When I first saw this book I was disappointed to see the cover doesn’t match the rest of the series; now I think it fits because I was disappointed to find that the book didn’t fit the rest of the series either. Eli was not a likeable character especially after the social media stalking Iris when they had met literally once. Iris was too woe is me and irresponsible for my taste. It is also less spicy than I expected but again is just this book not matching up with the “series” it’s supposed to be a part of.

The Only Purple House in Town is an adorable story of found family.

I loved the female main character, Iris, and the found family she creates in her big purple house. I could read stories about them all just hanging out and supporting each other all day.

Unfortunately, I was less keen on the male main character, who acknowledges how stalky his actions are at times yet justifies this to himself by saying he’s a loner and that she meant so much to him after a childhood interaction.

Similarly, it felt like towards the end of the book a lot of the big ‘issues’ that had come up throughout the story were solved very quickly and easily with little effort or explanation - ‘because magic’ - and this felt rushed, which was a shame because prior to that Iris’ struggles had felt very realistic for the situation she found herself in.

Overall, the romance in The Only Purple House in Town fell flat for me, as did the plot, however the majority of the characters and their found family vibes were excellent.

Iris is down on her luck when she miraculously inherits a large, old house. Desperately in need of cash, Iris immediately moves in and sets about renting the other rooms.

I wanted to love this book, but it unfortunately missed the mark for me. The romance felt very forced - I didn't like Iris and Eli, separately or together. Not a book I'd go back to!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This story is about human Iris Collins, the outsider in a family of several sisters. She inherits her grandma’s house when she passes, truly a restoration project, but exactly what Iris needs at that time in her life. She starts collecting roommates that all turn out to be amazing and not really human, and one of them is her human stalker/fan Eli. She finally believes she has found her new family in her new roommates when news that turn her life upside down turn up.

I really liked the generous open-mindedness of this story, and how each character had their own unique quirks but were still accepted into the little community that Iris created. However, I really think the character of Eli was too psychotic, literally a stalker and obsessed. It was not cute nor charming and I don’t understand why Aguirre created his character to be like that when writing it. Other than that, it was a bit too child friendly and could have a bit more of an edge, but otherwise a cozy story.

A story full of interesting characters coming together to create a family that means more to them than they ever could have imagined. Always feeling out of place and alone, Iris has no idea how she is going to get out of the financial hole she is in. When she inherits he Great Aunts house, she feels like fate might have intervened. As she invites each new person into her home to rent, she finds herself feeling more centered and a part of a unit than she ever has before. Things, however, always seem easy before things fall apart. Sweet, funny, and an easy read you could enjoy without reading the three before, like me.

Not sure if Anne Aguirre overall is just not for me, or if it’s this particular approach to cozy fantasy/witchy romance that doesn’t work. I just didn’t find any of it endearing,

I’m going to start with what I loved first: the found family aspect. I absolutely loved all of the characters that made up this found family and how close they all became. I have a soft spot in my heart for Henry Dale and I love how close he and Rowan become. It really was so touching how much everyone cared for each other.
Now to what I think could’ve been better. The really big plot reveal I think happens too late in the book and the last 25% of the book felt incredibly rushed. I think the book would’ve benefited from around 100 more pages to really expand on the big reveal and what that means for Iris.
To me, the romance was a bit strange- I’m not sure how I felt about Iris and Eli’s history.
I also really wish all of the different magical groups had been expanded upon a lot more because I felt like we didn’t get to know much about their characteristics. Overall though, I really did love all of the characters and the found family aspect of the book so that’s why I gave it a 4 star rating.

Title: The Only Purple House in Town (Fix-It Witches Book#4)
Release date 7/11/23, read 7/4/23
Author: Ann Aguirre, I read Enclave (YA dystopia) years ago and it was great.
Book cover: beautiful purple, wonderland
Format: e-book
Page Count: 362
Setting: St. Claire, IL
Genre: PNR, fantasy
Tropes: witches, magic, vampires, fae
Representation: LGBTQIA+, self-employment
Rating: 5*****
Source: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.

Quick summary: Iris is down on her luck and can't ask her family for help w/o judgement and lectures. She gets a much-needed surprise when her great aunt Gertrude leaves her a house- Violet Gables-and all her personal possessions. On an impulse, she rents out the rooms to 5 strangers who become her true family.

