Four midlife women are each dealing with the mundanity of everyday life until they receive an unexpected gift from their dear departed friend, Inga. Apparently, Witches are not born in this world; the power is passed down to those the witch deems worthy.
However, it is not always a smooth beginning for these women, and at times, the magic feels more like a burden than a blessing. What gifts will Libbie, Kate, Julie and Rebecca receive, and how will they use the powers bestowed upon them?
Humorous, heartwarming and uplifting, this four‑book series can be enjoyed as individual standalones, but it is best read together because each story presents relatable issues. Don’t miss out.
Title: Midlife Magic Cocktail Club
Author: Annabel Chase
Genres: Fantasy > Paranormal > Witches / Magic / Chick-Lit
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 798
Reading Date: 16th April 2026 – 30th April 2026
The reading order – How to Read Midlife Magic Cocktail Club Series by Annabel Chase
- 1 Magic Uncorked
- 2 Bewitching Bitters
- 3 Vintage Spirits
- 4 Psychic on the Rocks
Magic Uncorked
A magical secret is about to shake things up for the ladies of Lake Cloverleaf…
For Libbie Stark, Friday night cocktail club is a lifeline. Whatever her problems, whether her stubborn boss, unruly teens or deadbeat boyfriend, time with the women of Lake Cloverleaf always feels like a tonic.
But when tragedy strikes on the Fourth of July, Libbie discovers a magical secret. Witches are real. Only they aren’t born – they’re created. When a witch dies, her powers pass from one generation to the next. And a local witch has chosen to pass her powers onto the ladies of the cocktail club.
With the help of a magical recipe book, Libbie must harness her new powers and use them to shake up the comfortable life she settled for. As Libbie learns to finally live on her own terms, sparks fly with handsome local lawyer Ethan Townsend, and she discovers it’s never too late to restore a little magic to your life…
My thoughts…
In Lake Cloverleaf, five midlife women, Inga, Libbie, Kate, Rebecca, and Julie, gather every Friday night to share updates over cocktails, hence the name Cocktail Club.
They are about to lose their eldest member, Inga, and their lives change when, unbeknownst to them, Inga is revealed to be a witch, and they are set to inherit a witchy power. It turns out witches are not born but passed down to those judged worthy by the witch herself.
There are four books in the series, so I expect each member will have their own story of how they discover the magic since it is not instantaneous.
This first instalment follows Libbie, a 48‑year‑old divorcée who has two teenagers and a boyfriend, Chris, who takes advantage of her. Unlike many witch stories I have read, this one contains little magic or fantasy elements and reads more like chick‑lit.
I enjoyed the humour presented in the story. However, the magic part is very subtle, and I found myself wanting more. After all, why give each woman a cat when nothing comes of that? I thought the cats might be magical, too, but they are not.
Another aspect I struggle to understand is why Chris suddenly became interested in the book gifted by Inga. It feels contrived: first, he steals the page, then later snatches the book away. Also, rather than reacting with disbelief to the banishing act, he simply sets the book alight, which I found unconvincing.
In the rest of the books, I hope the remaining Cocktail Club members, Kate, Rebecca and Julie, reveal more of the magic I am craving, and that Libbie gives an update on her date with Ethan. 😁
Bewitching Bitters
Kate Golden has built a successful career helping others become their best selves. But when Kate inherits magical powers from the late Inga Paulsen, the spell that holds her carefully controlled world together begins to unravel.
What starts with a mysterious cocktail recipe from an enchanted book quickly spirals into disaster. A grotesque wart sprouts on her chin, her hair turns shocking pink and her perfect life crumbles in the most public way possible. Desperate to regain control, Kate experiments with magical ingredients in her kitchen. But magic has its own agenda, and every spell she attempts only makes things worse.
With the support of her fellow witches in the cocktail club, Kate is forced to surrender control and trust in powers beyond her understanding. Sometimes finding the best version of yourself means embracing the magic in life’s messy moments…
My thoughts…
The story in this second book follows Kate Golden. She is a well‑known YouTuber who strives to be flawless and to maintain control over every aspect of her life. Her childhood has shaped who she is, and through hard work and dedication, she presents herself as perfect in almost everyone’s eyes.
However, like Libbie, Kate’s life is upended when the first cocktail recipe materialises in the blank book given to her by Inga. After she makes the cocktail and drinks it, events spiral out of control, and her carefully constructed life begins to unravel.
I enjoy reading Kate’s story, from what is portrayed as a perfect life, then shifts from bad to worse, especially during the horrifying video incident, and later, how things eventually begin to improve.
