Dina's ex put a hex on her-grr-a hex that means bad things befall her future partners. Ok, fine, she's contented herself with her bakery, her friends, and her parents but now she's met Scott and she needs to get rid of it. This is a nicely done witchy rom com with good characters that's enhanced by Dina's Moroccan heritage and her friends. The wedding at the castle is classic. And there's a bit of spice. Fans of the genre know that Dina's going to do her best with her witchy powers to rid herself of that pesky hex but how? No spoilers from me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

A cosy, fall fueled romance!

Dina is kitchen witch who runs her own coffee shop. Putting little spells in her drinks and baked goods can bring her customers luck, help them nail that job interview or even find love. Dina loves love, but unfortunately for her, she’s been cursed by an ex lover that anyone who ends up falling for Dina gets hurt. We’re talking hospitals, accidents, that kind of hurt. So Dina feels doomed to be alone forever. Although not completely alone, she has a close relationship with her mother who’s also a witch and her two best friends who know her about their witchy secret. When Dina meets Scott, the new curator at the British museum, Dina falls head over heels for him. Somethings different about Scott from her past lovers, he seems to be falling even quicker for her and she can see a future with him. But with her curse looming heavily over her head, she keeps Scott at a distance. The obvious thing to do would be to seek her mothers help but no matter how close they are, Dina’s keeping her bi-sexuality a secret from her mother and in order to get her help she’d have to let her know that her lover that cursed her was a female. So instead she takes matters into her own hands and tries stay away from Scott and when that doesn’t last long she tries her best to keep the curse at bay on her own.

A slow-burn, forced proximity trope. This was just as much a romance as it was a story about learning to love yourself. Perfect for an autumnal read, this had all the warm and cosy details written in so be sure to grab a tasty treat and warm drink. Along with two horror/paranormal loving best friends, you get a helpful familiar cat, and a quirky magical house. Not to mention the Moroccan culture details that really shone through Dina’s personality.

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 10/1

Thank you so much to Dell Romance for my advanced copy!

Dina Whitlock is a skilled kitchen witch running a magical café in London, and Scott Mason is a globe-trotting museum curator returning home after a painful breakup. Their lives become entwined when Scott, best man at a mutual friend’s wedding, walks into Dina’s café, completely unaware of her magical abilities—or the love hex that makes falling in love a risky venture for Dina.

This book is perfect for spooky season. The atmosphere is filled with cozy magic, playful wedding antics, and a simmering romance. The chemistry between Dina and Scott is electric, making every interaction between them exciting. The story's magical elements, from palm readings to midnight rituals, add a feeling of enchantment to their budding romance, while the looming threat of Dina’s hex adds tension and high stakes to the story.

Dina’s struggle with her hex and Scott’s fear of heartbreak are relatable, grounding their romance with real-world emotions. I love the way they’re able to open up to each other about their fears and how accepting they are of each other’s eccentricities.

This book is full of warmth, humor, and lots of spice. Nadia El-Fassi is a debut author to watch!

Read if you like:
*witchy vibes
*cozy magical fantasy
*single POV
*open door spice

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC .

This is a cozy spicy romantasy that had me giggling at times and fanning myself at others. It is hard sometimes for books to be spicy without it seeming like those scenes are just thrown in because; but the angst and spice where perfectly written and placed in a way that really helped you fall for the couple. The author did an amazing job of letting you into the characters lives a bit at a time as the story unfolded which made it so easy to connect with them. Nadia wrote a book that manages to make you love the ending but hating that it ended because you wanted more. When she releases books for the other friends in the group I will buying them immediately.

Best Hex Ever tells the story of Dima, a kitchen witch, who struggles with a hex that keeps her from opening herself up to love because she doesn’t want to hurt people. It has this great Practical Magic the movie vibes for the relationship. It is more than just a boy meets girl romance with magic though. Dima also struggles with being her true self about her sexuality because of fear of rejection from her family. Dima, Rosemary and Immy are friendship goals for sure, and every one wishes they had that kind of connection and friendship in their lives. I will stop rambling now and tell you just read the book, you won’t regret it.