Content warnings/triggers: bullying, bigotry, cheating (h is cheated on but not by H)

Characters: Main and Minor

Iris Collins- 27, the "screw-up" of the family with no special abilities. Her parents and 3 sisters are psychic vampires that feed on human emotions. Iris is a jewelry maker with no money and no job until she decides to rent out Violet Gables

Eli Reese-hawk shifter, gaming app creator. Iris mistakes him for a potential roommate @ a coffee shop. He knew her in elementary school, and she stood up for him against a bully. He always wanted to meet her and seeing her now is a great opportunity.

Gamma-Eli's g-mother who raised him from age 13 after his parents died. Eli is selling her house and she's moving into a retirement community in NM. Gamma also transitioned, was a man w/ a wife.

Sally-social butterfly, divorcee, in a bind and Iris offered to help by renting her a room. Bi-curious and dating Ethel

Henry Dale- elderly guy w/ no family, was a contractor turned carpenter.

Mira: a tech witch, moves into Violet Gables. Exchanges spells for rent money

Rowan: 19, a non-binary artist with trouble @ home. Moves in w/ Iris

Gertrude Van Doren-Iris's great aunt (deceased). Was a misanthrope who never married

Susan Calhoun-Iris's crazy, obnoxious, and evil neighbor who hates paranormalism. Brings HAPI (Humans Against Paranormal Influence) into Iris's life

Ethel-Sally's girlfriend, a witch w/ a coven Mira wants to join

Danica and Clementine-own Fix-It Witches, a magical tech repair shop

Conflict: Iris felt unwanted and unloved by her family- the Collins. When great aunt Gertie left her the house it allowed her to create a "found family." Iris felt overwhelmed w/ money woes and renovations, but I loved how everyone was so helpful. All of the renters were quirky and loving, which made Violet Gables such a magical place to live.

Resolution: When the going gets tough, don't do it alone. We all say, "I'm fine" and "I can do it," but can we really? Not all the time. Life is so much more fulfilling being surrounded by likeminded people with open arms.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre is a cozy paranormal romance. It follows Iris who is the black sheep of her family and Eli. I enjoyed the family in this book and the overall cozy vibes that are great for fall. However, the romance wasn't my favorite and I found myself getting bored at certain parts of the story. I would not deter anyone from reading this book if it interests them but it was just a fine read for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

In the 4th book of the Fix-It-Witches Series, Iris Collins, the only unsuccessful sister in her family, is dodging creditors and her landlord, when she gets a certified letter notifying her that when her Great-Aunt Gertie died, she left everything to her. So now, Iris is the proud owner of Violet Gables, the only purple house in St. Clair. Yes, it is rundown, the fixtures and colors used inside are atrocious, and the rudest and most annoying neighbor ever, lives next door.... but her housing issue is solved. Now she only has to figure out the monetary side of things. So she decides to make Violet Gables a rooming house of sorts and take in roommate, but she only wants people who have nowhere else to go. She takes in an eclectic bunch, and they make it a family. Meanwhile Eli, one of the residents is hiding a secret - he knows Iris from when they were kids, but she doesn't remember him. She saved him from a playground bully, and he never forgot her. Now he is hoping to find a way to pay her back. First, he really needs to tell her the truth about their crossed paths, but when is it ever the right time?

This book was so good. I loved everything, from the fantasy elements, to the message that family doesn't have to be the one you are born into, to Iris and Eli's love story. Even though this is the 4th book in the series, it is ok if you haven't read the others yet. This one could be read as a standalone and you wouldn't be lost. Characters from the previous books show up, but they are all part of the background, not the main story. If you are a fan of fantasy fiction, then you will definitely want to check this one out!

This book has a great cover and the premise seems enchanting. A group of outliers, people who feel left out of their families for various reasons, find each other in a charming purple rooming house. It seemed like a good story and there were supposed to be witches so I read the whole thing. Really wish I hadn't. It was very poorly written and while it seemed to be trying overly hard to support the LGBTQ community, it didn't really do that very well. The magic part was kind of tacked on here and there, just to make sure there was some kind of magic in it and that seemed to be the only way to make sure it ended on a happy note, all problems are just magically solved. None of the characters are particularly likable, and the main romantic couple is really more of a creepy stalker situation. I would love to say that anyone who feels in need of a family that accepts them would love this story, but that is just not the case.

