I did not realize Erin Sterling was author Rachel Hawkins when I picked up this book to read. Not that it would have made a difference. It just means I read a book by her before (The Wife Upstairs), which I really liked by the way.

The Ex Hex was such a fun book to read. I loved every minute of it. It’s the story of witch named Vivienne, who, when she was young and broken hearted cursed her love—not really believing it actually took. Alas, nine years later, she is about to find out how wrong she was. When Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors returns to Graves Glen, Georgia years after having his heart broken by Vivi, he hopes to be in and out. The last thing he wants to do is linger. All he has to do is re-charge the ley lines and then he can leave. Things never work out as planned in a novel like this, and all sorts of things start to go wrong. Wind-up toys are on the attack and other “accident” seem to keep happening when Rhys is around. It is up to Vivi and Rhys to figure out how to break this curse that is very real.

I thought the misunderstanding that lead to the breakup between a young Vivi and Rhys was rather silly, but age and immaturity does count for something, I guess. Despite that minor quibble, I thoroughly enjoyed The Ex Hex. It was such a rollercoaster of a reading experience. Just the right of magic, action and chemistry between the two main characters. Oh, and how I loved that ending! Major points for Rhys! I hope this will not be the last I see of Graves Glen.

This book was fast and light and mostly just fine. I wish that the small JK Rowling/Harry Potter references had been left out, if only because they disconnected me from this book. They were small, but they feel uninviting at this point in time.

I could have sworn I had already reviewed this! Ah well, I'm happy to resubmit. An interesting and adorable take on second chances for first love and accidental disasters of epic proportions. I might have to embroider a cushion with the rule on keeping magic and alcohol separate.

This book was fun! It was a cute take on the rom-com with a witchy twist. I enjoyed the "don't hex while drinking" spin and Vivienne and Rhys were perfect for each other.

I was going to give this book a generous 3 stars until I finished it, and the ending felt abrupt and unfinished. Out of all the recent romance novels I’ve read, this was one of the better ones. While still somewhat annoying, the main couple wasn’t COMPLETELY terrible to read about. And I definitely understand why Vivian was so upset in the first place when she cursed him (normally it’s a giant miscommunication and should have been easily resolved). However, I wish the book had done a little more background on the supposed betrothed fiancé and given us just a bit more. Overall, not horrible but not amazing.

I loved the Ex Hex! It was cute, funny and spicy with the perfect magical touch! I'd love to read more books like this and I am excited to read book two when it is released!

This book is absolutely adorable. I had so much fun reading this, the characters were charming! I think there was an unrealistically low amount of interpersonal drama, but interpersonal drama is the worst part of a romance novel so I’m not complaining! I would happily read a book about every member of both Rhys and Vivi’s families.

I loved the premise of the book but I hated and I mean HATED the language in this book. You literally couldn't go a paragraph without cussing that was really just unnecessary. If you can't make your word count without using 1/2 the book as profanity, then you shouldn't be a writer. If I could give no stars - I would.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling was a fun, witchy, romantic read. The story is about Rhys and Vivi who had an brief romance once upon a time, and are now reunited and given a second chance at romance. The supernatural elements made for a run read. I liked the lighthearted tone of the book overall. What I loved THE MOST was the super fun setting of Graves Glen which sounds like it would be an amazing place to visit! I liked the characters and the humorous banter, but I felt that the chemistry between Rhys and Vivi was lacking a bit for me. All of the elements were there (including some steam!), but I didn't really pick up the strong connection or shared history between the characters that I was hoping for in a second chance romance. Overall, this one was a quick, fun read that would be an enjoyable romance for spooky season.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this title. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are honest and my own.

I like Erin Sterling/ Rachel Hawkins and I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and romantic and a really fun way to spend the afternoon.

Rated: PG-13/R
Sub-genre: Paranormal/Comedy
5 out of 5 Stars
Tags: Witches; Georgia; Curses; Wales
Trope: Second Chance
Pro: Many twists and turns
Con: Dragged a bit in the beginning
Verdict: Should be made into a movie!

A cozy witchy novel that got me into the late October mood. The story plot was okay, but the characters were exceptional! I found that there was great character development of Vivienne and Rhys. Literally loved them!

I had high hopes for this book and it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed how it came to a full circle and they were able to accept who they were and stand up to what they truly wanted in life. I feel like she needed to learn to accept herself throughout the story and kept hiding behind her "normal" life, like she was ashamed of being a witch. Many of us go through this identity crisis in life, and I think this is exactly what was happening. Once she learned to accept who she was, she was able to overcome her fears and save her home town.

