Not Your Crush’s Cauldron was definitely my favorite of the series! Thats not saying much though because I really liked all three of the books. I love Olive and Bax as characters and as a couple. Bax’s piercings were also a plus. The spice was excellent.

An insta love, roommates to lovers romance, this is the third installment in this witch sisters series. I liked the characters but the story was a bit flat for me.

This review is being held in solidarity with the marketing boycott on SMP and their imprints regarding the Islamaphic comments made by a member of their staff. Once SMP has addressed the concerns being addressed by the book community and ascertained that they do not as a company hold the same beliefs and will do better in the future, I will be more than happy to review this book.

I will update with my review once the SMP boycott has ended.

In the meantime...
#SPEAKUPSMP has three demands:

Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.

Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.

Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

I really enjoyed this one! It was funny, entertaining, and kept me fully interested the entire time. I loved that Bax was tasked to be her guardian angel, it made for an interesting "forbidden love" dynamic. I also loved that the angel was a bad boy, complete with a motorcycle, tattoos, and *ahem* piercings.
Which brings me to....
✨ FAV QUOTE:
"Your 🍆 is bedazzled."

I've loved this series since the beginning and was so happy to have an ARC copy of Not Your Crush's Cauldron. I loved getting to see Olive's story and was so happy to be back with these characters!

I’ve loved this series from the beginning, and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that Bax and Olive’s story is finally here! This book had everything I adored about the first two: incredibly witty banter, magical badassery, and spicy spice! PLUS this book had ALL THE PINING. I loved that in this book we were shown more sides to Bax than the previous two books, and let me tell you, I LOVE HIM! Baxter Bartholomew Donovan is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs 😍😍😍.

Honestly, I really just loved this story, it’s smart and fun and super sexy and I REALLY hope it wasn’t the end of the series (hint hint).

I was given an ARC by the Author. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the Supernatural Singles series and it can be easily read as a stand-alone. This is my first read of April Asher's works though. I often like to try authors I haven't read before.

Description:
Olive Maxwell much prefers teaching about the supernatural world to taking part in it and leaves the magical shenanigans to her two sisters―the Prima-Apparent and Bounty Hunter-In-Training. But after assigning her college students a project designed to nudge them outside their comfort zones, Olive realizes that she’s never once stepped a toe over her own…and it’s about time that changed. Her first
trip into the unknown? Moving in with her long-time crush―and friend…tattooed, motorcycle-riding, and pleasantly pierced, Baxter Donovan.

Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel not-so-extraordinaire, has acquired so many black marks on his record it looked like a scantron sheet. He’s given one last chance to keep his Guardian wings intact, a high-profile Assignment he knows all too well. Olive is usually as low-risk as it got. Hell, she wrote the safety manual. But something landed her on the Guardian Affairs radar and his guess was it had something to do with the heart-pounding stunts she’s determined to check off her Dare I Docket list.

Keeping Olive out of trouble is about to be his toughest assignment yet, and not because he’s forced to shake the dust off his feathers and embrace his inner aerialist. He’s at real risk of shattering the only Guardian Angel Code of Conduct Rule he’s yet to Don’t fall in love with your Assignment. And he isn’t so sure that’s a bad thing.

If love didn’t play by the rules, why should they?

My Thoughts:
This was a fun witchy rom-com. This third book in the series is about Olive and her challenge (which she gave to her students but decided she should do herself) to try new things and her budding romance with Bax - a guardian angel. It was a quick read and rather light on plot, but was an enjoyable distraction. I understand the first two books were about Olive's two sisters and their happily ever afters, so not sure if this is the last of this series or if there will be more. There wasn't a lot of depth to the characters, so I didn't get too deeply attached to anyone, but it was a fun read.

Thanks to St.Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on February 13, 2024.

The final installment in the Supernatural Singles series! Following Olive Maxwell, she decides to step out of her predictable box and push her boundaries, and hilarity ensues. As a result, her new roomie and longtime crush, Bax, who also happens to be a Guardian Angel, gets assigned to her "case" with this newfound increase in risky behavior. But part of the rules... he can't tell her, and he can't fall in love. Too bad he's already been crushing on her for years.

I enjoyed the overarching theme of pushing yourself to try new things and experience life. Not only did Olive discover things about herself that she didn't think she was capable of, but Bax did as well. In sharing their experiences together, they developed an emotional bond that went way beyond lust and chemistry.

