Happy Release Day!
Congratulations Harper
on the release today of
The Unwritten Rules of Magic!
The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross
Magical Realism, Fiction, 320 pages
Published January 27, 2026 by St. Martin's Press
For fans of The Midnight Library and In Five Years, 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 of her life. Her father—a celebrated author—blew in and out of her childhood like a hurricane until he got Alzheimer’s. Her mother numbed loneliness with gin. And recently, her teen daughter has shut her out without explanation. The only place Emerson has ever been in charge is in front of the keyboard where, as a ghostwriter, she dictates everything that happens on the page. If only she could arrange reality the same way, life could be perfect. An impossible fantasy—or so she believes until she makes a startling discovery.
After her father’s wake, Emerson steals her father’s vintage typewriter—the very one he’d forbidden anyone to touch—and tests its keys by typing out a frivolous wish. After it comes true the very next day, she tries another. When those words also spring to life, she becomes obsessed with using the typewriter to engineer happiness for herself and her daughter. Easier said than done.
As Emerson shapes her real-life circumstances, she uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s history and the unexpected cost for each story-come-true. She should destroy the typewriter, but 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.
My thoughts about The Unwritten Rules of Magic ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"My father kept his good-luck charm locked in the antique curio cabinet in his office."
I'm a huge fan of magical realism stories. I didn't know this about myself until I found myself lost in some of the most wonderful stories I've read. The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a great addition to these books that I have come to love.
Emerson Clarke never would have guessed that her father's 'most prized' possession would open up a magical world for her. But it's magic comes at a cost and is that cost worth it to Emerson and her loved ones? As she works through the magic her father experienced and that she is now discovering, she finds out a lot about her family and what is most important to all of them.
The Unwritten Rules of Magic was an amazing escape read and made me, as the reader, really think about being careful what you wish for because all wishes are not granted in the way you want them to be. This is Harper Ross' debut novel and I'm excited to see what she writes next.
I received an ARC of The Unwritten Rules of Magic and this is my honest opinion.
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About the author
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Harper Ross’s debut magical realism novel, The Unwritten Rules of Magic, releases with St. Martin's Press on January 27th, 2026. She's eager to meet every bookworm who picks up her work and hopes they’ll stay in touch via social media or email.
Harper has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the dramatic story worlds in books and movies. After leaving her legal practice, she discovered her own creative side and began writing novels that explore friendship, family, and forgiveness. Because she also appreciates the magic in everyday life—from the spark of attraction to those serendipitous moments we all experience—you’ll find a dash of that in her work too. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s likely to be singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog, Mo. She’s also a lucky wife and mother to a very patient and supportive family.
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