I was excited about the fantasy romance potential of this book but I couldn't get into it. I stopped reading a few chapters in. Neither of the main characters were giving me any reason to root for them. Iris is a hot mess with little regard for her family and roommates. She finds herself broke and rather than seek out a reasonable source of income, she resorts to selling plasma until she conveniently inherits a distant relative's estate. The readers isn't given much explanation or insight to Iris's decisions, making it hard to support her. Even the decision to turn the house into a B&B is mentioned offhandedly with no explanation.

Eli admits to stalking Iris the second time you meet him which immediately puts the reader off of him. I have no interest in getting to know him better. Within the first 10% of the book, Gammy is the only redeemable character.

I initially chose to read this book based on the cover and genre vibes. I had no idea it was the 4th book of a series until I logged it on Goodreads. Long story short, I couldn't get passed the first 10% and will not be reading any further.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 stars

This book is super cozy and sweet. It's for anyone who is the black sheep in the family. It's chaotic, dramatic and still full of hope and love.

I love that the main character, Iris, is fiercely independent. Even when the odds are against her she never truly gives up on herself. The side characters are all quirky and stand out on their own as well.

The mixture of all different kinds of paranormal beings was also a breath of fresh air. I love a witchy, cozy, found family rom com as much as the next person - but it is a breath of fresh air to have different beings all together!

All that being said I did find the MMC - Eli - a bit...creepy at times. I do love a complicated character and I do understand his development and what and why he does what he does but at the same time it came off a little stalkerish and obsessive. At times I could look past it and empathize, but maybe my own lived experiences put up a sort of road block that I just couldn't get past completely with him. Because of this I did not rate the book higher than I normally would have.

I'm drawn to books that has a focused plot in a house, especially when magic and secrets are revealed behind the walls. The premise started out well, and I was excited by the variety of roommates that Iris slowly gathers, sure to lead to some hilarity and growth. Unfortunately, a large part of the plot seemed in a standstill for me and I found myself bored and having to push through. There is a lot of small talk dialogue and general remodeling of a house. The characters ended questionable for me, especially the Eli and his stalker tendencies, and the romance fell flat. Also, the paranormal/magical element didn't feel right or fit into the plot in a way that had me excited. I did go into this book not having read the other three in the series, so maybe having some of that content knowledge would have helped me better relate to this story? I do love the cover of this book!

Iris has always felt like the odd one out in her family of energy vampires - she doesn't have powers, she's in debt, heck she's behind on rent.. by a lot. Then her great aunt passes away and leaves her entire estate to Iris, including a run down purple Victorian house. Eager to be independent, she moves in and starts figuring things out. Including the fact that she's going to need roommates. Eli went to elementary school with Iris - two grades behind. When he was 10, she rescued him from bullying and made the bully cry. This meant everything to him. And he's been keeping tabs on her social media since. Now they happen to be in the same town....

I really enjoyed reading this. The pacing was good, the found family is delightful, and it's fun to see supernatural creatures beyond blood sucking vampires and werewolves. I didn't know going in that it's actually book four in a series. You definitely don't need to read the prior ones to enjoy this.

While it's an easy read, I'm not sure it'll stick with me over time. I found the back half of the book a bit less together than the first half - maybe just because more things happen? And it's a little disconcerting that Eli takes so long to tell Iris his truths. Because he has definitely lightly internet stalked Iris throughout her life, so he's got the leg up there. It's basically a closed door romance.

Lots of sweetness to be had in this one. 3.5 stars

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to start out by saying I love the premise of this book and was really excited to read it. I love how this story had supernatural components, and I especially loved the found family within Violet Gables. Each member of this found family was sweet, and they were so accepting they were of each other.

As the story progressed, I found myself bored and at the same time overwhelmed by how much was happening. There were too much plot points that were happening in the last 50-100 pages. The way certain aspects of the story were revealed was almost like, “Surprise!” And then everyone in the storyline was immediately okay with what was going on and revealed. It just felt extremely sloppy. The story had potential, but I just don’t think it was executed as well as it could’ve been.