I would have liked to see Olive's list be a little more daring, physically. The only really "dangerous" thing on her list was aerial yoga, so it seemed a bit extreme for her list to warrant a need for a Guardian Angel to watch over her for most things on her list.

Delightfully funny, witchy rom com with a bit of spice to heat up the story! What's a witch to do when she is falling for the seriously hot angel roommate in the room across the hall? Why fall on him of course! This series is always a good read as you'll laugh with witty banter, funny hijinks and swoon through spicy bedroom aerobics. There are witches, angels, shifters, vampires, succubus, demons and a few other paranormal creatures make an appearance in these books and I'm telling you that you should be lining up to read the entire series. The plots are well crafted with twists and turns that make these rom coms even more delightfully entertaining! This author has quickly risen to be one of my favorites and I think she'll become one of yours as well. I do recommend that you read the series in order so you get to know the characters more fully which will help you become more absorbed in the stories!

Not Your Crush's Cauldron by April Aster is the third book in the Supernatural Singles series which is a paranormal romance series. You do not have to read the previous two books in the series to enjoy this one but you will have more background information on other characters if you do. This book follows Olive who is the youngest Maxwell sister and Baxter who is her guardian angel. I found this to be a super fun and spicy witchy romance. I also found this to be really heartwarming and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun paranormal rom-com!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

I was looking forward to this book as it is the last in the series, and featured such an intriguing pair - brooding Guardian Angel Baxter Donovan & bookish witch Olive Maxwell. It started off very strong, but I feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and some questions left unanswered.

The story centers around Olive, who is trying to come out of her shell now that she no longer has familial expectations, and Bax - the Guardian Angel who loves her, and has been assigned to watch over her. Bax is on shaky ground with his bosses after messing up his last two assignments, so he needs to make this time around go by the book. Unfortunately, the heart doesn't care about rules, and they end up falling in love.

For the most part, the story is well crafted - lots of fun banter, breath-taking adventure and spicy scenes. However, there are some minor plot points that I feel are either rushed at the end, or just left without any explanation at all. It was a bit unsatisfying given the excellent build up in the first two books.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved this entire series. I saw that this is the last in the series so I am going to miss this group of characters. I would have loved to see another one in the series for Harper and Adrian.

While I did love this book I did enjoy the other two in this series a little bit more.

3.5 stars rounded up

Could Bax keep his hands off Olive when he’s her guardian angel?

Olive Maxwell knew that being the youngest head of NYU’s Supernatural Studies would be hard on her social life especially getting a new roommate in Bax Donovan. She knew that giving her students a Dare I Docket would get them out of their comfort zones but would she be able to take her own advice to step out of her comfort zones and do her own Dare I Docket and make a list.

Guardian Angel Bax Donovan wasn’t expecting his new assignment to be Olive when she started on her list especially when he had a hard time keeping his hands off of her.

If you like your romance with a lot of snark, laughter and a walk on the supernatural side of life, you need to read Not Your Crush's Cauldron and the rest of the books in the series!

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

4/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
5/5 🎧

I love this series so much and Olive and Bax's story was another amazing addition. These two were so cute as friends to lovers and I adored the forced proximity trope in this one.

Their found family is the best. Yes, the triplets are blood and they have Gran, but their friends are there 100% for them and I love it. Bax's donor is a giant jerk off, so it was wonderful for him to really find his place with Olive and her family.

The audio was really good too. Zura Johnson did a fabulous job and I love listening to her narrate stories.

This is the third book in a series focusing on three triplet witches finding their paths in life and finding the loves of their lives along the way. Olive is the "youngest" of the triplets and the most serious, conservative, and academic minded. She has focused on her career as an academic teaching supernatural studies. There's been a simmering attraction to her guardian angel friend, Bax, running through the other books, but in this book, Olive and Bax finally take center stage.

At the start of the book, Olive is moving into Bax's house to get away from a difficult roommate situation. Then, normally conservative Olive starts branching out and taking on challenges to stretch her comfort zone as a result of her decision to also perform an assignment that she has given to her students. This lands her on Bax's guardian angel radar and he is assigned by his HQ to guard her and ends up performing her challenges right along with her. The simmering attraction between them bursts into full bloom and they are both forced to reassess their friendship and decide if they want it to become something deeper.

