Vivi is a witch who lives in a small town that was founded by witches, but is now home to both witches and muggles (is that just the general term for non witches?). She’s a professor at the local college and loves hanging out with her cousin/best friend and enjoying their charming little village. But the village quickly loses its charm when Vivi’s ex boyfriend Rhys comes back into town. Rhys is a descendent of the town’s founder and so he comes over from Wales to “charge the ley lines” and basically keep the magic running in the town. Unfortunately, when Rhys broke Vivi’s heart back when she was nineteen, she and her cousin put a hex on him. A hex they assumed didn’t actually work because it was done more in fun than in any hopes of actually cursing him. And Rhys has lived all these years with no curse-like effects, but being back in the town activates it and all kinds of things start going wrong for him. When he charges the ley lines, he infects the source of the town’s magic with his curse and everything goes bananas. Vivi and Rhys have to work together to find a way to break the curse to save not only Rhys, but the entire town. And because this is a romance, they totally do (and they bang along the way!)!

Okay, so right off the bat, I was sold on this story. I’m a fan of Erin’s other books (she also writes as Rachel Hawkins), but this is the first romance of hers I’ve read (I think the first one she’s written) and her voice just absolutely hooked me. I also just loved the whole setup of this sort of drunken I’m mad at you for breaking my heart curse coming back to haunt Vivi after all these years. Vivi and Rhys had excellent chemistry and I was very much here for them having to work together (forced proximity for the win) and all the pining and sexual tension that led to. It’s interesting because even though there are clearly paranormal elements in this book (the whole conflict is about breaking a magical curse) it reads a lot like a contemporary rom com. I enjoyed the sort of genre bending nature of the book, it really worked for me in this instance. The voice is great, the side characters were hilarious, the chemistry was bangin’ (literally), the book had everything I want in a rom com, and also had the bonus of witches! This is the perfect book for the fall season and it’s one I think I will go back to annually!

This is the Perfect cozy Rom-com for Fall!

Nineteen year old witch Vivi Jones is nursing her broken heart in the bathtub with some Vodka and a lot of bath and body works candles when her Cousin goads her into cursing her ex. Thinking it harmless, she chants a couple spells that she thinks might amount to a bad hair day and sets to forgetting all about her summer romance.

Flash forward nine years and said summer fling, Rhys Penhallow returns to Graves Glen to recharge the magical ley lines and attend a fall festival on behalf of his family.

One disaster after the next befalls Rhys and his encounters with Vivi upon his return get increasingly weird and dangerous. Vivi starts to realize her harmless little Hex maybe wasn’t so harmless after all!

This second chance paranormal romance is a fast, fun read! It’s filled with humor, steam, witty banter, witches, curses, fall college professor vibes, did I mention steam? The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys is great. I love good banter so this book spoke to my inner romantic. The side characters are also fun.

Overall this is a quick, witty read. It’s perfect for lovers of witchy season and second hand romance.

Thank you So much @avonbooks and @netgally for this free copy of The Ex Hex!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The weather change is giving me the need for some holiday reads and with Halloween around the corner, witchy books will do quite nicely. I've been in a fantasy mood for a few weeks so it's really perfect timing.
I have read a few books by this author (under her other pen name) before and what I like about her is her adaptability for different genre and audience range. This book is a mature version of Hex Hall to some extent.
Vivi did not grow up learning how to be a witch but her crash course with her aunt does not prepare her for Rhys and his devilish - or should I say warlockish? - charm. She put a hex on her ex, no doubt about it. Her drunken spell didn't work on his lovely, fluffy hair though, unfortunately. But Rhys deserved what he had coming to him.
I had zero expectations upon starting this book and between the e-book and audio, sped through it under 24 hours. The narrator, Caitlin Davies, is a great fit for Vivi's fiery personality.
Steam: the chemistry is sizzling and open door
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy and Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I really wanted to read something Halloween-y, and The Ex Hex was exactly what I was looking for. This book was super fun and I had a great time reading it. When she was 19 Vivi got drunk and cursed her ex, thinking it wouldn't do a whole lot. But about a decade later said ex, Rhys, returns to town and it turns out not only is he cursed, but his curse leaks into Vivi's town as well. Rhys and Vivi have to team up to reverse the curse. This book has a great sense of place - I loved the setting, from Vivi's aunt and cousin's shop to the college that she works at, which is half magical and half not. (With the magic stuff all hidden from non witches.) I would have liked a little more magic, and a little more curse-unleashed-chaos, but Rhys and Vivi were great characters (as were both of their families), and I really enjoyed myself with this one.

This book was the perfect fall read! Set in the cutest little town in Georgia, where magic is intertwined with every day life, The Ex Hex is the perfect book to read to get into the Halloween spirit. I loved the characters in the book as they all had such distinct, and well thought out personalities. Vivienne and Rhys were both extremely likeable, Gwynn was always hilarious and supportive, and the talking cat always wanting treats always lightened the mood. I think this is a great read for anyone who is a teen or older as it really captures a whole range of emotions while also having an interesting story line. The only reason why I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I felt like the resolution of the curse was a bit rushed. The entire book sort of centers around this curse that Vivi has accidently performed, but then it is basically solved in a few sentences at the end. Other than that, I thought that this was a really enjoyable read and one that has most certainly put me in the Halloween spirit!

I'll admit, I was bought into this from the moment I read the synopsis--a girl curses her ex over a Bath and Body Works candle and some vodka, finding out nine years later it might have actually worked, a bit too well in fact! I had only hoped the entire book would deliver and it totally did!

Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, crafted this wonderfully magic-filled romance. There was plenty of comedy, with a side of steam, moments of swoon and a dash of intrigue, what more can you ask for?

