I loved this book. The Ex Hex was one of my
favorite fluffy reads last year and this one followed right on its heels. Gwyn is such a fun lighthearted character and I enjoyed her inner dialogs and her personality. Wells….. well he’s defy my cup of tea so I was very pleased with getting to know him. Rhys and Vivi are so much fun and I loved seeing them back even if briefly and still head over heels for each other. This plot had me in over drive. I thought I knew what was happening, and then I didn’t. Then I thought I knew what was happening, and then I didn’t. Sir Perceval as always stole the show with his well placed “dickbag” insults he’s absolutely my
Favorite familiar in any which book ever. The only thing that would have made this a 5 star for me would have been a more stretched out explanation of what happened in the attic instead of it wrapping up so fast and neat. Even as is this was such a fast, fun read. Highly recommend to those that loved the first.

This charming, magical book was such a fun read from start to finish! The Kiss Curse is the follow up to The Ex Hex, but could easily be a standalone book. Gwyn Jones is one sassy witch who owns Something Wicked, a shop in the adorable town of Graves Glen. Wells Penhallow has recently moved to town and opened a similar business just across the street, and so begins our enemies to lovers story. Add in a witchy plot about Gwynn’s powers going haywire plus some autumn vibes and you’ve got the perfect rom com for the fall season!

Gwyn is a great character who is totally self assured and unafraid to go after what she wants. She has a hilarious talking cat and a trio of Baby Witches who are a super entertaining addition to the story. The banter and chemistry between Gwyn and Wells are perfection. The plot regarding her powers brought in some great secondary characters as well.

Wells is the second Penhallow brother featured in these books; could we be so lucky to get a third book about the third brother?

A big thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Collins for the ARC of this fun book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Sterling, Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read an advanced version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars/5 and 1 pepper/5

If this book doesn't get you in the mood for cider and some spooky movies, I don't know what will. For fans of Practical Magic, Halloweentown, Leap Year (okay, it's because I pictured Matthew Goode as Wells and I stand by that casting) and any Meg Ryan movie.

As a sequel to The Ex Hex, we follow Gwyn (Vivi's cousin) as she takes on more responsibility now that their family's magic runs through the town. Vivi and Rhys embark on their honeymoon while Gwyn's mom is out of town for the season, leaving Gwyn to take on the brunt of Graves Glen's peak tourism season - all the while dealing with Rhys's brother, Wells, who's come into town in search of his own HEA in the form of a competing shop across the street. The plot goes on to answer some questions such as - Was the love potion the reason for their attraction? What's happening to Gwyn's magic? Is Wells someone to worry about? and Why did daddy Penhallow part with his favorite son so easily?

This adorable and *hot* rom-com had me chuckling, audibly squealing and turning each page quickly as I read it in two nights. I loved the banter between Wells and Gwyn, and their kinda enemies to lovers plot. Sir Purrcival had me cackling, as I totally forgot about him from the first book. It also had great LGBTQ+ representation - with Gwyn being bi and one of the 'baby witches' being non-gender conforming. And the story stood on its own nicely as a sequel. Although it didn't end on a cliffhanger, I feel like there is going to be another book in the series since there is another brother who has yet to find love and the evil, witchy dad who still needs to face the repercussions of his actions. I hope so, anyway, as I don't want to say goodbye to these characters and the quaint, cozy town of Graves Glen just yet.

-enemies to lovers
-talking pet companion
-broody, sarcastic, and British love interest
-autumnal vibes
-LGBTQ+ representation

I'm sure at some point in her career Rachel/Erin will write a book that won't connect with me. But this isn't it!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ex Hex and was so excited to revisit the charming town of Graves Glen. Vivi and Rhys, the MCs of the first book, made an appearance at the beginning of the book but were absent for most of the rest of it, which really let the relationship between Gwyn and Wells shine. This book had atmosphere, enemies to lovers, witchy magic, twists and turns, and plenty of snappy dialogue and humor. I very much enjoyed reading about the relationship of disaster babies Gwyn and Wells, who try to blame magic for their inexplicable attraction. I also very much liked the baby witches subplot. And no review would be complete without mentioning Sir Purrcival, who stole the show.

If you enjoyed The Ex Hex, you'll find a lot to enjoy here. The perfect light, slightly spooky, funny book to ease into Fall and Spooky Season.

Going back to graves glen was the perfect way to kick off fall! Loved the dynamic between wells and Gwyn. I just wish there had been more drama with Morgan!

