I would first like to thank NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

I have been committed to read the whole series, mostly because I was intrigued about the third sister Olive, and also really interested about the guardian angel Baxter, and was super excited when I heard that this book would be about them.

However, this series has been a bit of a miss for me in its execution, and this book is no exception.
I would actually say that it was the lowest installment so far, and I am no interested to continue reading if more books come out.

The premise of Olive being a professor in a university with a bad roommate situation, and moving into Baxter's apartment as a result is really good, especially when we are in both of their heads and realize that they have had a crush on each other for years at this point.

However, we barely see Olive actually teaching, and the whole plot for her is that she has this grant that she wants to get.
It could be interesting, but the whole thing was so unrealistic to me that I couldn't enjoy it.

Meanwhile, Baxter is a guardian angel who has been having issues with his assignments, and needs to succeed in the brand new one given to him, protect Olive?!
This setting was always going to be annoying to me, as it leads to a lot of secrets and miscommunication. I do have to say that it did not lead to a huge and long breakup, and was handled pretty well overall.

Adding the fact that Baxter is AFRAID OF HEIGHTS was hilarious but also nonsensical, as he is an angel with WINGS... And while it does lead to funny scenes, it felt a bit repetitive in the end, and I did not like the added comment about Baxter not caring too much about his fear while being with Olive... Regardless of how much you love someone, if you have a fear it will not DISAPPEAR through the power of love...

The main thing that aggravated me though was the non-stop horniness of both main characters...
And when they start a relationship, Olive who was very shy suddenly is fine with having sex in her OWN OFFICE in the university??? While her students could be barging in, or even other professors??? And she is trying to get a grant approved, so why would she agree, apart from being so in heat that her judgment is affected?
A small thing that annoyed me was the reference to Baxter's piercings. He has many, and in very intimate places, but Olive is so turned on by it from the very start. Is it a turn on for some people? Apparently so much for Olive that she kept referring to it all the time... It was a little too much.

And last, but certainly not least, the possessiveness of Baxter was really too much... There is a way to do it, so that you can see someone is protecting you, but Baxter went to the other side of that line he should not have crossed, and just straight up MADE choices for Olive without her consent.

April Asher pens a hilarious and heartfelt witchy romcom in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. I had not read the first two books in the series but that was not an issue as this can fully be read as a standalone.

This book follows the third Maxwell sister, Olive - a buttoned up witch who decides to take a walk on the wild side after assigning her college students a project aimed to veer them out of their comfort zones. Olive’s newfound sense of adventure lands her on the supernatural radar of the GAA and she is assigned a Guardian Angel - none other than her friend, roommate and secret crush Bax Donovan.

The romance between Olive and Bax was charming, and the forbidden nature of Guardian Angel x Assignment spiced things up! I also loved the fact that these two had previously developed history which only heightened their chemistry and made for some delightful exchanges.

The found family aspect of this book was enticing and made me want to read the first two books to see how Violet and Rose’s stories unfold. Not Your Crush’s Cauldron was a quick and engaging read and I hope we get more stories in this universe!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for a honest review from netGalley.

I love this series and I completely and totally want Harper's love story too. I'm just putting that out there for all those who fell in love with the maxwell sisters and needed their stories but still want Harper to have hers too.

Having said that Olive's story was so romantic and swoon worthy! Bax is the perfect angel for this professor witch. And if this is the last of the series I'll be ok know the Maxwell's are all in love with their perfect match.

I love these stories about the Maxwell sisters and their love life adventures. This one was prob one of my favorites so far i loved the angel part in the story and how protective he was of Olive. As always i like how the stories are all tied together in some way and but also don't all need to be read in order to understand what is happening. I can't wait to see what else is in store for these sisters and their families.

If you’re finding life stressful these days and you’re looking for a low angst, low stakes, funny, sexy, paranormal romance, look no further than April Asher’s Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. It’s the third book in the author’s Supernatural Singles series and the first one I've read. (The author also writes romantic suspense under the pen name April Hunt). Each book in this rom-com paranormal series can be read as a standalone though, of course, as the third entry, there are already two established couples from the first two books to play secondary roles here.

Bax Donovan is the least angelic guardian angel to work for Guardian Affairs. He’s a disappointment to his father Mikael, one of the Archangel’s Warriors of Peace, who had hoped Bax would follow more in his footsteps. Bax is a bad boy angel if there ever was one – a tattooed and pierced biker who happens to hate flying and heights. But there is one thing he is good at, and that’s being a loyal friend. When Olive Maxwell, a membee of his friendship circle is in need of a place to stay, Bax immediately offers up his spare room. He’s had a crush on her for ages but figures he can still keep it hidden even while she lives with him.

