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The Ex Hex #1
The Ex Hex
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Romance (2021)New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.
Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.
That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.
That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
308 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
About the author
Erin Sterling
4 books3,748 followersPen name of Rachel Hawkins.
Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, Rachel Hawkins has been writing since Kindergarten when her first book, a tense thriller involving a unicorn, a witch, and a princess, was called, “very imaginative!” by her teacher and “a searing work of genius” by her mother.
Since then, Rachel has written over a dozen books for children and adults (sadly all unicorn-free thus far), and been published in more than twenty countries. As Rachel Hawkins, she wrote the New York Times bestselling THE WIFE UPSTAIRS, a Southern Gothic twist on JANE EYRE that the Southern Review of Books called, “a thrill ride,” and Entertainment Weekly dubbed, “a gothic thriller laced with arsenic.” Her latest thriller, RECKLESS GIRLS, also debuted on the New York Times list with Kirkus calling it, “a soapy, claustrophobic page-turner.”
When not writing modern Gothic thrillers as Rachel Hawkins, she also pens paranormal romantic comedies under the name Erin Sterling. Her debut romance, THE EX HEX, was a Book of the Month pick as well as a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller.
Rachel currently lives in Auburn, Alabama with her husband, son, and five cats. (Yes, five. She knows.). In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and picking up an assortment of creative hobbies she will give up on after a week or two.
Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, Rachel Hawkins has been writing since Kindergarten when her first book, a tense thriller involving a unicorn, a witch, and a princess, was called, “very imaginative!” by her teacher and “a searing work of genius” by her mother.
Since then, Rachel has written over a dozen books for children and adults (sadly all unicorn-free thus far), and been published in more than twenty countries. As Rachel Hawkins, she wrote the New York Times bestselling THE WIFE UPSTAIRS, a Southern Gothic twist on JANE EYRE that the Southern Review of Books called, “a thrill ride,” and Entertainment Weekly dubbed, “a gothic thriller laced with arsenic.” Her latest thriller, RECKLESS GIRLS, also debuted on the New York Times list with Kirkus calling it, “a soapy, claustrophobic page-turner.”
When not writing modern Gothic thrillers as Rachel Hawkins, she also pens paranormal romantic comedies under the name Erin Sterling. Her debut romance, THE EX HEX, was a Book of the Month pick as well as a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller.
Rachel currently lives in Auburn, Alabama with her husband, son, and five cats. (Yes, five. She knows.). In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and picking up an assortment of creative hobbies she will give up on after a week or two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30,238 reviews
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April 19, 2020THE AUTHOR DESCRIBED IT AS “HOCUS POCUS BUT THEY FUCK” AND I’VE NEVER WANTED ANYTHING MORE.
also by the same author who wrote hex hall, one of my childhood favorites sooooo, i’ll be there.
also by the same author who wrote hex hall, one of my childhood favorites sooooo, i’ll be there.
October 15, 2021
a silly goofy spooky time!!! loved it
August 30, 2022
3.5 stars - very fall vibes. very fun.
October 14, 2021
4.5 stars
ok i had a lot of fun reading this book. literally it is perfect for spooky season. i legit felt like i was living in the small town that this book takes place in. i felt the autumn ambience and energy in my vagina...you will understand when you read it.
love these characters. Vivienne was so funny and such an enjoyable character to read about. she's a badass witch that had me actually laughing out loud. i was gasping for air y'all.
Rhys is a real pussy pleaser. there is something about the male love interest being Welsh that made my pussy throb. he is so hot and his dynamic/chemistry with Vivienne was done flawlessly. and this man would be calling Vivienne words of endearment in his native language even before they declared there love for one another...another thing that made my pussy throb.
this was such a cute, light hearted read, with a strong plot and characters. i need more books like this
ok i had a lot of fun reading this book. literally it is perfect for spooky season. i legit felt like i was living in the small town that this book takes place in. i felt the autumn ambience and energy in my vagina...you will understand when you read it.
love these characters. Vivienne was so funny and such an enjoyable character to read about. she's a badass witch that had me actually laughing out loud. i was gasping for air y'all.
Rhys is a real pussy pleaser. there is something about the male love interest being Welsh that made my pussy throb. he is so hot and his dynamic/chemistry with Vivienne was done flawlessly. and this man would be calling Vivienne words of endearment in his native language even before they declared there love for one another...another thing that made my pussy throb.
this was such a cute, light hearted read, with a strong plot and characters. i need more books like this
October 18, 2021
It was okay, but the ending was cheesy even for me (and I was born in Wisconsin).
September 25, 2023
Loved this book and had so much fun reading it. No fluff, straight to the point which is just what I was needing
October 29, 2023
4 ☆
Hocus pocus in halloweentown,but make it spicy.
I’m so glad that i picked up one of the best books that gives the october vibes.My month has already been made.
I honestly didn’t started this book with lots of expectations but it had EVERYTHING i love in a book.A place that’s called halloweentown?!a fantastic plot with beautiful damaged spooky characters.
Very fall vibes,very spooky and i had lots of fun reading it,rhys made me giggle the ENTIRE book
I adored this book.The writing was very lighthearted and it has all the witchy vibes i wished for
There’s a whole history of double crossing and a little bit of mystery,although i would like to get more flashbacks from Rhys’s background to understand his relationship with his dad.
Overall,i think Vivi and Rhys perfectly balanced each other in so many different ways through the book even though they had ups and downs time to time.
“Never mixed vodka with witchcraft”
Hocus pocus in halloweentown,but make it spicy.
I’m so glad that i picked up one of the best books that gives the october vibes.My month has already been made.
I honestly didn’t started this book with lots of expectations but it had EVERYTHING i love in a book.A place that’s called halloweentown?!a fantastic plot with beautiful damaged spooky characters.
Very fall vibes,very spooky and i had lots of fun reading it,rhys made me giggle the ENTIRE book
I adored this book.The writing was very lighthearted and it has all the witchy vibes i wished for
There’s a whole history of double crossing and a little bit of mystery,although i would like to get more flashbacks from Rhys’s background to understand his relationship with his dad.
Overall,i think Vivi and Rhys perfectly balanced each other in so many different ways through the book even though they had ups and downs time to time.
“Never mixed vodka with witchcraft”
Read
May 24, 2024lots of thoughts and also none at all.... vlog coming sunday
October 13, 2022
Super cute read! I love that the story involves witches, magic, and romance. Such a perfect fall/Halloween read
October 23, 2021
Closer to a 2.5
This was fine, it was a cute concept and I love the town and how much they love Halloween, but I didn’t feel any chemistry or connection between the romantic leads 🤷🏻♀️
Reading vlog with more thoughts: https://youtu.be/rv-TLDKUE80
This was fine, it was a cute concept and I love the town and how much they love Halloween, but I didn’t feel any chemistry or connection between the romantic leads 🤷🏻♀️
Reading vlog with more thoughts: https://youtu.be/rv-TLDKUE80
October 1, 2021
So it turns out that when it comes to reading, dark and bizarre are much more my speed than a fluffy romance. I swear I tried- this started out so fun! But between a haphazard plot and overuse of the term “rakish” The Ex Hex is like a pumpkin spice latte, a good idea on paper, but saccharine and unmemorable in reality.