I think the best word to describe this book is “cozy”. Everything about it just made you feel all cozy and warm inside.

The Only Purple House in Town brought back childhood memories of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and the movie Sydney White.

This book was the definition of “found family” and a bunch of wonderful misfits who find the perfect home amongst each other. I enjoyed each time a new character was added to the house and learning more about them.

The grouchy old man, Henry Dale definitely grew on me and was probably my favorite character in this story.

I wasn’t too crazy about Eli’s story and his weird story that lead him back to Iris, but I think he was just awkward in a way that was both creepy at times and endearing.

Overall, a cute, cozy read.

2⭐️ | 0🌶

Big thanks to Ann Aguirre, Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

First off, I want to say I had NO idea this was the fourth in a series until I had already requested it and started reading it, and went to log it on Goodreads. This really needs to be highlighted even though it can be read as a standalone. The cover was what drew me in and then the promise of a romance/fantasy sealed the deal. But this wasn't what I expected at all ... I probably wouldn't even categorize this as a romance.

The two MCs, Iris and Eli, each have their own problems and it got really annoying. Right from the start I hated Iris' character because she was so whiny and didn't understand why she had no money when she wasn't working at all and wanted to survive off her jewelry business that didn't have any orders until literally, she had a witch spell her shop???

Eli was even worse - HE LITERALLY WAS A STALKER! I don't mean that in an 'oohh dark romance' Haunting Adeline vibe. It was a straight up "I've been stalking you since we were both children" vibes and it came off as really creepy to me as a reader. Keep in mind I also have no triggers and love a good dark romance stalker vibe - but this one seemed like he was too creepy.

The whole fantasy thing was wayyyy weird it seemed like the author was taking clues from True Blood where magical beings came into the public eye and some of the public still hated them. It was also super messy towards the end when it came to the Fae side. By the time I even got to the end I was ready for it to be over and didn't care about any of them.

The only redeeming parts of this book were the found family side and then the LGBTQ+ representation. Other than that the romance fell completely flat for me and it was more cozy fantasy chick lit than a fantasy/romance book. There was really no romance except for his stalker abilities and when she started to think Eli was cute. Other than that it was mostly about her inviting a bunch of strangers into her house for super low rent and allowing them to work on her house for even lower rent (which not smart if you are literally BROKE).

1.5-star rating rounded up to 2-stars. I really wouldn't recommend this to anyone and I have no intentions of reading any of the other books in the series.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre is labeled as the forth book in the Fix-it Witches series, but it reads fin as a stand alone or the start of a second, related series. It is currently scheduled for release on July 11 2023.


Iris Collins is the messy one in her family. The "chaos bunny." Her sisters are all wildly successful, while she can't balance her budget for a single month. It's no wonder she's in debt to her roommates. When she unexpectedly inherits a house from her great aunt, her plan to turn it into a B&B fails—as most of her plans do. She winds up renting rooms like a Victorian spinster, collecting other lost souls, and not all of them are "human." Eli Reese grew up as the nerdy outcast in school, but he got rich designing apps. Now he's successful by any standards. But he's never had the same luck in finding a real community or people who understand him. Over the years, he's never forgotten his first crush, so when he spots her at a café, he takes it as a sign. Except then he gets sucked into the Iris-verse and somehow ends up renting one of her B&B rooms. As the days pass, Eli grows enchanted by the misfit boarders staying in the house...and even more so by Iris. Could Eli have finally found a person and a place to call "home"?

The Only Purple House is a book with great characters and realistic emotional issues that meld very well with the magic aspects of the story. I thought that Iris and her money and family problems were very realistic and will be relatable to readers on several levels. Some of Eli's issues are similarly relatable, and I loved his earnestness and willingness to take responsibility for his choices. I really love the secondary characters and found family aspects of the story- that is what really grabbed me and kept me turning pages, even more than the character and relationship development between Eli and Iris. As usual with this author, it is that every character has depth and heart that really keeps me reading because I become highly invested in the entire community, not just the main players in each book. I cannot wait to see what happens next in St. Claire.