I adore a themed book and this gave off such incredible Halloween vibes, from the setting to the activities around Graves Glen! I was just so impressed by the attention to detail that went into writing this!

I quite literally did not want to put this down and had the opportunity to both read and listen to this. Caitlin Davies is a fantastic narrator, making me realize I was totally mispronouncing Rhys in my head and also making me laugh anytime a character said shite.

The Ex Hex was a ton of fun to read, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend grabbing this one when it releases on September 28th! You will for sure want to discuss this one with your coven.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books & Harper Audio for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Never mix vodka and witchcraft" I guess we're gonna learn this lesson the hard way friends. The Ex Hex was so much fun! It has everything this girl wants in romance. A little drama, a great storyline, funny-witty banter, and a supporting cast of characters combine together to make the entire read grand.

This was my first time reading Erin Sterling and I am most pleased to say it won't be my last. What a phenomenal way to kick off the spooky season!

~Tanja

Dare I say this may be THE witchy romance book I've ever read. I guess I can because I haven't read anything that combines Halloween and second chance romance in such a delightful and funny way before.

When I say witchy don't expect a whole lot of world building. Yes there are witches, caves with ley lines and a ghost and talking cat, all in a small town setting. A heartbroken and drunk 19yo witch, Vivi hexes her boyfriend, the so very charming Welsh witch Rhys, boyfriend returns to the town years later, the curse accidentally spreads over the whole town, magic is corrupted. Now they need to lift the curse together but also there is this attraction they cannot fight against and so they find themselves getting flustered in strange places: a cave, a library study room, a haunted house.

This was a quick, witty and fun read. I liked the characters and I am happy to find out that the book is the first in a series. I have to warn my spooky season-loving friends that the relationship between the main characters is in the spotlight more than the curse mystery itself. The pacing was a little off in places, there wasn't a sense of urgency to break the curse and weird timing for the steamy scenes but overall it is an entertaining Fall book.

Solid 4.3⭐️

This book truly is a romcom because dang if I wasn’t laughing out loud. It’s silly and sweet, a hint of steam, a splash of magic (literally, they’re witches), and a pinch of family dynamics.

Any who, it’s simple and funny, just enough of it all.

Thanks Netgalley and Harper Collins for this arc in exchange for this honest review

4.5. I had a blast reading this--it made me excited for fall, and it gave me some of the light, cozy-yet-spooky vibes I've been missing from the books I've been reading recently. It's a classic paranormal romance, but it leans into the humor of the whole "I cursed my ex" situation in a satisfying way. And, of course, the chemistry between Vivi and Rhys is wonderful--fun, yet hot.

Pick this up in time for Spooky Season 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.

This was all kinds of funny, charming, and entertaining, and considering what Erin Sterling has done writing as Rachel Hawkins, this shouldn't be a surprise. It's full of quirky witchery and magic as well as an excellent romance, and the storyline as a whole is interesting and clever. I'd love to see more from this world.

Super cute! Definitely got a mix of Sabrina the Teenage Witch plus Practical Magic, with a little Hocus Pocus thrown in. I loved Vivi and Rhys and thought they had very good chemistry. It was a fun read! Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the arc!

This is my new favorite witchy book 🧙‍♀️ This was such a fun & romantic read. I was totally hooked into the main character Vivi’s magical world that gets turned upside down when her ex shows back up in her hometown & she realizes that when she had drunkenly cursed him for breaking her heart nine years ago, it may have gone wrong! I absolutely loved all of the characters and relationships among them. There were so many elements that were just fiction perfection: heartwarming found family; spice & romance; mystery & magic; hot guy with an accent… need I say more?!? This book is too cute and I highly recommend you grab it when it publishes on September 28th - it’s perfect for October TBRs!

Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Hocus Pocus meets Charmed meets any adorable Rom Com (10 Things I Hate About You keeps coming to mind). This is funny, sweet, and romantic with a bit of quirky witchy fun. Rhys and Vivi have the right amount of chemistry to make this a fun quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the arc.

The Ex Hex is adorable and sexy and hilarious! Vivi and Rhys have real on page chemistry. I laughed out loud at some of the unexpected events caused by the curse it question. The is a fast, enjoyable read.

“…opposites who couldn’t live without each other. Who didn’t have to. And that… might be the most magical thing of all.”

All. The. Stars.

Sabrina meets Hocus Pocus meets Gilmore Girls meets A++ love story in The Ex Hex.

After Rhys breaks Vivienne’s heart, she and her cousin drink too much vodka and fake-curse him with a Bath and Body works candle… or so they thought. Turns out their curse was actually successful, as they find out 9 years later when Rhys is back in Graves Glen, Georgia for Founder’s Day. But as the descendent of the town’s ancestors, Rhys finds that the curse not only affects him, but the entire town. Can Vivi and Rhys come together to fix what was supposed to be a harmless Ex Hex?

This book had it all: perfect witchy scenes, cute small-town feel, humor, adventure, love with amazing chemistry, and marvelous side characters (including the cat, Sir Purrcival). This is THE BOOK to read this Fall. Amazing, incredible, and I hope there are more because Goodreads has this as “(Ex Hex #1)” 👀

Okay, go preorder this because you need it.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

I absolutely loved the fun paranormal romcom! Fingers crossed the rest of the cast will have HEA stories in the future.

This was really fast-paced and cute! The story was interesting and the romance was sizzling. This author always manages to make me smile, and this new venture of hers isn't any different. If you're looking for a spicy witchy romance, then this one is a hit!

This romance was perfect for the season and so much fun to read. Loved the mix of magic and fantasy with academia—Practical Magic goes to college? The characters were well-drawn, and Rhys and Vivi were fantastic protagonists.