The story follows a semi-practicing witch Vivienne, who teaches history at a small Georgian college and is unable to forget her ex Rhys, a Welsh witch she spent a whirlwind summer with almost a decade ago during his time studying abroad. Rhys likewise pines for Vivienne while running a successful travel business back home in Wales. Their brief 3 month romance came to an end when Rhys belatedly revealed his betrothal to another witch back home (a notion that is brought up repeatedly throughout the book but never actually explained- whatever became of the mystery betrothed?) and Viv understandably broke up with and (accidentally) cursed him.
When Rhys returns to Georgia on magical business, Vivienne’s curse wreaks havoc on both him and the town. Soon the pair find themselves rekindling an old flame, and occasionally conducting research into how to lift the curse.
What I was hoping for was a steamy, Practical Magicish romp, and what I got was more of a Netflix original movie that was neither sexy or fun enough to keep me hooked. All of the novel’s plot is squished into the final quarter of the book, as neither Viv nor Rhys take much action to reverse this apparently dangerous curse until the last minute… The curse itself also didn’t seem like too big of a deal until the end of the book and suddenly the situation becomes a matter of life and death. The chemistry between the two leads was certainly apparent, but I never really accepted the central idea that they yearned for one another after spending three months together as horny 19 year olds.
Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention that there are some serious fashion crimes committed in this book. When has anyone ever looked irresistible in purple and black striped tights? Don’t even get me started on the black and orange polka dot dress paired with an orange patent belt… Vivienne’s aesthetic channels a mashup between Ms. Frizzle, Spirit Halloween and Hot Topic, and none of it screams sultry historian smoke show.
The story follows a semi-practicing witch Vivienne, who teaches history at a small Georgian college and is unable to forget her ex Rhys, a Welsh witch she spent a whirlwind summer with almost a decade ago during his time studying abroad. Rhys likewise pines for Vivienne while running a successful travel business back home in Wales. Their brief 3 month romance came to an end when Rhys belatedly revealed his betrothal to another witch back home (a notion that is brought up repeatedly throughout the book but never actually explained- whatever became of the mystery betrothed?) and Viv understandably broke up with and (accidentally) cursed him.
When Rhys returns to Georgia on magical business, Vivienne’s curse wreaks havoc on both him and the town. Soon the pair find themselves rekindling an old flame, and occasionally conducting research into how to lift the curse.
What I was hoping for was a steamy, Practical Magicish romp, and what I got was more of a Netflix original movie that was neither sexy or fun enough to keep me hooked. All of the novel’s plot is squished into the final quarter of the book, as neither Viv nor Rhys take much action to reverse this apparently dangerous curse until the last minute… The curse itself also didn’t seem like too big of a deal until the end of the book and suddenly the situation becomes a matter of life and death. The chemistry between the two leads was certainly apparent, but I never really accepted the central idea that they yearned for one another after spending three months together as horny 19 year olds.
Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention that there are some serious fashion crimes committed in this book. When has anyone ever looked irresistible in purple and black striped tights? Don’t even get me started on the black and orange polka dot dress paired with an orange patent belt… Vivienne’s aesthetic channels a mashup between Ms. Frizzle, Spirit Halloween and Hot Topic, and none of it screams sultry historian smoke show.
October 5, 2023
Rhys Penhallow broke up with Vivienne Jones nine years ago. She responded to it by drinking Vodka and cursing him using a candle from Bath & Body Works. She was just goofing around and was sure that the curse would never work.
She was in for a big surprise when Rhys returns to town almost a decade later in the present. Did the Ex Hex work? Is it harmless, as she earlier thought? Erin Sterling (or Rachel Hawkins) will give you the answer through this book.
What I learned from this book
1) Why is it said that effect of alcohol may last a lifetime?
Alcohol will make us lose our inhibitions. Alcohol interferes with brain pathways which in turn make us lose our inhibitions by making it laborious to think. We can see how alcohol badly affected Vivienne’s life.
“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”
2) What is the protégé effect?
We can see the author mentioning teaching and its importance. She specifically tries to make us understand the importance of teaching younger children. I recently read about an effect linked with education in a book that discusses the importance of teaching younger children.
According to the protégé effect, the student teachers score higher on tests than students learning for their own sake.
Similarly, first-born children have higher IQs than younger children. It is because of the time the elder children spend teaching younger children.
“So what sort of history do you teach?” he asked, turning his attention to the bookshelf.
The basics,” she replied.”
3) What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
Knowledge is piling up facts; wisdom is simplifying it. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge, understanding, experience, common sense, and insight to make sound decisions. It is the ability to use the right knowledge at the right time to make correct decisions. It is also the insight that enables us to prevent using our knowledge in situations where we shouldn’t use it.
In this book, the author clearly shows us how knowledge without wisdom can be perilous through the character of Vivienne Jones. She is using her knowledge to curse in a place where she should have never used it.
“Curse magic doesn’t work like that. You’ll get general bad luck or, if you go really dark, death. But nothing that small or specific.”
My favourite three lines from this book
““Is that a euphemism?” Rhys asked. “I really hope it’s a euphemism.”
“Nope,” Vivi replied. “It’s exactly what it sounds like.”
“You’re thinking too loud.”
“Gorgeous blue skies, rolling green hills, the kind of day that made one want to take up painting or maybe develop some kind of poetry habit.”
What could have been better?
Romance tropes are the chemistry between Rhys Penhallow, and Vivienne Jones is just ok. I think the author should have written it in a better way.
Rating
3/5 If you are looking for a simple book with a little bit of magic and romance for a casual read, this book will be a decent choice.
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October 9, 2021
Be sure to visit Bantering Books to read all my latest reviews.
4.5 stars
Be still my heart. My Practical Magic-lovin’ heart. My fall-lovin’, Halloween-lovin’ heart.
For I have found one of the funniest, hottest, witchiest rom-coms I’ve ever read – Erin Sterling’s novel, The Ex Hex.
Nine years ago, Rhys Penhallow shattered Vivienne Jones’s heart. And Vivi did what any other hurt witch would do – she cursed him. She didn’t seriously curse him, though. Vodka was involved, and all she had on hand was a cheap scented candle. There’s no way the curse stuck, right?
WRONG.
When Rhys returns to town nearly a decade later, it soon becomes clear to Vivi that her curse did, in fact, stick. And now she must figure out a way to reverse it before both Rhys and her beloved town of Graves Glen are destroyed.
The Ex Hex is cute, cute, CUTE! I absolutely loved it. Sterling has written a surefire winner for romance fans who, like me, enjoy a little hocus pocus with their hanky-panky.
(Psst! By the way, Sterling is author Rachel Hawkins in disguise.)
As I hinted above, the novel is a sexier, funnier, more foul-mouthed Practical Magic. The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys is smoking hot, and Sterling’s literary comedic timing is superb. I laughed aloud many times from all the hilarious one-liners, hysterical situations, and well-placed, amusing F-bombs. (FYI: If you have any aversion to Sterling’s beloved four-letter word, you will need to check it at page one. She enjoys dropping it frequently. Personally, I developed a new appreciation for its comic value. Who knew the F-bomb could be so funny when written in just the right spot?)
