters in The Witches of Cambridge?
The main characters are Ava Abbot, a young woman from Maine who receives a scholarship to Radcliffe, and Lauren Bell, her roommate from a wealthy Cambridge family.
6. What is the Lilith Society?
A secret organization of witches at Radcliffe College that dates back to colonial times.
7. How can I join the Read With Jenna book club?
Follow Read With Jenna on social media, join the Goodreads group, or listen to the podcast to participate in monthly discussions.