Book Club Night Kit
The Witches of Cambridge
Alice Hoffman
Cozy night
A warm, magical trip to 1950s Cambridge where two young witches find friendship and courage inside a secret Radcliffe society, perfect for a cozy night of heart and wonder.
A Cozy Night with the Witches of Cambridge
Bring your comfiest sweater and join us for warm cider, soft candlelight, and gentle talk about a spellbinding 1950s tale. All hearts welcome.
Reading level: Moderate
Best for: a club that loves atmospheric, heartfelt stories and lingering over tea long after the questions run out
Discussion
Warm-up
- 1.If you could join a warm, secret circle like the Lilith Society, what comfort or ritual would you hope to find waiting for you there?
- 2.Was there a moment early in the book that made you want to curl up and keep reading? What pulled you in?
Digging in
- 1.Ava and Lauren build a deep bond at Radcliffe. Which friendship in your own life felt like the kind of home this story describes?
- 2.Hoffman weaves everyday magic into ordinary life. Where in your own days do you notice small, quiet wonders that feel a little enchanted?
- 3.The book glows with 1950s Cambridge, its kitchens, campuses, and candlelit gatherings. Which scene made you feel most cozy and at home?
- 4.When the shadow of suspicion falls over the city, the women lean on each other. What comforts you when the world outside feels frightening?
Going deep
- 1.By the end, which character's journey moved you most, and what did their story leave you feeling as you closed the book?
- 2.Without giving anything away, what did this story quietly say to you about carrying the past with tenderness rather than fear?
On the table & to sip
To eat
Warm apple and cranberry crumble
A New England autumn dessert that tastes like a Cambridge kitchen, cozy and a little indulgent
Herbed pot pie with a flaky crust
Hearty comfort food evoking hearthside gatherings and the nurturing warmth of the society's shared meals
Rosemary and sea salt shortbread
Simple, homey, and gently herbal, a nod to witchy kitchen magic that is easy to bake
To sip
Spiced mulled cider (no alcohol)
Cinnamon and clove steam that fills the room, a warm hug in a mug and fully non-alcoholic
Chamomile and honey tea (no alcohol)
Soothing and gentle, perfect for lingering conversation about what moved you
Hot spiced wine (mulled red)
A candlelit, slightly indulgent pour that suits the moody 1950s evening warmth
Run of show
7:00
Warm welcome
Greet everyone with mulled cider and let the kettle sing while people settle into cozy seats
7:20
Gentle warm-up
Share the two warm-up questions over the first round of shortbread, no pressure to go deep yet
7:40
Into the story
Move through the theme questions, keeping the tone soft and inviting
8:15
Dessert break
Serve the warm crumble and let side conversations bloom before the deeper questions
8:35
Heart of it
Ease into the two deep questions, letting quiet moments sit comfortably
9:00
Trivia and scorecards
Wind down with light trivia and fill in scorecards while the tea steeps one more time
Host tips
- Keep the lighting low and warm with candles or lamps so the room feels like a hearth
- Let silences breathe; cozy nights thrive on unhurried pauses, not rapid-fire answers
- Offer blankets or soft seating and remind guests there are no wrong answers tonight
Playlist
soft, candlelit, and quietly enchanted, like a rainy evening by the fire
- 01 River - Joni Mitchell
- 02 Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
- 03 The Night We Met - Lord Huron
- 04 Autumn Leaves - Eva Cassidy
- 05 Moon River - Audrey Hepburn
- 06 Harvest Moon - Neil Young
- 07 Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy
- 08 Come Away with Me - Norah Jones
Trivia
- 1.Alice Hoffman is best known for a beloved series about a family of witches. What is it called? (The Practical Magic series)
- 2.In what decade is The Witches of Cambridge set? (The 1950s)
- 3.The fictional Lilith Society is tied to which real women's college in the story? (Radcliffe College)
- 4.The book was chosen for which popular televised book club? (Read with Jenna)
- 5.Which genre blends realistic settings with subtle everyday magic, as Hoffman often does? (Magical realism)
- 6.The historical fear that shadows the city, the hunt for supposed subversives, is named after which senator? (McCarthyism (Senator Joseph McCarthy))
- 7.In which Massachusetts city does the novel take place? (Cambridge)
- 8.Historic witch trials in Massachusetts are most famously associated with which nearby town? (Salem)
Bookmarks
Print, cut, and tuck one at every seat, a small keepsake from the night.
Rate the book
Coziness☆☆☆☆☆
How it moved me☆☆☆☆☆
Warmth of friendships☆☆☆☆☆
Sense of place☆☆☆☆☆
Magic and wonder☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The scene I would most want to curl up inside: ______________________
Who I want to hand this book to next: ______________________
That's a wrap
Thank you for coming
We hope the company was good and the conversation even better. Until the next chapter.