The only reason I’m not awarding The Ex Hex a full five stars is that the story loses a bit of steam midway. It rebounds beautifully in the final act, though, giving the reader a magical, emotional conclusion to Vivi and Rhys’s journey.
So what are you waiting for, aside from me to wrap up this review? Don your witch’s hat, hop on your broom, and fly to the nearest bookstore to grab yourself a copy of The Ex Hex.
It’s (F-bomb)ing fantastic.
My sincerest appreciation to Erin Sterling and William Morrow for the physical Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Bantering Books
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4.5 stars
Be still my heart. My Practical Magic-lovin’ heart. My fall-lovin’, Halloween-lovin’ heart.
For I have found one of the funniest, hottest, witchiest rom-coms I’ve ever read – Erin Sterling’s novel, The Ex Hex.
Nine years ago, Rhys Penhallow shattered Vivienne Jones’s heart. And Vivi did what any other hurt witch would do – she cursed him. She didn’t seriously curse him, though. Vodka was involved, and all she had on hand was a cheap scented candle. There’s no way the curse stuck, right?
WRONG.
When Rhys returns to town nearly a decade later, it soon becomes clear to Vivi that her curse did, in fact, stick. And now she must figure out a way to reverse it before both Rhys and her beloved town of Graves Glen are destroyed.
The Ex Hex is cute, cute, CUTE! I absolutely loved it. Sterling has written a surefire winner for romance fans who, like me, enjoy a little hocus pocus with their hanky-panky.
(Psst! By the way, Sterling is author Rachel Hawkins in disguise.)
As I hinted above, the novel is a sexier, funnier, more foul-mouthed Practical Magic. The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys is smoking hot, and Sterling’s literary comedic timing is superb. I laughed aloud many times from all the hilarious one-liners, hysterical situations, and well-placed, amusing F-bombs. (FYI: If you have any aversion to Sterling’s beloved four-letter word, you will need to check it at page one. She enjoys dropping it frequently. Personally, I developed a new appreciation for its comic value. Who knew the F-bomb could be so funny when written in just the right spot?)
The only reason I’m not awarding The Ex Hex a full five stars is that the story loses a bit of steam midway. It rebounds beautifully in the final act, though, giving the reader a magical, emotional conclusion to Vivi and Rhys’s journey.
So what are you waiting for, aside from me to wrap up this review? Don your witch’s hat, hop on your broom, and fly to the nearest bookstore to grab yourself a copy of The Ex Hex.
It’s (F-bomb)ing fantastic.
My sincerest appreciation to Erin Sterling and William Morrow for the physical Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Bantering Books
October 8, 2021
Imagine 90s Sabrina meets Bewitched set in Halloweentown but as a steamy romance and you have this book!
We follow Vivi, who after a summer fling that ended badly, curses the man who broke her heart using a Bath and Body Works candle. Thinking nothing of it, Vivi moves on with her life until Rhys (her ex love), waltzes back into her life 9 years later and it turns out that maybe Vivi's curse worked after all.
Honestly this was exactly what I needed - The Ex Hex is a fun page turner filled with pure chaotic energy and immaculate witchy vibes. I adored the romantic elements - Rhys is a smooth, Welsh charmer and I honestly fell in love with him from his first appearance on the page. The chemistry he had with Vivi combined with the top banter and witchy goodness had me very quickly obsessed with this book!
Will absolutely read Erin Stirling's next novel and I now have to restrain my self from finding more witchy romance to binge!
We follow Vivi, who after a summer fling that ended badly, curses the man who broke her heart using a Bath and Body Works candle. Thinking nothing of it, Vivi moves on with her life until Rhys (her ex love), waltzes back into her life 9 years later and it turns out that maybe Vivi's curse worked after all.
Honestly this was exactly what I needed - The Ex Hex is a fun page turner filled with pure chaotic energy and immaculate witchy vibes. I adored the romantic elements - Rhys is a smooth, Welsh charmer and I honestly fell in love with him from his first appearance on the page. The chemistry he had with Vivi combined with the top banter and witchy goodness had me very quickly obsessed with this book!
Will absolutely read Erin Stirling's next novel and I now have to restrain my self from finding more witchy romance to binge!
January 18, 2023
Rounded down from roughly 3.5 stars ⭐️
The Ex Hex follows exes Vivienne and Rhys. In the throes of emotional turmoil after a break up, Vivi mixes alcohol and magic, jokingly cursing her ex-boyfriend Rhys. However, when Rhys is forced to return to the town it turns out that the simple curse was much more sinister than they imagined. Can they fix things before time runs out?
I loved the Halloweeny and autumnal atmosphere that shone through in this book. I desperately wanted to visit Graces Glen, to be able to experience the charming town for myself. I liked the humour that was drizzled throughout, giving the book a lovely light feel that I enjoy in any romcom! There was an element of spice and after a while I started really rooting for the characters. However, it took me a while to get there. I did find myself connecting to Aunt Elaine, Gwyn, and Sir Purrcival. I would love to see more of these secondary characters in the future.
My main issue with this book is that it took me a long time to really get behind the romance. The issues that the characters claim are keeping them apart could be fixed by their magic. I found it so hard to really root for them when it felt like there weren’t any real obstacles for them to overcome. It almost felt like they were making up issues and ignoring the possibilities of their magic. I think a different romance trope would have worked better for me in this instance. It ended up affecting my connection to the main characters a little too. However, I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. This was just the light Halloweeny read that I needed!
I would recommend this book to fans of romcoms, especially if you fancy one with an autumnal vibe!
The Ex Hex follows exes Vivienne and Rhys. In the throes of emotional turmoil after a break up, Vivi mixes alcohol and magic, jokingly cursing her ex-boyfriend Rhys. However, when Rhys is forced to return to the town it turns out that the simple curse was much more sinister than they imagined. Can they fix things before time runs out?
I loved the Halloweeny and autumnal atmosphere that shone through in this book. I desperately wanted to visit Graces Glen, to be able to experience the charming town for myself. I liked the humour that was drizzled throughout, giving the book a lovely light feel that I enjoy in any romcom! There was an element of spice and after a while I started really rooting for the characters. However, it took me a while to get there. I did find myself connecting to Aunt Elaine, Gwyn, and Sir Purrcival. I would love to see more of these secondary characters in the future.
My main issue with this book is that it took me a long time to really get behind the romance. The issues that the characters claim are keeping them apart could be fixed by their magic. I found it so hard to really root for them when it felt like there weren’t any real obstacles for them to overcome. It almost felt like they were making up issues and ignoring the possibilities of their magic. I think a different romance trope would have worked better for me in this instance. It ended up affecting my connection to the main characters a little too. However, I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. This was just the light Halloweeny read that I needed!
I would recommend this book to fans of romcoms, especially if you fancy one with an autumnal vibe!
September 14, 2021
2021 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Witches
A book about magic should not have bored me to tears. I skimmed the second half because I wasn’t loving the ship. I have spoilery thoughts about the worldbuilding that I won’t discuss (because: spoiler) but I wish the magic system had been fleshed out a little more.
