I really enjoyed reading this one! It hooked me from the very beginning and kept me hooked the whole time!

The second entry in Clare's delightful Hex series features Penny who wants to be a familiar more than anything and Willem who has been banned from having a familiar. They are both so desperate, she to learn magic and get started towards becoming a witch and he to practice the magic he wants, they team up and hide their relationship by pretending to be in love.

If you’re a romance reader and you want a book that will leave you grinning ear-to-ear, this is it. Look no further. Penny has wanted to be a familiar for years, and her time is running out. Meanwhile Willem needs an under-the-table familiar because he’s banned from having one. How can they work together without getting caught? Fake dating, of course! Which is hilarious, considering this is the *ultimate* grumpy/sunshine romance. Penny is sunshine personified, and watching as Will reacted to her was nothing short of delightful. This is the perfect paranormal rom com, from its most excellent tropes to the “good girl” vibes that made the spicy scenes utterly addicting. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up! Oh, and if that wasn’t convincing enough (the spice alone should be — you're welcome), Penny has a pet squirrel who is adorable!

4 stars, pushing 5

Another banger from Jessica Clare. Honestly, I even liked this one more than Go Hex Yourself. Another excellent well-done enemies to lovers with EXCELLENT communication. It's 2023 and I'm so thankful every time I read a book where the author has thrown out the mis-communication nonsense right out the window. Almost an instant 4 star read for me.

As with Go Hex Yourself, my favorite aspect of this book was how the conflict was resolved, and Jessica Clare does it so so well. The plot wasn't working against our two mains to tear them apart. No, she gave us a plot and then said, "alright, how can they work TOGETHER to resolve this." And shows us, as readers that these beloved little romcoms we love so much can be even better when the MC's become a team, a unified force. That's what Clare gave us with Penny and Willem. Sure it's enemies to lovers, but pretty early on we get to see each other working for each other and being aware of needs (and a little pettiness, but we love it).

However, there of course is still conflict between our MC's it isn't a straight road to blissville without a few bumps, but how she writes conflict is so healthy and refreshing that I can't get enough of her storylines. So I say, please write more Jessica Clare. Romcoms so good, they can be devoured in one sitting.

I'm borderline giving this 4.5 stars, but I do think the development from hate to love was a little abrupt, so I'm staying at 4 stars for now (but may bump up TBH because this just made me happy). This was so much fun! I realized reading this that this kind of campy or comedic paranormal romance feels very cozy to me, and this series perfectly hits that cozy sweet spot. I really liked the dynamic between Penny & Willem, and this is a fake dating trope where the fake dating aspect feels very earned.

I hope we get more in this world!

This was soooo good! I was given an advanced reader copy and this was the best one I’ve ever read. There are a few tiny editing errors that may get fixed in the final version, but otherwise, it was perfect.

This dude is the epitome of grumpy on the outside but he’s a caring soul. He’s just not been in a position to be challenged to be more kind. But he’s great about taking care of his new secret familiar/fake girlfriend.

This book is also perfect in its spiciness. These two are hot together!

I had seen the first book but didn’t think I’d like it. Now I’m going to hunt down all books by this author because this was soooo good. It doesn’t come out until April 2023 but go on NetGalley and request it or put it on your TBR and read it later. You won’t be disappointed!!

There are men who hit on the heroine but it’s nothing serious.

The woman is strong and smart. Even tho she’s bubbly, she’s also kickass. It makes me soooo happy to see her take on power and be firm about what she needs with the hero and others.

No third act breakup. Just them together, fighting against the villains!

3.5 stars!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first of this series and was super pumped to see the second on NetGalley!! This was a fantastic sequel, with even more action packed witchy-business, and the characters were to die for! Enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine? What more could you ask for!! The banter and tension between the MC's was fantastic, and even better than the first novel in this series!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This was a fun, spicy and witchy book that was easy to read but didn't really stand out to me in any way, good or bad.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved the first book and was excited to see this one pop up. I loved the grump-sunshine trope and the little hint of mystery as well. Definitely would recommend and will staff pick it when it's released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: parental neglect, toxic relationship with a mentor, blackmail

The second book in the series, while it can be read as a standalone I think the backstory will be appreciated more if book 1 is read.

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f paranormal romance
-frenemies/idiots to lovers
-close-proximity
-fake dating
-magical orgasms
-grumpy/sunshine
-opposites attract


What do you do when you're banned from having a magical familiar and you're stuck waiting to become a magical familiar? You fake date of course. This book was fun, fast paced, and just enjoyable. Penny and Willem had a very different dynamic than the couple in book 1. He's gruff and resigned to the fact no one will ever like him after getting a wrongfully bad reputation in the magical world. She's a people pleaser who is driven and a bit beat up by the world.

I adored Penny. Full of sunshine she refused to let Willem walk all over her, and I adored how she was the one to move their sexual relationship forward, not afraid to ask what she wanted. She was no helpless heroine in this book. And gosh Willem. He goes so soft for her almost immediately and accidentally. Taking care of her, keeping her fe, even making sure Penny had her pet squirrel for comfort.

