A delightful read! I definitely think I would have enjoyed this one more had I read the first one in the "series" prior to, but it still was super enjoyable. The characters felt lively and I enjoyed reading about their journeys as they progressed through the book. I didn't feel as strong of a connection to the characters as much as I would have wanted, but again, I think that comes up to the fact that I didn't read the first one. I want to read the first one and then come back to this one to see if I would end up enjoying it more.

I received an arc copy if this book on NetGalley. Not Your Ex’s Hexes is a cute grumpy sunshine romance. Going in I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series but I was not lost in the story. Some previous events are mentioned but they don’t factor into the main characters of this book. I enjoyed the dynamic between Rose and Damian. Rose has been raised to fulfill a certain role her whole life but now things have changed and she needs to discover what she wants to be and do. Into her enters Damian after a well intentioned misunderstanding. Damian is a grumpy vet with some unresolved issues. This book has a great mixture of side characters that will keep you entertained. It follows the typical romance format. If you are looking for a cute romance with a sprinkle of snark and humor this is the book for you.

I’m going to be honest I was a little bit lost in this book because I haven’t read the first book. I didn’t even know there was a first book to this. Not until after I read this one.

It was a good story. I just didn’t know what was going on. Not having read the first book in the series.

Rose Maxwell spent her entire life training to be the next Prima on the Supernatural Council, but now that she has stepped down, she doesn't know what to do with herself. When an attempt to save injured horses goes wrong, Rose is sentenced to community service at the animal shelter run by Damian Adams, a grumpy half-demon veterinarian she can't get out of her head. Neither of them are looking for a relationship, but their sparkling attraction cannot be ignored. To make it worse, Damian's ex's hex will make him lose his humanity along with his heart if he ever falls in love. This second book in the Supernatural Singles was just as fun as the first! The entire cast of characters from the first book are in the second, and I loved every scene with the quirky side characters! I also loved getting to see a more relaxed Rose, she was so uptight as she tried to be perfect in the first book, but she is such a fun character in this book. I also loved the grumpy-sunshine relationship between Rose and Damian as he deals with his inner demon (literally), and she brings light and hope into his life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin, Netgalley, and April Asher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I love this series and can't wait for the next book! The end of this story perfectly sets up Olive's story, and I can't wait to read it!

The Maxwell sisters are a mess and I am loving every second of it. Rose’s story was just as fun, chaotic and steamy as Vi’s story. From equine freedom capers to hunting wayward supernaturals, I was so there for it!

Can’t wait for Olive’s story!!

Not your Ex’s hexes By April Asher


PUB DATE: February 2,2023


My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶


Reasons to read this book:
- [ ] Curvy FMC
- [ ] Fantasy world merged with current “norm” world
- [ ] MMC: Damian is a half demon that works with animals because he doesn’t like people around him. 🤗
- [ ] New England setting NY / MA
- [ ] The billiards scene 😩🤯 the tension between rose and Damian ughh
- [ ] Spicy 🌶 🌶🌶
- [ ] Quick read / easy read
- [ ] Grumpy x sunshine
- [ ] Friends with benefits (FCK Buddy)

Damian was a man after my own heart. His childhood was horrible and he had family issues , Like hello so relatable . I instantly rooted for this man to have a better life. He was just like the animals that he took in to take care of. This man needed someone to help him heal and figure out his feeling. In comes fire cracker witch rose 🌹 !

This book had the it all!! An amazingly entertaining story with witty and sassy characters who oftentimes indulges in banter as a hobby and are extremely fun to be around with, obviously to read that’s what I meant. What else haha?

Rose Maxwell dodged a narcissist and is in no rush to saddle herself with another lackluster man. Damian Adams won’t ever fall in love—he can’t because his soul is on the line thanks to a hex his teenage girlfriend saddled him with. After a steamy one night stand months ago and an grumpy reintroduction they realize a friends with benefits arrangement could definitely meet both their needs. Can they fight off the temptation of feelings when the inevitably come knocking?

