Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi in exchange for an honest review.

Kitchen witch Dina Whitlock is enjoying life. She has a successful business, excellent best friends, loving parents, and an adorable familiar. There is just one dark spot. A youthful infatuation led to an unfortunate (and highly regrettable) mistake with an ex, marking Dina with a particularly nasty curse: anyone who loves Dina is doomed to get hurt. Not emotionally, but physically. Tragic accidental kinds of hurt. And yes, she's tried everything to break the curse. Everything but turn to her mother, also a skilled witch. Because to do so, Dina would have to disclose the fact that she's bi, and the ex who hexed her was a woman. So Dina immerses herself in her otherwise great life and tries to avoid love. It's best for everyone.

UNTIL .... She meets Scott Mason, museum curator and super-hot nerd. The day Scott strolls into her cafe, a protection amulet falls and breaks. Dina assumes this is a bad omen, but man, this guy is cuuuuuute. They are both smitten immediately but he ends up leaving before he manages to ask her out. Seems like a missed opportunity.

EXCEPT... As luck (or fate) would have it, they are attending the same wedding. He's the best man. She's a bridesmaid. Interfering soon-to=be-weds set them up to share a cabin for the weekend. So even though Dina knows, SHE KNOWS, that she should stay away from Scott and his super-hotness, she definitely doesn't.

While the romance moves a little fast, given that it's less than a week before they're madly in love, it's a great story. The banter is excellent. The shenanigans are the right mix of funny but not overly absurd. The food descriptions will leave you drooling. Dina can be frustrating at times but Scott is the ultimate book-boyfriend (Is dominant cinnamon-roll a thing? It is now.)

All in all, this book feels like a big, romantic, sexy, magical hug. It leaves the reader wishing they'd been invited to the magical wedding weekend. Highly recommended for readers who like their tea with a heavy dollop of magic and readers who enjoy stories that feel like wearing favorite sweater and eating croissants.

Ya know, it’s hard to be in a cozy, fall-like mood when you live in a state with heat like the surface of the sun. But reading Best Hex Ever by debut author Nadia El-Fassi definitely made me feel like I was in a London café and craving some cinnamon-flavored treats.

Dina Whitlock is a witch cursed by a hex. Any person she has romantic interest in gets hurt (non-fatally!) so she’s put off being in a relationship. But when museum curator Scott Mason walks into her café, it’s insta lust for both of them. Some forced proximity at a wedding, plus some intervening by Dina’s cat, their mutual friends, family and her family’s magical house (it packs sexy pajamas that were NOT in there before!) keep bringing them together. Dina doesn’t want Scott to get hurt, and the weight of the hex, plus hiding her bisexuality from her parents, makes her feel guilty for pursuing love. Then the hex injures Scott and Dina has to decide if this whirlwind romance is worth breaking a curse for.

This was so cute! It’s very steamy, and all of the recipes Dina describes while baking at her café made me want to bake too. Scott is a cinnamon roll who has a filthy mouth, and he’s perfect for Dina.

I also appreciated reading about characters who don’t want children, and it doesn’t end with them changing their minds. More of this please! I’m excited about Rosemary’s book being next. She sees ghosts and is a horror writer plus she loathes the actor who got cast as the lead in her book adaptation. I can’t wait!



Thank you to @dellromance and @netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for a review.

3.75 🌟

Listen, I'm from the midwest.... I like my 🌶 mild. 😬😅

Ok, a witchy baker who is able to enchant the things she makes with a little magic to make people's day a little better - what's not to love?! I did enjoy this book but it does start off a little slow. And also, the spice was a little much for me. However, if you are someone who enjoys spice and is looking for a witchy romcom - def pick this book up!

