The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan

Published: August 15, 2023
Harlequin
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 376
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Sophie H. Morgan is a romance author who loves humour and heart in equal measure. A fan of random situations, challenging odds and serious chemistry, she can be found either in the English rain running after her spaniel or curled up on the sofa with a romance (with said wet spaniel snoring next to her).

“Truth builds; lies tear down.”

Emma lives a relatively normal life. She owns a bar with two of her best friends, and together they have a solid tribe of love and support. She is even mentoring her little sister, which she enjoys. Bastian has spent the last several years traveling. He has seen the world and experienced amazing things. But now, he is returning and wants the marriage contract between him and Emma to be fulfilled. Except they are both holding secrets back that could ruin everything.

This was such a sweet, yet spicy, book. I enjoyed the way the plot moved along. The pacing was staged nicely, with enough happening to keep me engaged.

I liked Emma. Despite having a lot of trauma from her past, she strives to be happy. I liked Bastian, he has an effortless charm, but he also isn’t afraid to be blunt. Their dynamic was precious.

The side characters added so much to the story, and I loved the different dynamics. The romance was deliciously spicy but also achingly sweet.

The is so much charm within these pages, and I loved the way a magical world was woven throughout. Well written and developed!

“A man begging her to marry him. But not because he chose her. Because she was the other name on the contract. And what a contract it had proven to be.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like child abuse, physical and emotional abuse, and abandonment. Revolves around sickness and death of a parent. Contains sexual content.

“The Witch is Back” follows Emmaline (Emma) Bluewater and Bastian Truenote as they reunite after years of no contact—after Bastian called off their engagement by legit running away and never speaking to her again. That was until Bastian walks back into Emma’s life, asking to be married, preferably as soon as possible, because Bastian’s mother was literally dying because they didn’t fulfill their marriage contract—a contract that not even one of the most powerful magical families, the Truenotes, can out-hex. How romantic.

Told in third person and through two points of view, “The Witch is Back” is an entertaining, witchy book that’ll have you hooked right from the start. The history between the two main characters is palpable and I was honestly dying to know what exactly drove them apart to begin with.

This book is for you if you’re looking for a magical childhood friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance with some marriage of convenience and forced proximity sprinkled in. I would highly recommend this book for any readers that enjoy witchy romance book, “The Witch is Back” does not disappoint.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

This book is full of witches, magic and all the complications that comes with a magical contract. Magical contracts aren’t easily broken Bastian knows, he ran away to avoid marrying Emma seven years ago. At least that’s what Emma thinks. But now he’s back and asking Emma to marry him.

Emma and Bastian are both flawed and interesting characters who hold secrets close tho their heart. They come from different levels of witchy society and hold different levels of magic. This becomes the crux of their issues throughout the book.

When they were young, Emma was a wallflower who followed Bastian around with stars in her eyes. Bastian was the golden boy who could charm anyone with his smile. They’ve both grown up during their years apart and Bastian is surprised to see Emma is now a strong, independent woman who bites back.

After they work to rebuild their friendship, you are gifted with Bastian’s redeeming story arc and Emma’s voice (she finally stood up for herself).
Their chemistry when they kiss is off the charts and the steamy scenes that follow are magic! 😉

Magic aside, their story felt believable. It’s about 2 people dealing with the fallout of their arranged marriage and how to get back to who they were to each other. We were hooked to find out why Bastian left and what secrets Emma was keeping.

The magic in this book was pretty fun! Lots of conjuring (which we would love to be able to do), cute animal familiars, telekenesis and opening portals to anywhere! Sign us up!

We really enjoyed this magical world. We’re hoping it’s not the last time we visit it, it’s full of potential future stories we would love to read.

Read if you like:
▪️Witches & magic
▪️Arranged marriage
▪️Childhood friend to enemies to lovers
▪️Second chance romance
▪️Secrets & betrayals
▪️Soulmates

This was a cute witchy rom-com. It was light and fun. Maybe a bit too cute and not enough witchy for my tastes but I did just finish Haunting Adeline and I may never recover. Overall an easy read. If you liked the Ex Hex I think you’ll enjoy this one too!