This was so fun and a great fall Halloween read. There’s a small town, Halloween festivals and dark curses to uncover. Gwyn is getting used to her cousin being all loved up and leaving her behind. She realized life is moving fast and is trying to find her place when wells blows into town. Her cousin’s husband’s brother immediately pushes her buttons but circumstances push them together and it was fun to see them battle it out. Their chemistry is great and I laughed plenty. I need one last brother to complete this seria and have more baby witches.

Such a cute follow-up to The Ex Hex. Witchy, cozy, and lighthearted romance. A quick read for the fall and Halloween season!

Prepare your self for cute magical halloween reads with The Kiss Curse!
Tropes: Rivals to lovers and a tiny sprinkle of fake dating.
Spice: 🌶 4/5 (Quality over quantity!)

The book takes place in the same world as The Ex Hex, and Erin Sterling did a terrific job with this second one. They are both stand alone, you don't need to read one to read the other. The main characters are related to the Ex Hex main characters.
I want to say I LOVED Gwen!!! She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to express it. In her professional life, opinions, attitude and towards wells. Direct to the point. No self doubting FMC or second guessing which again, I loved!!! that sass is through the roof. Wells is fun and charming under that thick layer of self righteousness. One of those persons that once you really get to know them is when they blossom, so that enchanting personality is not for everyone 😜.
Once again the setting is in the charming town of Graves Glen (picture Stars hollow meets Mystic Falls) everyone is involved in the town and everyone knows each other. The Jones witches are powering the town and all is good... right? Wells moves to Graves Glen and opens a very similar store to the Jones'. This is where the fun begins. He is finally free of the pub and his dad approves, which is a surprise on itself. Meanwhile another alumni from the university moves to town and several ex-alumni visit the town too. Gwen tutors 3 baby witches on her spare time and they are super fun and mischievous to have around. All of the sudden Gwens magic starts to twitch, but she disregards it. Its all fun and games until the rivalry with Wells escalate and they cant deny their chemistry. After this various situations start to connect for it to pass as coincidences and well that's where the magic of this book starts to really happen.
I always appreciate a rom com book that doesn't wait until the last 15% end for the characters to "get it" if this makes sense. I like that they click and go to an adventure or whatever it is together, and this book has this. Yes, the peak is towards the end, but before that there are other instances where you will just laugh and fall in love with them.
The book has very simple magic, its not a fantasy book, It just has the little sprinkle to it and you won't be questioning it or feel confused.
Again, this is the perfect feel good book to put you in a good mood and start with this years witchy feels of fall :)

Big thank you to Avon Books and Erin Sterling for the ARC!

Thank you to Avon for the e-ARC of The Kiss Curse & Libro.FM for the complimentary audiobook of The Kiss Curse!

I like my rom-com filled with witches, banter & a neat spooky town backdrop & that's exactly what The Ex Hex series provides. The Kiss Curse is a companion novel following Gwyn (a bisexual lead!) & Wells, another member of the Penhallow family. I wasn't too invested in to the romance of The Kiss Curse, romantic chemistry didn't hit, but it was still a fun adventure! A fun read for the spooky season!

& the audiobook is done very well! Love the narration of this one!

I loved loved loved last years The Ex Hex and I was so excited that I got to read an early copy of The Kiss Curse. It was so good. All the charm and coziness that I loved in the first book was present in this book! I really enjoyed the story and I loved the characters!

I read The Ex Hex last month in preparation for this ARC. I’d had it for a while I really enjoyed it. However, I think I liked The Kiss Curse even better.

The Kiss Curse is the sequel to The Ex Hex and follows Wells Penhallow as he leaves his home in Wales and moves to Graves Glen. He opens a shop across the street from Something Wicked, much to the dismay of Gwyn Jones who has despised him since an incident in college. When something strange starts happening in the town, these two will have to work together, despite their dislike for each other until it becomes something more.

There is a lot in this book to love. Gwyn is a fiery redhead full of quick wit and snarky comments. I absolutely adore her. Wells is dapper with his waistcoats and sweaters, but boy does he know how to dirty talk. They had such wonderful chemistry from the start and their animosity toward each other only helped bring them together in the end.

This book may focus around Gwyn and Wells, but Sir Purrvicial and the Baby Witches were amazing additions. I’ve loved the idea of a talking cat since Salem on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but this cat is a star in the books.

The book was full of humorous moments, amazing tension (I mean the whole scene in the truck was just…🥵), and some mystery as the events unfold throughout. There is one brother left and it was open ended enough that I full expect a book 3.