I can’t think of anything objectionable about THE EX HEX; I just didn’t vibe with the ship. I didn’t feel excited about their relationship progression. I’m sure other readers can answer the question of “why are Rhys and Vivi a good couple together?” — but I can’t! I never got emotionally invested in the “we accidentally corrupted the ley lines with bad magic” storyline. Ambivalence about a HEA is not a good sign!
So: two stars for boredom. I 100% acknowledge that it’s me, not the book (clichéd, I know). Reading other reviews makes it clear that I am a Halloween-themed grinchy anomaly, so disregard this review if the witchy premise appeals to you. THE EX HEX is fine and you’ll likely love it if you’re looking for a Hocus Pocus/Practical Magic-esque romance novel.
Also: I am so freaking tired of Harry Potter references. They just make me want to cry. I don’t want a reminder of a fandom that hurts me, okay? I hand-waved the muggle allusion away, but the second reference that lasted AN ENTIRE PAGE really upset me.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A book about magic should not have bored me to tears. I skimmed the second half because I wasn’t loving the ship. I have spoilery thoughts about the worldbuilding that I won’t discuss (because: spoiler) but I wish the magic system had been fleshed out a little more.
I can’t think of anything objectionable about THE EX HEX; I just didn’t vibe with the ship. I didn’t feel excited about their relationship progression. I’m sure other readers can answer the question of “why are Rhys and Vivi a good couple together?” — but I can’t! I never got emotionally invested in the “we accidentally corrupted the ley lines with bad magic” storyline. Ambivalence about a HEA is not a good sign!
So: two stars for boredom. I 100% acknowledge that it’s me, not the book (clichéd, I know). Reading other reviews makes it clear that I am a Halloween-themed grinchy anomaly, so disregard this review if the witchy premise appeals to you. THE EX HEX is fine and you’ll likely love it if you’re looking for a Hocus Pocus/Practical Magic-esque romance novel.
Also: I am so freaking tired of Harry Potter references. They just make me want to cry. I don’t want a reminder of a fandom that hurts me, okay? I hand-waved the muggle allusion away, but the second reference that lasted AN ENTIRE PAGE really upset me.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2023
“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”
I heard this had Hocus Pocus vibes and knew that it would be a perfect fit for the spooky season as it's one of my favorite movies for this season. This definitely gave off those vibes with the witches, a talking black cat, and a magical town.
The Ex Hex is a small town, rom-com, second chance romance with humor, banter that was fun and had me cracking up, tension, magic, and a dash of spice. The writing was cozy and light and everything I was looking for even though it did take me a minute to get into it with being third person as I prefer first person and multiple pov's. I did end up enjoying it, and it was the perfect book for the season.
Vivienne "Vivi" Jones had dated Rhys Penhallow for three months during the summer, and he broke her heart. One night, while Vivi was getting drunk over her heartbreak from Rhys, her cousin Gwyn proposed that they put a curse on him. So they jokingly cursed him, not knowing that their drunken curse would actually work. Now, nine years later, Rhys must return back to Graves Glen per his father's request to fulfill his families duties to the town that they had founded. When Rhys goes to charge the ley lines, which supplies the towns magic, the curse is transferred from him through his magic and spreads through the town. Will they be able to stop the curse that has taken over the town?
“You almost ran your ex- boyfriend over with a car, and then left him lying in the literal dirt on the side of the road. It is such a big deal, you absolute queen.”
I enjoyed Vivi's aunt and cousin. Her Aunt Elaine was fun and full of wisdom and knowledgeable with magic and had always said never mix vodka with magic. Guess they should have listened to her lol. Gwyn was sassy and funny. She always had something to say back. Her and Vivi have a close relationship that is more sister like than cousins. They always look out for one another.
What Rhys knew was that kissing her had felt like waking up. Like he’d been drifting sleepily through everything for the past nine years until he tasted her mouth again and remembered what actually being alive felt like. Better than any magic, Vivienne’s kiss.
“I am mad about you, Vivienne Jones. Again. Or maybe I should say still, because I’m gonna be real honest with you here, cariad. I don’t think it ever went away.”
They say that opposites attract, and these two are complete oppostie of each other. The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys after all these years is very much still present. It just took Vivi a while to give into the attraction and spark that was still present between them. I really did love Vivi even with some of her quirks. She often times is flustered and is overthinking the what ifs, especially with her magic. I can relate to the overthinking because oftentimes I do as well. She was also insecure at times with her magic as she didn't find out she was a witch until she was older as her mother didn't practice. I loved watching her growth with those insecurities and becoming the badass witch that she was always meant to be. Rhys always had something to say with his sarcastic comments that had me cracking up, and he had a sweet side. That sweet side that was reserved for Vivi, he called her cariad, which means love in Welsh. Whenever he called her that it had me melting.
“You’ve had my heart from the moment I saw you on that bloody hillside, and I hate that I wasted nine years without you, but I’m not wasting a single second more. If you need to be here, then I need to be here. Simple as that.”
There was one thing that I wish we would have gotten more of, and that is a backstory on Rhys and his family. I wanted to know more about him. Other than that, I enjoyed this once I got into it, and the ending was so cute and heartfelt. So if you're looking for a cute, fun fall read, pick this one up.
~~~~~~~~
Took a break from spooky season reads. Starting back up with some witchy vibes 🖤🧙
I heard this had Hocus Pocus vibes and knew that it would be a perfect fit for the spooky season as it's one of my favorite movies for this season. This definitely gave off those vibes with the witches, a talking black cat, and a magical town.
The Ex Hex is a small town, rom-com, second chance romance with humor, banter that was fun and had me cracking up, tension, magic, and a dash of spice. The writing was cozy and light and everything I was looking for even though it did take me a minute to get into it with being third person as I prefer first person and multiple pov's. I did end up enjoying it, and it was the perfect book for the season.
Vivienne "Vivi" Jones had dated Rhys Penhallow for three months during the summer, and he broke her heart. One night, while Vivi was getting drunk over her heartbreak from Rhys, her cousin Gwyn proposed that they put a curse on him. So they jokingly cursed him, not knowing that their drunken curse would actually work. Now, nine years later, Rhys must return back to Graves Glen per his father's request to fulfill his families duties to the town that they had founded. When Rhys goes to charge the ley lines, which supplies the towns magic, the curse is transferred from him through his magic and spreads through the town. Will they be able to stop the curse that has taken over the town?
“You almost ran your ex- boyfriend over with a car, and then left him lying in the literal dirt on the side of the road. It is such a big deal, you absolute queen.”
I enjoyed Vivi's aunt and cousin. Her Aunt Elaine was fun and full of wisdom and knowledgeable with magic and had always said never mix vodka with magic. Guess they should have listened to her lol. Gwyn was sassy and funny. She always had something to say back. Her and Vivi have a close relationship that is more sister like than cousins. They always look out for one another.
What Rhys knew was that kissing her had felt like waking up. Like he’d been drifting sleepily through everything for the past nine years until he tasted her mouth again and remembered what actually being alive felt like. Better than any magic, Vivienne’s kiss.
“I am mad about you, Vivienne Jones. Again. Or maybe I should say still, because I’m gonna be real honest with you here, cariad. I don’t think it ever went away.”
