3.5 stars. A witchy take on Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I liked the flashback scenes to when Savvy and Griffin first met but there were some present day moments that felt a little long. Overall it’s a fun and light read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

It is like Mr & Mrs Smith. Two significant others that do not know the whole truth about each other. I really enjoyed the story. The end seemed too neat and rushed. I would love more adventures with these characters.

I can’t say I really enjoyed this book. It had Mr. And Mrs. Smith vibes to this book and I honestly didn’t enjoy that.

I just finished Mr and Mrs Witch by Gwenda Bond and here are my thoughts

The day has arrived. The day that Savannah, a powerful witch, is set to marry a mortal. He has no idea who she really is and evidently, she has no idea he is part of a team of witch hunters. As Savvy walks down the aisle, it becomes clear that they are both on different sides of an ancient fight and they call off their wedding. Trouble is, now the leaders of both their factions have given them assignments… The assignment is only one of them is allowed to live….


Whoo hoo this book was so much fun! I love a great witchy romance book and this one was so cute! Had a real Mr and Mrs Smith vibe to it which made the story so much cooler.

I really enjoyed the character development on this one. Savvy, beautiful and powerful witch falls in love with a dorky academic professor. The only thing I did find weird was that these two were both supposedly so good at their respective positions within their organizations yet had no clue about each other? I know love is blind but come on!! If there had been hints in there that they were both ignoring…. Sure. I could have gotten on board with that but them being clueless? No, that doesn’t stand with how these characters were laid out for us. Felt a little unrealistic to me but it didn’t impact my enjoyment so I let it go haha.

Loved the whole plot though. The ending was really clever and I love how things worked out in the end. I would have liked more information on the magic and more background but honestly, it was so well written that some of the more obvious problems with missing context could be overlooked.

The timeline was a little weird to me as well and made the book not flow as well as I usually would have liked but it was as interesting way of giving us the information we needed because I did feel that there was information I was missing and the going back to the start of how they met definitely filled in the blanks!

Well worth the read if you love a witch romance read! 4 stars!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my review copy and my opinions are my own!

Think Mr. and Mrs. Smith but with some wedding day surprises - Savvy and Griffin's real lives being exposed puts more than a marriage at risk. With two secretive organizations at battle for centuries, this is a fun adventure with a dual timeline and perspectives across them, creatures and friends.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it didn’t disappoint! I fell in love with Gwenda’s books when I read Not Your Average Hot Guy last year.

Gwenda’s writing in this one is GORGEOUS. I really enjoyed the story concept of one being a witch and one being a hunter (both enemies) BUT NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT.

The drama was chef’s kiss. I loved for the drama. I was gasping and everything. I loved the familiars too. I did wish that the hatred lasted a littttttle bit longer, but I’m a masochist.

The shifting timelines I wasn’t expecting, but it was really nice to see Savvy and Griffin fall in love. The ending was a little bit rushed to me, but the overall ending was satisfying.

Overall, this was a really fun story with an interesting premise. I can’t wait to read more Gwenda! I fully recommend this!

1.5 rounded up to 2

The premise of this novel excited me from the moment I heard about it on the bird app—I was psyched when I got an ARC of it! I absolutely loved the beginning and the big fight at the wedding (so magickal! so tense! ahhh!) and the dad joke acronyms, as well as how we jump back and forth between past and present, one of my favourite plot devices.

Despite drawing me right in, the novel began to lose me pretty soon after. The magick system isn't ever really explained and we don't see it in action nearly as much as I would've like, instead we find out magick did x thing. The characters lack depth, losing out to the action in the plot, and I found myself disbelieving their connection while also not knowing much about them other than her being a statuesque badass and him being a sexy, buff nerd.

I appreciated that one MC is canonically bi, but their relationship—as well as every relationship in the book—read as aggressively straight (e.g. hahaha silly men miss everything but women are so perceptive). This is perhaps a result of the source material its based on, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. and is particularly present during hte spicy scenes. Becuase of how the movie had been marketed, I expected this to bring the spice. Instead, we get three short scenes. One is fade to black and the other two are not only boring but also fail to center her pleasure. Its just the (unbelievable to me) chemistry that I never felt and a lot of...poking.

I did enjoy the magick peen jokes though! And there a few other moments that made me giggle and a minor twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

Then there's the completely lackluster and disappointing final battle...or rather meeting. I literally thought I missed pages because nothing happened... [insert joke about it being as anti-climactic as the sex scenes]. We don't even get IMO a valid grovelling of the person who betrays our MCs.

At its core, and like the movie this book is based on, this is an action novel with magickal elements that happens to be about a couple. I think it tried to do too many things and, unfortunately, none really landed.

