I absolutely loved this book. It gave me Halloween Town vibes! The couple were so cute together and I loved that he didn't even care that she hexed him. He was just excited to be back in her life. I wished however that we would have gotten to see the conversation Rhys had with his father about their ancestors not being the best people.

Overall the book was cute, cozy and perfect for people who want a Halloween like book without the spooky stuff. It was a very quick read but could have had some more work done to it. (mainly the father Simon being a big plot point and we never got much with him in it)

I am not a romance reader, but surprisingly, I really liked this book! It gave me all of the Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown vibes. I loved the setting and the atmosphere of this story. Plus, I literally read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this one!!

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling is a fun witchy tale about the town of Graves Glen, Georgia and its’ history. Graves Glen is home to a large number of witches and wizards, there is even a full college for them! Kind of like Hogwarts but on an American small town scale. Normal non-witches live in Graves Glen as well so the magical side of the city is kept on the down low. Which starts to become an issue when Vivienne Jones suspects that a curse she had jokingly put on her ex-boyfriend Rhys Penhallow ten years ago is now back in action in full force, causing disaster after disaster to their small town. Vivienne and Rhys team up to try to get the curse reversed and set the town back to normal.

I loved this book! It was so much fun to read and there were several laugh out loud moments, I actually would stop and re-read certain dialogues just to giggle all over again. This was my first book by Erin Sterling, but it definitely will not be my last. Both Vivienne and Rhys had a lot of growing up to do, and they both really matured throughout the story. It was clear from the start that there was a significant attraction on both parts, but because of what had happened in the past they were both trying to fight it and stay away from each other. This just added a layer of sexual tension to the story, which was so steamy to read, especially the moments when they did give into each other.

The side characters were also great to get to know as well, especially Vivi’s aunt and cousin who both are strong, and funny characters. I am really hoping there are more books in this series with them as the focus, I would love to know more about how it goes with Vivi’s cousin and her love life.

One thing that I was a little unrealistic was how casually the characters seemed to be taking the problem. The whole town is now cursed! Hello! You would think that everyone would be on top of finding a way to solve this problem, but it seemed like everyone was kind of just waiting around and kissing each other until everything came to a head. That would be the only reason I did not give this a full 5 stars, I was reading some parts being like “Hello!! Why are you just sitting there??”

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Great fun to read and a good cast of characters and a great story.

~ Harshita

THE EX HEX by Erin Sterling was absolutely delightful!

Looking for the perfect witchy Rom-com to read this month?! Look no further!

I loved all the mishaps and magic gone wrong, creating hilarious scenarios, including a talking cat Puuuurcival who only knows how to say one word…

Also, the amount of Harry Potter references in this was A+.

Vi and Rhys we’re absolutely adorable. Enemies to lovers/second chance romance between these two!

I loved Vi’s optimism and of course, drunken curse. Which the terms are absolutely hilarious!

And Rhys… gotta love a man with an accent.

This was an absolutely adorably romantic, laugh out loud book!

A pleasant enough read. Two witches date, break-up, and then are thrown into a sticky situation in which they have to closely work together. It’s a little sweet and a little salty- just like the caramel apple hand-pies Mrs. Michelson sells at the Fall Fair. A perfect autumnal, small-town fantasy romance.

A fun read that's full of twists and laughs. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters and their growth. The book made me interested in the back story of the father though.

|| 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

The Ex Hex
Erin Sterling
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (3.5 rounded up)

#BetweenTheCovers Bookc Club pick for October

|| 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:
Vivi and Rhys have a summer fling and when things end badly she has a little too much vodka and using her magic (despite her Aunt’s warning to not mix witchcraft with alcohol) and places a silly curse on Rhys. Nine 9 years later Rhys is back in town on family business and suddenly that silly curse may be a little more serious than Vivi intended.

|| 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
•Witchy stories during the fall
•Second chance romance
•Feeling like you are visiting Halloween town and all the fun things about Halloween
•Slightly open door steam, you get a few details but not a ton! The slow burn though 🔥

|| 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Vivi and Rhys are fun. The book is fun, not super serious and just overall a great fall read. It’s low on the fantasy so don’t let the witch vibes throw you off. Lots of Halloween references for your fave witch stories and Halloween movies. And Rhys calling Vivi Cariad still makes me swoon. It’s a short and sweet romance and perfect to get you started off for spooky season!

