this was such a perfect, cozy fall read to start out september! i loved immy and rosemary and dina’s friendship, and the found family was amazing. and i want more about dina’s baking and magic— i love the magic system. and more about scott’s ex too!! but overall, a very cute, slow-paced, spooky read for the halloween season

“We cannot imagine ourselves without it, because then we would not be ourselves” “This man was going to be her undoing.”

“That was cheesy as hell.” “Sue me.”

DNF at 35%. I appreciate getting the chance to read this but unfortunately the writing was not for me. I just felt like I couldn’t get into the characters and then being all talk and no show was really starting to get on my nerves. I liked the idea for this book but I just could not get into it.

Cute fall romance
Witch
Magic
Hex

Dina has a hex and is afraid of love until Scott flips her world upside down

This book makes you wanna cozy up with a cup of tea and believe in magic

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This cozy witchy romance set in and around modern day London really took me by surprised, in a good way!

The representation of different cultures and orientations was fantastic. I absolutely loved both the FMC and MMC.

All of the different family dynamics and friendships warmed my heart, and Nadia El-Fassi does a great job setting the scene -- I really felt like I was in a witch's cafe in London, or at a gorgeous intimate wedding in the countryside.

The spice is also *perfection*

I also loved how seamlessly everything was set up to lead into the next book, following another character.

This was an absolute blast of a book, and completely perfect for the fall!

I've been let down by a few paranormal rom-coms recently, and I'm so glad that this one has broken the pattern. Best Hex Ever has a blend of my favorite things: its cozy, following a kitchen witch working in the cafe she owns and where she infuses magic into her pastries and drinks, its funny and swoony, it has a nice dollop of spice, it has charming characters with great chemistry. It also has a fall-wedding setting for a good chunk of the story and some forced proximity infused throughout. All of this was done SO well, and while there was a bit of insta-love, it also was easy to overlook because of how great all these aspects were and how fun their tension is.

I loved the magic in this, Dina's relationship with her mother (who is also a witch) is sweet and realistic, they live in a magical home that basically matches their mood. Dina has two friends who know about her magic and accept her without question, and this even opens a door to a really meaningful and magical summoning scene on halloween. The way Dina's magic plays into the overall plot, and how it relates to Scott's already existing fascination with magical artifacts, worked to well for the story and offset her previous experiences with partners learning about her magic in a really warm and special way.

The only thing that left me a bit underwhelmed was the pace of the ending. It was still very satisfying and charming, and made sense for all of the characters personalities and the conflict they were facing, it just felt like it happened a bit fast and could have benefitted from being fleshed out better. Regardless, I absolutely loved this and think it is going to make a splash in the book scene this autumn!

Thank you so much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for this eArc!

“Best Hex Ever” by Nadia El-Fassi is a charming debut romance that blends magic, love, and a sprinkle of spice into a delightful read. Dina Whitlock, a talented kitchen witch, runs a cozy London café where she serves pastries infused with a touch of magic. While her culinary skills are second to none, her love life is cursed—literally. Whenever someone starts to fall for Dina, a string of bad luck inevitably follows. When Scott Mason, fresh from his travels and starting a new job at the British Museum, enters her life, sparks fly. But the hex that haunts Dina’s love life threatens to extinguish their budding romance.

What I Loved:

• I loved the friendship between the three main female characters. Their dynamic added a lot of fun and warmth to the story.
• Dina’s familiar, Heebie, was adorable and brought a lot of charm to the narrative.
• The book immediately hooked me with its focus on protective symbols, like the hamsa in Dina’s café and the exhibit Scott works on at the museum. This resonated with me because my college portfolio project centered around protective symbols, so I felt a personal connection to the story.
• The foodie elements were fantastic. All the descriptions of teas and pastries had my mouth watering.
• The Moroccan influences, especially Dina’s family and her witchy mother, brought a unique flavor to the story that I really enjoyed.
• Although I’m not usually into spicy romance, I found the dynamic between Scott and Dina engaging, especially with Scott being a bit more assertive and Dina enjoying that dynamic.
• I also appreciated that Dina is bisexual, adding more representation to the book.
• The adorable cover immediately caught my eye, and I’ve seen the UK Waterstones edition as well, which is absolutely stunning—I’m definitely going to need to get my hands on it!
• I picked this book for its witchy, cozy fall vibes, and while it nailed the witchy part, I would have loved a bit more of the warm, cozy fall atmosphere.

What I Didn’t Love:

• While there was plenty of sexual chemistry between Scott and Dina, their emotional connection felt a bit lacking to me. The relationship seemed to move quickly, leaning towards an insta-love scenario.
• I wasn’t a fan of how the major conflict revolved around Dina’s fear of being honest about her bisexuality with her parents when there was no indication they wouldn’t accept her. This made the conflict feel a bit forced. The “you have to love yourself to be happy” theme also felt unnecessary since Dina seemed to already be confident and comfortable with herself throughout the book.