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload my review to Amazon on publication day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nadia El-Fassi for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Best Hex Ever coming out October 1, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I normally don’t go for contemporary romance. It’s not my favorite genre. A publisher sent me this book, so I gave it a shot because I do love autumn and witch books. This was a little too insta for me and I thought there were be a little more depth in the beginning between Dina and Scott. The “good girls” were not my favorite. Some of the dialogue seemed overdone. I think I wanted a little more. I liked the London setting and diversity in the book. I would check out other books by this author.

I wanted to love this one, but it just feel short for me. I constantly felt like I was being rapidly jerked between an adorable rom-com and a spicy romance, but those things just didn’t blend well together.
The romance between the MC never made sense. I understand having an instant lust thay grows into love. But it seems all they ever had was lust, that only stayed at lust, but somehow they were each others true love. Their relationship was only built on their physical attraction, it was superficial and never grew beyond that. I had a hard time finding to believable that they were meant to be together forever and having a strong love.

Overall it was cute and fun, but I do think this one needs a couple more rounds of revisions to get to a place that makes it unputdownable.

I feel rather ambivalent towards this book. I love the message of the book that we get at the end but the build up to it was somewhat of a let down.

The book is very progressive with a bi FMC, a non binary waitress that uses the they pronoun, a MMC with two moms, and a few heterosexual couples as well. The book is rather lighthearted with a sweet message that everyone can take and should take to heart at the end!

I liked parts of the book and was rather annoyed with others. the beginning was great, I loved the lead in to the wedding ceremony, I felt more disconnected once the sex started and then enjoyed the ending like I mentioned. I didn’t really connect with character on a long term basis and so at some points it felt like I was turning pages but not progressing in the story.

I do not enjoy insta-love and while I’m not denying some people absolutely know when they know, it’s no fun to me. I love the slow burn, the tension, the buildup, and the sudden realization and that was missing. Between that and the sex scenes, the middle part of the book was less fun for me on all fronts.

However, the story is cute and does make for a fun seasonal read with a great premise. The friendship between the three women is strong as diamonds and one every girl wants to have. The magic elements are perfect and I wish they were real life. The romance is okay but the connection between the two main characters is written so well. All in all, it’s a good book but not necessarily a me book, though I am very glad I read it.

Happy Reading!

First off, thank you for giving me an eARC of this book! Congratulations to Nadia on a lovely debut novel. This book was very cozy and a perfect read for the fall. I loved the main character Dina and the dynamic between her friends, Immy and Rosemary. I think there is so much Nadia could expand on with them that will leave the readers coming back to see what they’re up to!

Overall, I wasn’t too enthralled by the relationship between Dina and Scott. It struck me as instalove and I normally am not a fan of this troupe. If you’re looking for a surplus of spice with minimal plot, this will be right up your alley. Unfortunately for me I found myself wanting more plot instead of smut.

The message Nadia conveys through Dina saved this in the end for me. I love how it ended for her & it is a reminder that we all need.

Loved this book and its vibes. It's a nice cozy, witchy, fall read with spice for those that enjoy it. The fantasy part of the story was unique and I enjoyed that as well.

I adored this book. I loved the spice level and the fantasy elements. Dina and Scott were an adorable couple and I loved not only their relationship, exploration of her family as well as her friendships.

I unfortunately, had to DNF this book. While the the concept was interesting and I'm always excited to read a witchy rom com, the writing style was dull and cliche. Pair that with a 3rd person POV and I simply could not get invested into the storyline or the characters.

The perfect fall read. Cozy, witchy, spooky, and spicy. Loved the representation we got in the different characters as well

I didn't finish this at first and then picked it back up last week.. Very conflicted opinions here, I love the vibes and story, but the writing feels dull. I will be excited to see how this author progresses though!

vibes: coziness, witchcraft via baking, love at first sight, hexes

Heat Index: 7/10

Dina is a kitchen witch, her confections infused with magic that could snag you a job (among other things). Always unlucky in love, she's stunned by the immediate connection she seems to have with curator Scott. The issue? Dina's hexed, which means that Scott is guaranteed bad luck if he falls for her. Or worse. And as much as Dina tries to resist him for his own good, she can't help but wonder--is he the one?

