Thank you so much to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I absolutely adored book 1 in this series, but unfortunately this sequel didn't quite live up.

I LOVE this world. Witch's and warlocks living secretly amongst humans while also playing a big role (unknowingly) in history is such a fun setup. I love the humor, the ridiculous pettiness of the witches, and the magic system itself.

But I knew going into this one that the heroine wasn't my favorite character. And sadly this book didn't do anything to redeem her to me...

This book follow Penny who is desperate to become a familiar and learn magic. So she jumps at a chance to work secretly as a familiar, even illegally to a warlock who is banned from having one.

But Penny is "quirky". And not in a way that feels natural. But in a way that feels like the author really wanted you to know just how quirky she is. And it often felt like too much.

On top of that, this entire series require a bit of suspension of disbelief. The whole thing is kind out there and silly. Which I LOVED in book 1, but felt like too much in this sequel at times.

And then finally - and this is honestly more of a personal thing that any knock against this book - but I didn't love the pregnancy plot line at all.

In order to rationalize why the main characters are spending so much time together they have to lie about dating. But no one believes them. So Penny comes up with a new solution - she's carrying his child.

Look. I know surprise pregnancy/baby is a common trope in romance. But it's not my fav. And lying about pregnancy for the sake of humor didn't sit right with me. Especially since in the end she ACTUALLY has an accidental pregnancy...

Overall this was.. fine. I never felt particularly invested in it or the romance. I'm still somewhat curious about future books in this series if there are any. As the world itself I quite like.

All of my favorite elements were in this book. We got the grump-sunshine trope, witches and warlocks, magic and mayhem, mystery and a good amount of romantic comedy to provide some levity. Our leading lady, Penny Roundtree, was featured in the previous book Go Hex Yourself and I am so glad she got her own book. Due to the lack of available witches and warlocks who can train Familiars, Penny is stuck in limbo. Being a Familiar is her life's mission and unfortunately, she's at a standstill. So of course, when she is offered a position as a Familiar, she jumps on it, despite the somewhat controversial warlock in question. Willem Sauer, said controversial warlock, is not happy with the arrangement with Penny, but is too impatient for his Familiar ban to end. Their partnership is working out great...until threats to Penny's life crop up. Who could it possibly be? Overall, the plot/story was solid, character development and backstory were fantastically done.

A grumpy, sexy talking 200+ year old, preppy Warlock will have your heart a flutter in this sequel.

The second in the Hex series, What the Hex is a saucy little read. This paranormal romance has a sunshiny witch facing down a crotchety warlock who is in need a familiar to help him secretly in his lab. Penny's smart mouth is hilarious as she agrees to break her ruling following ways. Together, they plan the perfect cover, a fake dating scheme so no one will suspect what they are doing at Willem's house.

A nip here, a spank there, these two they find themselves with real feelings. But first they must face down his enemies whose betrayal and lies threaten their happiness. This book was wildly entertaining and seductive.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the complimentary copy.

📖My Thoughts📖

I seriously think that witchy rom-coms with a grumpy/sunshine trope are my absolute favorite to read. Add a fake relationship to the mix and “winner winner chicken dinner!”They’re fun, entertaining and I just can’t love them enough! This one was no exception. I read the first book in this series and loved it, so when I was approved for this one and then asked to join the book tour, you bet your sweet bippy I was on board! I loved this one just as much as I did the first one! It was such a fun and engaging storyline and I loved the characters (even Willems grumpiness). While this is a part of a series and there are a couple characters from the previous book, it can be read as a standalone. Anyone looking for a fast paced spellbinding romantic comedy with some spice should give this book a gander. You won’t be sorry!
Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Jessica Clare for the opportunity to read and review this gem. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

⚠️Contains spoilers⚠️

One of my favorite tropes is grumpy/sunshine and Willem and Penny might be one of my favorite grumpy/sunshine couples.

This book was funny and sweet and steamy and all I want to read from now on is witchy rom coms.

This is the second book in the Hex series but it can be read as a stand-alone, although I would recommend reading the first book, Go Hex Yourself first because it is hilarious and it definitely sets a foundation for this book.

I loved that Penny and Willem were such a team and they build such a solid foundation and there wasn’t a ton of conflict between them which also meant there was no third act breakup!