The panic she experiences feels real, and the accumulation of setbacks makes her panic attack believable. Her tragic childhood explains her relentless drive to be the best, and it is no surprise that everything collapsing at once overwhelms her. It is a relief that she does not follow her mum’s footsteps!
This book will resonate with anyone who has ever felt pressured to live up to someone else’s idea of who they should be. Kate’s story is relatable, and there is a clear lesson to be learned from her journey.
As with the first instalment, there are even fewer magical moments than I had hoped, which is a little disappointing. I am also left wondering about the effect of the second cocktail she makes; its effects are not made entirely clear. Overall, the character work and emotional intensity are strong, but I would like to see more of the magic in the next book.🤞
Vintage Spirits
Two years after the death of her husband, Julie Duncan is still buried in layers of grief and guilt. Each night she feels the cold spot where Greg once lay and wonders if she’ll ever fill it. When her mother dies on New Year’s Eve, Julie feels more lost than ever – a fifty-year-old widow with no purpose and a house full of ghosts.
Then a cocktail recipe appears in the magical book her late friend Inga left her, and Julie discovers she can see the dead. Suddenly spirits are everywhere, seeking her help to find peace. But the ghost who changes everything is the one person she’s missed so desperately it hurts.
As Julie helps lost souls cross over, she begins to rediscover the fierce, funny woman she used to be. But her estranged brother has returned too, determined to steal her inheritance, and he’ll use any weapon he can find, including Julie’s new gift. With her cocktail club friends rallying around her and a handsome doctor showing unexpected interest, Julie faces her hardest choice hold onto Greg’s ghost forever, or let him go and finally embrace the life she’s been too afraid to live.
A poignant, funny and deeply moving story about love, loss and learning to live again. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Iris Beaglehole and anyone who’s ever felt stuck, scared or too old for second chances.
My thoughts…
Julie has built her life around being a carer: first for her sick husband until his death, and then for her mother, Doris, who is very demanding. Even while heartbroken after her husband’s passing, she never puts herself first. When Doris dies on New Year’s Eve, Julie suddenly does not know what to do with her life.
When her brother Brad, who never cared for their mother, turns up to contest the will and pressures her to sell the family home, Julie must find her voice and stand up for herself. Her newly gained witchy gift may help her, at least a little.
It is now Julie’s turn to receive the extraordinary gift left by Inga, her dear departed witch friend. Of the three stories so far, I most enjoy Julie’s because it contains more paranormal elements than Kate’s or Libbie’s.
Her story is different in that her life does not spiral downhill after she drinks the first cocktail recipe that appears in her book. Instead, she gains the ability to see ghosts and becomes a magnet for spirits with unfinished business. She becomes, in effect, a ghost whisperer.
This is a fantastic storyline exploring death, grief, regret, friendship and love. It will feel especially relatable to widows and to women who have lacked the confidence to put themselves first and are seeking a second chance.
I am excited to discover what gift awaits the final member of the Cocktail Club. I hope Rebecca receives the ability to speak or understand the animals, given how much she loves them; if not, then something equally extraordinary. 🤞
Psychic on the Rocks
Rebecca Angelos has always liked animals more than people. The abandoned pets who pass through Cloverleaf Critters animal shelter understand her better even than her friends at her Friday night cocktail club. Elvis the pug never judges as he helps her swipe through dating profiles on a Saturday night, and Paul Rudd the doberman has the sweetest heart despite all he’s been through.
But when her landlord threatens to sell the building, Rebecca has just weeks to save the shelter, or watch every animal lose their home again. It seems her gift from Inga arrives just in time, until she discovers exactly what it is – the ability to hear everyone’s thoughts.
Privy to even the most critical thoughts, Rebecca feels like she’s been cursed. Until she starts to learn something she doesn’t expect. Even the most confident, put-together people battle the same inner demons. As a charming woodworker enters her life – along with two cats called AC and DC – Rebecca discovers that saving the shelter means first learning to silence her own cruel inner voice.
My thoughts…
Well, well, well… what I hoped for Rebecca’s gift turned out to be quite close to what she actually received. Not with animals like Dr Dolittle, but with people, which is just as fascinating. What a brilliant gift. I would happily join their circle too, although I would choose tea instead of a cocktail, as I am not a fan of hangovers. 😅
Of all the books in this series, books three and four are definitely my favourites. Overall, this series feels best suited to a midlife audience, which is no surprise given the title 😁.
The characters are mature and dealing with everyday problems, with only a soft touch of magic woven into the story. There are no fancy unicorns or bubbling cauldrons, but rather cocktails mixed with herbs.
The focus leans more towards issues that are relatable to most people, and the lessons and solutions offered rely more on logic than on magic. Pick this series for a weekend getaway if you fancy a quick read with heartwarming themes of family, friendship and love.