So, there are some really fun things about this book (and the prose is good--it definitely pulls you in). Dina is a kitchen witch, which (haha) I've seen a few times before in paranormal romance. However, she's specifically a Moroccan kitchen witch (on her mom's side). I've never seen this before, and I really enjoyed it. I also appreciated the familial tensions infused into the book. Diana is bisexual, and a part of why she really didn't handle the hex stuff as well as she could have is that she was dating a woman when it all occurred. All of this served to make Dina more of a well-rounded character who actually stood out in a sea of kitchen witches and cozy witchy books.

Scott isn't quite as interesting, I'll be real. But he is nice, and he is charming, and I'm sure I would fall madly in love with him in real life. The thing is that this isn't real life, so, for me at least, a nice guy is just sort of. There. He wasn't exactly a plot mover and shaker, but, for all that this was a dual POV novel, it did feel more like Dina's story. Which is fine.

That isn't to say that this isn't a romance novel. It most definitely is. Dina and Scott do have a chemistry, and I did enjoy reading about them kissing. (The sex? Was probably my favorite part of the book.) But this was very much a love at first sight book, even more than I expected. It was... a bit jarring, I won't lie.

I'm never someone to say that you shouldn't have characters jump into bed early. And these two really doin't jump into bed that early. (Though once they do, there's a good amount of sex in the novel--and again, yay, love that for them.) But I will say--it did feel like there was some reliance on the sex in order to accommodate a little bit less character development. I believed these two had chemistry. If that's what works for you in a romance, then great. I'm not so sure I was pulled into the deeper aspects of the relationship.

That said--for all that I'm not super into coziness, the magic in this book was really fun. Loved the talking cat, the magical food. The hex was handled better than it was in a different "oh no my destined love is cursed" book I read.

It's not bad--it's solid. I just wasn't enraptured, personally.

The Sex:

Like I said, the sex is well-written. It's hot. It's descriptive. Many orgasms are had! I was about it!

I do always kind of get thrown for a loop when these golden retriever guys suddenly become "GRR COME FOR ME" in the sack in these novels. The transition is a little too smooth.

This didn't blow my mind, but it was a cute book to read, and I appreciated the fact that it wasn't just like... every other cozy witch book out there. I mean, in some ways it was, but it differentiated itself better than most books I read in this space, and I appreciate that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an amazing debut! The perfect amount of cozy witch vibes and sizzling romance! It is a tale as old as time- you swear off romance to focus on yourself and what happens?? Romance drops a delicious surprise right in your lap! Add in a dash of close proximity, wedding shenanigans for your BFF- and you have a wonderful debut novel perfect for spooky season!

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

This was a cute, cozy romance that was a pleasant read but still somehow missed the mark for me. There were so many cozy vibes throughout, and I was so excited for a cozy, witchy romance. But the romance was just okay. The good wasn't quite enough to outweigh the instalove and lack of a plot.

Right off the bat, this had the cozy, witchy vibes I wanted in a fall romance read. But after that, it continued to fall off.

The romance was instalove, which I typically don't enjoy, and I didn't love it here. The characters did have great chemistry, though! The lack of emotional connection just pulled me out of it. I wanted these characters to be together, but I just couldn't buy it.

The plot was lackluster and was overpowered by the rather plain spice. I'm okay with a slower pace if the other elements are working, but the instalove romance and cozy elements weren't. The FMC owns a super cute and cozy coffee shop, yet most of the novel takes place elsewhere. The magical aspects weren't as prominent as I'd have liked. The entire conflict was a hex that prevents the FMC from finding love as the significant other would be put in danger. The resolution for that hex was poorly built up and flat. It boiled down to the FMC needing to love herself. However, never once throughout the book did I get the vibe the FMC didn't love or accept herself. Thus, it is an uninteresting and uninspired resolution.