Olive is a witch and a college teacher of Supernatural Studies at NYU and is grateful for Bax’s offer of a place to stay. She’s not immune to Bax’s attractive, physical presence (including the nipple piercings faintly visible through his tight t-shirts) though she does a good job of pretending otherwise. When, in the course of one of her classes, she challenges her students to push outside of their comfort zones to learn more about themselves, she realizes that she should put her money where her mouth is and do the same thing. She creates a bucket list of tasks, including joining the circus (not really, but she does find aerial trapeze classes as a good substitute), doing something spontaneous, something socially frightening, etc. And naturally, this list puts her on Guardian Angel alert and Bax, to his consternation, suddenly finds himself assigned as a guardian angel for Olive.

There are three basic rules to being a guardian angel: 1) Don’t tell your protectee that you’re their guardian 2) Don’t get your protectee killed and 3) Don’t fall in love with your protectee. Since Bax can’t tell Olive she’s his new assignment, the only way to keep track of her and keep her safe is to offer to accompany her to her various tasks on her “dare docket”. Olive is glad of his company, and spending a lot of time together lets the mutual (if previously hidden) attraction they have for each other come to the surface, leading to some sexy times. But the more involved they get, the more Bax realizes that if Olive finds out about the assignment, she’ll think his romantic interest in her isn’t real. Will the trust and affection they’ve built come to a crashing end?

This is a fairly straightforward and predictable story but has lots of laughs and banter to carry it through. The secondary characters (Olive’s sibling witches, demon, succubus, animal shifters) are all really interesting (enough that I plan to read the other books in the series) and the friend scenes are quite enjoyable. Bax’s piercings include a genital jacob’s ladder (which, I confess, I did google on an incognito setting to be able to properly visualize the scene and for the purposes of this review!) and Olive is quite a fan. Sex in this story is steamy, lighthearted and fun, helped along by Olive’s friend, Harper, who is a succubus who happens to add some sex-related items to Olive’s list. Bax’s conflict with his father is brought up periodically (especially as his relationship with Olive gets more intense) and he eventually has to make some long-term career choices as a result. As for Olive, she has supportive sisters who are happily partnered up and are pleased to see her with Bax, once she spills the beans about their more intimate relationship.

As far as grading goes, the emotional stakes are never that high and as mentioned, Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is fairly predictable (no big surprises), which is what keeps it in the B range. The third act breakup scene is foreseeable but the happy ending is satisfying and overall, it’s a paranormal romance I’m happy to recommend. I’m hoping the next in the series will feature Harper the succubus, and Adrian, a lion shifter, as they seem to be always at odds, setting up a good enemies-to-lovers trope story.

This was magic. April Asher never disappoints me. I love the way he loved her and I thought this was a great way to wrap up this trilogy!

3.75+ stars

This book was a satisfying conclusion to a fun, (mostly) lighthearted paranormal rom-com trilogy. The story itself was pretty good, I liked the protagonists, and I felt the chemistry between the two of them. I was looking forward to their story, and I wasn’t disappointed. I do wonder if the writer will decide to go back and tell the stories of any of the other characters. If so, I’ll definitely check them out.

dnf @ 40% - the writing is bad, i actually don’t know if there’s a plot (i should hope so at almost 50%), and the banter borders on that of middle schoolers. thank you netgalley and publisher for an arc!

"Not Your Crush's Cauldron" by April Asher is an entertaining addition to the Supernatural Singles series. It focuses on Olive Maxwell's journey into the wild side of life, accompanied by her unexpected roommate and crush, Baxter Donovan, a Guardian Angel with his own set of challenges.

The novel dives into Olive's endeavor to break out of her comfort zone, a premise that sets the stage for some amusing and light-hearted moments. However, the storyline's reliance on the guardian angel premise feels weak and sometimes stretches the bounds of logic. Additionally, the level of graphic content may only suit some readers' tastes, veering towards the more explicit side.

As a standalone read, jumping into the series with this third installment might leave readers feeling disoriented, as the backstory and character development seem lacking. Familiarity with the preceding books is essential to fully appreciate the dynamics and context.

Despite these drawbacks, the camaraderie among Olive and her friends adds a pleasant touch to the narrative, offering moments of warmth and connection. Moreover, the unconventional take on the happily-ever-after trope, where not everything ends in a perfect win, adds an intriguing twist to the typical romance storyline.

Overall, "Not Your Crush's Cauldron" delivers a fun and whimsical witchy rom-com experience, albeit with some shortcomings in depth of character and plot coherence. It's a quick and enjoyable distraction for those seeking a light read, especially for fans invested in Olive's family saga.

Bookish college professor Olive Maxwell finds herself facing a challenge after giving her students an assignment to get them outside of their comfort zones - if her students are making their own 'Dare I' dockets, why shouldn't she? Olive doesn't know where to begin but moving in with her motorcycle riding, tattooed bestie Baxter (or just Bax) to escape a roomie from hell seems like a good start!

The tension as these two go about living in their close quarters is delicious (cue the hallway post shower run in where Bax may or may not lose a towel & unveil some *special* piercings). All the while Bax is skating on thin ice as a Guardian Angel & unknowingly to Olive, he has been tasked with keeping her safe while she takes on all of her daring tasks.

I'm not sure what is in store next for this author but I would love love love to see Harper get her own HEA after she's been a supportive bestie through the whole series so far!

