⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Let’s admit something first. I totally read this book because I love the Studio Ghibli Film by the same name. There was just something so fantastical about the animation, and looking for a little bit of escapism I dove into this book heads first. This was a book that not only was I excited to read, but ready for a hopefully new experience. I will say, the book is quite a bit different from the movie, and so I will not be doing a direct comparison. Both pieces of art have reasons why they are great, if you like the movie, I do think that the book is something worth reading, but be prepared for it to be quite a bit different. I found the book to be more lighthearted and comical, which for me worked. If you are looking for more of the later half of the movie type vibes, you might not find it within the pages of this story. 

Anyways, with that out of the way, Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, the unlucky eldest daughter of a hat maker who makes beautiful hats. One day she is visited by a witch who curses her into being an old woman, and then Sophie leaves her family in hopes of finding a cure. She ends up getting to the moving castle of the infamous warlock Howl, who steals the hearts of women. So what makes this book so good. First of all the characters are just so enjoyable. From Sophie and Howl’s tit for tat conversations being humorous, and also just enjoying the different personalities that are within the castle. Of course Calcifer, the fire demon is my absolute favorite character. “May all your bacon burn” is probably my favorite line in the entire book.

The plot of Howl’s moving castle is also great, it has a lot of fantastical twists, and there is even a moment where Howl and Sophie go back “Earth” and experience some of the modernness that we experience. I don’t know a better way to describe the book other than it being a fun whimsical adventure. Also even though some of the plot elements are a little confusing, it is still fun to pick apart the magic and how things work in this world. 

I really don’t have bad things to say for this book. It is a middle grade read so keep that in mind, but if you are looking for a funny and cute adventure in a magical land with a playboy esc Howl, and a very sassy Sophie. This is a book I cannot recommend enough as it is silly and adorable.