Spell Heaven

June 23, 2026
Fiction

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Meet the Neighbors in Spell Heaven

Step into the coastal town of Seaview in Spell Heaven by Toni Mirosevich, where fog rolls in thick and the locals are full of stories. The narrator and her partner arrive as outsiders but slowly become part of the scene, sharing sidewalks with kite flyers, crab catchers, and a woman who frees Lotería cards into the wind. Along the way, we glimpse the narrator’s own Croatian-American fishing roots and the quiet ways we all try to find our place.

“Every one of them is a loner, yet no one’s alone.”

The Menu: Spell Heaven

Prepare to embark on a culinary voyage inspired by the diverse cast of characters that populate Mirosevich’s narratives. Just as the sea meets the shore, this menu brings together flavors of the ocean, Croatian heritage, and the iconic fishing pier. Let the scent of the ocean mist whet your appetite for a feast that mirrors the community’s richness.

Drinks

Spell Heaven - Drink — Photo from Serious Eats by Jessica Leibowitz

Start things off with a Fog Cutter cocktail, a classic tiki drink with California roots. It’s bright, citrusy, and far stronger than it tastes, combining multiple spirits with fresh citrus juice and a float of sherry. Trader Vic, who created the drink, once joked, “After two of these, you won’t even see the stuff.” Find the recipe over at Serious Eats.

Appetizer

Kick things off with a nod to the crab catchers on the Seaview pier by serving Sabrina Currie’s crispy, golden crab cakes. They’re fresh, simple, and full of seaside flavor. Then add a playful bite from the narrator’s childhood: the one-second sandwich. Just peanut butter on white bread. Make it a two-second version with a swipe of jelly, and if you’re feeling fancy, cut off the crusts and slice it into little triangles.

Salad

Bring a bit of the Croatian coast to your table with kupus salata, a crisp cabbage salad tossed in a tangy caraway vinegar dressing. It’s light, crunchy, and comes together in under 10 minutes. Find the recipe over at Plant Based Folk. It pairs especially well with the next course, cutting through the richness with a clean, bright bite.

Main

Serve up a big bowl of comfort with Christina’s Cucina’s seafood pasta. It’s loaded with shrimp, scallops, and garlic, all tossed in a buttery sauce that tastes like it came straight from the coast. You can keep it simple or add clams, mussels, or your favorite fresh catch. It’s the kind of meal you’d imagine sharing with new neighbors on the pier, where stories are swapped as easily as recipes.

Dessert

End on a sweet note with a dessert that feels like a gift. In the book, Stevie bakes powdered-sugar–dusted holiday loaves and gifts them to neighbors each year. Channel that spirit with Chrissy Teigen’s internet-famous banana bread. It’s a cozy crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for sharing. For a little something extra, pass around squares of Ghirardelli milk chocolate with coconut, inspired by the ex-FBI agent’s neighbor who left them under a tree across the street.

As you finish this seaside-inspired meal, think about what made Spell Heaven so memorable. It wasn’t the beach views or the bookstore. It was the people. In Seaview, strangers become friends, neighbors look out for one another, and everyone has a story worth hearing. Not a bad recipe (pun intended) for a community, whether you’re on the coast or gathered around your own table.