The author builds the romance slowly and organically, with heart-touching realism and thoughtfulness, and these character’s arc only add to the dramatic journey the characters must travel before they can truly embrace all they could be together. Highly recommending it.

There were some fun parts in this book - all the history of the town and the curse, but overall, it fell a little bit flat and the romance aspect felt strangely paced and also a bit forced. Still, fans of witchy magic and second-chance romance with an age gap might enjoy this more than I did.

The premise of this was fun, some Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes, with some likable and exciting characters, and realistic chemistry between Emma and Bastian. The narration style fell flat for me at times, and I wished that certain aspects of the plot/witch society had been delved into further. Some typical rom-com tropes worked well in this; overall fun, lighthearted, and a little bit of spice if you're in a witchy mood!

I loved the story and I loved the complete package. I did get annoyed a bit with the little hole and weakness that Emma seemed to portray, I wanted her to show her strength and brilliance just a bit more. Great read though and I enjoyed the story as a whole and would read again!

The cover looks like an young students book. If you took out all the sexual encounters it could be a YA. Childhood best friends, Emmaline and Bastian are contracted to marry. Bastian is from a high level magic family but Emmaline is not. Boy leaves girl, and breaks her hesrt. Boy returns seven years later because a clause in the contract has made his mother ill. Too much sex and no one is being truthful with each other.

The Witch is Back is a lovely cozy fantasy romance for readers who enjoyed books like The Secret Society of Very Irregular Witches and The Ex Hex series. The second-chance romance is heartwarming, and the character development is nicely layered and fitting for the genre. I will definitely be recommending it to my witchy romance lovers and cozy Halloween readers.

This was an absolutely SOLID adult witchy romance. I will be discussing some issues my fellow reviewers have had so stick around. This is definitely for fans of The Ex Hex and Not The Witch You Wed. They've got similar vibes of second chance romances and a witchy society that is quite shitty if we're all being honest.

While this couple did have some serious miscommunication issues I think everything made sense for the age bracket they were in and the things they were protecting. There were moments where I wanted to shout at them both to get their shit together, but I mean, a bit of drama is kind of the point of a story. We wouldn't be interested to read something where everything was perfect the whole time. It'd be a bore.

One of the big things I'm seeing from reviewers is about the virgin MC/purity culture happening in a witch book and how that's so unlikely. So let me stroll in and tell you more about myself than the internet cares to know (legit though, I have a youtube channel, so the world already knows more than it wants to). Multiple comments have said that the MC is too old, pretty, involved in society to still be a virgin (unless she's Ace). Here's the thing, I am many things. A witch (or Pagan, if you prefer), in my mid-30's, IMO attractive and successful, and a virgin. Why? Because I'm demi-sexual. And our MC Emma is 100% demi-sexual coded. She mentions when asked about her past experiences that it had never "felt right" before. And as someone who has done a lot of dating and had the opportunity before, that's exactly the answer. When you're demi (at least in my experience) even when there's no reason to NOT want to have sex with a guy, it just doesn't feel right. No matter how much you're physically attracted to them, you don't have that emotional connection and you just don't feel like having sex with them. I can see how Emma could have been in relationships over the years and still be a virgin because Bas is a guy that she has deep emotional feelings for and therefor, the person it feels right with. Now, when it comes to Bas and his sexual experience? Idk, maybe he's also demi? I've never been a guy so I can't speak to what it's like being male and demi but I imagine as men are seen different in the patriarchy that it comes with its own list of issues and hang ups.

That was a lot. So. Yeah. Basically my point was, my biggest issue with this book is the communication thing, but I also get it?

What did I love? the characters. Emma's Coven, her good siblings, Bas' parents, the familiars! The sex scenes were also, very nice. The magic was interesting and I'd like to know more about the magic system though I know that's not typically ever going to happen in these types of books that are more romance than fantasy.

I had a fantastic time reading this and if there isn't another book coming out ASAP with Tia and Henry as our MC's I'll eat my shoe.

This was just not a memorable read. It didn't offer anything new to either the witchy romance genre or the arranged marriage trope. The FMC and MMC were just so-so.

The book was well written, just wished for something more.

Quick Summary: A magical kindred spirits romance

My Review: The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan was ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. It was perfect.

About the Book: Two friends who were once betrothed abruptly parted ways due to secrets, lies, betrayals, and upsets. When a second chance reconnection happened, no one really knew what would be revealed. Can two broken hearts survive and find true, unconditional love?

My Final Say: This was a diamond. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It will go in my keepers vault. It was a real tearjerker...in a great way. I was so not ready for that sacrifice at the end. 😭

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Status/Level: 💞🌶💗💎

Sincere, heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (HARLEQUIN), and to NetGalley for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

Emma was born into and brought up by the witch society, but now chooses to live around humans. After the man she was supposed to marry left her seven years ago, she prefers now to live away from the witch society - in Chicago with her friends, running her bar, Toil & Trouble.

But then unexpectedly, that man, Bastian Truenote, is back and says he wants to keep their formal contract and marry her. Emma is suspicious.