Loved this book. I thought it was a cozy fantasy which it very much has cozy fantasy aspects but it's more like cozy fantasy smut. It was so good though. Just so adorable. I do wish there was less time in the wedding weekend and more time after the wedding. There was a bit of internal dialogue but it didn't seem like it was too much. The banter was great. Those friendships were amazing. Just so great!

<spoiler>The moral of the story was wonderful and beautiful message about self-love and how our negative thoughts can impact us.</spoiler>

I'm so sad to say this book was kinda a let down. I really loved it at the beginning - the vibes of Dina and her bakery and the witchiness were just so fall. It was just way too insta-lovey for me. Dina and Scott had three meet cute (all of which were good) and then after the third meet cute the character growth just kinda stopped. This book did the thing I absolutely hate where both main characters remember sex exists and therefore that is all they can do together.

**spoilers**

I have two main plot point gripes with this book, the first being the character development (or the lack thereof). Both characters seem so stagnant throughout the whole book. Scott has this trauma from being cheated on his last relationship, but this is not developed AT ALL except for him saying "I got cheated on and it sucked". Like dude. You left the COUNTRY because of it and it's not going to have any impact on your new relationship?? Unlikely. Second, the fucking curse. The main plot build-up through this book is this stupid relationship curse on Dina, and it turns out she put it on herself???? HUH????? And it's like a "you need to love yourself" ala Justin Bieber???? And her mom reverses it in like five minutes??? You're joking. You have to be. SOSOSOSOSOSO disappointing. Like. Even with the same idea this could have been done so much better. Scott also forgives her way to quickly. Like within two days and five minutes of her saying she's sorry. BOOOOOOO ARGUE PLEASE!! AHHHHHHHH

Dina's coming out to her mom was cute, and the turmoil she felt regarding that was about the only growth I saw in this whole entire book, which made it stand out a lot more than it was probably meant to.

Overall, definitely not my favorite read ever, which is so disappointing because I wanted to love this book. It definitely fulfills the fall vibe it promises, but if you're looking for anything beyond that I hate to say you'll probably be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy of this book!

Can I please transport myself into this book? Because I want to live there! This was exactly what I needed from a fall/witchy romance.

This book follows Dina and Josh. Dina is a witch of Moroccan descent who owns a dreamy bakery. After being hexed by her ex, she refuses to fall in love because anyone she gets romantically involved with ends up getting hurt. Josh is a museum curator that has just returned from a 2-year hiatus after having his heart broken. They meet one day when Josh comes into Dina's bakery, but everything seems to go wrong. After he leaves, they can't stop thinking about each other. Little do they know, they are both in their best friends' wedding and will be spending several days together, staying in the same cabin! Obviously from there, the attraction that they already held for each other progresses and it is the SWEETEST relationship.
The chemistry between Dina and Josh, in and out of the bedroom, was absolute perfection.

This has by far been my most favorite fall read this year, and I can't wait to read more from Nadia El-Fassi.

This book was a delightful mix of magic, romance, and charm. Dina, a kitchen witch cursed in love, meets Scott, the best man with his own past heartbreak, and sparks fly in the most enchanting way. With humor and heart, this story weaves together spells, romance, and the hope of breaking a long-standing hex.

A warm hug of a novel - perfect for fall vibes.

I waited forever to read this. I wanted to save it for fall, but fall failing to materialize (so far), I decided to attempt to "manifest" it with this book (and others) and I was not disappointed at all. This has something for almost anyone who enjoys a witchy romance - fall vibes, good friends, a bit of spice (all good cider should have a hint of spice!) and a sprinkling of magic. I loved all of the characters (even the ones who were less fleshed out - presumably for the sequel that is obviously coming) and the setting. Can't put into words how much I loved both the concept and execution of the "house" that Dina's family lives in. And once again - authors...your characters don't have to be billionaires! Here we see a perfectly awesome romance where the main characters are normal people. And without saying too much about the ending - I loved the "reveal" of the hex and how it was resolved.