This was a cute romance book about two friends who form a fake relationship in their paranormal world. Honestly, I picked this book because of the cover because it looked cute and it was a cute read. The story felt more like YA than Adult but the story was great. Morgan is a great writer and I loved the way the story was played out. There weren’t many conflicts and the story felt basic but it did have a main conflict. This book is told from both Emma and Bastian’s pov which I liked as they were great characters. They had both great developments and a fun story. There weren’t many side characters but I liked how the story really focused on the MCs. The romance is cute but very plain and not steamy. It’s a marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, and a second chance. The ending was cute and overall it was a well-written story but bits of pieces were missing from the story. I recommend checking out this book as it’s a light read.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My very first 2023 witchy season read and The Witch is Back did not disappoint. I was in love with all the characters from the first chapter. This one was fast moving and I hated when life took me away from the book.

I enjoyed seeing how Emma and Bastian grew over the course of the story. They both had such wonderful support systems despite what happened 7 years ago.
That dinner scene at Emma’s house was hands down the best I’ve read for a while. Bastian said everything I had been yelling inside my head.
It also had just the right amount of steam for me. If you enjoy witchy romances with a touch of steam, then add this one to your October TBR.

I enjoyed:
Second chance romance
Forced Proximity
Witch Magic

Ugh Factor:
Miscommunication
Third Act Break up
I understand these are necessary for the story but I was hoping to be surprised by their absence.

A magical second chance romance!

Emmaline Bluewater (Emma) and Bastian Truenote were supposed to get married. In their witch society, their parents had signed a contract sealing the deal, but Bastian ran leaving Emma and her broken heart behind. Then years later Bastian returns, acts as if nothing has changed and wants her back...

This was an enjoyable book but was missing that little bit of something that would have pushed my rating higher. At times this felt like a YA book mixed with a fairy tale. Swooning, evil mother, magic, etc. I do not have an issue with YA books or fairy tales but the characters in this book felt younger than their ages. It also bothered me that when he came back after leaving her, he offered no explanation, and she did not demand one. That would have been the first thing out of my mouth, especially when he comes strolling in like he hadn't left her hanging and been gone. But I digress.... This book is full of communication issues, secrets, and swooning.

There were parts of this book that I enjoyed such as the support that Emma gets from her friends and her relationship with her sister. I also like how she stands up for herself at the end and takes a stand. I enjoyed her growth. This was a second chance romance that was cute and enjoyable but didn't fully work its magic on me.

This book was well written and had a good premise.

3/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

This was a pretty average read for me. My main complaint was that I wanted more magic and more romance. While I did overall enjoy the romance between Bastian and Emma, I felt like it could've been more. I wanted more chemistry . I think the whole engagement and contract needed more. It just really wasn't holding my interest. Of course there was also the magic. I wanted more of it. It got small bits here and there but it just wasn't nearly enough for my personal preference. I will say I enjoyed the last 20% of the book more than anything. Overall very much an an average romance read.

The Witch is Back is a tongue-in-cheek paranormal romantic comedy that effortlessly immerses readers into a captivating world of magical mayhem. This delightful and entertaining read is perfect to indulge in during the spooky season.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I came for the pretty magic and mention of witches, forcibly ran away at the mention of spice.

The Witch is Back is a fantasy romance novel. There’s nothing wrong with being a wallflower. Not to Emmaline Bluewater, anyway. Emma may have been born into witch society, but her days of trying to fit in where she doesn’t belong are over—they ended seven years ago, when the man she’d hoped to marry left town without a word. She’s much happier now, living a delightfully mundane human life in Chicago and running her bar, Toil and Trouble. Until Bastian Truenote walks through the door and announces that he wants her back.

Yeah no, I'm good. I don't do main plot romance. I'm good.

Oh goodness I loved this so much. I know it’s only August but I’ve been in a witchy reads mood and this one hit the spot. I loved our MC’s chemistry from the start, even if it was a little rocky. They truly were destined and seeing them grow together was so worth it.

I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book. I wasn’t connecting with Emma or Bastain I am so glad I stuck with it. Bastain is amazing, he is funny and smart and always stood up for Emma. Emma has her secrets and she is trying to shield her heart from being hurt again. Their growth through this book is so fun to read. I enjoyed this book quite a bit!

I love me a good witchy romance funny read, and when I saw this cover and the read the synopsis I knew this was going to be fun. Emma and Bastian were everything!!! This second chance romance with a twist is what everyone needs. They were best friends, destined to be together but he up and left and out of nowhere 7 years later popped up, and she was NOT having it!!! This is a broken hearted woman we are talking about, but when Bastian tells her why he’s seeking her out, she put that aside and decided to help him……. So this already has the tropes I am starting to love, close proximity, and second chance romance.

