A special thank-you to Samantha and Shahad, who contributed to the Romancelandia for Afghan Women auction, bidding on a copy of this book and the book’s dedication. Your generosity is so very appreciated.

And then, of course, my family—you’re my favorite people in the world. Simply the coolest crew ever. Without a doubt, I could not do this whole writing thing without the support of my husband, Marcus, who protects my writing time and who good-naturedly lets me steal some of his qualities to put in my romance heroes. I haven’t stolen from my children yet but look forward to the opportunity.

Thank you, readers, for continuing to make me cry when you tell me you’ve just discovered one of my books and loved it. My first book debuted at the very beginning of the pandemic and I honestly thought it might be curtains for me before my career really even began. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you’re still finding Naomi, Nicholas, Maybell, and Wesley. (And now Bettie and Hall, too!)

But of course, the biggest thank-you of all goes out to the real star of Just Like Magic; a literal queen, a legend, an icon: the one and only Mariah Carey. You’re Christmas magic.

Just Like Magic

SARAH HOGLE

Discussion Guide

Excerpt from You Deserve Each Other

Discussion Guide

1. Bettie feels pressured to live up to her family name, but also to the Bettie name, which she inherited from her grandma. To what extent does she attribute her successes and/or failures to her lineage? How do you think family history can impact a holiday celebration?

2. Why do you think Bettie puts so much pressure on gift-giving? How does this compare to the way she uses social media? Discuss the role that location plays in both these rituals in this book.

3. If your very own Hall appeared in your life, what would your first wish be? Which wish would immediately make Hall disappear from your life?

4. When Bettie first arrives at the Watson-Hughes Christmas dinner, she doesn’t feel that she has succeeded in making the grand entry she wanted, because no family member gives her much notice. Why do you think this was? What do you think Bettie wanted from her relatives?

5. Bettie pretends she’s starring in My Eyre Ladies to steal Felix’s spotlight, and Felix gets angry. How does sibling rivalry play a part in Just Like Magic? How are the siblings able to make progress in their adult relationships by the end?

6. Bettie and Hall go on their holiday shopping road trip when Bettie grants Hall some of his greatest wishes by showing him mundane human experiences. Later, when Hall returns at the end, Bettie describes him as “simply a man: unmagical, and yet the most magical person there ever was.” Discuss the implications of the word magic in this story.

7. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” in all its magic-fueled renditions, perfectly encapsulates Bettie and Hall’s bond. Play the song with your book club and discuss how the song plays into the themes of the novel.

8. Hall has the magical ability to statistically know how happy Bettie is. How does Bettie’s involuntary vulnerability propel their relationship? How are happiness and love entwined and in what ways do they differ?

9. What does it mean for Hall’s purpose to be to instill happiness in others? How does author Sarah Hogle demonstrate Bettie’s happiness apart from Hall? How do you think their happiness will evolve after the events of the novel?

10. In writing Just Like Magic, Hogle pays homage to the gleeful spirit of the holidays. What makes holidays feel so special? Discuss with your book club your favorite holiday, and how your respective Halls would appear to you all.