Well, it’s here: the time of year when we’re supposed to reflect on all the things we feel thankful for. And I’m sure there might be one or two people out there who had a decent time in 2025.
But for the rest of us (especially here in the US)? Not so much. At least not for me personally.
Why not for me personally? Well, besides losing my beloved cat Pearl to a broken spine after a bizarre feline parkour accident, my mom’s mild cognitive impairment turned to advanced dementia. Then my husband (He Who Shall Not Be Named In This Blog) got sick with a mystery illness that caused him to lose 60 pounds that he did NOT need to lose.
I’m not even going to mention what is happening with our so-called government. But I will say it’s why so many of us wake up every morning at 3AM in a blind panic and reach for our phones for comfort, only to find that AI has taken everything that used to be nice and completely enshitified it.
And, last but not least, a bird pooped on my head in the middle of downtown Manhattan (thank you to the guys at the Carnegie Deli for all the napkins).
And I KNOW from Judy Blume’s Starring Sally J Jane Friedman As Herself that getting pooped on by a bird is supposed to be bring good luck. But the only good luck I’ve experienced in 2025 is that I myself have not yet been diagnosed with any sort of chronic illness (besides the ones I already have). 2025 is so bad, I DID NOT EVEN HAVE A NEW BOOK COME OUT (for the first time since 1998).
But hold on. Because recently, I’ve begun to notice a few glimmers of hope:
- My mom may have an incurable fatal disease, but she also has the best caretakers in the world.
- And doctors did eventually figure out what was wrong with HWSNBNIB (all he has to do to treat it is never again eat anything with fat, sugar, or spices in it).
- And I quite enjoyed the results of the recent election in Manhattan, where I happened to spend the summer (and where I also discovered that New Yorkers do NOT play when it comes to Halloween. So don’t believe anything you might have heard about how “dangerous” it is in New York City – unless you consider neighbors, who are probably Broadway set designers, competing for the scariest front stoop as “dangerous”).
But the most hopeful thing I encountered in 2025 is . . . you readers. None of you gave up on me, despite that fact that I haven’t had a book out in well over a year (thanks to a combination of recovery from heart valve surgery, a mom with dementia, a dying cat, and a sick husband). Your encouraging and supportive emails and comments are really what’s kept me going a LOT of the time. If I haven’t written back, it’s ONLY because I’ve been so overwhelmed lately. You WILL be getting a reply (and possibly a Genovian visa).
Especially since, because of all of you, I managed to write something. I have no idea if it’s any good, but it FELT good to tell a story that’s full of hope and magic during a time when I’d become convinced hope and magic don’t exist (coincidentally, the heroine of this book feels the same way). That’s why I’m so proud to introduce you to my new adult paranormal romance:
THE MAGIC WE MADE – a Witches of West Harbor novel featuring neighbors who are menaced by magic in their small Connecticut town – will be available in August 2026. Check out the dedication page:
Do you need to have read the first book in the WOWH series to understand this one? Nope. It’s a stand alone featuring new characters (with special appearances from some characters/themes from the first book, ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU).
Would it help to read the first book? Nope – oops, I mean, yes, absolutely! Look how cute the two of them look together!
You can read more about THE MAGIC WE MADE here, and even pre-order copies here (that I’d be happy to personalize and sign for you)!
In fact, now that we’ve entered the holiday season (which, in keeping with the Enshitification, actually begins before Halloween), you should probably consider ordering all of your holiday gifts today, since it’s going to take them forever to get to you (given our luck in 2025).
And as always, I will be happy to personalize and sign any of my books that you want! To order signed copies, please visit:
Books and Books Key West (which also happens to be an indie non-profit bookstore and qualified [501(c)(3)] charity set up and co-operated by none other than famous author JUDY BLUME, as well as other community-minded Key West citizens).
Just go to the online Meg Cabot page at Books and Books KW, select the book(s) you’d like, and let the store know how you’d like them personalized (or if you’d only like them signed). You don’t even have to speak to anyone if you don’t want to, you can write the instructions on the comment section when you order.
Then leave the rest to Books and Books! (The store is happy to ship internationally, so no worries about that, either. If you’re ordering signed books for holiday gifts, you might want to do so by Saturday, 12/13 in order to get free shipping (within the continental US. This applies only to books the site lists as “on shelves now”). For expedited shipping, you should order by 12/16 if you want the books to get there on time (for shipping outside of the continental US, consult the store). And for in-store pick up, order by 12/22.
If a book is out of your price range right now, don’t worry! You can still get that special someone the gift of reading. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to my PO Box (address below), and I’ll return it to you filled with the autographed bookplates (indicate how many you’d like, and if you’d like them personalized), and NEW bookmarks (including special Genovian ones that I just received) while they last!
Send the SASE to:
Meg Cabot
P.O. Box 4904
Key West, FL 33041-4904
Send your SASE now (RIGHT NOW) so it can be sent back to you in time for the holidays, and so that you can then give the enclosed items to your friends/loved ones! If you sent me a SASE before and haven’t received a reply, don’t worry, it’s coming soon.
The Magic We Made isn’t the only book I have coming out in 2026, though. There’s also the new graphic novel of The Princess Diaries:
AS WELL AS a new graphic novel about a girl named Jenny who has a super power she never wanted: the ability to understand baby talk. That’s how Jenny encounters the most devious (and hilarious) baby of all time: THE DETECTIVE BABY
In stores September 2026
I hope you’ll find something this holiday season that makes YOU feel hopeful, as well. The only way we’re going to make it through 2026 is if we all work together, do our best to stay hopeful, and above all: Avoid birds, especially in Manhattan.
More later.
Much love,
Meg