It was easy to fall in love with the characters in the book, witches and warlocks among humans, and Emma’s human best friend Leah, who is too funny, Tia is so bad ass, she reminds me of my own best friend. And I wish the author continues with their stories I feel a story coming along concerning Leah and Tia…… I’m just saying!!!! Lol

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I loved everything about this book. From the family dynamics to the second-chance romance and character growth, Morgan hits all the good spots with just the right balance of emotions and fun.
Emmaline Bluewater grew up with a mother who loved telling her she was nothing and witch society at large telling her she was insignificant. Her only escape and hope for the future was an arranged marriage to her best friend, Bastian Truenote. Until Bastian flees leaving behind a note simply saying that he can't marry her.
Years later, Emma owns a human bar with her best friends and has slowly built a life for herself away from witch society and her awful mother. Now, Bastian is back and ready to get married because his mom is suffering from a curse from the broken marriage contract. They were in an unbalanced friendship before and they're different people now, but the spark is still there. They'll have to face their fears, the reason why Bastian fled, and Emma's horrid mother to see if they can find their happily ever after.
The relationships not only between Emma and Bastian but with everyone they come in contact with are a perfect mix of supportively loving and pushy that only the best relationships can attain. Except for Emma's mom who deserves her own spot in the awful mother hall of fame.
And the romance is sweet and perfect and flawed in the way that two people can help each other grow by opening up, which makes for a very satisfying read. You cannot read how Emma and Bastian interact and not walk away loving them.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the magically romantic read!

Who doesn’t love a witchy/magical romcom. This girl sure does! With the fall weather getting closer it was a perfect time for me to dive right in to this sweet book. I did enjoy the story. It definitely was not a new trope but still enjoyable. The characters were likeable and I look forward to reading more.

This book was good. It was the first book I've read by Sophie H. Morgan. I enjoyed the magic and sense of found family. Bastian and Emma reconnecting after 7 years felt so raw. I loved that it was a slower connection and not just rushing into their relationship.
I kind of hope that this is a series, and I get to go back and maybe learn more about Tia or Leah... or maybe Sloane. It's such a wonderful story.

3.5 ⭐️/5
2.0🌶️/5

This is a magical world where in one moment you can sip a pint of beer at a bar in Chicago and in the next open a portal to step into an archeological dig site in Egypt, or a stuffy society party in New Orleans.

Emmaline Bluewater, born into witch high society, grew up always struggling to overcome shyness and please her SUPER verbal, magically abusive crap mother. Witch high society marriages were not about love matches but merging powerful families, and as a child she was contracted to marry her childhood friend (and puppy love crush), Bastian Truenote.

Emma’s days of trying to fit into this rigid society ends when golden-boy warlock Bastian abandons not only society but Emma, without even leaving her a note. Shunned by society, Emma moves to Chicago and opens up a bar with two of her friends (one human and one bestie witch). She is content to live an ordinary human life… until seven years after leaving Bastian shows up without explanation and declares he’s ready to marry her.

Bastian had his reasons for leaving, and even though he cannot tell anyone why he left and stayed away for seven years, he’s determined to fulfill the marriage contract. Except his sweet, meek childhood friend found her voice and backbone. He’s stunned to find out Emma’s not the same young woman he remembered.

Emma and Bastian both have their secrets but find that their childhood friendship has evolved into something ✨magical ✨.

Dual POV which I love. Each witch has varying levels of power, and each specializes in something different like manipulation of plants or mind reading. I loved the magical witch world that was created. I was hooked from the start and could not wait to find out the reason Bastian left and what were the secrets Emma kept and why. The joy Bastian and Emma shared when they decided to live in the moment was fun for me to read.

If this is a setup to the start of a new series I would come back to read. Would definitely recommend if you like modern day rom com combined with magic, adorable pupper & kitty familiars, and witches & warlocks. Tropes friends to lovers, miscommunication.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the advanced copy. My review is provided voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

⚠️🚨‼️ SPOILERY TERRITORY ‼️🚨⚠️

What disappointed me was the cleanup after the 3rd act breakup. I felt that after Emma struggled to find her inner strength plus her determination to no longer live as a doormat, she deserved a groveling Bastian. To me it felt out of character for her to chase him down and beg for forgiveness when he was just as guilty of shadiness and untruths. The ending was so abrupt. After the obligatory reconciliation, one that very much disappointed me, there was a 7 or so paragraph ending. No epilogue. It was sudden stop that I felt the storyline wasn’t satisfactorily tied up.