They say that opposites attract, and these two are complete oppostie of each other. The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys after all these years is very much still present. It just took Vivi a while to give into the attraction and spark that was still present between them. I really did love Vivi even with some of her quirks. She often times is flustered and is overthinking the what ifs, especially with her magic. I can relate to the overthinking because oftentimes I do as well. She was also insecure at times with her magic as she didn't find out she was a witch until she was older as her mother didn't practice. I loved watching her growth with those insecurities and becoming the badass witch that she was always meant to be. Rhys always had something to say with his sarcastic comments that had me cracking up, and he had a sweet side. That sweet side that was reserved for Vivi, he called her cariad, which means love in Welsh. Whenever he called her that it had me melting.
“You’ve had my heart from the moment I saw you on that bloody hillside, and I hate that I wasted nine years without you, but I’m not wasting a single second more. If you need to be here, then I need to be here. Simple as that.”
There was one thing that I wish we would have gotten more of, and that is a backstory on Rhys and his family. I wanted to know more about him. Other than that, I enjoyed this once I got into it, and the ending was so cute and heartfelt. So if you're looking for a cute, fun fall read, pick this one up.
~~~~~~~~
Took a break from spooky season reads. Starting back up with some witchy vibes 🖤🧙
October 15, 2023
”there’s no really good timing for this kind of thing, is there? finding your person? it just kind of happens when it happens. or so they say.”
this was exactly what i needed rn: a witchy rom com set in a small town, featuring a curse gone awry, a talking cat, and a charming welsh man.
after spending a blissful summer together, rhys breaks vivi’s heart. so she does what any witch in her position would do: she curses him (as a joke, of course). but when rhys comes back to graves glen nine years later, vivi is confronted with the consequences of her actions. the curse she accidentally placed on him begins to spread, wreaking havoc throughout the town. as they work together to find a solution, vivi and rhys realize that what they felt toward each other that summer so many years ago may have never left.
second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes; i rarely feel any chemistry between the two main characters, but for some reason, i actually really liked it in this book. their banter was SO much fun to read, and their personalities complemented each other so well.
as much as i liked vivi and her relationship with gwyn and elaine, rhys was the star of the show. i would read this book again JUST for him. he had me grinning throughout the entire book and was just so unintentionally funny sometimes 😭 the way he’s obsessed with vivi? and calls her “cariad”?? 😩😩 on my knees.
i’m so glad this was my first read of october <3 add it to your tbr if you want something cozy and cute and funny.
—
i want some fall, witchy vibes pls. don’t let me down 🥲
this was exactly what i needed rn: a witchy rom com set in a small town, featuring a curse gone awry, a talking cat, and a charming welsh man.
after spending a blissful summer together, rhys breaks vivi’s heart. so she does what any witch in her position would do: she curses him (as a joke, of course). but when rhys comes back to graves glen nine years later, vivi is confronted with the consequences of her actions. the curse she accidentally placed on him begins to spread, wreaking havoc throughout the town. as they work together to find a solution, vivi and rhys realize that what they felt toward each other that summer so many years ago may have never left.
second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes; i rarely feel any chemistry between the two main characters, but for some reason, i actually really liked it in this book. their banter was SO much fun to read, and their personalities complemented each other so well.
as much as i liked vivi and her relationship with gwyn and elaine, rhys was the star of the show. i would read this book again JUST for him. he had me grinning throughout the entire book and was just so unintentionally funny sometimes 😭 the way he’s obsessed with vivi? and calls her “cariad”?? 😩😩 on my knees.
i’m so glad this was my first read of october <3 add it to your tbr if you want something cozy and cute and funny.
—
i want some fall, witchy vibes pls. don’t let me down 🥲
September 29, 2021
3.5 stars. This was VERY VERY fun and reminded me so much of all the cozy small town witchy books (the Sweep series by Cait Tiernan, anyone?????) I used to read in middle school and I liked it SO MUCH. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something to ease you into the spooky season vibes!
June 5, 2024
this book is marketed as "hocus pocus but they fuck" and i can confirm. but also set in Halloweentown.
January 15, 2024
This book gives me a strong Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibe which I'm loving so much. A good contender for a spooky season with witches, magic, humour, and a swoony beautiful romance combined with a whole lot of warm fall undertones.
The Ex Hex starts with heartbroken Vivi Jones, who chose to move on from the boy who had dumped her in a debarred way of vodka and curse; in which she very much expected to fail but may have worked a little too well after Rhys Penhallow showed up for Graves Glen nine years later.
This book is far from perfect. There were lots of things that I wished would be different or cut down. However, Sterling manages to describe readers with a picturesque Halloween feel and witch vibes, I couldn't help but wish I could experience Graves Glen myself. This makes the first half of the book such an easy and fast read. I love the stellar banter from the resentment that the two main characters still have for each other, making their moments always a barrel of laughs. Vivi and Rhys were such an iconic pair, and I enjoyed their dynamic even with Vivi's cousin, Gwen was in the picture.
Nevertheless, there's no denying that the second half of the book started to get tiresome and draggy. The conflict was stalled, with more scenes of the characters banging each other than necessary. The world-building fell off due to the characters' passive approach in breaking the curse; I realized the ending was rushed and poorly delivered.
Be that as it may, I believe it pivots on what you're looking for in the book. If you want some fall witchy romance, The Ex Hex is perfect for you but if you're looking for some intense witch adventure, I reckon this book did not have lots in store. It was adequate but I wished there were more they could offer us than just Vivi and Rhys.
All in all, the characters were a labour of love, and the book is still enjoyable and noteworthy. Is it something I would find myself rereading? Probably not but I would surely still recommend this for others to read, especially during spooktober. Just all the right feels.
[3.5/5]
The Ex Hex starts with heartbroken Vivi Jones, who chose to move on from the boy who had dumped her in a debarred way of vodka and curse; in which she very much expected to fail but may have worked a little too well after Rhys Penhallow showed up for Graves Glen nine years later.
This book is far from perfect. There were lots of things that I wished would be different or cut down. However, Sterling manages to describe readers with a picturesque Halloween feel and witch vibes, I couldn't help but wish I could experience Graves Glen myself. This makes the first half of the book such an easy and fast read. I love the stellar banter from the resentment that the two main characters still have for each other, making their moments always a barrel of laughs. Vivi and Rhys were such an iconic pair, and I enjoyed their dynamic even with Vivi's cousin, Gwen was in the picture.
Nevertheless, there's no denying that the second half of the book started to get tiresome and draggy. The conflict was stalled, with more scenes of the characters banging each other than necessary. The world-building fell off due to the characters' passive approach in breaking the curse; I realized the ending was rushed and poorly delivered.
Be that as it may, I believe it pivots on what you're looking for in the book. If you want some fall witchy romance, The Ex Hex is perfect for you but if you're looking for some intense witch adventure, I reckon this book did not have lots in store. It was adequate but I wished there were more they could offer us than just Vivi and Rhys.
All in all, the characters were a labour of love, and the book is still enjoyable and noteworthy. Is it something I would find myself rereading? Probably not but I would surely still recommend this for others to read, especially during spooktober. Just all the right feels.
