Member Reviews
Finally got to the third book in Asher's Supernatural series. This one focuses on two characters that I've been dying to know more about, Olive and Bax. Granted I easily guessed some of the hurdles their relationship ran into while reading this installment, I was pleasantly entertained by Asher's supernatural world building skill. Thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
In the third of Asher's series, we follow routine-loving witch Olive who both fears and yearns for new experiences. Bad boy Guardian Angel Bax Donovan is eager to help her explore (in all ways), but finds himself learning about his own desires just as much as Olive. As these two grow closer, Bax begins to seriously worry about breaking a major rule of angelic guardianship - never fall in love with your charge. This was sweet and I enjoyed the relationship between Bax and Olive very much, but there was just too much extra stuff in the narrative. There are SO many side characters, supernatural world details and witticisms that it's hard to focus on the main couple. Light witchy fun, but needed a bit of focus.
I had a difficult time getting into this. The characters were fine, but just a little too twee in their dialogue and the writing in general.
Format -E ARC (Netgalley)
Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice- 🌶 🌶
Series- Supernatural Singles #3
Troupes- Friends to Lovers, forced proximity, mutual pinning,
Representation-
CW- toxic father
Its always fun to go to Ashers witchy world, and this book was no different! I’ve been waiting for introverted Olive’s roommate romance and y’all it does not disappoint!
The elusive and mysterious Bax is finally center stage and we finally get to know all about him and why he’s so elusive! I love these two together cause while they are total opposites on the outside inside they are actually perfect for each other!
With Ashers signature spice and dirty talk this book will fog up your glasses and make you all swoony. While also giving you all the warm fuzzies! Even though its not spooky season this witchy read is perfect for the season and a great addition to the series!
This cute witchy read has all of the good things. Spice, romance, mystery, and a plot line that sucks you in and keeps you hooked!
This one was so cute! I absolutely loved the dynamic between Bax and Olive. I also enjoyed how this one focused on Olive's self discovery of who she is. I loved getting to see the other two sisters so much in this one as well. This was a sweet conclusion to this series.
Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A tattooed, man bun sporting, pierced bad@ss guardian angel? And he’s into curvy nerdy girls? Um hi sign me up! No but seriously sign me up for an ARC.
I loved Vi and Rose’s stories so obviously when I saw the opportunity to snag Olive’s story early I had to jump. The Supernatural Singles series does not disappoint for the triplet witches and I 10/10 recommend checking this series out by starting with Not the Witch You Wed.
Okay okay back to Not Your Crush’s Cauldron—
Bax Donovan is the stuff fictional crushes are made of so it’s no surprise to find out our recently relocated Olive is trying to resist the temptation of flirting with her pierced roomie. He’s not making it easy though because his typical aloofness seems to have hit the highway when it comes to Olive—probably because our man is harboring some serious feelings of his own for her. Olive ups the ante when she decides to shake up her life and step out of her comfort zone with a Dare I Docket list, which lands her at risk. Call this situation a match made in purgatory since Bax is a guardian angel and Olive just became his next assignment, which he can’t break the last rule he hasn’t already shattered— Don’t fall in love with your assignment. Any bets on how epically this goes?
Thoughts—
I loved the third installment in this series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but I think it’d be a better read done in order. Both main characters experience growth throughout this novel and I only yelled at the pages a few times because I needed this man to get it together already.
This was my first book in this series and my first book by the author. I absolutely loved it! I'd give 4.5 stars if the rating system let me. I cried, I laughed, I snorted at one point to where my husband asked me what was so funny. Definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series now.
Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher
Release Date: 2/13/24
Format: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was a little leery going into this book because I didn’t love the first two books in the Supernatural Singles series, but I did enjoy Not Your Crush’s Caulrdon a bit more than the earlier books!
This book has some great forced proximity and forbidden love vibes for sure! I really enjoyed both Olive and Bax as main characters, and I loved the fact that Olive is working on taking risks for personal growth! There were a lot of great elements throughout this witchy romcom that made me invested in the love story.
Unfortunately, where it falls short for me is Asher’s writing. There are a lot of bulky or confusing sentences that would disrupt my reading flow. There is also a lot of over the top lingo for this universe that just comes off as trying too hard and takes me out of the narrative.
Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary arc in exchange for my honest opinion! The chemistry between Bax & Olive kept me going, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this book.
I loved this book so much, I think it was definitely my favourite of the trilogy! The dark and brooding MMC was perfect. I could have done with a little more magic involved, but the spice level was FIRE and made up for it. I can't wait to read more books by April Asher !
Not Your Crush's Cauldron is the third book in April Asher's Supernatural Singles series, about three witch triplet sisters finding their true loves and places in life. Unlike her other sisters, Olive Maxwell is the nerdy, quiet type, who just happens to have a giant crush on her best friend, Bax. When circumstances lead to her moving in with him, she's sure it won't work out. Little does she know that Bax, a guardian angel on the verge of getting fired, just got a new assignment: her.
I really loved this book, and the interplay between Olive and Bax. Olive really came in to her own in this book, where she was more a side character in the other novels. This book really hit me at the right time, and I got sucked in and couldn't put it down!
I enjoyed this book. I had some issues with the amount of detail put into some scenes. Big events seemed to have little details that I wanted more of and some things had to much details. Beyond the story was pretty good. The drama seemed a little over dramatized for what it was.
This was such an anticipated read for me, as I loved the first two books of the series, and it did not disappoint. I loved getting to know Olive and Bax more, especially since they were quieter characters in the previous books. I also loved how much we got to see Violet, Rose, and their lovers- and Harper too of course.
I loved the forced proximity and friend-to-roommate-to-lovers situation we had going on. There was also a lot of jealousy and hurt-her-and-you-die vibes, which are so good. This book was very spicy, like the rest of the series, and I was pretty glad that Olive wasn’t given the innocent vanilla treatment just because she’s an academic/bookworm.
I loved the whole premise of getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things. As an anxious girly myself, it was really relatable to see how Olive and her students felt about taking purposeful risk.
Overall, I loved this book so much. The whole series is such a love letter to curvy and plus sized gals, and truly is such amazing body positive/self love rep.
Sadly, this book is from SMP, therefore I will not be recommending or sharing it on my bookstagram due to the ongoing boycott. I truly love the book, so it’s a huge shame that the publisher refuses to take a stand against racism and genocide.
i am participating in the publicity boycott of saint martins press and all it’s imprints. therefore, I will not review this book until SMP speaks up on the matter and reassures the concerns and security of all it’s readers. This is in no way meant to harm the author. Thank you for the oppurtunity.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun supernatural romance novel! I loved the characters and all the supernatural elements in this book.
I have been eagerly waiting for Olive's story. I loved the first two books in this series, and I loved this one as well. You can't go wrong with this series for fun supernatural romance!
This story features a forced proximity story when Olive moves into Bax's spare room, and then he is assigned as her guardian angel, adding to the complexity of their relationship. Olive sets out to push herself out of her comfort zone, taking Bax along for the ride, with some help from their friends.
This story is a good time that focuses on the importance of found/chosen family, and the importance of having the right people on your journey.
I highly recommend this book, and this series, to anyone looking for a good, fun supernatural romance.
Another great installment in the Supernatural Singles series! Asher has perfected the art of writing fun, witty, emotional rollercoaster romances with the perfect amount of spice.
Olive has been the most intriguing Maxwell sister so I’m glad we finally got to read her story. A smart, sexy, funny, witch professor? Yes, please! These books just get better and better.
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It’s possible I didn’t enjoy Not Your Crush’s Cauldron because I hadn’t read the first couple of books in the series. When I requested it, I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series. Normally I’m fine reading romance series out of order, but I think this is one series that might be better read in order.
Their winter wonderland date was cute, but that’s about all I enjoyed. It was so hard not to skim. This story read very young, though the main characters were (I think?) in their thirties and the romance too spicy for it to be YA. I also wasn’t a fan of Asher’s writing style.
2 out of 5⭐️
I will be withholding all reviews and promotion for St. Martin's Press titles and their imprints until the publisher addresses the concerns of BIPOC and Muslim creators who are being stalked, harassed and feel unsafe due to the actions of a racist employee.
Totally on me for not realizing this was the third book in the series, but it did not affect my reading whatsoever! I found Not Your Crush's Cauldron to be absolutely adorable, super swoony and mushy, with the perfect amount of steam!