Oh, and, justice for #MelissaTheGorgon. She was my fave and so woefully underused.

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up to 4

I had trouble getting into this one, though the premise sounded right up my alley. Clever outwitting a la the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, adding magic? Sign me up!

And there isn't anything wrong with Glenda Bond's writing. After thought, I'd blame the editor here, because the story really ought to have started with their meeting, instead of with the wedding, which went far too fast before we knew any of the players. Then the story jolts to a stop every chapter or so for a long flashback. And we get way, way more hotcha than clever outwitting or at least for me.

I think I would have fallen right in if the story had been linear. But other readers might totally disagree. All the other elements are lots of fun. And I'll definitely read more by this author.

This book had such a fun premise and I need more people to be talking about how good it was.

The book starts on Savvy and Griffin’s wedding day. They are at the altar when it is revealed they are each under cover agents for opposing organizations.

The book is told in dual time lines so we get to see how Savvy and Griffin met before the book starts.

I loved everything about this book. It was hilarious and quirky and sweet and sexy. I’m obsessed with their friends and I absolutely need Brie and Diego to have an enemies to lovers book like yesterday.

Mr. and Mrs. Witch releases tomorrow and it absolutely needs to be on your TBR.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith with witchcraft. Great story. Savannah is a witch who’s marrying a human. On the wedding day they find out they have been keeping secrets that upend their entire relationship. Chaos ensues and they have to work together to put everything to rights. Will their love survive this turmoil?

Can I get a familiar, pleeease?! I like to think my dog already is one but it would be great if he could really communicate with me. This was a cute, quick story. I was in the middle of reading this one and my husband put on Mr. and Mrs. Smith without realizing what I was reading - I love a good coincidence. I loved the side characters especially Savvy's friends. The ending was a bit lackluster with all the buildup but it was cute nonetheless.

I really did enjoy this book, but there was something about it that took me awhile to get through.
I have read quite a few witchy romances in the past few months and one of the things I loved about this one was it felt unique.
Savvy and Griffin had some miscommunication and although I usually am not a fan of that trope, it felt as though it made sense that they were refusing to communicate because of what their characters had experienced in terms of perceived betrayal.

I wish there was more focus on the bond between the coven, and the storyline with Melissa confused me towards the end. I didn't understand her powers and how they were manifesting. I'm not sure if this was purposeful or if I missed something!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While this book was slower to start than what I usually prefer it contained a very sweet and unexpected love story. Two unlikely lovers who find out they are mortal enemies and their fight to survive.

This is a lightweight fantasy romance, heavy on the romance with light fantasy aspects and small amounts of tension. Mr. & Mrs. Witch makes for a good palate cleanser as it is similar to a cozy fantasy. There is some tension and action so it’s not as light as most cozy fantasies but it is still a very low stakes read.

The characters were enjoyable and quirky and the story line though not heavy was still interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the book.

March 6, 2023
I received this book from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.


I really wanted to love this book. It sounded like something I would enjoy very much.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked the characters and the familiars where really enjoyable. It was just that this book is written over the span of two days. We have the before, about how savvy and griffin met. I really liked those stories. Then there is now. They fight a whole bunch of people and they end two organizations in two days. It just didn’t feel believable. The romance was also really weird in the now parts. I really expected it to be like mr and mrs smith but I did not get those vibes.

Also, having sex in a car after (kinda during) a fight and you are still in your wedding dress even though you have been home? Yeah, no. Not really believable.

A retelling of Mr. & Mrs. Smith with a witchy twist!

This was such a fun, witchy rom-com read!

Savvy and Griffin are in love, but on their wedding day they discover that they’ve both been harboring some big secrets in their relationship. Savvy is a witch and Griffin is a witch hunter. They soon find themselves working through some seriously perilous escapades as they simultaneously navigate their emotions in a laugh out loud story full of fun and witty moments.

I thought Savvy and Griffin were perfectly matched and I loved the past/present switches that gave great background to their love story. The magic system was fun and unique as well as the familiars. I really loved the inclusion of Savvy rescuing and helping to rehab familiars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I was kind of iffy on this book for the first little bit but it definitely grew on me as I kept reading! I really enjoyed the dual povs and timelines.

Paris thinking all the humans were dumb was hilarious, I especially enjoyed her pov chapter. I love that any miscommunication was kept to a minimum, everyone was able to talk things out which was refreshing.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve intended to read several of Gwenda Bond’s novels for a long time now - and after reading Mr. and Mrs. Witch, I can’t believe that I ever put it off! She’s an incredible author … no wonder she’s a NYT bestseller!! This book is just awesome!