[3.5/5]
September 2, 2021
The Ex Hex
by Erin Sterling is a light and fun paranormal romantic comedy featuring witches Vivienne Jones and Rhys Penhallow. Nine years ago, Rhys left 19 year-old Vivi to go back to Wales. With a broken heart and encouragement from her cousin Gwyn, Vivi mixes vodka, baths, candles, and magic to curse Rhys. She thinks that he will only have a bad hair day or two. But when Rhys returns to Graves Glen, Georgia to recharge the town’s ley lines, things go wrong. Did the curse work after all?
Vivi and Rhys are likeable characters with great chemistry, but part of the time, they seem to be more interested in rekindling their romance than fixing what has gone wrong in the town. That makes them seem realistic, but somewhat irresponsible at times. The supporting characters provided conflict or support and had an appropriate amount of depth.
The story moved along at a decent pace with some suspense, but not quite as much as I expected. As fall approaches, I wanted to read a story with a Halloween theme and this one fit the bill. Witches, curses, ley lines, a witch college, ghosts, romance, biting toys, and a talking cat make for an enjoyable tale. There are some other important themes that run through the book including family, lies of omission, humor, feeling stable and safe, trust, attraction, and love.
Overall, this was a humorous and entertaining read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars for the pure enjoyment and fun that I had reading this book.
William Morrow and Custom House – Avon and Erin Sterling provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 28, 2021.
Vivi and Rhys are likeable characters with great chemistry, but part of the time, they seem to be more interested in rekindling their romance than fixing what has gone wrong in the town. That makes them seem realistic, but somewhat irresponsible at times. The supporting characters provided conflict or support and had an appropriate amount of depth.
The story moved along at a decent pace with some suspense, but not quite as much as I expected. As fall approaches, I wanted to read a story with a Halloween theme and this one fit the bill. Witches, curses, ley lines, a witch college, ghosts, romance, biting toys, and a talking cat make for an enjoyable tale. There are some other important themes that run through the book including family, lies of omission, humor, feeling stable and safe, trust, attraction, and love.
Overall, this was a humorous and entertaining read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars for the pure enjoyment and fun that I had reading this book.
William Morrow and Custom House – Avon and Erin Sterling provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 28, 2021.
October 13, 2021
Love the witchy war! A fun rom-com and a wonderful seasonal read. This is not a cozy story. 😉
After seeing over 150 "bot" accounts on GR that push their "factory" reviews, I'm not in the mood to write a proper review. And NO, they aren't for this book. 😊
After seeing over 150 "bot" accounts on GR that push their "factory" reviews, I'm not in the mood to write a proper review. And NO, they aren't for this book. 😊
October 8, 2021
Please, for the love of God, if I ever pine this hard after a man I dated at 19 (for only three months!) nine years later, somebody just kill me.
I found the characters to be one-dimensional, boring, and very stereotypical. Vivienne is described (I kid you not) as the "Full Potter" or something equally ridiculous, because she didn't discover her magic until a late age. Maybe its later explained why her mom didn't like to do magic and tried to prevent Vivienne from doing any, but I never got that far. I was too busy staring blankly at the novel, trying to understand why a grown-ass woman cared so much about this guy who, reportedly, broke her heart. Nine years ago. When she was nineteen and he was twenty. (I seriously cannot get over this paper-thin, flimsy excuse for a backstory between these idiots).
For all that Vivi's cousin Gwyn says that Vivi and Rhys have "sparks" or chemistry or whatever, I don't see it. He's as interesting as a pretty rock (it's beaten into your head that he's good-looking), and her whole character revolves around this fling from almost a decade ago. Vivi's constantly thinking about this fool, from mentally complaining that he probably hasn't gotten wine-drunk and stalked her on social media over the years (she has done that to him for some reason), to lamenting the fact that Rhys knows how upset she is over the curse because he saw her do magic and she just Doesn't Do That.
I completely believe Gwyn could have cursed a sexy lamp to look and act like Vivi to fool Rhys and it would have no impact on the story. After all, I already had to read about how the magic cave that houses the ley lines has an "atmosphere" or something that makes people horny (I wish I was joking), and how much Vivi resented Rhys for bringing her to a "magic sex cave." When she's the one who accepted his invitation to come along... for reasons...that don't make sense...because she professes to hate this man and his existence so of course she'll tag along, alone, with him to some mystery magic cave. Makes perfect sense. We already tried to Girl Boss at the start by abandoning him on the side of the road after his car breaks down, but now we suddenly want to spend time with him? I give up.
I found the characters to be one-dimensional, boring, and very stereotypical. Vivienne is described (I kid you not) as the "Full Potter" or something equally ridiculous, because she didn't discover her magic until a late age. Maybe its later explained why her mom didn't like to do magic and tried to prevent Vivienne from doing any, but I never got that far. I was too busy staring blankly at the novel, trying to understand why a grown-ass woman cared so much about this guy who, reportedly, broke her heart. Nine years ago. When she was nineteen and he was twenty. (I seriously cannot get over this paper-thin, flimsy excuse for a backstory between these idiots).
For all that Vivi's cousin Gwyn says that Vivi and Rhys have "sparks" or chemistry or whatever, I don't see it. He's as interesting as a pretty rock (it's beaten into your head that he's good-looking), and her whole character revolves around this fling from almost a decade ago. Vivi's constantly thinking about this fool, from mentally complaining that he probably hasn't gotten wine-drunk and stalked her on social media over the years (she has done that to him for some reason), to lamenting the fact that Rhys knows how upset she is over the curse because he saw her do magic and she just Doesn't Do That.
I completely believe Gwyn could have cursed a sexy lamp to look and act like Vivi to fool Rhys and it would have no impact on the story. After all, I already had to read about how the magic cave that houses the ley lines has an "atmosphere" or something that makes people horny (I wish I was joking), and how much Vivi resented Rhys for bringing her to a "magic sex cave." When she's the one who accepted his invitation to come along... for reasons...that don't make sense...because she professes to hate this man and his existence so of course she'll tag along, alone, with him to some mystery magic cave. Makes perfect sense. We already tried to Girl Boss at the start by abandoning him on the side of the road after his car breaks down, but now we suddenly want to spend time with him? I give up.
October 12, 2023
3.5 ✩'s
an Ex. a Hex. && maybe even some makeup SEX. 🤭
✦ “Never mix vodka and witchcraft” ✦
What is a scorned witch to do? Vivi "accidently" places a hex on her ex (Rhys Penhallow local royalty) after he shattered her heart. Honestly, for a tipsy brokenhearted witch she could've done MUCH WORSE imo. lol. ANYWAYS 🤭 Rhys's curse is within the boundaries of the town, and thus has remained undiscovered UNTIL Rhys inevitably has to return home to make an appearance for the town's annual fall festival.
(10 years post-breakup)
For Rhys, Vivi has always lingered in the back of his mind, as the one that got away. Naturally, he's shocked to find how awful everything has been since he's returned to Graves Glen, Georgia. He was hoping to return to town at the last possible minute, make an appearance at the festival, recharge the town's ley lines, and maybe even sneak a glimpse of Vivi if he could manage. But, everything seems.. against him???