Thank you to @avonbooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (AKA Rachel Hawkins) was a cute story about a witch name Vivienne Jones who once dated Rhys Penhallow, a descendent of the town’s ancestors. The relationship was called off by Vivienne when she finds out that Rhys is headed back to Wales because he is betrothed to another. Vivienne goes against her family motto, “Never Mix Vodka with Witchcraft” and accidentally curses Rhys.

Fast forward nine years and Rhys enters Vivienne’s life again, this time with a horrible curse hanging over his head. This tale of Lovers to Enemies is mixed with witchcraft and other wizardry when Rhys’ curse affects not just him, but the town they both love.

Will the curse ever be broken and will these enemies find some common ground?

What I loved:
-I loved the spooky elements in the story.
-Witch books are my jam so enjoyed that.

What I did not like:
-More romance than sorcery than I would have liked.
-Would have liked a little more of the Halloween elements than the Romance ones.

Overall this was a quick, fun read but extremely predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been anticipating this book for months now. I was super excited when I was chosen for a copy from netgalley. However unfortunately this book did not live up to the hype that I built up in my head for it.
I loved the small town vibes. I almost wish we were able to see more of it and get to know the people in the town a little bit better. I think the idea for the plot was super interesting as well. Where it fell a bit short for me was the romance. I think If we had a section were we got to see their summer together in a little bit more detail would have helped. I just couldn't feel the chemistry between the characters. I think getting a little more insight and seeing them together and happy could have made their reconnecting romance feel more real.
As far as the plot, I think that it was an interesting idea. I am not sure that I really liked the way that it ended up going. As spoiler free as possible. I didn't like how it ended up relating to their families. I wish it was just kept more simple. It felt like they were trying to add complication to the plot for no reason. I think keeping it more simple would have allowed the characters to spend even more time together trying to fix the problem and the author could have built up more of their chemistry.
Overall I had a good time reading this book. While it wasn't my favorite I can see how others would enjoy it. I would recommend it.

This book was cute and sexy. Vivi and Rhys are so fun to read. I love their banter and chemistry. Also, the curse that backfires makes for a funny backdrop for this story. A lighter story to add to your Halloween reads.

"Don't mix vodka and magic"

The author describes this book as Hocus Pocus but they bang. So yea, of course I was all in!

This adorable Witchy book gave me Sabrina the Teenage witch mixed with Halloweentown vibes (and other classics)

The positive: This is the perfect book to pick up if you're feeling a lighter, more fun seasonal read. It has so much to offer and I enjoyed it!

As always, I voice my truth in my reviews. I think I may have gone in with my hopes a bit high. This second chance romance didn't quite hit the mark for me. I got bored towards the middle and started to skim. The romance between Vivi and Rhys was there, their yearning for one another, but for me, I suppose I wanted more, something felt off. I enjoyed the beginning and end the most!

My favorite? Vivi's cousin and aunt. The exchanging banter between the three was hysterical!

Was this a fun quick solid read? Absolutely. Will it get you in the Halloween spirit? Definitely. It would not be on my top recs for spooky season...All clean fun though!

Many thanks to Harper Collins for this gifted ARC and to Netgalley for the e-arc

The Ex Hex | Erin Sterling 🔮

This was a fun and witchy read to kickstart October 🪄 It was such a quick read and gave me all of the cozy small town fall vibes. The prologue was my favorite part of the story! The Ex Hex was super cute and the magical romance I needed this fall ✨

3.5/5 🌟

I was so excited to get to this book! Erin Sterling, also known as Rachel Hawkins, has written some my favorite books and this one sounded right up my alley.

