The Friendship Fairies Save the Wedding by Lucy Kennedy and Phillip Cullen

The Friendship Fairies – sisters Emme, Holly and Jess – are off on another adventure, spending the weekend in a mysterious old castle with their parents, while their mum is on a mission for work. The castle owner, Mr Jennings, is in a panic: ghosts are causing mischief, and there’s a big wedding planned for the weekend! Can the Friendship Fairies come up with a plan to clear the castle of ghosts, in time to save the wedding?

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PRE-READING

The Friendship Fairies have become one of Gill Publishing’s signature series, and it’s easy to see why. With a new adventure arriving just in time for the Christmas shopping season, Emme, Holly and Jess are ready to introduce another generation of young readers to their magical world.

And this time, there’s a wedding to save. What could possibly go wrong?

POST-READING

The sisters are back, and this time they’re helping their mum with a spy mission at a mysterious old castle. The problem? It’s haunted by a ghost band who just want to play their music! With a wedding looming, the girls will need to use a little magic, do some sneaking around and work together to get everything sorted.

As always, the Friendship Fairies are more than up to the challenge. There’s a lovely emphasis on teamwork, and the adventure gives young readers plenty of magic and mischief along the way. The girls get to save the day, naturally — but what would a Friendship Fairies book be without a happy ending?

Phillip Cullen’s illustrations are a particular highlight. A black, white and purple palette might sound limiting, but he makes it work beautifully, bringing the whole world to life. There are so many little details tucked into the pictures that children will love spotting them, making this a book to return to and explore again.

With an established series behind it, a fresh adventure and illustrations that reward a closer look, this feels like a strong addition to the Friendship Fairies collection. I expect it to feature on plenty of Christmas lists this year, and it should be a lovely way to introduce new readers to the sisters.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Book: The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy — another magical adventure featuring young witches, mishaps and plenty of charm.

TV: Malory Towers — for midnight mischief, secretive adventures and girls who know that working together is the best way to get things done

MUSIC PAIRING

“Ghostbusters” — Ray Parker Jr.

Because when a castle is haunted and a wedding is at stake, somebody needs to investigate! Though perhaps the Friendship Fairies are better equipped for this particular haunting than the Ghostbusters would be.

VIBE CHECK

• Colour palette: Black, white and purple, with a little wedding-day sparkle.

• Soundtrack: Mysterious castle noises, ghostly band music and the occasional magical flourish.

• Season: Late autumn, just as Christmas books start appearing on wish lists.

• Mood: Playful, magical and mischievous, with friendship at its heart.

• Scent: Old castle stone, dusty corners and flowers ready for a wedding.

• Texture: Cool stone walls, soft fairy wings and the smooth pages of a beautifully illustrated book.

The Friendship Fairies Save the Wedding publishes on 5 November 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.