This series will definitely be one of my comfort reads because I adore these 2 couples so much.

I received an eARC of this book from berkley in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a physical copy for myself.

CW: abusive/toxic relationship with past master, parental neglect, blackmail

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted e copy.

What the Hex is another fun witchy romance book. It follows Penny, a familiar longing for a witch or warlock to work with. Apparently witches and warlocks need a familiar to draw power from in order to cast spells. She gets hooked up with Willem, a warlock that has been banned from casting spells for a while. He wants to spy on his old master, so he wants to cast in secret. Penny agrees to this, and they decide to fake date in order to explain their relationship, since they have to keep it a secret that she's his familiar. Obviously they fall for each other, because it wouldn't be a romance if not.

The steam is pretty decent but the story is a bit predictable. I liked the spin on the witches and warlocks needing a human familiar, but I am still unclear on how a familiar is different. Maybe I skipped that part, who knows. Still, it was entertaining and a fun witch read.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book but I was not a fan of the second one due to personal preference. I do not like a grumpy character and the male lead was rude and a grump. I know this is a trope many like and I can tell it was done well so if someone is happy with a grumpy/sunshine trope, I would definitely suggest this to the person.

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of What the Hex by Jessica Clare and when I tell you that she gave us the Domhnall Gleeson book we've been needing since he starred as Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, I mean that if you thought Bill Weasley was hot....RUN to get this book!

The second in the Hex franchise, What the Hex follows Penny Roundtree as she's waiting...and waiting...and waiting to become a familiar for a witch or warlock. She spends her days in a state of chronic positivity and keeps her schedule busy: she works for a witch at CBD Whee!, packing and shipping spell components to witches and warlocks across the world, volunteers in the local chapter of the Society of Familiars, and acts as a live-in maid, chef, and groundskeeper for the parents that have all but forgotten she exists. Penny's life is turned upside down when she's approached by her friends Reggie and Ben (the Adam Driver warlock the world needs from Go Hex Yourself, which I will be reading soon) to become a familiar...in secret.

Willem Sauer is a grumpy, bored, sarcastic warlock with a sordid past--he's been forbidden from taking a familiar as punishment for Y2K. Yeah...that Y2K. He's got ten years left on his ban, but can't stand another moment of not being able to cast spells, so he's seeking out a familiar who can be subtle. Subtlety is not bright, sunshiney Penny's strongsuit.

What follows is a hilarious and surprisingly steamy journey of magic and romance. I absolutely enjoyed learning about the magic system in Jessica Clare's world, and found Penny's particular quirk (she gets a secret...um...extra reward every time Willem uses her magic to cast a spell--unbeknownst to him) to be hysterical. She is all of us, anxious and afraid to assume, but unwilling to ask the question just so she can avoid awkwardness. Relatable af, right?

My only complaint was pacing: as the reader, we don't see Penny and Willem spending time together casting, so they go from disdain to fascination to romance rather quickly. They have one fake date and he suddenly can't control his hands? While that seemed rushed, I did love that it gave us more time for the climax (ha, giggity) of the story to fully flesh out (okay, I'll see myself out on that one).

While I won't call it a cozy fantasy, this was pretty low-stakes, which made it an enjoyable read without putting additional stress on the reader.

Brb, gonna go fall in love with Ben Magnus now.

What the Hex is the second book in the Hex series, and I absolutely enjoyed that the book highlights Penny’s life. Penny is a familiar in waiting who works at a charm store for witches. She has been patiently awaiting an apprenticeship since birth. But, after 30 years, her patience is starting to falter, and warlock and witches aren’t hiring new familiars anytime soon. As Secretary of the Society of Familiars, also known as FAM, Penny strongly believes in playing by the book. To get the chance to be a familiar, she’s going to have to break a LOT of rules.
While this book focuses on Penny’s life, Reggie and Ben re-emerge and play important roles in helping Penny secure an apprenticeship with the banned warlock 🧙‍♂️ Willem Saur. Penny and Willem are opposites from the start. Either they work together, or neither is casting. 🪄✨
I had difficulty tearing myself away from this opposites attract story. This book is magical spice on nearly every page showing a more promiscuous side to reserved Penny.
Even though this is book two in a series, the story can be read as a standalone. There are new and recurring characters in book two. I recommend reading book one “Go Hex Yourself” before “What the Hex” if you want more background information on the characters.

