Member Reviews

Poppy and Axl were fun. Poppy was a wee bit annoying, but still made the book fun to read. It's witchy, adventurous, and funny. I would recommend for people that enjoy witchy, just be careful because the FMC is not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Was this review helpful?

This was a lovely romance combined with some magic. It was a quick easy read and the perfect book for spooky season. I loved all of the characters and think this is a great palette cleansing book and would be great for getting you out of a reading slump.

Was this review helpful?

Such a fun easy read. Really had a good time with this one and such good vibes for Sept / Oct reading months.

Was this review helpful?

1.5 ⭐️

I liked the magic system here. The idea that you can do it just by having strong enough will and asking. But also that each person can have a different method, like with understanding the animals. Some hear thoughts, some see pictures, and others just know what they want.

Listen, i love a cinnamon roll love interest as much as the next person, but insta love is just not for me. Alex was very cute, and poppy falling for an illusionist was very ironic.

Chaos is a theme in this book, but unfortunately, the plot was just that. Half the time, I had no idea what was going on, and we jumped from moment to moment too quickly. The final confrontation was so easily dealt with that it's hard to believe there was ever a need to worry at all. And if the villain gave up most of their power, how were they doing all these things.

Then there's the magic hair and sentient hair. When they said hair like rapunzel, that is not what I thought they meant. (Also, not what rapunzels hair does at all). You can't seriously tell me. No one ever noticed the hair moving by itself before.

Sadly, the book just wasn't for me.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Really fun book for the autumn and cosy season. I read this book over a couple of days. I would definitely recommend it and want to read more by this author! Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review!

Was this review helpful?

I DNFed this book at 50%. It seemed really cute, and the synopsis was promising. However, the dialogue in an Irish accent (?) was really overdone, and the characters were really shallow/under developed. Overall the story came off as cheesy, and I wasn’t invested enough in the plot by 50% to really want to find out how it would end.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully written romance that captures the magic of falling in love. The main characters have great chemistry, and their witty banter keeps the story light and fun. The plot is engaging, with just the right mix of drama and humor. This book is a warm hug for the heart—perfect for a cozy afternoon read!

Was this review helpful?

I finally got around to reading this book after forgetting to downloading the ARC from NetGalley. This was a cute book, but it didn't really feel like a whole new story from Hex Appeal. It was the idea that if you've read one, you've read them all, which was a bit disappointing when it comes to a sister series. You want the books to flow together but not be a complete carbon copy of each other. I still would rate this a 3 star solely because I rated Hex Appeal 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I did enjoy this book, it was an easy read which had all the elements that a light fantasy reader would want. The only let down for me personally was that it took me a fair few chapters to feel engaged int he characters stories.

Was this review helpful?

Rapunzel meets Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

If you haven't checked out Kate Johnson's Hex Appeal yet I'm not sure what you're waiting for. The follow up, Hex and the City, is the absolute perfect fall romance.

Poppy is a witch where chaos follows her at every step. Alex is an illusionist who is a bit lost and trying to hide a painful past. But then one night Poppy has a few too many, possibly curses a pendant that Alex perhaps is sold the next day and his show comes crashing down around him. Chaos. Ensues.

I think one of the many things I love about Kate Johnson's books are just how FUNNY they are. I tore through this book and you will too. I'd recommend reading Hex Appeal first but it won't affect your enjoyment of Hex and the City if you don't. Plus another beautiful cover to boot.

Was this review helpful?

I read and loved Hex Appeal so was hoping this would be more of the same, and in some ways it is, but it is not a sequel and doesn’t feature the same characters (barring a couple of cameo appearances!), so stands alone with no need to have read the previous book to know what is going on.

For the most part, this book is simply a sweet and sexy romance between two deeply insecure people, but halfway through there is suddenly an influx of statues coming to life, random time travel and other chaos – more than even the chaotic Poppy is used to.

I actually quite enjoyed all of the magical chaos and the very cute soulmates-at-first-sight romance between Poppy and Axl, and there were some great moments of humour throughout that I thoroughly appreciated. And, in my opinion, the pair’s blatant, desperate need for each other made up for some of the less sexy descriptions in the spicy scenes.

I also loved Poppy’s Rapunzel-esque magical hair, but couldn’t help wondering what on earth it DID with all of the rubbish it collected!

All-in-all, this was fun, silly and endearing and made for a lovely, light witchy read. And I would definitely read more from this magical world in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Really loved this. Late in my review but it was the perfect cozy fall romance. Totally up my alley.
Anything with witchy elements and a romance, sign me up. Hooked on it right away

Was this review helpful?

The hex and the city?
I'm sold!

Poppy is a witch. Obviously, she is working in a store with magical objects and is not taking her magic very seriously,
That's why, totally unpredictable, she cursed one of the guy...
and then, she realized, that taking it back is harder than she imagined...

Lol, that was funny! I was laughing sooo hard, that even people in the park started staring at me xD
The modern witches, the tangled plot and story full of twist and surpises.
Im looking forward to reading another book of Kate soon

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a cute witchy romance, I really liked Poppy. I think that her absolute chaotic self was charming. I think that the story line fell a little flat for me. There is a lot going on in a very short amount of time and I got a little frustrated when I wasn't quite sure what was going on. There were also a few cringy things that happened here and there. The weird miscommunication between Axl and his assistant, Poppys seduction of him. I think that I would have love love loved this if there had been more focus on the characters and their romance.

Was this review helpful?

A punny title is absolutely the way to get me interested in reading a book. I'm glad that I picked this one up because it was an easy, enjoyable read.

There were many things that I did not particularly enjoy about this book (the main character wasn't quirky so much as annoying and chaotic and the writing in general felt generic and a bit immature), the romance was sweet enough to make up for a lot of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Cute! This is a fun, laugh-out-loud romance perfect for Halloween season. Definitely put this on your to-read list for fall.

Was this review helpful?

A nice witchy/paranormal story with a cute premise.
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.
I know a lot of people have read this and enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

A cute witchy romance-ish story.

Poppy is a witch with Rapunzel type magic hair. Alex is a handsome magician.

One day while working in the magic shop, Poppy inadvertantly sells Alex a cursed pendant, and this is where he story begins.

Not a lover of instalove really but I did like the characters and it was a cute read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

"Hex and the City" by Kate Johnson is a delightful blend of magic, mystery, and romance that kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

Johnson's writing is witty and engaging, drawing you into a world where witches, vampires, and fae coexist in the bustling cityscape. The urban setting adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story, providing a fresh twist on traditional fantasy tropes.

The characters are vibrant and well-developed, each with their own quirks and complexities that make them feel like old friends. The chemistry between the protagonist and her love interest crackles with intensity, and their banter is a highlight of the book.

What sets "Hex and the City" apart is its seamless blend of romance and supernatural elements. Johnson weaves together a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and redemption, keeping you guessing until the very end.

While the pacing is generally solid, there were moments when the plot felt a bit rushed, and I found myself wishing for more time to explore certain storylines in greater depth.

Overall, "Hex and the City" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy and romantic fiction alike. With its engaging characters, imaginative world-building, and sizzling romance, it's a book that's sure to cast a spell on readers.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed reading this book.
I read it over a few days, and couldn't wait till I got free time to read it more.

Was this review helpful?