Although the plot and the exploration of Olive's various attempts to stretch her comfort zone were fun, for me, there was something missing in this book. The stakes were low, and I didn't feel much of a connection or a sense of urgency or attraction between Olive and Bax. Also, the book was almost entirely lacking in supernatural elements. It might as well have been a regular contemporary romance and that was a bit disappointing. Still, the characters were likable and it was good to get updates on Olive's sisters and the progression of their lives. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

When Olive gives her students an assignment to get them to step out of their comfort zone, she realizes that she should also make an effort to do so. She moves in with her long time crush and friend Baxter Donovan who's a Guardian Angel. Bax's record as a Guardian Angel isn't the greatest and when he's given one last chance to keep his Guardian Angel status he takes it. The assignment? His roommate Olive. When it comes to assignments, there are three very important rules: First, you can't tell your assignment that you're their Guardian. Second, don't get your assignment killed. And the third? Don't fall in love with your assignment.

Did I mention that Bax is willing to help Olive with her Dare I Docket list to step out of her comfort zone? Will Bax be able to follow the rules or will Olive push not only her boundaries but also his?

Listen, I loved the first two books (Not the Witch You Wed and Not Your Ex's Hexes) but there was something about this one that didn't give me the same feeling as the first two. I just can't pinpoint what it was. I loved the interactions with Olive's sisters, and her friend Harper! Bax was HOT! He's covered in tattoos, has nipple piercings and a pierced 🍆. It was a cute read and I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The third installment in the Supernatural Singles series, this one follows youngest Maxwell triplet, Olive, and her new roommate and friend, guardian angel Bax Donovan. Long having had crushes on each other from afar, they're thrown into close proximity when Bax offers up his spare room to Olive to get her out of a bad roommate situation. When university professor Olive's class project of a Docket list, designed to coax the students and Olive out of their comfort zones, raises the red flags of the guardian angel system, Bax is secretly assigned to keep a watchful eye on her. Bax agrees to join Olive on her tasks, such as taking a silk aerials class, putting herself in an uncomfortable social situation, and other, more personal goals 😏, to monitor her safety, but also because he can no longer fight his feelings for her. When the risk factor is over, Bax is taken off the case, but Olive finds out via his vengeful warrior angel father and believes that he only spent time with her because it was his job and nothing more.

I liked this installment better than the second in the series, which I read out of order having skipped the first. I felt more familiar with the characters and all the different supernatural beings and their hierarchy, so it didn't take me out of the story as it did previously. For a witchy rom-com, this series has more of a fantasy and world building element to it that is not usually my jam, but I did enjoy reserved and bookish Olive looking to let loose with the broody and tattooed troubled angel Bax.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher
Narrator: Zura Johnson
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 2/13

April Asher enchants readers once again with her blend of magic, romance, and humor. This story follows Olive, the third Maxwell sister, who finds herself stepping out of her comfort zone when she moves in with her long-time crush, the tattooed and motorcycle-riding angel Baxter Donovan.
Full of witty banter, a smoldering slow burn, and hilarious side characters, this book is just a delight. The dynamic between Olive and Bax is perfection, offering readers a swoon-worthy bad boy with a soft heart. Bax's role as Olive's Guardian Angel adds an extra twist to their relationship as he walks the fine line between protecting Olive and breaking the rules by falling in love with her.
I love this series because while it’s a light and fluffy paranormal romance, the depth of its characters and their relationships play a significant role in the story. Every interaction feels authentic and relatable, from the playful banter between the Asher sisters to the heartfelt moments between Olive and Bax. It’s hard not to root for these characters as they navigate the ups and downs of love and magic.
The audiobook version of this one is entertaining, and I loved the narrator, Zura Johnson! She brought all of the characters to life and helped to enhance my reading experience.
Whether you're a fan of supernatural rom-coms or simply looking for a charming story to brighten your day, April Asher's latest installment in the Supernatural Singles series is just what you’re looking for.

Read if you like:
*paranormal romance
*curvy FMC
*friends-to-lovers
*forbidden romance
*opposites attract

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy and to Dreamscape Media for my complimentary ALC.

While I have loved the other two books in the supernatural singles series, this book fell a little flat for me. By the last third of the book, I really got captivated by the love story between Olive and Bax, but it was a struggle through the first half. I felt like the character growth took a while to come around and then it was a complete shift. Additionally, I felt like there was so much focus on the group interactions that it really took away from the main story. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I’m looking forward to future books in this series!