Things to love about What the Hex:
🪄💗 Magical romance
⛅️ Grumpy-Sunshine
👫 Fake Dating
❤️‍🔥 Opposites Attract
😈 Enemies-to-Lovers
🌶️ Open-Door Scenes
✌️ Two POVs: Penny and Willem

Thank you Berkley for the opportunity to read this magical book 💖

**3.5 stars

Opposites attract in What the Hex - with a straight-laced, grumpy leading man and a sunshine, squirrel-owning FMC. So you know fake dating is going to be *chef's kiss* between these two. The hate to love did seem a little sudden (especially since Willem's inner monologue showed that he was doing nice things so Penny wouldn't be annoying in the beginning), but I didn't hate it. But I really loved how Penny always made sure to communicate with Willem. And I also liked how Willem was so protective over her when it came to her parents and how they treated her.

What the Hex is the second in a series, but you don't have to read the first book to know what's happening in this one. But I will be going back and reading the first one because I really enjoyed this one and the first one apparently had an emo warlock - which sounds like something I'll be obsessing over soon.

What the Hex is out in two days - so be sure to add it to your TBR!

What the Hex is a delightful read that will leave you swooning and laughing in equal measure. This funny, steamy, and heartfelt romance is a perfect example of how opposites attract. The story follows a colorful and upbeat familiar who is tired of waiting for her chance to learn spellcraft. She meets a grumpy, prissy, and deeply unpopular warlock who needs a secret familiar since he has been banned from practicing magic for decades. The tension between them is palpable, and the meddling of their friends only adds to the excitement. To make things even more interesting, a sinister former master and a rambunctious squirrel are thrown into the mix.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
What the Hex by Jessica Clare is the second book in her popular Hex series. This paranormal romantic comedy can be read as a stand-alone.

Story Recap:
Penny Roundtree dreams of becoming a witch’s familiar. The problem is that there are not any positions available for a familiar apprentice. Penny has been a member of the Society of Familiars since she was old enough to join, but jobs are very scarce. So when a forbidden warlock offers an unusual arrangement, Penny knows it will be her only chance to apprentice as a familiar.

Willem Sauer is banned from having a familiar because of his past troubles. Unfortunately, his only chance to cast spells is to make an unconventional deal with Penny to have her apprentice under him as a familiar. They don’t get along at all until they do!

To hide their illegal witch/familiar relationship, they decide to pretend to be in a fake serious relationship. And as always happens in romance with a fake relationship, sooner or later, it becomes real.

My Thoughts:
Reading What the Hex is a delightful experience. I enjoyed the well-developed magical world that Willem and Penny live in. The rules of magic are well-defined, and I enjoyed this world.

I loved Penny. She’s optimistic, and bright and brings sunshine to Willem’s grump. And she has a pet squirrel named Pipstachio who is also adorable. The romance between Penny and Willem was fun to watch develop and they made a great couple. The book is full of magic and mystery which added to the story and the romance.

This book has a good degree of spiciness, but it was not overwhelming.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend What the Hex to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have been eagerly waiting for What The Hex ever since I read Go Hex Yourself last year, so I am really grateful for the opportunity to read it early! WTH didn't disappoint ~ 4.5/5 ✨

I already loved Penny after reading about her in Go Hex Yourself, so I was absolutely delighted to know more about her! Everything about her literally describes *the sunshine-girl* trope ☀️. And then we get to see her brave and bad-ass side. So yeah, I kept falling more and more in love with Penny throughout the story!

The fake dating aspect of the book was so perfectly plotted! It was very fun to see how things would turn out between Willem and Penny's dyanmic because of that. The way that Penny and Willem's relationship blossomed in the most unexpected of circumstances just melted me. She saw the real him shining through his many grumpy layers. :')

I suggest reading the first book before picking What The Hex though! I love the series, and I hope you guys pick up the book soon too 🧡 Many thanks to Berkley for the review copy.

Penny Roundtree, longtime member of the Society of Familiars, longs to be a familiar to a witch. No one seems to be hiring lately, but an unexpected arrangement has Penny chomping at the bit.
Warlock, Willem Sauer has been banned from taking a familiar, but he needs help casting deeper magic. An unorthodox plan has been made for Penny to help him out and become his familiar.