I had to read this one as soon as I saw that it was about an ex. I love the "enemies to lovers" trope and I love that it was also a second chance romance.

This was a cute, fun read. I want to move to Graves Glen asap! I loved the Halloween town feel. Overall, a few things just felt like they were missing for me and a tad too cheesy sometimes. But overall, it was a good book!

The Ex Hex was a really fun book to read during spooky season but I kept wishing for a little bit more, especially in regards to the magic and the setting. A light and entertaining read that could have been pushed into more!

❄️✨Happy Winter Solstice✨❄️
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My thoughts:
🌙This book was like “Hocus Pocus”, “Practical Magic”, “Bewitched”, and “Halloweentown” combined with it’s own magic.
🌙I flew through this book. I predicted a lot of the twists, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing (I tend to annoy even myself by trying to guess endings lol).
🌙This reminded me of a book I would’ve loved as a kid, but just with more mature content which my adult self appreciated!
🌙Sometimes the writing or how the characters spoke felt a little bit forced, but that’s just a matter of opinion so I don’t think it should prevent anyone from reading because you might not feel the same!
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Overall:
I read this book in the car and I was entertained! It played in my head similarly to a fun Halloween movie. As I said earlier this book takes a familiar formula and adds a little bit of spice! I recommend if you are looking for a fun, feel good read that has romance and all the witchy vibes!

As someone who loves Halloween I thought it was a fun read just before Christmas!🎃🎄✨Queues nightmare before Christmas Music✨

Ok, so this was a super silly premise, but also I loved it. Rhys and Vivienne were the perfect enemies-to-lovers duo with some crazy town-wide hijinks to contend with. Looking forward to more!

A delightful paranormal romance that balances a sweet and steamy romance with small-town magical shenanigans.

Vivienne Jones is nineteen years old when she meets Rhys Penhallow one magical summer in her small hometown of Graves Glen, Georgia. He's here to take summer classes at the university close by, and the two embark on a whirlwind romance that ends abruptly after he confides in her that he has to return home to Wales. The reason? To break off the betrothal his father Simon is looking to arrange between Rhys and another properly vetted witch. Aghast at the thought of sleeping with a "claimed" man, Vivienne very loudly and angrily dumps him. Rhys goes back across the pond and a drunk Vivienne, with the help of her sympathetic cousin Gwyn, decides to exorcise all thought of Rhys with a joke curse. But Graves Glen isn't the kind of place where curses, even joke ones, can be made lightly...

Nine years pass, and Vivienne is now a lecturer at the town's Penhaven College. While she, Gwyn and her aunt Elaine fully embrace their witchy heritage, Vivi is still a little reluctant to hang out with the witch populace at large, so stays almost exclusively on the unmagical side of academia. She loves her job, tho, and has a fulfilling life hanging out with her family and friends, even if a few drinks too many will have her looking up one particular ex on social media from time to time.

Since being dumped by Vivi, said ex has done his best to get out of the shadow of his domineering father by setting up a successful travel agency, using his magic to smooth over the many little pitfalls that too often cause tourist complaints. When Simon demands that Rhys return to Graves Glen in order to recharge the ley lines, Rhys is reluctant, mostly because he still can't get Vivi out of his head. But it's been almost a decade, and as a member of Graves Glen's founding family, it's his responsibility. And so, unaware of any curse, to Georgia he returns, hoping for the best.

Things go awry almost from the very beginning of his arrival within town limits, but it's his reunion with Vivi that leaves them both feeling entirely flustered. A series of near-death experiences soon make it clear that, despite Simon's protests that the Penhallow line is simply too strong to be cursed, Vivi actually did manage to hex Rhys all that time ago. Worse, the spell is, in turn, doing bad things to the magic in Graves Glen. The former lovers will have to try to set aside any differences in order to lift the curse and save Graves Glen from certain doom, even as the sparks between them continue to fly, threatening to rekindle the flame all over again.

This was a very cute romance that, while frank, was neither too explicit nor spicy. This tone actually fit in nicely with the mostly light paranormalcy of the book otherwise, which was urban fantasy by way of romantic comedy: while the stakes are high, at no point do you actually think anyone is going to die. There are some interesting twists and turns, and the plot clips along briskly, making for a fast, fluffy read full of heart and humor. It isn't the best thing I've ever read, but it is a superlative paranormal rom-com, and perfect for anyone needing a lighthearted, magical escapade.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling was published September 28 2021 by Avon and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9780063027473">Bookshop!</a>

I enjoyed the story but felt it was a little simplistic. I wanted more from it and thought it wrapped up a little too easily. While it was a fun and charming story, I wanted it to be more - more magical, more charming small town, more about the college - more.