Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Practical Magic. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, banish the ghost of Gillian's abusive boyfriend Jimmy, whom they accidentally killed, with help from their aunts and the whole town. Sally finds love with the investigator Gary Hallet, Gillian falls for a teacher named Ben, and the curse that killed the Owens women's men is broken.
Quick facts
– Book: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
– First published: 1995
– Type: A magical realist novel
– Tone of the ending: Warm and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Orphaned sisters Sally and Gillian are raised by their eccentric aunts in a Massachusetts town that whispers they are witches. Sally's husband dies. Gillian flees with Jimmy, who abuses her. She kills him by accident with too much nightshade.
What Happens at the End of Practical Magic
Gillian drives to Sally's house in New York with Jimmy's body, and the sisters bury him under the lilacs in the backyard. The lilacs grow wild, and Jimmy's angry ghost begins to haunt the house, affecting Sally's daughters. Gary Hallet, an investigator from Arizona, arrives looking for Jimmy, who was wanted for murders, and he and Sally fall in love at first sight. The aunts arrive, and with Sally's daughters and the sisters, they work to drive Jimmy's spirit out for good. Gary decides that Jimmy got what he deserved and lets the case go. Sally lets herself love again despite the old family curse, and Gillian, after years of bad choices, settles down with Ben, a kind science teacher.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Jimmy is banished.
- Sally finds love.
- Gillian finds love.
- The family heals.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Sally Owens | Falls for Gary |
| Gillian Owens | Falls for Ben |
| Jimmy Hawkins | Banished |
| Gary Hallet | Falls for Sally |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the power of sisterhood and community.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers who loved the film are often surprised by how much of the novel focuses on Sally's teenage daughters, Antonia and Kylie. The prequel, The Rules of Magic, tells the aunts' story.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Sisterhood. The sisters' bond.
Love. Love despite the curse.
Healing. The family heals.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Practical Magic as warm and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Alice Hoffman to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are warm and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Alice Hoffman closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1998 film with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman ends with the town's women joining in a ritual to save Gillian.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Practical Magic with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about sisterhood, and do you agree with Alice Hoffman's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as warm and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces sisterhood and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Alice Hoffman leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Practical Magic often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Practical Magic earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Practical Magic on Amazon
Books to Read After Practical Magic
- The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Related: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Practical Magic?
The Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, banish the ghost of Gillian's abusive boyfriend Jimmy, whom they accidentally killed, with help from their aunts and the whole town. Sally finds love with the investigator Gary Hallet, Gillian falls for a teacher named Ben, and the curse that killed the Owens women's men is broken.
Is the ending of Practical Magic happy or sad?
Most readers call it warm and hopeful.
What does the ending of Practical Magic mean?
The ending shows the power of sisterhood and community.
Is the ending of Practical Magic the same in the adaptation?
The 1998 film with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman ends with the town's women joining in a ritual to save Gillian.
Who wrote Practical Magic and when was it published?
Practical Magic was written by Alice Hoffman and first published in 1995.
Is Practical Magic worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy magical realist novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Alice Hoffman prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Practical Magic before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.