80% of the story I had fun. But the last 20% was not to my liking so the mini-icks I got during the 80% weren’t as easy to overlook. I don’t understand why we still need virgin MCs in a modern day romance where the MCs are mid to late 20something adults. I didn’t like how the MCs weren’t more honest with each other, miscommunication admittedly is one of my least favorite tropes, but it was getting frustrating to read. Lastly, I felt Emma was so beaten down by her mom, witch society, herself, that she needed that extra bit of lifting up and being chased after.

Oof, there was not much here I enjoyed. I usually really enjoyed second chance romances and fake dating, especially when they’re combined as they are here, but between the unlikeable characters (side and main) and the rushed rekindling of their romance with very little explanation or elaboration, this was not for me but also not particularly good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan is a fun witchy romcom with layers and layers of deep human-type issues. It’s a childhood friends turned enemies to lovers story that entertained me from start to finish and issues that hurt my heart for the main character Emma. With several family themes that magic could never repair, the story takes on darker, more severe tones the further I got into it but still with a delightful touch of magic.

I enjoyed the relationship between Bastian and Emma. They were meant to be together, which is evident starting with the scene where they see each other again for the first time in years. The romance has a bit of steam to it, but not overly much. The miscommunication adds plenty of tension to the story. It keeps it from becoming dull, as does the magical, witchy elements, which I just adored. As a matter of fact, I would have loved to see more magic. Still, with a main character determined to live in the human world as a human, it definitely cuts into how much magic can be done.

I also enjoyed Emma’s human bar named Toil and Trouble. What a fun name for a bar that made me want to open a coffee shop with the same name. And I loved that she owned it with her two friends, who were like family to her and supported her at every turn. It’s a wonderful place for support, love, and even to bring Emma’s dog familiar.

The family themes are so sad but also uplifting. Even though Emma’s mother is the worst of the worst, her relationship with her brother and her friends is a bright light in the weighty dark atmosphere her mother creates. The story moves a bit slower than I would have liked. Still, overall it was a lovely witchy romcom with just enough magic to hold my attention until the end.

THE WITCH IS BACK – Sophie H. Morgan
Harlequin
ISBN: 978-1-335-47604-3
August 15, 2023
Fantasy Romance

Chicago, Illinois – Present Day

Emmaline “Emma” Bluewater is a modern-day witch who doesn’t abide by the rules. She owns a bar in Chicago and regularly interacts with humans. She is considered a wallflower by witch standards and that was cemented seven years ago after the warlock who had been betrothed to her since they were children ran off, refusing to marry Emma. To say the least, Emma’s mother blames her for what happened. Not that she can ever do right in her mother’s eyes. But Emma is happy, especially now that she is far away from her mother.

One night while working in the bar, a blast from her past reappears. Her former fiancé, Bastian Truenote, is back—and he insists that they marry. Why should Emma marry the man who once embarrassed her? However, Bastian has a reason why they should marry. Because he broke off the engagement, his mother is now cursed and likely to die unless he marries Emma. She agrees but wonders how things have changed. He didn’t want her then, why should he want her now?

THE WITCH IS BACK is a cute and funny tale about witches, warlocks, and the world of magic. Emma on the outside looks like any other person but she’s really a witch. Her mother wants to merge with Bastian’s family because it would give her greater power and influence. Emma’s late father drew up the contract and apparently, the conditions are tricky. Can Emma and Bastian find a way to break it, including the curse put on his mother? Because they need to make it appear that their planned marriage is on the up and up, he moves into Emma’s apartment. Of course, being under the same roof only creates tension, and that includes the sexual kind.

Bastian gives off playboy vibes, but he really wants to do what is best for his family—and for Emma. When they were first engaged, neither was ready for marriage. Has that now changed, or will he stray from their marriage vows once they are married? Does Emma really want to get married after being embarrassed once? She isn’t the prettiest looking witch, and her self-esteem takes a hit at times. But she has one thing going for her: she cares about people, including her secret half-sister, Sloane, the result of her father’s dalliance with a human. Mating with a human is frowned upon and Emma fears that if her mother finds out, Sloane will be harmed.

Meanwhile, Emma and Bastian go toe-to-toe over their planned marriage. She doesn’t think he’s serious about it and she only wants a marriage that involves love. Yet, there’s no denying the serious lusting that is going on between them. A few hot kisses soon turn into more. Has Emma given her heart to a dastardly wicked warlock? Will the secrets they’re carrying come out? Can the marriage contract be broken, and if so, do Emma and Bastian really want that to happen? A silly and sizzling tale of witchery and love that readers don’t want to miss in THE WITCH IS BACK.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today