The Charmed Library

A Novel

By: Jennifer Moorman

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

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.

Critic reviews

'A whimsical, heartfelt escape that honors the emotional power of great stories--not just how they begin, but how they must end.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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!'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.''