In the newest Supernatural Singles series we follow Bax, a guardian angel, and Olive, a witch. Both the characters are in the other books in the series so it was nice to so how this played out. This series has been so fun and I really enjoyed this book, I look forward to more from April Asher, maybe a book about Harper?

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

"Not Your Crush's Cauldron" by April Asher is an enchanting blend of magic, romance, and laugh-out-loud humor that casts a spell on readers from the very first page. Asher's fresh and witty writing style brings to life a world where potions, spells, and unexpected love potions collide in the most delightful way.

The premise of a reluctant witch trying to navigate her powers while grappling with a crush on her best friend's brother is both charming and relatable. Asher's protagonist is endearingly flawed and utterly lovable, and readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way.

What sets "Not Your Crush's Cauldron" apart is its perfect balance of heart and humor. Asher expertly weaves together moments of genuine emotion with laugh-out-loud funny scenes, creating a story that is as heartwarming as it is entertaining.

This series has been a favorite for me. I absolutely love these sisters!! 🤭🤭

This one follows Olivia and Bax and I was here for allll of the delishhhh sexual tension. HELLLOOOO 🥵🔥🔥🔥
I love that so much in this book felt super relatable. Even if they are "supernatural". It felt so easy to connect with the characters. Grumpy sunshine is one of my favorite tropes and this one pulled all the stops.

I don't want to give away too much, but I will say-- this one was absolutely Incredible, fun, SEXXXYYYYY & everything in between. I'm obsessed 🤌🏻 and you should read it!!

I have been looking forward to Olive and Bax's story and it was great to see their happily ever after! I really loved their banter and how the story picked up where the previous book left off with their friendship.

|ARC review|
For it being the third book in the series it really felt like nothing was going to be surprising about the world they were in. That being said the Angel world being introduced was nice, and interesting to see their dynamic vs the demons in the second book

Olive and Bax dating wise were very cute, both are very tied to family in a healthy and unhealthy way. There was never a doubt that they wouldn't end up together. I just think the fact that after their fight it only takes Olive less than a day to have processed and sorted out her feelings while handling such a big presentation for her job

The Docket was a nice spin on a Bucket list, loved that in the end it was about how the experiences were wholesome and noteworthy because of the people you do them with and i think we should implement that. Like you wanna join the circus find a person you trust to join with you.

Oh how I adore this fun paranormal romcom. Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is book 3 and while it could be read as a standalone, I think it’s a more enjoyable read after reading the first 2 books in the series. This is about Olive, the youngest Maxwell witch sister and Baxter, her guardian angel.

This book had the perfect mix of banter, humor, steam, and supernatural elements.
I’ve enjoyed that the MMC have been a different supernatural being paired with one of the Maxwell witch sisters. But mostly, I loved the theme of trying new things and stepping outside your comfort zone. I think we could all do with a bit of that.

I’m really hoping this isn’t the end to the Supernatural Singles series. I’d love to see the Maxwell sisters’ friend Harper and succubus extraordinaire find her HEA too.

Read if you like:
✨ magical romcoms
✨ plus sized rep
✨ found family
✨ forced proximity
✨ friends to lovers
✨ interconnected series
✨ forbidden romance
✨ roommate romance

This was one of my more anticipated books coming out the beginning of this year. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series - and this one did not disappoint. The world building and family group is well established at this point, and while this book could be read as a stand-alone, there is definitely a lot of carry over with characters and former plot lines into this story that makes the experience a little better with the background.

Read this story if you enjoy:
>Witches and Guardian Angels
>Teacher/Tattooist
>Getting outside of your comfort zone
>Great side characters
>Magic and motorcycles

Olive and Bax are a great couple and I really enjoyed them both as individuals and as their relationship grew. I thought the project to take Olive outside of her comfort zone was a fun plot line and the things that she put on her list kept the story entertaining!

I was mildly disappointed that the lack of communication between the two of them played such a big role in the storyline. I understand how some of it was 'excused', but at the same time it played a large role in the third act break-up and the break down of their relationship. I really enjoyed Bax's sort of side-job as an artist and tattooist and the way that he designed a piece of art for Olive was very sweet.

At the end of the day, this was a very entertaining read and definitely a good addition to the series. I think this is the last (?) since all three sisters have had their own stories now - and the series overall was very satisfying. Thank you to Netgalley and Griffin for the eARC of this book. All thoughts in this review are my own and given freely.

This is a great story. The characters are fun, funny, and flawed. The world is a wonder to behold and walk around in. I love the plot with all of its twists and surprises. The banter and the omg moments are amazing and what kept me on my toes. I highly recommend!

April Asher ended the Supernatural Singles series beautifully with this sweet and steamy romance! I love this author.

I've really enjoyed this series so far so I'm glad that Not Your Crush's Cauldron lived up to the hype. It was cute and fun with just the right level of spice. I'm not the biggest fan of slow burns but it really worked for Olive and Bax. I really enjoyed getting to know Olive more in this one. I would have liked to see more magic in this one but otherwise I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.