I love that this book is effortlessly diverse. It is diverse without seeming to be trying too hard to do so and it just gives you that feeling of the real world. Morocco (and the Moroccan expat community) are vividly described with snippets of language and culture. Add to that that I can't describe how awesome the show Scott is putting together for the British Museum sounds amazing and I loved that he is up-front that the museum has a troubled past with stealing artifacts - and that one of his goals with the tour is to return some home where they belong.

If I had a complaint (and I don't - not really) it would be that I'm never the biggest fan of the "insta love" trope. But it didn't bother me here at all and I was very satisfied with this. It may not have "manifested fall" in reality - but it did in my soul. Highly recommended. A solid 4.5 stars - looking forward to what Nadia El-Fassi writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine - Dell for the advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
#BestHexEver

Definitely a good book for fall, I was getting such a lovely, warm autumn vibe as I sat reading this on a New England cove with a soft, golden light and the leaves beginning to change. The story is told from two different POV’s, something that works really well with this story. The main characters are a cafe owner in London who serves magic infused treats, she’s a kitchen witch. The other, Scott, is a museum curator who has just returned to London after escaping two years ago to nurse a broken heart. What should be a simple love story of these two falling for each other at their friends country wedding can’t be, because Dina, the kitchen witch, is under a hex that places any one she begins to fall in love with in danger.
I liked how Dina’s close relationship with her two best friends was portrayed, and Scott’s with his, they were written in a way that sounded real and natural. The use of omens being of particular interest to Dina and Scott in very different ways was a great way to bring them together beyond their having mutual friends. Then of course there is the food and drink, I’m definitely adding a drop of orange oil and a dusting of cinnamon to my next mug of homemade dark hot chocolate!
If I lived in London I would be at Dina’s cafe on a daily basis.
The only thing that had me knock a star off was the somewhat repetitive sex scenes and Scott’s language during them…it seemed demanding and hard, every time he said “Good Girl” the only thing that popped into my head was my nephew saying that to praise their lab puppy whenever she would do her business somewhat on command while out on their morning walk.
Overall, a fun, cozy book, I would red more by the author. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine/Dell for the chance to read an advance copy.

“Damn, he should have offered to get down on his knees and clean up the spilled coffee if it meant he could have continued speaking with her.”

I really liked this witchy book! Everyone and their momma knows I love a good instant-love and a kitchen witch so this book was bound to make its way into my heart. I loved the character growth and the relationship between Dina and her mom, it reminded me so much of my mother and I. All in all this books was awesome and I can’t wait for more!

I thought the premise of this—a bakery owner witch (Dina) and a museum curator love interest (Scott)—was a recipe for a perfectly cozy fall romcom, but it was a major miss.

The book started off strong: our main characters meet when Scott tries Dina’s magical bakery for the first time, then they run into each other again on the train to their respective their best friends’ weddings…only to find out that they’re the maid of honor and best man for the same wedding.

Everything goes downhill from there… It ended up being insta-lusty, and smutty with no connection beyond wanting to sleep with each other. The majority of the book takes place over one weekend, which, coupled with the fact that there was no reason for the main characters to like each other, made the romance hard to believe. It also felt like the witchy side of the story was put on the back burner for the majority of the book.

I need tension and emotions in a romance, and Best Hex Ever had none of that.

This was such a cute read. It was super cozy to read this Fall! Gave me all the right fall vibes! I would definitely recommend this book as it was a short & easy read!

This book is just the cutest ever. The cover itself is already cozy and fall-like, and the story does not disappoint.

Our story starts with Dina, working in her bakery in the U.K. The setting is immediately idyllic, with a cozy cafe with warm drinks on cold, fall days, and scrumptious pastries that will improve any mood. We then meet Scott, when he comes in for a drink, but he also happens to break an evil eye totem. Dina suspects this is a bad omen, and she no more than takes Scott's order and things go haywire.

This story isn't breaking the mold in terms of the overall plot, but I do want to touch on things I really appreciated about this story.