The fake dating twist especially with grouchy stiff Willem doing his best to fight their attraction, but some love bites later and I was fanning myself with my Kindle. Their sexual chemistry was amazing, adding on the orgasm Penny received every time Willem did a spell and I was just waiting for these two to finally get out of their own ways and get together. I love how they fought for their relationship and how they both refused to let the other put down.

No unnecessary third act break up here, the sexual tension was amazing, with a dash of excitement and I so enjoyed seeing Reggie and Ben in their HEA. This series is just fun and steamy, I hope there will be a third book!

Steam: 4

Jesssica Clare's first novel of the series, Go Hex Yourself, was such a success for me. I loved the tension, the reveal, the arcs—it had the basis of a Reylo story but stood on its own. What the Hex, unfortunately, reads like a story that doesn't really explore an arc that goes beyond a very-well trodden fanfiction trope (GingerRose). In the book, we get to the final point/the release rather early on and then we live there for a while. I also thought that the steamy parts could have been more woven in.

I liked this novel, though I did feel as if the climax and resolution were a little thin. It has not deterred me from reading further from this author as the plot pacing before the fast ending was quite night.

Definitely second book in a series but very enjoyable - read it in a day. Always a sucker for sunshine x grumpy and abrasive to lover. Characters are fun if a little bit tropey (would have liked to see a little more development). “Dirty talk” felt a little bit forced. I’ll still read more in this world

I love this premise but could not stand the main character. Her naïveté was exhausting. I wanted more for her. The writing wasn't bad and I would still try another book by this author, but I couldn't make it through this one.

Ugh I can't get enough of the witchy romantic comedies! Love an enemies-to-lovers trope, especially! Excited to be a witch/warlock's familiar, of course Penny is stuck with super surly warlock William. You know they are going to have to put their petty differences aside and work together to figure out what or who is targeting Penny! Such a cute, fun read.

This is a great second of a series. I read the first and I liked this one just as much. The relationship between the main characters was believable and touching. This one is pretty spicy... so some library patrons may balk at the read. But, if someone enjoyed the first they will enjoy this installment.

I liked this book. It was fun and fluffy and cute. It suffered from the same issue as the first one, the secret/twist was predictable. Is that a real issue though? It's still a fun witchy read!

An exciting and well anticipated follow up by Jessica Clare. I love a good witchy romance so I was excited to read this one. I found myself getting annoyed by Penny the main character often which made the book a bit of a struggle for me. But overall it was a laugh out loud, easy to read fall romance. I would recommend this book to all that read Clares first book, i wouldn’t recommend reading this as a stand-alone.

Amazing sequel with more action packed, twisty revenge story line and more adorable characters! I absolutely loved the second book of the series a little more and my adoration is not only related with my favorite tropes. Yes, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, sunshine meets the grump tropes are perfectly blended inside the witchery- sorcery fantasy storyline!

Poor Penny Roundtree is such a lovely heroine with worst kind of name already stole my heart as a supporting character of Go Hex Yourself, working so hard as a devoted member of Society of Familiars. Actually she’s only at long waiting list to be familiar candidate to a witch .
But it seems like she’s gonna be old lady till she has a chance to serve for a proper witch.

When Reggie and Ben approach her to present an offer with a catch, she feels so excited to have a chance to become an apprentice under the family. But this is not only unorthodox part of this arrangement. She has to work with dislikable jerk Willem Sauer who is banned to have a familiar for his past transgressions. He is not patient enough to wait for extra ten years and Penny: at the age of 30, is impatient as well not to lose her last chance!

But other catch they didn’t mention to Penny is about Stroker: the old mentor of Willem who ran away from is so adamant to avenge after nearly 3 centuries later. His threats may also put Penny’s life in danger.

Living with a grumpy, surly warlock is not the big problem for Penny because under the brooding facade, he has kind heart that he is afraid of sharing with people. And Willem also start getting attracted by tiny woman in neon clothing with vermin pets and snub noses.

As nosy friends in the society of familiars keep blackmailing Penny for source of gossip, in the meantime Stroker’s threats get escalated. Penny and Willem are forced to team up against the enemies while they keep pretending as lovers. But a few bites and spanking later they realize they don’t need to pretend anymore.

Overall: I enjoyed this romantic fantasy more than the first installment and had an amazing reason time!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I enjoyed the first book in the series by Jessica Clare, Go Hex Yourself, and was excited to read book two in the series. Like the first book, What the Hex, this book centers on an Enemies to Lovers romance. The characters were interesting and I particularly liked Penny. It was also nice to see the characters from book one again. As far as the plot, I found I preferred the first book in the series because it did a better job balancing the plot and the romance. This book ended up leaning more heavily towards romance at the expense of the plot. I still enjoyed the book and plan to recommend it to others, especially those who enjoy Paranormal Romance. In addition, I would definitely read a book three, if there is one.