This book follows Vivi and her best friend Gwyn, and Vivi's heartbreak from nine years ago. Her ex Rhys, after breaking her heart, Gwyn and Vivi decided to put a hex on him. After this, we are in present day and we see this hex come to life when Rhys comes back into Vivi's life.

I was a little disappointed with this one, to be honest. I really enjoyed the romantic aspects, but the witchy and spooky aspects were not as prominent as I wish they were. However, the steam in this book was fantastic and I was rooting for the relationship and one a second chance romance.

Overall, this was a pretty average book for me, but I would definitely still recommend it and pick up more books from this author!

This is a delightful rom com - there seems to be in influx of witchy romantic comedies in book form this year and I am not complaining. Vivi and Rhys were a fun couple to root for and I enjoyed the mystery of why the hex worked the way it did and how they resolved it. Definitely a girl power moment which is always fun to read. The supporting cast of characters were also delightful and I look forward to maybe more books with their stories as well (The Penhallow brothers definitely need some more exploring)

This book was decent, took me a while to get into and that could just be that I wasn't super into the paranormal aspects of it. The characters were likable and funny, I enjoyed the second chance romance trope in this as well. Overall a solid 3.5 for me.

The Ex Hex is a great Halloween Rom-Com. There’s heartbreak, curses, rekindling romance, ghosts, magic and potions. It got me in the mood for all things Halloween. There were a few odd moments in the dialogue where I caught myself saying “what?” But the emotion in the book really pulled through.

Ya'll, I read the perfect book for fall and I WON'T CALM DOWN UNTIL EVERYONE READS IT.
If small-town romances with a second chance theme are your favorite kind of books, look no further! Go to your nearest bookstore, and buy The Ex Hex as soon as possible. I am not kidding, you guys. Just read it.

This book was a delightful ride from beginning to end. My university classes start soon and I've been pretty stressed out lately for other stuff. So yeah, I was in a terrible reading slump. Until I found The Ex Hex and fell in love with fictional characters all over again. :') Vivi and Rhys were such wonderful characters - I loved reading about how they rekindled their romance after being apart for such a long time. There's magic, witches, hexes, a strong friendship theme, and humor - The Ex Hex is basically a package of everything I love in a book. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while I was reading it.

The mystery added a much-needed depth to the plot as well! The supporting characters all added their own charms to the storyline and made reading the book so much fun. I want to visit Graves Glen right now, you guys. The setting of the town with the whole witchy vibes makes it seem like.... my kinda place, you know?

I wish the magical system was a bit more fleshed out though, and that's honestly my only complaint from the story.

This is a story about magical impulsivity.

I’m shocked by how much I enjoyed this!! Romcoms are not my usual preference, but this was such a fun romp in the countryside, with the perfect touches of magic. The characters were likable, and the writing was witty and amusing.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Harper Wave and Harper Business, & William Morrow Paperbacks for the eArc!

This was the perfect witchy romcom for spooky season! The writing and the characters made this book so fun! I loved their history and the magic in this one!! 🪄A perfect balance of character development, steam, and humor.

Grab this one if you love:
✨ Stars Hollow vibes
✨ Spooky season but make it romance
✨ Spice and spells

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ladies, a word of the wise…never mix vodka and magic. Unfortunately, Vivienne Jones has. Vivienne used her magic to get back at her horrible boyfriend, Rhys.

So, with a Bath and Body works candle Vivi and Gwyn work their magic with vodka pumping in their veins to create the perfect curse to get back at him. Little did Vivi know that the curse will backfire nine years later when Rhys comes back to Graves Glen, Georgia to recharge the town's ley lines. It is up to Vivi to fix the damage that was done, and work with Rhys to undo the ex-hex that is causing havoc all over town.

This novel gave me Bewitched vibes, but with a more modern twist. It is the perfect novel to cozy up to this autumn. Have a hot cup of coffee and just transform yourself to a world with witches, magic, and a talking cat. What more can you ask for?