How to Get Magically Popular by Radhika Sanghani

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✦ BLURB ✦

Sabina Patel has never been popular. And in her new school, in a new town where she doesn't know anyone, Sabina feels more out of place than ever.

When she accidentally unlocks magic powers and starts to see visions of the future, Sabina worries that she'll be even more unpopular than before. But she quickly becomes one of the most popular girls in school, with everyone desperate for her to predict their test answers, prom dates and class election results.

Then she starts seeing futures she'd rather not know about and Sabina's not sure if she's unlocked a gift or a curse.

A book about learning to be happy in the present, rather than letting the future take over your life.

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Wish I knew the future. Also wish I didn’t.

PRE-READING THOUGHTS
After loving Radhika’s debut, I was keen to see how she’d tackle tweens, magic, and the sticky web of school popularity. I expected relatable awkwardness, a pinch of sparkle, and a heroine who doesn’t quite fit in - yet.

POST-READING
As I thought...
Sabina’s story is warm, funny, and genuine, with the classic highs and lows of school life wrapped in a light magical twist. Her journey is less about saving the world and more about saving herself from the pressures of being “enough.”

It surprised me by...
Exploring the anxiety of foresight - knowing the future can be as much a curse as a gift. The book balances the fun of newfound powers with the realness of wanting to just be normal. Sabina's overwhelm was tangible and anxiety inducing in spots. The nod to Sanghani’s first novel was a sweet Easter egg for fans.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

📚 FOR FANS OF:

• Lottie Brooks series by Helen Peters

• Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell

• Anne with an E (TV)

✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

🎵 Featured Song: “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
🎶 Vibe Album: Haim – Women in Music Pt. III
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Maggie Rogers

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

🎨 Colour Palette: pastel pinks, sky blues, fresh green grass
🎬 Soundtrack: Anne with an E meets A Wrinkle in Time
🌞 Season: Early spring, bright and hopeful
💭 Mood: Playful, tentative, and just a little bit nervous
🌸 Scent: Freshly sharpened pencils, cherry blossoms, and new notebooks

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Page of Cups – Kids Tarot
A boy stands upright in a canoe, wide-eyed as flying fish leap around him - uncertain, amazed, and a little wobbly on his feet. That’s Sabina in a nutshell: adrift in new waters, surrounded by wonder she doesn’t fully understand yet. This card captures the heart of the story - discovery, intuition, and the awkward joy of figuring things out one splash at a time.

How to get Magically Popular publishes on the 14th of August, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.