This is for my friends with benefits to forever lovers!

Shout out to Net Galley and April Asher for an ARC! I absolutely loved this one and really enjoyed the build of Damian and Rose’s relationship. I’ll be eagerly refreshing for the expected release date of Bax and Olive’s story!

This series is absolutely one of my most indulgent reads. Its the right mix of spice, sass, and snark for me to feel like I am being fully unproductive

This was a great follow up to the original book. The characters are great, the plot is great. I will say though that the first book had a bit more "magic" for me.

Rose and her two sisters are triplet witches and best friends. When they decide to liberate some abused horses, they learn that the place is an animal sanctuary run by half-demon veterinarian Damian. Rose is sentenced to do community service at the sanctuary, and realizes that Damian is the man with whom she had a memorable one night stand. They agree to a friends with benefits relationship--Damian fears getting too involved because of a hex put on him by an ex-girlfriend.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

I am just really a sucker for when everyone is friends with everyone else. I know there's at least one more of these, but honestly, I wouldn't mind (and could see) a few others coming. They're fun, easy to read, and full of banter.

This didn’t hit as hard as the first book did for me. I needed more. I think I liked the end-all-be-all feel of the first book, whereas this one was more on the side of defining oneself outside of their powers. It didn’t provide the supernatural fantasy feel; her being a witch and him being a demon was just something they were, but it wasn't really integral to the plot like I expected it to be.

You know, for not reading the first book and going into this one blind, it was so dang good!

I really enjoyed the relationship that the sisters have and it's made me interested in reading the first (even though I totally know how that story ends now.) Definitely want to read more by April Asher now!

This story was cute. Broody half-demon + sunshine witch + one night stand and then forced proximity = amazing tension and spice.

Super thankful to St. Martin's Press for sending me this book to read and review ahead of publishing. 💛

I loved the character development of Rose and Damian.

Rose is a sassy witch trying to find her way in the world after stepping down as Prima Apparent. I liked how she was written to find herself and learn to speak up for herself. I felt like she is relatable in a lot of ways.

Damian is a badass demon who is trying to overcome his dark past and be a better person. When he meets Rose, all hell breaks loose. He doesn't want attachments, but can't help it with Rose.

I felt like this story was well written and easy to get into. However, I felt like the segues into new chapters was a little choppy for me. It almost felt like starting a new story. However, this is a great book to escape into.

This was a super cute read I read it so quickly and couldn't put it down read it in a day and really enjoyed it.

Absolutely adorable! I'm going to have to go find the first book in the series because the Maxwell sisters are enchanting in every way possible. I love the Grumpy/Sunshine pairing and Damian/Rose do not disappoint. The magic is fun, but not the main focus of the plot. It mostly provides a fun addition to the adventures they go on. The spice is mild (only a couple of full encounters with some implied encounters otherwise) but when it is there it is excellent. The plot is fun and different, but also really engaging. All of the characters bring their own wit and fun to the plot and just make me want to see more of this world.

If you are looking for a cheesy, Zootopia, low stakes, paranormal romance, then look no further, this book is for you. I need to preface this by saying that I didn’t read book one and I don’t think it is necessary to understand this book.

Rose Maxwell was trained to become the leader of witches her entire life, so when her sister finally comes into her powers and claims the spot, she’s left with no purpose. She finds herself stuck doing community service at an animal sanctuary owned by the hot as hades, half-demon, veterinarian, Damian Adams, who also happens to be a former one-night-stand. When the two can’t deny their attraction any longer, they agree on a friends with benefits arrangement while Rose completes her service hours and tries to find her calling. Damian can’t start falling for Rose though because of an ex’s hex, if he does, he’ll lose his humanity.

