Audio: 9781250435590, MacMillan Audio, 1/27/2026
eBook: 9781250394569, St Martin’s Press, 1/27/2026
The Unwritten Rules of Magic
The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a spellbinding novel that blends magic and memory in an unforgettable journey through love, grief, and the hidden cost of perfection across three generations of women.
Emerson Clarke can’t remember a time when she felt in control. Her father—a celebrated author—was a chaotic force until he got Alzheimer’s. Her mother turned to gin. And recently, her teen daughter has shut her out without explanation. If only she could arrange reality the same way she controls the stories she ghostwrites, life could be perfect.
Or so she thinks.
After her father’s funeral, Emerson steals his vintage typewriter—the one he’d forbidden anyone to touch—and tests its keys by typing out a frivolous wish. When it comes true the very next day, she tries another. Then, those words also spring to life. Suddenly, she becomes obsessed with using the typewriter to rewrite happiness for herself and her daughter.
But the more she shapes her real-life, the more she uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s history and the unexpected cost of every story-come-true. She should destroy the typewriter, yet when her daughter’s secret finally emerges, Emerson is torn between paying the price for bending fate and embracing the uncertainty of an unscripted life.
Praise
February 2026
CBS-NY Club Calvi Book Club Finalist
“Elegant and empathetic… Crisp prose, mature characters, and well-wrought emotional trials propel this introspective journey of self-discovery.”
—Publishers Weekly
—Booklist
—Library Journal
—The Midwest Book Review
“A rare gem of a story that shines a light on our relationship with our ambitions and desires and through that makes us dig into who we really are. Ross has a gift for delving into the most universal human failings with such honest curiosity and intelligence that the journey of these three women from three generations becomes our own. Thoughtfully crafted and filled with insight, The Unwritten Rules of Magic will bend your mind and grow your heart. Highly recommend.”
—Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author of There’s Something About Mira
“In The Unwritten Rules of Magic, Harper Ross taps into our deepest, and quite possibly secret, desire to control our own lives and fate through magic. At its heart this story asks us, “Should life be controlled or embraced for its uncertainties?” With vividly drawn characters and evocative imagery, The Unwritten Rules of Magic explores the cost of success, the weight of secrets, and the power of letting go. Poignant, thought-provoking, and cleverly rendered, this novel reminds us that while we can try to write what we believe is our perfect story, life often has other plans.”
—Patti Callahan Henry, NYT bestselling author The Secret Book of Flora Lea
—Barbara O’Neal, author of The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth
—Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books
“If given the chance, who wouldn’t apply a little magic to control our destinies? From the moment Emerson typed her first wish on her father’s antique typewriter, I was completely captivated by The Unwritten Rules of Magic. Harper Ross’s lovely prose and expertly-drawn characters had me turning the pages late into the night. I predict this poignant novel—full of secrets, moral dilemmas, and three generations of women making powerful life choices—will become a book club favorite.”
—Melissa Wiesner, author of The Second Chance Year
“The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a spellbinding tale of love and loss, exploring how grief and secrets affect three generations of women. It begs the question: if you could bend fate to help your loved ones, would you? And at what cost? Enchanting, thought-provoking and impossible to put down, Harper Ross’s debut will leave you looking for magic in everyday moments and thinking about the characters long after you turn the last page.”
—Ali Brady, USA Today bestselling author of Until Next Summer
“Harper Ross’s The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a riveting page-turner that combines a whiff of Alice Hoffman with a brilliant twist on the importance of being present and embracing life’s messiness. The memorable and nuanced characters will stay with you long after the final page.”
—Robyn Carr, #1 NYT bestselling author
“Just when you think a mystical typewriter that grants wishes would be fabulous, comes The Unwritten Rules of Magic, a cautionary story about being careful for what you wish for. Brimming with reminders that family is worth fighting for, staying true to yourself is everything, and forgiveness goes a long way toward healing, Harper Ross has written a heartfelt, magical, memorable novel sure to captivate.”
—Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café