Fun, cheerful and feel-good with a gorgeous Welsh wizard - what's not to love about that?

I have to be honest here and say that stories with witches and wizards aren't my usual pick-up, I think I grew out of wizards and witches but something about this caught my attention and overall I wasn't disappointed, true witches and wizards and casting spells on each still isn't one of my favourite genre's but this has certainly changed my initial opinion of these stories.

I really enjoyed this one, it's ever so cute and lots of fun plus at parts quite steamy (always a good thing in my opinion) I liked the characters they are great fun and the story is original and engaging, i really liked how easy this was to read.

actual rating: 4/5 stars

i really had such a fun and amazing time reading this book. it isn't one of the best romances i've ever read but it is amazing for the spooky season and perfectly put you into the halloween mood but in a lighthearted way similar to halloweentown or hocus pocus. this story is gilmore girls meets halloweentown.

the atmosphere is what really made this book with the spooky southern small-town vibes which i absolutely adored. the characters were fun and i loved that it was a second-chance romance because those are some of my favorites. while i wasn't specifically attached to the characters, the witchy aspects made up for the lack of personality either one had. their family relations also made this book a bit more interesting.

this book was super funny and i enjoyed the writing. the fact the heroine cursed the hero without being able to normally do magic and doing it in an accidental way set this book off on the right foot.

the ley line aspect of this book really made it interesting and reminded me of the raven cycle and the fact that there was this spirit that played a role from the middle of the book to the end was entertaining. i enjoyed that is had a plot and conflict that had to do with something other than just the romance because just a normal rom com can be a bit repetitive and boring.

This was a cute book, but I found it to be a just okay. I thought the characters could be a little more developed and it dragged in the middle. The audio version was done okay as well. The narrator was a bit annoying. That being said, I am planning on reading the second book in the series.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling | Full Review available on GinaRaeMitchell. com

I wanted to love this story but there was just a bit of “something” missing that would push it to the next level. Let’s see if I can work that out in this review.

The characters were great. Vivi’s unease with her magic and Rhys with his constant deflecting were very believable. The pace was good for the most part. The story took a few sidesteps that I thought needed more definition or left out altogether. They just didn’t enhance the storytelling for me. It felt like either I missed the first book in the series or those threads were left dangling for a sequel.

I can see this turning into a successful series. Elaine, Gwyn, Simon, and the brothers all seem destined to have their story told.

Final decision: 3.75/5


I received a digital copy of the book through NetGalley. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

LOVED! This book had me laying in bed reading all day because I just could not put it down. Sign me up for anything with a witch and romance and the fantastic writing style of Erin Sterling!

This book had an interesting concept to it. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Halloween and spooky-themed romances, took me three tries to read it, and still ended up DNFing it about 38% of the way there. Just personally couldn't get into it. Thankful for the opportunity to read it, just was not a book for me.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, (aka Rachel Hawkins), was high on my list of most anticipated reads for Fall 2021. The book sounded SO cute and it sounded like the perfect fall read. This is why it was my very first read of fall this year! Bringing in the new season with an awesome book, and it was perfection.

Let me start this by saying that my most favorite thing about this book was the setting. It’s absolutely no secret AT ALL that my favorite season of the year is fall. I love everything about it! The weather starts to get cooler, (though here in the south that takes a while), the colors of the trees start to change, oh and did I mention that the weather gets cooler? (lol!)

That brings me to the setting of this book. I don’t think I’ve read many books set in fall, but this book is, AND it’s around Halloween time as well! (My favorite holiday!) Everything that Erin described in the setting was absolute perfection and I could picture it perfectly in my mind. I sooooo wanted to be in Graves Glen, GA with these characters during this lovely season. I don’t know if this place is fictional or not, but I for sure want to visit. lol

I also really enjoyed the characters and storyline for this book as well! Add them in with the gorgeous setting, it made for a fantastic read, and I was HOOKED! I definitely plan to make this a yearly fall re-read, and I really hope that there is going to be a sequel in the future as well.

Overall; The Ex Hex was an all-around fun read! Read it in the fall, or read it whenever, but I definitely hope that you enjoy it if you do read it!

This novel is good for a reader who enjoys romance and fantasy. Reading this book reminded me of the television show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. It is about a witch who lives with her aunt and cousin in a small town where both humans and wizards and witches live together, but the humans do not know that. You learn in the beginning of the book, Rhys, left Vivi, nine years ago because he was betrothed to another. She was upset so Vivi and her cousin "curse" Rhys. Years later, Rhys's father forces him to go back to Graves Glen to reset the ley lines of the town. Rhys and Vivi run into each other and weird things start happening in the town...and it's because of the curse that Vivi set of Rhys. Now, the two must work together to lift the curse and to acknowledge their previous relationship.

I thought this was a fun and easy summer read. I would read more by the author.

this was soooo good! For as much as they were opposites, Rhys and Vivi were meant to be together. This had a great blend of lightness and drama.

Such a fun and delightful read! I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the second book whenever that might be.

I enjoyed this book. The witchy take on a romance comedy was cute. I would like reading this author and would read more in the future.

A fun supernatural romance that surprised me at times with its plot twists. Enjoyed that it was set in the southern United States but had a European connection!

I started this and was enjoying it, and then I had to put it down and just … never picked it back up. This is a me problem, not a book problem.

Well if this wasn’t a delightful, magical read if ever there was one. The characters were adorable and fun. The setting so atmospheric. I’ll most definitely be picking this up again around Halloween for a fun reread. Cute and hot, you can’t help but fall a little in love with them.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The book is hot and filled with hysterical humor. I want to add this book to my home library.

Loved this book so much, I bought a copy for my shelf!!

Description
New York Times Bestseller

Erin Sterling casts a delightful spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

“A delightful and witty take on witchy mayhem.” — Popsugar

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.

As a person who enjoys witchy things, I did enjoy this book. The romance was great and I would definitely recommend this to others.

Saying "The Ex Hex" is lackluster is putting it mildly. I was anticipating a magical swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers second chance romance but Rhys and Vivienne’s relationship left much to be desired. Additionally—the magical system wasn't as flesh out as I hoped, numerous cringe-worthy Harry Potter references had me rolling my eyes, and the plot was just about non-existent.

Was this novel over-hyped? Absolutely. Would I read from this author again? Highly doubtful, but we shall see.

Wasn't my thing but fans of Jasmine Gullroy would love this. Mostly contemporary with a sprinkle of paranormal. If you would looking for something a bit more old school paranormal romance I would check out molly Harper.

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.