These two are total opposites and butt heads immediately. But now someone is targeting the both of them and they need to work together to figure out who it is and how to stop them. I really enjoyed this book – it was a cute storyline with great characters. You won’t be disappointed and should one-click this now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is my second witchy romance book by Jessica Clare and I loved both of them so much! Like I can’t express my love for this book. It deserves so much more hype and I’m so grateful I got a chance to read it.

This is technically book two of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone with no issues. I did read the first one, so it was fun to read about those characters again in this book. But this time, the main characters are Willem and Penny (fun fact: my cat’s name is Penny).

I loved Willem and Penny together so much! They were a great example of the grumpy/sunshine trope. Willem is a stickler with an attitude problem, and Penny is vibrant and cheerful (and she has a pet squirrel!).

This one was also super spicy and I loved it. The writing was well done, the storyline was fun, and the characters were intriguing. I don’t think I have a single complaint and I felt like I flew through this one!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy!

I adored this book! It definitely has a hardcore grumpy/sunshine vibe and some delightful fake dating. It hits on a couple of my favorite tropes and handles some of the age-based weirdness that can happen in fantasy romance well. The world building is really well done - Clare has created something believable, but s fantastical. There’s a lot of cleverness throughout the plot, which moves really well. The chemistry between Penny and Will is electric.

- Fake Dating Trope
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Enemies to Lovers
I am a sucker for a good enemies to lovers - this one DID NOT disappoint.
Sexy. Tension. Witchy. Grump male.
Well written - can be read as a standalone. I did not read the first - and was fine.

🪄 Book Review 🪄

I like a lot of witchy romance but What the Hex is my new favorite in this subgenre and I'm excited that it's officially out today! Thanks to @berkleyromance for early access - and happy pub day! I'm thrilled to be on this blog tour and tell everyone how fun this read is!

✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Solving a Mystery

First thing's first, I adored Penny. She's the sunshine-i-est sunshine ever and I was delighted by her over the top personality. She reminds me of a curvy Elle Woods with a dash of Jessica Day (New Girl) twee.

The combo of her with the surliest MMC ever (Willem) was pure fun. I loved seeing him (begrudgingly) become charmed by her.

And of course the entire premise of the book was a romp. He needs her to secretly work as his familiar since he's not allowed to have one. So how do you hide hanging out together for magic reasons? Well, obviously because they're in love. Cue Fake Dating. And hey, since casting drains energy from familiars, she should just stay at his house. Cue Forced Proximity.

What the Hex made me laugh and it was pretty steamy too - my favorite combo in romance reads. This was 5⭐️ and one of my top reads of last month.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Yazmine from Berkley Publishing for the gifted e-book ❤️

Read if you like: Dual POV, enemies to lovers, witchy reads, forced proximity, fake dating, grumpy sunshine, spicy 🔥

Yessss. I was so freaking excited when I got this book. Enemies to lovers and fake dating are my two favorite tropes. I loved the first book. I was happy Penny would be in it. Willem was a little more difficult to like. I eventually loved him. There were a few just plain strange parts that didn't seem needed. I don't want to give spoilers. Those aside, this was funny, charming, and sexy. 🔥 I highly recommend this!

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy!

To say that I was shocked I received this is an understatement. I truly adored book 1, so when I saw plans for book 2 I got very excited

🔮Fake Dating
🔮Grumpy Sunshine
🔮Age Gap
🔮Forced Proximity

Penny…is the bubbliest character you will ever meet. And I’m not shying away from that. She has a do-goosed attitude that is easily used against her

Willem…is a loner. And for a very good reason. He was outcasted by someone he trusted so that made trusting anyone else extremely difficult

Penny becomes Willem’s familiar (warlock assistant) under the table as he’s banned from having one for another 10 years. Personally I was wondering where Jessica was going with this. How was she going to make this book spicy? Well she delivered!! I won’t spoil it, but it’s good 😏

The only thing that truly annoyed me was Penny’s need to spell out acronyms. I got very annoyed, but it held in line with her character

Rating 4.25
Spice 3
Third act breakup? No
HEA? Yes