I also read the included bonus chapter for the next book in the series, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about Rosemary. The sneak peek has me excited for what’s next!

Overall, “Best Hex Ever” is a fun, magical romance that’s perfect for readers looking for a mix of sweet, spicy, and supernatural elements.

This was a solid 4.5 stars for me, rounded up to 5 because I absolutely adored both the original cover and the Waterstones edition. The book’s connection to symbols, especially protective ones related to kitchen witchery, made it resonate with me on a personal level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Dell Romance for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


When I started reading this, it felt like the perfect, cozy Romance. Set in October, around Halloween, it's full of witchy vibes and fully encapsulates all the things you love about this season. The book also has a charming cover that will immediately grab your attention.

Dina Whitlock is a Moroccan witch who owns her own London cafe. Everything she makes is infused with just a little bit of magic and memories. Years ago Dina was hexed, meaning anyone who falls in love with her will get hurt. She's managed to keep relationships casual - until Scott Mason comes into her cafe one days and breaks her evil eye charm.

What follows is a slow burn romance between Dina and Scott. They cross paths twice more before realizing they're the maid of honor and best man at the same wedding (and their best friends, the bride and groom, are working hard to set them up). Once they get together, it turns into insta-lust. I was actually surprised by how much spice was in this book because it started out so cozy!

I wish we had gotten more depth from Dina and Scott. I think this is a result of the insta-lust (which happens to be one of my least favorite tropes). Even though they were talking about forever, it was hard to feel convinced they would actually make it because the reader doesn't learn what they had in common. Unfortunately, there's such a focus on spice that we lose out on character development and emotional depth.

Beyond the romance, the story emphasizes the importance of self love and acceptance. While it isn't easy, loving yourself is essential to living the life you want.

If you're looking for a witchy, Fall romance with a bit of spice, this is the book for you!

Obsessed! I lovedddd this book. It was a feel good, Halloween, witchy friendship/romance book, and it was everything I hoped for.

We follow our main character Dina as she tried to avoid a hex that she believes an old lover placed on her. Because of the hex, she believes that anyone who falls in love with her will get hurt. She has avoided love until she meets Scott, who is the best man in her best friend's wedding, While falling in love with him, she tries to keep things casual so not to hurt him with the hex.

Not only did I really enjoy the love story, but I enjoyed the other relationships in the book too. Her friends and family, as well as her beloved cafe and cat all added to the layers of Dina that prove shes a great person.

This book was a feel good romantic, witchy book that I'm so happy I got to read!

In a delightful blend of magic and romance, "Best Hex Ever" follows Dina, a talented kitchen witch and café owner in London, as she navigates the complexities of love and a lingering curse on her romantic life.

As Dina prepares for her best friend's wedding, she meets Scott, a charming curator who's recently returned to London after a heart-wrenching breakup. Despite their instant connection, Dina's past heartaches and the looming threat of the hex cast a shadow over their budding romance.

Dina is a captivating character whose creativity and magical abilities are as enchanting as her struggles with vulnerability and trust. Scott, too, is a relatable figure, grappling with his own emotional baggage. Their journey toward love is both heartwarming and emotionally resonant.

With its well-developed characters, a dash of magic, and plenty of heart, "Best Hex Ever" is a perfect read for those who enjoy a witchy romance that will leave you feeling all the feels.

best hex ever is a witchy romance with a pinch of cozy and a sprinkle of spice. it follows dina, a witch who loves to bake and owns her own cafe and scott, who has an established job in a museum and specializes in artifacts.

when he stumbles into dina’s cafe, it was as if he was in a trance. the feeling felt mutual with dina, but due to her troubled past in relationships and the hex she believes an ex put on her, she actively tries to avoid it. that is, until she realizes that he’s the best friend and best man of the same wedding she’s supposed to be in. as the two navigate their feelings and obvious attraction to each other, the story also touches on coming to terms with one’s self and finding connections and confidence in itself is magical.

while it did feel a bit insta-lovey right from the get go, i typically enjoyed dina and scott together; i thought their playful banter with each other was fun and i did enjoy their emotional connection as well. i also love the fact that she and scott were both so close to their friends and i loved that they had such a strong support system.

i also enjoyed that it touched a lot on moroccan culture and it was a joy to read something new and different in that sense!

thank you to netgalley & dell romance for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I found this to be a different kind of witch romance. I liked how proud she was of her magic, and her family and friends were so supportive. The romance was sweet.

This is a charming and cozy witchy romance! Thank you so much to Nadia El-Fassi, Del Ray, and Netgalley for the eARC!