I loved the overall idea of this book, loved the characters, and I'm sure I will continue on with the series. A cute, witchy, second-chance romance!! (&& surprise spicy bonus content🤭🌶) Perfect for your Fall/Witchy TBR's. ♥
♡ QUOTES ♡
♡ “May I kiss you? and she’d said, Now? and he’d smiled that slow smile and said, Now is preferable, but I’m open to whatever your schedule allows, and how was any woman supposed to resist that?”
♡ “She'd smiled at him, and it had been ...
Instant. Irrevocable.
A fucking disaster.”
♡ “Seriously, dude, don’t care whose dad you are or how fancy a witch you are, keep talking shit about my cat, and I will personally kick you down this mountain.” SO REAL FOR THIS LOL
✦ The Ex Hex ✦
“And then Gwyn closed her eyes, held her hands out and said, “Goddess, we beseech you that this man shall never again darken Vivi’s door nor her vagina.” Vivi nearly choked on her drink, giggling even as the alcohol seared her sinuses, and flopped down on the opposite side of the circle from Gwyn. “Goddess,” Vivi said, taking another sip, “we beseech you that he never again use his dimples for evil against unsuspecting maidens.” “Nice one,” Gwyn said before adding, “Goddess, we beseech you to make sure his hair never does that thing again. You know the thing we mean.” “She totally does.” Vivi nodded. “Goddess, we beseech you to make him the sort of man who will forever think the clitoris is exactly one-third of an inch away from where it actually is.” “Diabolical, Vivi. Truly dark magic.”
an Ex. a Hex. && maybe even some makeup SEX. 🤭
✦ “Never mix vodka and witchcraft” ✦
What is a scorned witch to do? Vivi "accidently" places a hex on her ex (Rhys Penhallow local royalty) after he shattered her heart. Honestly, for a tipsy brokenhearted witch she could've done MUCH WORSE imo. lol. ANYWAYS 🤭 Rhys's curse is within the boundaries of the town, and thus has remained undiscovered UNTIL Rhys inevitably has to return home to make an appearance for the town's annual fall festival.
(10 years post-breakup)
For Rhys, Vivi has always lingered in the back of his mind, as the one that got away. Naturally, he's shocked to find how awful everything has been since he's returned to Graves Glen, Georgia. He was hoping to return to town at the last possible minute, make an appearance at the festival, recharge the town's ley lines, and maybe even sneak a glimpse of Vivi if he could manage. But, everything seems.. against him???
I loved the overall idea of this book, loved the characters, and I'm sure I will continue on with the series. A cute, witchy, second-chance romance!! (&& surprise spicy bonus content🤭🌶) Perfect for your Fall/Witchy TBR's. ♥
♡ QUOTES ♡
♡ “May I kiss you? and she’d said, Now? and he’d smiled that slow smile and said, Now is preferable, but I’m open to whatever your schedule allows, and how was any woman supposed to resist that?”
♡ “She'd smiled at him, and it had been ...
Instant. Irrevocable.
A fucking disaster.”
♡ “Seriously, dude, don’t care whose dad you are or how fancy a witch you are, keep talking shit about my cat, and I will personally kick you down this mountain.” SO REAL FOR THIS LOL
✦ The Ex Hex ✦
“And then Gwyn closed her eyes, held her hands out and said, “Goddess, we beseech you that this man shall never again darken Vivi’s door nor her vagina.” Vivi nearly choked on her drink, giggling even as the alcohol seared her sinuses, and flopped down on the opposite side of the circle from Gwyn. “Goddess,” Vivi said, taking another sip, “we beseech you that he never again use his dimples for evil against unsuspecting maidens.” “Nice one,” Gwyn said before adding, “Goddess, we beseech you to make sure his hair never does that thing again. You know the thing we mean.” “She totally does.” Vivi nodded. “Goddess, we beseech you to make him the sort of man who will forever think the clitoris is exactly one-third of an inch away from where it actually is.” “Diabolical, Vivi. Truly dark magic.”
November 2, 2021
“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”
That’s the first line of this novel, and it sets the scene quite well.
Vivienne “Vivi” Jones had her heart broken 9 years ago. In a drunken state of mind, and with the help of her cousin, she jokingly placed a curse on the man in question. Only it seems the curse actually worked. Oh, and Vivi and her family are witches.
Now in present day Graves Glen, Georgia, the cursed man, Rhys Penhallow, is back in town to do some witchy business for Founder’s Day. He and his family are witches too (they don’t call the men wizards anymore). Rhys doesn’t actually realize he’s been cursed until returning to town and coming face to face with Vivi.
The chemistry they previously had together instantly presents itself again, as much as Vivi tries to push it away. But when it becomes clear to her that the curse on Rhys extends to the whole town of Graves Glen, she realizes they need to work together to try and banish the evil.
They have to deal with a bitchy ghost who should never have been summoned, ankle-biting Halloween toys, spells not working like they’re supposed to, and a cat who can all of a sudden talk. Can they do all of this and save the town while keeping their zippers zipped?
Not quite. Zippers become unzipped.
This was a fun read...and I timed it very well, finishing it on Halloween. The writing is atmospheric, the sexual tension is...well...tense, and there are some genuine LOL / cute moments. This is a winner from Rachel Hawkins, writing under the name of Erin Sterling.
While I probably won’t remember this one too much by next Halloween, it was an enjoyable romp with charming characters and an appealing story. Highly recommend for those who don’t mind a little extra pumpkin “spice” and a whole lotta amusing F-bombs.
Happy Halloween! 🎃
🧙🧙🧙.🧹 (3.5 stars in layman’s terms)
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
That’s the first line of this novel, and it sets the scene quite well.
Vivienne “Vivi” Jones had her heart broken 9 years ago. In a drunken state of mind, and with the help of her cousin, she jokingly placed a curse on the man in question. Only it seems the curse actually worked. Oh, and Vivi and her family are witches.
Now in present day Graves Glen, Georgia, the cursed man, Rhys Penhallow, is back in town to do some witchy business for Founder’s Day. He and his family are witches too (they don’t call the men wizards anymore). Rhys doesn’t actually realize he’s been cursed until returning to town and coming face to face with Vivi.
The chemistry they previously had together instantly presents itself again, as much as Vivi tries to push it away. But when it becomes clear to her that the curse on Rhys extends to the whole town of Graves Glen, she realizes they need to work together to try and banish the evil.
They have to deal with a bitchy ghost who should never have been summoned, ankle-biting Halloween toys, spells not working like they’re supposed to, and a cat who can all of a sudden talk. Can they do all of this and save the town while keeping their zippers zipped?
Not quite. Zippers become unzipped.
This was a fun read...and I timed it very well, finishing it on Halloween. The writing is atmospheric, the sexual tension is...well...tense, and there are some genuine LOL / cute moments. This is a winner from Rachel Hawkins, writing under the name of Erin Sterling.
While I probably won’t remember this one too much by next Halloween, it was an enjoyable romp with charming characters and an appealing story. Highly recommend for those who don’t mind a little extra pumpkin “spice” and a whole lotta amusing F-bombs.