I wanted to like this, but wanted to DNF it so many times. I don’t like to DNF ARCs though, so I continued on. I thought the idea was cutsey, but the execution, and story line was boring and flat. The dialogue was super cringey. It felt very forced and not like how people would actually talk to each other. Rose is 33, and the amount of times she calls Damian a “jerk,” “ass,” or “grumpy pants” was very juvenile. Damian is mid 30’s as well and referred to himself as Dr. Grumpy Pants. It was supposed to come off as funny/cute or endearing, but just read cringe to me.

The jokes seemed out of place, and reminded me a bit of cheesy fantasy shows on Hulu. While out bounty hunting demons, Damian and Rose would “bicker” and make corny jokes and the target (a “dangerous” demon) would joke back. It was all very sitcom *crowd laughs here,” to me.

The reviews are almost all positive, so maybe this just wasn’t for me. The writing style is definitely not for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2 ⭐️
0.75 🌶️

I was really excited to read this book because the first one was a 5-star read to me. When I got approved for this ARC through NetGalley, I decided to also re-read the first book as an audiobook at the same time.

And that duality did me no favors in liking this book. There is repetition that just takes away from the fun of either book.

The main characters have been with each other in the past but somehow are acting like enemies now. I can see the author trying to give us the flavor of that enemies to lovers trope. But why? In the first book, there was some reason to it. He had stood her up. In this one, they had a one-night stand. There’s no reason for animosity.

In both cases, they do some casual sport together. In the first book, it’s bowling. In this one it’s pool.

Both books have the heroine falling off a ladder and the hero catching her.

But what really got me was how the author has given Rose a personality transplant. She’s no longer the super responsible, ultra-competent witch… she’s now unsure of herself and takes dangerous chances. Somewhat like Violet from the first book.

In addition, this book has that exhausting trope of “we can’t be together because of reasons”. They want to make sure “this is just a physical relationship… no one catch feelings”. It’s exhausting. A fellow reviewer describes this as negative motivation and it gets tired real quick.

I am not in the mood to keep reading through annoyance. I probably shouldn’t have tried reading these books simultaneously. Now, I have fewer favorable thoughts about the first book. It was a fun one-off. But sadly, the author didn’t keep it going with this one. I’m disappointed and stopped reading around 44% in.

Rose Maxwell has relinquished her role as Prima Apparent now that her slightly older sister, Violet, has finally manifested her magical abilities. She does not mind no longer having that role, but it has left her at loose ends, with no clear plan for her future. Half-demon Damian Adams is a veterinarian, and with few exceptions, prefers animals to people/supernatural beings. He is struggling to keep his veterinary clinic and animal sanctuary afloat. He could easily obtain the money he needs, as he was once the best Supernatural Bounty Hunter, but his demon side enjoyed the job too much, and Damian did not like who/what he was becoming.

Rose convinces her sisters and their friend, Harper, to help her "rescue" two horses that appear to be neglected. What Rose did not know (or bother to find out) is that the horses had already been rescued and their current location was an animal sanctuary where they were receiving proper care. The four of them are caught, and while the charges are dropped when the situation is explained, the Supernatural Council imposes its own punishment on the four women. Rose is given community service hours at the animal sanctuary with Damian. Rose and Damian had an enjoyable unplanned intimate encounter in the past but had not seen each other since then and had never planned to repeat it.

Rose and Damian do not get off to the best of starts when she begins her community service. They irritate and infuriate each other. However, the sexual tension and attraction is quite strong, and Rose will soon propose an "arrangement." The story contains multiple detailed intimate encounters. At times, it feels like the rest of the story was created just so the characters would have something to do between intimate encounters. However, there is a more involved plot centered around Rose's efforts to help make the animal sanctuary more financially secure; her discovery that she enjoys working with and is good at working with animals; and Damian coming to terms with events from his past that have made him avoid any chance at a permanent relationship.

The story has a lot of humorous moments and very enjoyable characters. The most interesting characters are actually the youngest Maxwell triplet, Olive, and the succubus, Harper. I hope they get their own books in the future (which seems likely, as "Not Your Ex's Hexes" is the second book in a series that started with a book focused on Violet Maxwell).