I’m not a big paranormal or witch reader normally (I tend to stick more to contemporary), but I’m really trying to get more into the subtrope. This is definitely the best witch romance I’ve ever picked up, and I’ve read a lot more of them in the last few years, thinking each was better than the last. Any future ones are going to have a lot to live up to, now! I also don’t generally like the plot device of telling a story by using flashbacks… but she really did it well (it was very necessary with this storyline).

I liked the nod to the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie movie (Mr & Mrs Smith).

I totally enjoyed Savvy and Griffith’s wedding day disaster and the year leading up to it, with the background of the paranormal groups they each belong to, which keep the secrets of witches and other supernatural creatures from the real world. Very, very well done! I definitely recommend this book to everyone! For anyone looking to increase their paranormal reads like me, this is a perfect one to pick up!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and this is my honest feedback.

Savvy is a powerful witch. Griffin is a genius witch hunter. They don't know about each others' secret lives. OH, they're also engaged. And their wedding day explodes into chaos and they now both have bounties on their heads. No big deal!

You Deserve Each Other plus witchy vibes! A badass witch and sexy, shy professor was a pairing I never knew I needed. I was really unexpectedly drawn into this book immediately. You are dropped into Griffin and Savvy's wedding day and things quickly get out of hand. From there you are on a non-stop adventure, going from flashbacks of the origins of Savvy and Griffin's relationship to the present timeline where they have to work together to stay alive and possibly save their relationship....

Other fun details of this book were the side characters and the magic universe that the author created. You also get a chapter from the point of view of Savvy's familiar, a leopard/cat named Paris, which is SO fun and creative.

One thing I hoped for was some more romantic moments. Because the present timeline moved so quickly there wasn't much time for space or romance and that left me wanting more.

Mr and Mrs Witch is full of charm and delightful characters, but reads more action than romance (lightly steamy).

The flow of the story left me feeling disjointed — moving from present to past at variously decreasing intervals — and it ultimately seemed to stymie the depth and development of the characters and the story. The emotional connection between the characters just didn't have the time to develop for me to connect to. And the lackluster "final bosses battle" fizzled.

A fun magical twist on Mr and Mrs Smith whose spellcasting could use a little tweaking. For as charming as it was, it did not leave be bewitched.

3 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining but could have been a lot better

Savvy (Savannah) Wilde is a powerful witch working with the CRONE organization. Griffin is a top agent at the HUNTER organization that obviously works against CRONE. Since their identities are supposed to be secret, Savvy and Hunter end up in love.
Their wedding day ends up as a disaster when the truth comes out. But things have just gotten worse. Savvy and Griffin soon have a bounty on their heads, and maybe working together is the only way to stay alive.
The story comes from the MCs' limited third-person POVs. The narration moves back and forth between the present and the past.
If you haven’t guessed already, this is a witchy retelling of the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

What I Like:
It’s a light read, and I mean really light; the kind of book you read with the grey cells turned off and go with the flow.
The writing is easy to read and has a decent pace. It is also easy to speed-read the book.
There are enough laughs and some roll-your-eyes kind of jokes that may or may not be funny. This depends on what the reader enjoys.
The premise is rather good as it tries a different take on the centuries-old war between witches and hunters. Having different animals and birds as familiars is a cool touch.

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
Well, I know rom-coms are supposed to be lighthearted and fun, but this one is a little too easy.
Insta-lust turned love isn’t explored. The world-building is sketchy. The climax is simple. The ending feels effortless (not in a good way).
The conflict is presented but never worked out in detail. The bits and pieces of the past (not MCs' past but the fights and deaths) mentioned aren’t talked about. Generational trauma, baggage, and hatred are solved with such ease, I wish for the same in real life.
World-building is a crucial part of fantasy work. It is necessary even in rom-com. This one sets the base but doesn’t explore it.
The characters are uni-dimensional. Some of the supporting characters show hints of being more but are underutilized. Even the main characters are more about their physical appearances. Calling the guy nerdy a dozen times isn’t going to be enough if we can’t see how he qualifies to be one (and no, a professor with fake glasses doesn’t automatically become a nerd).
I don’t mind steam in books. In fact, I do like reading well-written steamy scenes. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of character development. A good rom-com should do justice to both elements.
The villains are boring. Yeah, yeah, rom-com and all. But come on, at least give me villains I can despise. Give them some attitude, if nothing else.

To summarize, Mr. & Mrs. Witch is a decent entertainer that could have been a great book with a little more of everything (except steam). But it ends up as a time pass book. Read, review, and forget.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.