Everything about this book was perfection! (Or should I say purrrfection? 🐈‍⬛🤭) I absolutely love the dynamic and tension and relationship between Gwyn and Wells. Their rivals to lovers story was everything I wanted and more! The spice was just right and the external conflict kept me intrigued the whole time. I also loved the little peak into the married relationship of Vivi and Rhys from the first book! The perfect addition to anyones fall tbr!!

Y’ALL, I devoured this book in a day. It was so good! Even better than the first one! Grumpy sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, small town charm, witchy vibes, and of course Sir Purrcival, the talking (sometimes sweary) cat 😻. I’m obsessed 🖤.
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Gwyn has disliked the surly Wells Penhallow since she first met him in magic school. The jerk couldn’t even be bothered to attend his own brother’s marriage to her cousin Vivi. And now, he has opened up a rival witchcraft shop across the street from her own shop. Gwyn is livid with this stuffy, serious, downright gorgeous man. When she goes to confront him and the two end up kissing, they are convinced a love spell is to blame. When Gwyn’s witchy powers begin to fade, the two team up to find a way to restore her powers and figure out who’s behind the curse.
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The witty banter and steam in this book is everything 😍. Gwyn is quirky and snarky, with brightly colored streaks in her hair that match her bold personality. Wells is uptight and old fashioned, but he’s also loyal and has a heart of gold. These two opposites attract in a big way and the chemistry is 🔥🔥.
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I listened to and read this book. I was completely swept away by the sharp writing and amazing narration. Thank you to @avonbooks , @netgalley , and @librofm for these digital ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
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The Kiss Curse - Erin Sterling
4.5/5⭐️

I think I liked this book more than the first book. The story line was more entertaining with a nice twist at the end. Gwen and Wells have a nice banter with each other and I like that things weren’t over explained or unnecessarily complicated like I feel some light romancing try to get. If you liked the first book I recommend this one! It could be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the first book first to avoid some spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

Thank you to netgalley, libro.fm, and Avon for providing me with this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! An excellent sequel to The Ex Hex. These books are so cute and witchy and really get you in the mood for going on fall dates!

Interconnected standalone.

I should have read it as a series. I was 10% in and regretted not reading the first book, not for the plot, but the characters. The characters were well written, funny, it was they were shown in another book and will be back for more.

I loved it. Gwyn and Wells gave that perfect enemies-to-lovers mixed with witchy goodness that was perfect for the start of spooky season! Throw in the humor, the teaming together to solve a mystery while being rivals with a past and it was definitely the book to beat this season!

And honestly, I think I'll enjoy it more once I read The Ex Hex.

after completely disliking THE EX HEX, I was a little nervous going into this one…

gwyn was by far my favorite character of the predecessor, so I had faith that it was going to be better than vivi’s story. and while it was better, it wasn’t enough to make me enjoy it 🥴

everything I disliked about THE EX HEX was still very much present (lol). the cheesy and even sometimes cringey dialogue, the emphasis on the male species being so hot and irresistible, and I could go on and on 😴

gwyn and wells’s connection was something that irked me as well. I felt that their relationship was purely physical and basically held no emotional value. other than the fact, of course, that he teased her in their youth because he liked her 🙄

CAN WE PLEASE RETIRE THIS TROPE

anyway, I loved gwyn as a character, and her personality jumped out on the page!! she’s quirky and fun but sticks to her values which is so wonderful 🫶🏼

honestly, I think she and wells weren’t the best for each other which let me down too 😩

thank you to netgalley and avon books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! 🔮 happy pub day!!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: argentina malbec

Funny and sexy and witchy, perfect for a fall reading sesh. This book is about Gwyn and Wells so who cares about the plot? Can't wait for Bowen the Werewolf's story. (Come on. He has to be a werewolf. PLEASE?)

THE KISS CURSE is a sweet, saucy follow-up to THE EX HEX filled with many of the same delightful components that made the first book so much fun. Our witch has returned, with her tendency towards putting her wrong foot forward in a pas de deux with the handsome guy she can almost-hate the most, fills the pages. Here comes a romance filled with spells of the very best kind. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
Rating: 5/5 stars
Steam: 2/5 chilis
Pub date: 9/20

Well this was just delightful! The Ex Hex was one of my favorite fall reads last year and this was just as good! I love heartwarming, small town, witchy books with all the Halloweeny vibes and this was exactly what I needed to get me in the mood for spooky season.