Overall, this was still a cute read. If you love plots that are outshadowed by smut, this is most definitely for you. Sadly, I'm a plot over smut girlie, so this was a bit of a flop for me. There are some incredible cozy elements and some lovely moments throughout. I am intrigued to see what El-Fassi does next as I did enjoy the supporting characters and can't wait to get more of Rosemary.

I'm always a fan of paranormal romance. Love at first sight is good for me too. This had all of that along with that special dose of magic that I enjoyed. There was a good amount of spice and a fun plotline. Overall a good book.

Such a cute book! This was just as warm a read as one of Dina's lattes or baked treats. Dina, as a kitchen witch, imbues her goodies with a little extra oomph for her customers. One day, Scott stumbles (and takes down an evil eye charm, poor form my friend) into her shop and it's insta-lust. Then they bump into together again. And again. And one more time for measure. I really enjoyed how Scott and Dina's lives wove together including the supporting cast of characters, especially Heebie. If you're looking for a lighthearted romance with a little bit of witchiness thrown in, I'd definitely recommend. I'll also be looking out for the second book in this series which, according to the preview, is due out in Fall 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the advanced reader copy!

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

Best Hex Ever was a lovely spicy witchy read that made postpone sleep A LOT. I devoured it in one sitting, and enjoyed every second of it.

We follow Dina's and Scott's perspectives, which delighted me!! I love dual POVs in books!! Dina is a charming, sweet, and kind person who helps people through magic and her cozy café. She is very funny, but her self-confidence isn't the best, which I didn't quite understand. She is bi but she hasn't told her parents fearing their reaction, and while it was relatable, it also hindered her dealing with the hex. Her mother could have helped with the hex but that meant knowing about Dina's sexuality, and Dina wasn't ready for that. It felt like Dina was sabotaging herself a lot, which is also very relatable, until Scott came, and she loved him too much to sacrifice him for her self-sabotaging.

Scott was a charming, easy-going, friendly, kind character you want to wrap in a blanket. In his case, a very big blanket!!! I always envy laidback people because I am far from that lmao I liked him a lot, and I always looked forward to reading his pov!

I liked how the author handled the witchy elements and how the author blended the magic with our world and the characters'/her own culture. However, it was a slow read, plot-wise. Not much happened if I look back at it, and I prefer more dialog and interaction in romance to see the romance developing, and I think I got more narration in some parts. The combination of insta-love and slow plot didn't make me dislike the book but it didn't make me love it, either. I am somewhere in between. If more events happened and the insta-love wasn't too insta, I think it would have flowed better. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I flew by the pages not caring about the time.

It is the monthly pick for a romance monthly box, so check my Instagram to see if I recommend to skip or not.

3.5stars :) This was overall a very cute read. I was really hooked the first 50% and then the last half fell a tad flat for me, but overall fun!

WOW

5⭐️/ 2.5🌶️

Okay first, thank you so much NetGalley for an ARC of this!!!

This book releases on October 1st and omg I wanted to wait until the date was closer but I just couldn’t.

I was so excited for this because fall is my favorite time of year, and the setting of this book is around Halloween. Dina is a witch who finds herself cursed in regard to her love life. Through the book she goes on a little self discovery journey while also being a badass baker, and maid of honor for her bff. I adored how the author described all of the bakery scenes. I felt so cozy reading this book, and it made me REALLY want cinnamon rolls.

Enter, Scott. This man is so dreamy wtf. I loved watching their relationship develop. He’s just so swoony 🥰 And wow his goal of returning all the artifacts to their native lands was soooo :”) we love that. Also man does he have a mouth on him 😳

Nothing can stop them from being together, it’s like the universe is pushing them together and apart at the same time. I loved their story so so so much.

-Witchy vibes/Halloween setting
-Forced proximity/shared room
-Baker x Museum Curator
-Obsessed man in the best way
-Bisexual rep
-Mental health rep
-Cute cat!!