ARC Review- publish date 10/1/2024

This book is the perfect story to get you ready for Halloween! The week before Halloween in London and a spooky castle was just the vibe I needed. The two leads in this story randomly happen to meet at Dina’s (the female lead) cafe when Scott (the male lead) knocks something off the wall. From there we get both their POVs as they go about their lives getting ready for a wedding they are both, unknown to each other, attending. Once at the wedding you get all the spice needed to make that pumpkin spice spicy.

I have a long list of good things in this book that stood out to me, here are some of them…
-Even though Dina is a witch, there isn’t a “love spell goes wrong”, she just is a witch and does cute witch things with her mom.
-The setting for the wedding works because of the set up for the side characters, its not at a creepy castle just because she is a witch
-The Bi representation is done very well, I liked how Dina was written not to like men and women with a 50/50 split, it clearly said things she liked and didn’t like about dating or being with either, it was a neat spin that wasn’t sexualized as “bi women are hot because they like both”.
-The back stories for the main characters are mentioned but it doesn’t focus on that, it focuses on the present

Over all, this book was easy to get into, had a fun cast of characters, and was just what I was looking for to start off my fall reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing an ARC for me to review.

I honestly really wanted to love this book, but I ultimately DNF’d it around 40%. The writing style felt inconsistent and amateur for the most part - I felt like I was always being told things instead of shown them. The pacing was also an issue for me, some scenes dragged on and on while others were glossed over quickly.

I do think the premise has promise and I think that as the author refines her skills more her future books will be great, but this one was a miss for me overall.

I love it when you pick up a new author and are immediately drawn into their story. I have to say, I am not big into witches and all that, but this one captured my attention because it is fun and flirty without all of the intricate witchy things.

This story is a witty read loaded with everything baked goods, wedding craziness, best man/maid of honor attraction, and a pesky hex to mess things up along the way.

El-Fassi tells a fabulous story that is so steamy and sexy, sparks are flying everywhere. The two main characters are on fire for each other and that comes across the page in a delicious manner. She manages to develop a great balance in the story between the insta-lust and the reality of life.

One thing that killed it a bit for me was the ending. It felt super rushed and disappointing for me. I wanted more! However, Best Hex Ever is a fun, sweet, and sexy story that you will totally fall for, just like I did!

Dina Whitlock always knows just the right ingredients to add to pastry, tea blends, and cocoa; everything she creates is infused with magic. Only a select few close friends know that Dina is a witch, but allow f the customers at her bakery reap the rewards. Museum curator Scott Mason is instantly smitten, but Dina is hesitant. It isn't a lack of attraction by any means. Rather, Dina fears for Scott's safety.

Years ago, Dina was hexed. Anyone she loves is doomed to be hurt. So Dina has closed her heart from every possibility of love. As it turns out, avoiding Scott is impossible, given they are the maid of honor and best man at their best friends' wedding. With a little push from her friends and a sprinkle of Samhain magic, Dina gives in to passion and love. But the hex isn't giving up easily.

Author Nadia El-Fassi's debut is cozy, romantic, and enchanting. Dina and Scott's scenes crackle with chemistry, and her friendship with her besties is beautifully written. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres, and this one is especially delightful. I really liked this story and was excited to learn that more books in this setting are coming soon.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of BEST HEX EVER in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Lighthearted story about a kitchen witch and her instalove interest. The concept offers promise. However, the author's style of writing was not to my taste. Don't plan to read more by this author.

This book was cute. I liked it a lot. I was in the mood for a cozy paranormal romance and this was the perfect book for that. I enjoyed that the spice had a build-up and the spice was fantastic once we got there. The characters felt very relatable and even though it isn't reality, it felt like it was! Very natural writing and I can't wait to read more by this author.

This one is perfect for a fall read. It’s got a cottage core witch aesthetic with a witch who owns a coffee shop and infuses her baked goods with spells to give people warm and happy feelings when they eat them. She’s under a hex unfortunately that threatens each time she falls in love. But she can’t help but fall in love anyway!

The two leads were perfect. The FMC was spirited and sweet and the MMC was everything a hero should be—tall and muscular but also gentle and kind. They had great chemistry. And it was a bit of a slow burn which made the spicy scenes feel even spicier! All the side characters were delightful as well, and I would love to see some of them get their own book!

The plot was fairly straightforward, but I thought it was just the right ratio of plot to spice. And the ending worked well.

Overall this was a great sweet and spicy romance that exudes autumn vibes.

Review published 9/5/24 on Instagram, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Fable, links attached, and will be posted to Amazon on pub day.

This was such a fun and spicy book! The MMC and FMC were such a good match. I actually wish this book was longer. I wish we had more details about the two MC! But I can’t wait to read more from this author