The Kiss Curse follows Gwyn, the snarky, quirky, fun loving cousin to Viv and Wells, Rhy’s older, broodier, brother. Wells heads to Graves Glen to keep an eye on Viv’s family for his father, and sets up a shop right across the street from Gwen’s store, Something Wicked. The competition gets fierce until they team up to figure out what is going wrong with Gwen’s magic.

Excuse me Wells Penhallow Esquire but where do you get off being so damn HOT?! Can we talk about the face-sitting-truck-bed scene please….holy moly that was unexpected and might be giving your girl some ideas over here thank-you-very-much.

And Gwen! I think I want to be her when I grow up. She’s tough and talented and absolutely hilarious. I love her as the reluctant mentor to the baby witches and the found family element to the story.

I think I might like these two even more than Viv and Rhys! They have incredible chemistry and the banter is top notch! I found myself laughing out loud, especially when Rhys and Wells were together.

There are definitely a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming and the story kept me on my toes all the way to the end. I love the return of Sir Purrcival as his talking-cat self and the addition of a few new characters as well.

Read this if you like rom coms with witchy vibes, cozy small towns decked out for Halloween, smokin’ hot chemistry, hilarious banter and just an all around good time. Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

My review is posted to Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon and Instagram today, 9/20.

This book was SO much fun and I actually think that people may enjoy it a little bit more than the first book. Perfect for spooky season. Perfect cor cozy season.

Thank you so much to Avon and Negalley for providing an e-arc of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

A swoony and magical romcom perfect for the fall season!!

I really liked like The Ex Hex. But that book walked so this one could fly. I adored this. The characters, the setting, the humor, all of it clicked for another knockout witchy romcom.

This follows Gwen who is running a magical store in their tiny Georgia town where tourists flock during autumn. But when her arch-nemesis opens a similar magic store across the street, they immediately butt heads. But also kind of want to kiss each other.

So when some old classmates return to town and Gwen's magic starts to disappear, the two are forced to work together to figure out what's going on.

Not only are the main characters fantastic, but the side characters are some of my new all time favorites. Sir Purrcival must be protected at all costs. And the baby witches were one of the most adorable and heartwarming side plots ever created.

I loved the slight mystery element. The tension between the MCs was palpable. And the humor made me laugh out loud multiple times.

Overall I just really loved this romance. It had everything I was looking for in a cozy (but steamy) witchy romance and I can't wait to read the next book!

I didn't feel as connected to this one as The Ex Hex, but I still enjoyed the light, funny, spookiness of it. The chemistry between Gwyn and Wells is solid (there's a hilarious scene of a "love potion" gone awry) and, while there's a little bit of drama and turmoil, it's resolved quickly and in keeping with the characters and storyline.

Two aspects I'd like to see in future books: 1) the baby witches; they add levity and resolve plot points effectively; 2) the town of Graves Glen is cozy yet ominous, and I look forward to visiting it again.

I think I liked this book better than the first. Gwen is a much more fun character than Vivi in the first book. The Baby Witches is such a cute addition to the story and I love the descriptions of the Witch Pun shirts Gwen is wearing. Even the cat's character had developed. Also happy publishing day to Erin Sterling!

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday and I love watching witchy movies and tv shows, so I was excited to start this spooky season with a witchy romance novel..

I enjoyed this spooky and steamy fast paced romance. Wells and Gwynn had great banter and chemistry, I wish that the curse had been developed a little more but found the moments with Sir Purrcival to be top notch!

I did a mix of audio and reading for this one and while I enjoyed the narrator, I do wish there would have been a narrator just for Wells!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books, and Harper Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I will say, if you do not like the Ex Hex, you will not like this one! However, if you loved it, you are definitely going to love this one! I will say, you aren't going to get this masterpiece of a book, but it is 100% perfect for October/fall vibes, and gives all of the same nonsense that Sabrina the Teenage Witch gives mixed with the cute down and characters of Halloween town! Definitely recommend for your spooky fall time TBR!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

The Kiss Curse is the follow-up to The Ex Hex, which was a great Halloween romance. This one follows Gwyn as she reluctantly finds love with her nemesis, Wells Penhallow. We are back in the beloved Graves Glen, the perfect spooky version of Stars Hallow, and this time, there’s a mysterious new coven in town causing trouble.