Bastian had his reasons for leaving—but he literally can’t tell Emma what they are due to a hex put on him. And Emma has her own secrets - a powerful mother who plans to take advantage of Bastain's powers, and a half sister no one knows about.

Is the reason Bastain returned a good enough reason to go ahead with a marriage? Can Emma keep her mother from leaching powers from Bastain and his family? Can Emma keep from falling back in love with this man? Emma has many things to figure out, while getting to know her future husband all over again, and the sexual tension keeps getting in the way! Will Emma go through with the marriage, with everything that's at stake?

This was an entertaining romantic comedy. An easy to follow plot and likeable characters (and pets/familiars). I enjoyed the sass, wit and flirty back and forth the most!

This book ripped my heart out and then sewed it back into my chest in the coziest way possible. Emma is incredibly easy to identify with and the world created around her is full without being overwhelming to the story. I did find it a bit slow in the very beginning as we got to know the characters but after about the 20% mark I could not put it down.

Witches Emmalyn (Emma) and Bastian were facing an arranged marriage when Bastian took flight. Their parents drew up a magical contract years before and Emma was devastated when he left. Seven years later, Bastian reappeared and announced he wanted marriage planning to recommence.

Emma wasn't so sure. She had moved from the family home in New Orleans to Chicago where she opened a bar, Toil and Trouble. She was living as a human. She felt happy and in balance. Bastian's reappearance was like a bomb dropped in her quiet world. Each of them had secrets they couldn't share. Bastian needed the wedding to happen. Emma's mother was intent that they marry: she wanted to the higher status in society the marriage would offer her family. So, Emma and Bastian must work out how to cope with their secrets and work out a solution to appease their parents. One they can live with.

Recommended to lovers of light romcoms and those who enjoy a touch of magic in their readings. We'll look forward to the next installment in the series.

The Witch is Back was a quick and cute witchy romcom with an interesting magical system. I wish I could simply step through a portal to my destination anywhere in the world. But if the miscommunication trope is a big turn off for you, this one may not be for you. That didn’t bother me as both MC had secrets they were keeping from the other for but for magical reasons. I loved Emmaline’s familiar and emotional support pet. He was just as imperfect as she was.

- marriage of convenience
- Second chance romance
- Forced proximity

Emmaline and Bastian had been childhood friends and were arranged to be married due to a magical contract between their families. Bastian runs off before they are wed, leaving Emmaline brokenhearted (she truly did love him). Years later, Bastian returns and proposes a marriage of convenience. For reasons. She’s not the same meek witch he left behind and she’s determined not to fall under his spell.

Overall a cute magical read that kept me entertained while running errands. And sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

This was an adorable witchy read featuring the second chance romance trope.

This book has:
-A shy introverted heroine and an extroverted sunshine hero
-The friends to lovers trope with (seemingly) unrequited love from one of the parties
-Forced proximity and the marriage of convenience trope
-An “it’s always been you” scene
-Betrayal trope in the third act

This is only my third Witchy book I have read. First I have to start off by saying the cover of this book is absolutely adorable!! This is a heartfelt childhood friends to lovers book. I thought Emma and Bastian were really good characters. I can't wait to read more books by Sophie H. Morgan. I definitely recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

The Witch is Back by Sophie Morgan features one of my favorite tropes – fake dating (that, of course, turns into a real relationship). I thought the book was a little slow to get started but ended up really liking it. I think my issue at the beginning could be that one of my least favorite tripes in a romance novel is when the love interests don’t tell each other something important for not any real reason. The book did explain why they weren’t being completely honest with one another, but it just wasn’t working for me. It took about a third of the book for me to really feel like things were moving. I LOVED the end of the book, though.
I will also say that even though this was a book about witches that came out in the fall, it did not really have any fall vibes. This isn’t a complaint - more a note for anyone looking for autumnal reading.

This one didn’t work for me. The rules of magic and the world of the witches is not very well defined. I disliked both main characters and did not feel chemistry between them.

3.5✨
I liked! 🤍At first I wasn't very convinced but in the end I liked it, it was very nice and easy to read, it also has a dual pov, ✨it was very entertaining, it's good to pass the time, there were some things I didn't like, but other than that, it's fine. Emma and Bastian are very cute.🤍
I hope Emma's brother (Kole) has a book, I need it.👀

What a fun, contemporary, fantasy romance! This is the perfect witchy read for Fall. This will be great for anyone who enjoyed “The Very Irregular Society of Witches” or “Practical Magic”

3.5 stars rounded up

I finished reading this book a month ago but didn’t have time to write a review then. What has stuck with me is that I had a hard time with the beginning of the book, but I stuck with it, and eventually I did really like the story overall. You learn a lot more about Emma’s history, and that explains a great deal about her flaws—seriously traumatic childhood.

One thing I never understood: if witches can just portal to wherever they want to go, what prevented Clarissa from just following Emma and continuing to torture & torment her?

For readers’ advisors: story doorway is primary, character secondary. Plenty of swearing, some steamy sex scenes. No onscreen violence but discussion of child abuse.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eBook ARC!