The first is that the cast of characters is so diverse. And not just one character either. We have Robin, who is Dina's employee, and is non-binary and utilizes they/them pronouns. Dina has dated both men and women. There are several different cultures represented. The other reason I enjoyed this was that the author didn't make someone's traits or preferences their entire personality. It's just one aspect of their life, and it's mentioned, but it never becomes the agenda of the story.

The U.K. location setting was another choice I enjoyed. Again, I think we see many fall romances set in quaint, small towns in America. Perhaps I am uncultured in fall romances (which is entirely probable), but seeing a story set in the U.K. was a great way to add freshness to this specific trope. It kept me engaged because I saw fall through the eyes of London, which wasn't my usual experience.

As we see Dina use her magical talents, one thing that stood out was how much she would infuse emotions into her drinks and treats to help others, and give them the boost they might need. There's a scene where she's making a few items for an upcoming wedding and she infuses the pastries with the feelings and memories of love shared between the future bride and groom. It was again another unique take on the "witch" side of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters are easy to root for and the setting brings a new zest to a fall romance. If sweet romance, autumn, pastries, and museums catch your eye, you'll definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio and Ballantine Bantam Dell Romance, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review! @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer
All opinions are my own.

This is the ultimate fall read. It was like being wrapped up in a gigantic hug. If Gilmore Girls is the ultimate fall tv show, this book is the ultimate fall romance. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Dina and Scott.

This book was much more steamy than I thought it would be, but that didn't stop me from reading it. I just thought it should be mentioned in the event that you are not a fan of spice

And Hebe the Cat was giving me major Salem from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Binx from Hocus Pocus. Any book with cute animals gets 5 stars in my book lol.

I highly recommend you pick up this book and read with a cup of hot cider and a nice warm blanket.
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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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OMG I loved every second of this book! I read it in less than 24 hrs because I couldn't put it down. I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time! The spice was perfect but so was the storyline and plot. I'm incredibly looking forward to her next book!

I found myself in love with the concept of this book, more than the book itself. The plot, the setting, the witches and magic in the fall. Literally the PERFECT fall read. However the execution was not great.

The writing I didn’t personally connect with. I loved the descriptiveness of it but found myself not connecting with the characters. I’m not a huge fan of instant love and Dina and Scott fell for each other too quickly without any reason besides their chance encounters.

I also found that I didn’t love the sex scenes. They felt quick and forced. Like quickies in the closet right after their best friends say I do? I think the fact that they hardly had any history before jumping into bed together. It felt more lustful than love, even though the author said otherwise. I wanted more tension and banter, less sexual innuendos. That would’ve sold the instant love story more.

The ending also fell a bit short. The conflict with her mom and the reveal with her being bisexual was resolved so quickly. It felt as if it wasn’t the biggest issue throughout the whole book.

All this being said, I enjoy myself. I liked, but didn’t love! I read in two days. The fall witchy vibes were perfect. I think other readers who enjoy more the quick falling in love trope will enjoy this story more. I definitely think some of my following will gobble this up. Thank you for the advanced copy! I will be posting my review on Instagram 9/29-10/1. I will come back to add the link to the review once posted.

An cozy, wholesome debut novel that has a magical side! I love that Dina’s magic was incorporated through her bakeshop/coffeeshop. The MC was a museum curator and fed into my Mummy crush I had as a teen on Brandon Frasers character. This book felt like a warm hug and I love how much the book showed her importance of her friendships and connections with her family as well :) A great novel to kick off the cozy autumnal season


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

what a glorious debut novel! Witches and MMC that falls absolutely head over heels first? Yes, please! The perfect cozy fall read full of humor and spice. I can't wait to read more from Nadia El-Fassi!

A fun Fall read to get into witchy season! I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It took me about 20% to get into but after that I crushed this book! There’s so much light fun with Dina’s friend and in her relationship. Scott is so lovable and unexpectedly spicy. There’s also a lot of depth to Dina’s personal journey that I really appreciate. But this ending!?!? Had me in the feels and I know some will really relate to her!