I loved this one even more than The Ex Hex. The enemies to lovers/professional rivals angle is my favorite and Gwyn and Wells have a ton of chemistry. I loved the banter. I loved the “Let’s blame magic every time we accidentally kiss.”. I loved the teen witches. I loved the sprinkle of suspense. Perfection.

Overall, this is a great addition to your Halloween tbr. Especially those who just want a bit of spookiness and witchiness. I can’t wait for the next one.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️ 4.5
🌶️ PG-13

☑️ Contemporary Romance
☑️ Paranormal Romantic Comedy
☑️ Small Town Romance
☑️ Enemies to Lovers
☑️ Grumpy/Grumpy
☑️ Dual POV

Okay I loved book one and I loved book 2. I thought this was book was fun, quirky and super steamy! You get even more of Sir Purrcival and Baby Witches!!

Gwyn and Wells chemistry was off the charts. Their immediate mutual attraction and also immediate attempt at denying those feelings was perfect. I really enjoyed their competitiveness, but also how they came together to solve the newest mystery in Graves Glen.

I definitely loved seeing a little bit more of Rhys and Vivi but I’m so darn excited for Bowen’s book!

If you are looking for a semi spooky read with modern Sabrina the Teenage Witch/Practical Magic vibes and enemies to lovers, this book is for you.

I love witchy books! This is the follow up to The Ex Hex. After the romance continues with a honeymoon. Her cousin and his brother are starting a business rivalry with their spell shops, though they are designed for humans not to actually give them magic. I loved their friendly then full on business competition then truce. They are from the two powerful families so it's always very passionate.

These two have the animosity down but also are turning into enemies to lovers feel. Love their chemistry and the fact they keep trying to deny it and blame it on magic 🤣 

The mystery in town was interesting and there a few factors causing the issues with the magic. I didn't see it coming or know who it was.

I need the "werewolf" brothers romance! 

Thank you avonbooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

3.5/5
2/5

“…because her heart is the only thing more impressive than magic.."

Gwyn Jones is perfectly content with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom and her cousin are running a successful witchcraft shop called Something Wicked, and Gwyn is mentoring a trio of younger witches in town.

As Halloween approaches, there is one small problem,…

Liewellyn, better known as Wells - Penhallow has come to Graves Glen to reestablish his family’s connection to the town they founded - and also try his hand by opening a shop of his own…across the street from Something Wicked.

Wells quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for by going up against Gywn,

When their professional competition leads to a VERY steamy kiss…both Wells and Gywn are convinced the kiss was a magical fluke.

But when an old friend comes into town, and Gywn’s powers are slowly fading…she and wells must work together to figure out how to restore her magic before it’s too late.

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Well ya’ll: this book kicked off my spooky season rom com reads!

It was most definitely a cute, seasonal read with some semi spicy scenes (I could have used some more though!)

I enjoyed the banter between Wells and Gwyn and thought she was such a cute and positive mc!

I absolutely LOVED the small town setting - it gave me major HalloweenTown vibes!

Wells (at first) was kind of a jerk, but then he (along with this Welch accent!) grew on me

Towards the end, things got a tad too far fetched, but then again, I had to remind myself to suspend my beliefs given this was a spooky season read and it wasn’t going to be realistic.

SIMONE SAYS READ THIS IF YOU LIKE

enemies to lovers
small town romances
talking cats
witchy vibes

thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

The Kiss Curse is a fun, quick, witchy read that absolutely knows what it is trying to be! We have so many corny references throughout and a quirky cast of witches that bring the banter in droves!

I was hopeful this return to Graves Glen (which is forever delightfully giving me Stars Hollow vibes) would be more enjoyable than the first installment in this series and it definitely was! I found The Ex Hex too boring and convoluted from what I can remember, but The Kiss Curse had much better pacing and chemistry.

Without giving too many spoilers, I will say the ending was way too easily resolved and I didn’t fully love how the mystery played out. But is that what we’re going into a witchy contemporary romance for? Not really 😂

I’d definitely recommend this book as a light (and somewhat steamy) book to launch you into spooky season!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