2.5/5. I was hoping to enjoy this more than The Ex Hex, and while I may have, I just don't think these books are for me after all. The romance in this was fine, but it didn't have me very invested either. The plot didn't even really start until almost 90% in and by then it just felt rushed. I wasn't expecting a complex magic system or anything, but I think the story would have benefitted from the plot being spread out more throughout the book. I do believe fans of The Ex Hex will enjoy this, but it just missed the mark for me.

The Kiss Curse is an adorable follow-up to The Ex Hex. This story has all of the witchy fun of the first book with the supporting characters in the driver's seat. Gwyn Jones is determined to make her store a raging success when a neighboring store opens up across the street selling more authentic witchy artifacts. The owner is Wells Penhallow, brother of Rhys from the first book. The competition between these two characters leads to an undeniable spark. Is it a coincidence that keeps leading these two to kiss or is it fate? I loved the banter between Gwyn and Wells. What is better than the enemies to lovers trope? I say nothing. This book is definitely spicier than the first book with all of the same Hocus Pocus & Sabrina vibes. The only complaint I have is the ending felt a little rushed. Otherwise, best to cozy up with a pumpkin latte for this story. Thank you @netgalley for the early release. Keep your eyes peeled for this one on September 20th.

This was a sweet Halloween read. The writing was clever and the characters were cute, but I just couldn’t take this storyline seriously. It’s a cute romance for the season if that is the genre you enjoy 💕

Goodreads review:
The Kiss Curse was so cute and really got me in the mood for spooky season, I liked it even better than the Ex Hex! I do suggest reading The Ex Hex first because this book builds on the storyline and characters we get to meet in the first book, and focuses on Gwyn and Wells, Rhys's brother.

Synopsis: After the events in The Ex Hex, Vivi and Gwyn's family magic is now running through the town of Graves Glen and everything seems good and peaceful, with Gwyn running her witchy shop and mentoring a group of witch students from the college. Little do they know, trouble is brewing over in Wales. Wells, one of Rhys's brothers, is tired of running the family's lackluster pub and their father agrees that he can leaves Wales to return to Graves Glen, where he attended college, to reestablish the family's connection to the town. Upon his arrival, Wells instantly rubs Gwyn the wrong way. She remembers him from an incident back in college, and then he makes her even more mad when he sets up a competing shop across the street from hers.

The two are complete opposites - Gwyn is colorful and cheerful and Wells is a bit posh and uppity, and they are soon waging war on each other until they unexpectedly kiss in the heat of the moment. Though they are determined to write it off as the result of a love spell, when new witches show up and strange things start happening in the town while Vivi and Rhys are traveling, Gwyn and Wells must team up to investigate and figure out what exactly is going on in their town. Working together brings them closer and soon their attraction is harder to deny.

Review: I am a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine story and for anything fall/Halloween related, so this book was right up my alley! I loved the antics that Gwyn and Wells get into when they're competing and dislike each other. The storyline is fun and kept me invested, the magic and mystery were both great and made the book unique. There are GREAT supporting characters like the baby witches that Gwyn is mentoring, and the return of the talking cat Sir Purrcival who is absolutely hilarious!

The book has a few open door steamy scenes that were super well written and HOT! The dual perspective was great for getting all the feels from both Gwyn and Wells as they start to fall for each other, I love it when the guy falls first and he falls hard! They had such good chemistry and back and forth, there is great banter in this one.

Overall this is a fun, unique, romantic read that is perfect to get you ready for fall! The Kiss Curse will be out on September 20, 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC is exchange for my honest review.

Instagram post:
The Kiss Curse was so cute and got me in the mood for spooky season, I liked it even better than the book before it, The Ex Hex!

Book 📚: The Kiss Curse by @erinsterlingbooks
Genre 💖: Contemporary Romance
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: some steamy open door scenes!

Synopsis: After the events in The Ex Hex, things in Graves Glen seem peaceful for Vivi and Gwyn. But over in Wales, Rhys’s brother Wells is tired of running the family’s pub and their father agrees that he can go to Graves Glen to re-establish the family’s connection to the town.

Upon his arrival, he instantly rubs Gwyn the wrong way. She remembers him from an incident back in college, then he makes her even more mad when he sets up a competing shop across the street from hers.

The two are opposites and are soon waging war on each other, until they unexpectedly kiss in the heat of the moment. Though they are determined to write it off, when new witches show up and strange things start happening in the town while Vivi and Rhys are traveling, Gwyn and Wells must team up to investigate, making their attraction harder to ignore.

Review: I am a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine story and for anything fall/Halloween related, so this book was right up my alley! I loved the antics that Gwyn and Wells got into. The storyline was fun, the magic and mystery were both great. There are awesome supporting characters and the talking cat Sir Purrcival is of course a favorite!