Happy Halloween! 🎃
🧙🧙🧙.🧹 (3.5 stars in layman’s terms)
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
October 2, 2021
Being that this book is compared to Hocus Pocus i expected it to to only be similar in the fact that it has witches but i really think it is similar in the aspect of the small town. OMFG this book has the best small town ever. i absolutely adored the witchy things in the book. It’s a second chance romance so i just knew i would devour this and i did. I truly believe this book got me out of a slump. Gwyn was one of my favorite characters so if the author decides to do a companion novel i would absolutely love if it was about her.
November 1, 2023
One of my fave books for the spooky season!
I loved reading this, it was very fun and light hearted.
The main characters were amazing. Vivi wasn’t a typical annoying bitch and Rhys wasn’t a typical grumpy brooding ass. They were both right and wrong and I love their ages. A breath of fresh air after reading about teenage mcs😩
This is a second chance romance and it’s written beautifully. Every time I read each of their memories, it’s like I’m breaking my own heart but in a bittersweet way.
Their relationship development was so cute too. There us a bit of an enemies to lovers trope as well.
Vivi’s cousin was hilarious and when she protected her dear pet and said that’s her baby, I felt that😤
The plot was also fast pacing which I like. The ending was cheesy af, yes, but hey it was cute don’t even tell me you wouldn’t want a hea for yourself👺
There is smut but it’s very subtle. My pussy throbbed the right amount of time🤧
I loved reading this, it was very fun and light hearted.
The main characters were amazing. Vivi wasn’t a typical annoying bitch and Rhys wasn’t a typical grumpy brooding ass. They were both right and wrong and I love their ages. A breath of fresh air after reading about teenage mcs😩
This is a second chance romance and it’s written beautifully. Every time I read each of their memories, it’s like I’m breaking my own heart but in a bittersweet way.
Their relationship development was so cute too. There us a bit of an enemies to lovers trope as well.
Vivi’s cousin was hilarious and when she protected her dear pet and said that’s her baby, I felt that😤
The plot was also fast pacing which I like. The ending was cheesy af, yes, but hey it was cute don’t even tell me you wouldn’t want a hea for yourself👺
There is smut but it’s very subtle. My pussy throbbed the right amount of time🤧
February 6, 2022
4 stars.
my spotify playlist; my pinterest board
My review has some spoilers ahead, so watch out!
Well, well, well, I enjoyed this way more than I thought. And I liked that. I didn't have high expectations because many books have let me down in the past because of the hype... It seems like I'm learning, lol.
I was very reluctant with this book, as I said because of the hype. Buuuuut, clearly I made a good decision I've made this far. If I had read it before, when the hype was at its peak, I would've rated it with 5 stars or so. 4 starts is good for me tho.
The vibes in this book are pretty good; that's something that I really loved. Like Sabrina ft Hocus Pocus ft Halloweentown, but they fuck, lmao. The cherry on top for me was Mr. Purrcival speaking. I fucking love cats. Even more black cats. I'm the owner of two black cats, so, the love is strong, lmao.
The characters were good. They weren't as flat as I thought they'd be. Don't get me wrong, I loved them, but as I said, I dind't have high hopes, lol. But, anyways, some characters were lovable and I also wanted to kick some of them (Simon, Amanda and fucking Gryffud, I'm talking with y'all). They didn't have the greaaaaat development, but it was okay to spend the time. (I just had a tiny hard time with the names, very acotar vibes, so yikes, but the rest was okay) aLSO, AUNT ELAIN IS MY FUCKING QUEEN WITH STEVIE NICKS LOOK AND VIBESSSS.
But, I wished I had known more of Rhys' bethrodal or whatever it was. Why his father wanted to force him to that? Why Simon (Rhys' father) never mentioned it again? Who was that girl who Rhys was supposed to marry with? I kinda wanted to know that, but well.
The romance was also okay. For moments it looked like insta love, but then I remembered that they dated like for 3 months. And then they spent 9 years separated. The less I think of the insta love of 2 days, the better for my sanity, believe me.
The smut was good? Magic sex, that's a better term for it. It was also cool, intimate and sweet. Vivi, if I met someone like Rhys, I wouldn't let him go off bed, too.
It was funny. I was actually laughing at Rhys' stupidity and his weird comments that he made when things were bad, lmao.
Vivi, I'm jealous and happy for you. You're the most badass witch and have this sarcastic and charming asshole. Girl, I envy you because this is the thing I will never have.
Sooooo, overall. It was a funny and cozy read. I actually felt the witchy Sabrina-Halloweentown-Hocus-Pocus vibes and I really really liked it, even more than I thought.
Definitely a comfort reading! Ignore the "my embarrasing" in the my guilty pleasures; that embarrasing is for Crave, lmao.
previous review:
this was... cozy and warm. i hate the world because i can't have a rhys penhallow for myself.
RTC.
“the best cure for anything was candles and a bath”
my spotify playlist; my pinterest board
My review has some spoilers ahead, so watch out!
Well, well, well, I enjoyed this way more than I thought. And I liked that. I didn't have high expectations because many books have let me down in the past because of the hype... It seems like I'm learning, lol.
I was very reluctant with this book, as I said because of the hype. Buuuuut, clearly I made a good decision I've made this far. If I had read it before, when the hype was at its peak, I would've rated it with 5 stars or so. 4 starts is good for me tho.
The vibes in this book are pretty good; that's something that I really loved. Like Sabrina ft Hocus Pocus ft Halloweentown, but they fuck, lmao. The cherry on top for me was Mr. Purrcival speaking. I fucking love cats. Even more black cats. I'm the owner of two black cats, so, the love is strong, lmao.
The characters were good. They weren't as flat as I thought they'd be. Don't get me wrong, I loved them, but as I said, I dind't have high hopes, lol. But, anyways, some characters were lovable and I also wanted to kick some of them (Simon, Amanda and fucking Gryffud, I'm talking with y'all). They didn't have the greaaaaat development, but it was okay to spend the time. (I just had a tiny hard time with the names, very acotar vibes, so yikes, but the rest was okay) aLSO, AUNT ELAIN IS MY FUCKING QUEEN WITH STEVIE NICKS LOOK AND VIBESSSS.
But, I wished I had known more of Rhys' bethrodal or whatever it was. Why his father wanted to force him to that? Why Simon (Rhys' father) never mentioned it again? Who was that girl who Rhys was supposed to marry with? I kinda wanted to know that, but well.
The romance was also okay. For moments it looked like insta love, but then I remembered that they dated like for 3 months. And then they spent 9 years separated. The less I think of the insta love of 2 days, the better for my sanity, believe me.
The smut was good? Magic sex, that's a better term for it. It was also cool, intimate and sweet. Vivi, if I met someone like Rhys, I wouldn't let him go off bed, too.
It was funny. I was actually laughing at Rhys' stupidity and his weird comments that he made when things were bad, lmao.
Vivi, I'm jealous and happy for you. You're the most badass witch and have this sarcastic and charming asshole. Girl, I envy you because this is the thing I will never have.
Sooooo, overall. It was a funny and cozy read. I actually felt the witchy Sabrina-Halloweentown-Hocus-Pocus vibes and I really really liked it, even more than I thought.
Definitely a comfort reading! Ignore the "my embarrasing" in the my guilty pleasures; that embarrasing is for Crave, lmao.
previous review:
this was... cozy and warm. i hate the world because i can't have a rhys penhallow for myself.
RTC.
October 6, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
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