The Only Purple House a fun and emotionally engaging read.

(Full disclosure: once upon a time, I was Ms Aguirre’s virtual personal assistant, for about a year, and I have beta read a few of her books. I have never reviewed a book I’ve beta read, hers or any other author’s.)

Witches, shifters and Fae, oh my!

This novel is set in the world of the Fix-It Witches trilogy, but it absolutely stands alone–which I know for a fact, because I still have all three in my TBR cordillera of doom.

There are some authors whose work I can always get lost in, whether or not each and every book hits it out of the park; Ms Aguirre is one of those authors. So even though I’m generally not a fan of some aspects of the worldbuilding, I read all 360+ pages in one sitting (on a Sunday evening no less), and I’m now up writing a review in the wee hours.

In this world, witches, vampires, shifters and other creatures of myth and fantasy are real, and have recently ‘come out’ to humans, with not unexpected mixed reactions. Most people live and let live, some are accepting, others positively thrilled, while a few are afraid and immediately turn that fear into hatred. You know, like humans do about everything in the the real world.

Iris’s family are psychic vampires, which has helped them all in their chosen fields, while she…is not. She’s completely different; the character is written like someone with ADHD who hasn’t been diagnosed, let alone medicated: she has plans, and then flakes out and fails; she struggles with basic things like budgeting and deadlines and paperwork, and so on.

The problem here is not so much that Iris struggles, but that most of her family are of the let’s-not-even-pretend-we-care toxic variety; after twenty seven years of being found wanting, Iris has had enough. When her paternal great-aunt leaves her a modest inheritance–a bit of cash, an old car, and a grand old Victorian house in St Claire, she’s ready to cut ties.

And I cheered; because blood is not thicker, and sometimes the ties that bind can kill.

For his part, while Eli is quite successful now, he was the typical weird and scrawny kid who was constantly pushed around by bullies in elementary school, making his every day a misery–until the day one girl stopped one of his tormentors mid-attack, and shamed the bystanders for their passivity.

“She had changed his life in one moment, by caring, just a little, about someone nobody else at that school gave a damn about.” (Chapter 2, Eli’s PoV)

Of course Eli starts crushing on Iris, who is not only brave and older, but who represents pure kindness to him: she had nothing to gain by intervening, yet she did. Through loss and hardship, that act of kindness, and Iris, are Eli’s emotional lifeline. And so when chance puts them both back in St Claire, he takes the opportunity to connect with Iris in a way he couldn’t as a kid.

And so, through a misunderstanding, he becomes the first tenant in Iris’ boarding house–and the first member of her found family, and shenanigans, of course, ensue.

There are two main storylines in the novel; one is the Iris/Eli romance, and the other is the finding of family and community, and how their acceptance can change your life.

Other than Iris herself, most of the characters in this novel are coded queer, some more explicitly than others; Eli is likely demisexual, for example. And, as mentioned at the beginning of the review, there are shifters and witches and Fae, as well as just humans, and of course, there are bigots and busybodies, who have entirely too much time in their hands to indulge their petty grievances.

The relationships in the novel are messy, because people are messy, but of course love in all its forms triumphs–romantic, platonic, familial.

So, while I enjoyed Iris’ and Eli’s romance, and how they take care of each other (even with the third act separation), the heart of this book is the lovely fantasy of having always lived feeling like the (often unwelcome) outsider in your own life, and then finding the place where you just fit, where you are not just welcome, but belong.

Yes, there are some accommodations to make, like, say, being considerate of the other people sharing the one shower and kitchen and laundry facilities, and of the one person who is always cranky in the morning, but everyone there makes space for you, and knows that you’ll make space for them.

And they all make that space for you as the most natural and simple thing in the world.

Not a chore, not an imposition, just open arms and open hearts.

A place where other people see you as you are, and that’s okay.

What can be lovelier?

I do have a bit of a quibble, but that’s fully a “me” thing: I have never been interested in the Fae, and I’m therefore generally ignorant of most of the myths and legends about them, and didn’t much care for the third act grand revelation; it felt a bit too much Deux Ex Machina.

So while some aspects of the world building didn’t work for me, the sweetness won me over.

The Only Purple House in Town gets an 8.50 out of 10