The open door steamy scenes are hot and I think the dual perspective was great for getting all the feels.

This is the perfect romance for fall! Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC! This book is out on September 20!

A witchy taurus woman meets grumpy, brooding man, what more could you need?

I was so fortunate to receive an arc of this book (thanks netgalley) especially since I loved the ex hex. Erin definitely delivers again with this one.

This kiss curse was the perfect fall rom com with just the right amount of romance, plot, and sir purrcival. I really enjoyed this book and Gwyns character. I loved her in the ex hex and getting to know her even more in this book, I’m obsessed.

10/10 would recommend you pick up this book this October for spooky season🎃

Read if you like: Enemies to lovers, witchy vibes, bisexual MC, strong family bonds, grumpy sunshine, steamy 🔥

🧹🧙‍♀️ Time for Spooky Season! 🧙‍♀️🪄

This is the follow-up to The Ex Hex. It features Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow. Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven. She’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked. She's even started mentoring some of the younger witches in town.

As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem which is Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow coming into town and opening his own witchy shop right by hers. Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded.

When their professional competition leads to a very hot kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other. However, a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together.

Dare I say I enjoyed this one even more than The Ex Hex. This was funnier and more entertaining. I LOVE an enemies to lovers. This one was well done! The banter is so good. Wells is perfectly grumpy and hot. 🔥 This one is a little steamy unlike the first. My only issue is I was hoping that Gwyn would be with a woman since she is bi but I still loved it. Highly recommend you pick this one up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and Avon/Harper Voyager for the gifted ebook. ❤️

#thekisscurse

Oh my witchy loving heart. The Kiss Curse is the follow-up to The Ex Hex. It’s the perfect Halloweentown filled with magic, witches, a talking cat and love.

This time around we get Gwen and Wells love story. Gwen and Wells do NOT like each other. And when Wells moves back to Graves Glen and opens up a competing witchy store, Gwen is not happy. But their paths keep crossing.

Definitely recommend for lovers of romance and Halloween!

Gwyn pretty much runs her family’s shop on her own, especially now that her cousin, Vivi, married Rhys Penhallow. No one suspected they would end up together when he came to town to recharge the magical ley line, but here they are two years later. Gywn running the shop and mentoring a trio of young witches?! How things have changed.

Wells Penhallow, Rhys’ older brother, has been stuck in Wales running the family pub for years. He’s miserable and ready to get out and do his own thing. So when his father suggests he do that, Wells heads back to Graves Glen to open a shop of his own. He hasn’t been in the Glen since college but in his eyes, it looks like same cozy town he left.

Gwyn & Wells definitely don’t hit it off, especially since he doesn’t remember her and a particularly “explosive” incident that happened back in college. But when an accidental kiss happens and a mysterious coven of witches shows up in town, they’ll have to team up to figure out what is happening.

This enemies to lovers story is a fast-faced, perfect spooky season read. I loved this book even more than the first!

Oh, this was just a lot of fun! If you’re anything like me, sometimes you can sit down and just inhale a romance book. If I didn’t have a toddler, that would have been me with The Kiss Curse. Despite having a toddler, this book went very quickly.

The Kiss Curse brings us back to the delightful witchy town of Graves Glen, and to the absolutely hilarious Jones family. Well — really just Gwyn, and very tiny glimpses of Vivi, the heroine from the first book, The Ex Hex. Vivi and her new husband, Rhys, go away on a honeymoon, and leave Gwyn alone to run their shop. I did miss their presence on page, but as they already had their book, this was probably the best decision possible. This really gave Gwyn and Wells a chance to shine, and dang did their personalities just jump off the page.

Gwyn is a hilarious, very powerful witch, and I loved her so much. Wells is a little more stick-in-the-mud traditionalist when it comes to magic, but he very quickly loosens up. To be honest, Gwyn all but forces him to let go a little. Together, their chemistry was basically fire. They hate each other at the start of the book, but by the middle, they’re basically climbing each other. It’s fantastic. Not to mention the one real sex scene was incredibly steamy, so thumbs up to Erin Sterling, there.

The background plot of the book was interesting, but not as interesting as Gwyn and Wells together. Basically, something is causing Gwyn’s magic to go haywire, and no one is quite sure what it is. Basically, it’s similar to the plot of the first book without being an exact copy. I wish their had been a little more variation, but whatever. I wasn’t really here for that. I wanted more Gwyn and Wells.

Oh and — Sir Purrcival is definitely still on page, and he’s definitely still talking, so I was extremely happy.

Four and half stars for pure enjoyment’s sake.