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

This witchy romance was the cutest, the sexiest, the most heartfelt, witchy romance that I have ever read. The scenes were so steamy, Scott and Dina are everything, I had the sudden urge to eat cinnamon buns now. And I want everyone to read this book… I am such a SAP, so this book is everything for me.

This book is to fall as summer romances are to the beach. It encapsulates the feeling of Halloween, bonfires, and s'mores. Be prepared to desperately crave so many pastries and hot beverages. If you're looking for a read to get you ready for autumn, this is it. There is romance, diversity, inclusivity, and a good dose of magic to tie it all together.

My critiques: the main romantic plot focuses mostly on lust than relationship building, and the main conflict is built up to be a huge issue - but resolved in a few pages. Excellent world-building, but not a ton of meat.

Such a cute little cozy read for Fall with quite a bit of spice. Dina is a witch who has, what sounds like, the cutest bakery of all time and I would love to be able to go there! The magical pastries that can brighten your day or enhance your luck for an important event just sounds like what I need in my life!

You follow Dina through her weekend planning for a wedding and the weekend is full of fun and games! I love the family house that literally accommodates everyone's needs. To Heeby Jeeby's food to a dog bed for a cute little furry guest. My favorite is the tortoise ghost that likes to follow Dina around when she's there! There's hidden rooms in bookshelves and magical mazes!

The physical attraction between Dina and Scott literally jumps off of the page! Wow! I mean, so much so that it kind of drowns out the storyline in many areas! This is the very opposite of a slow-burn romance lol so if you're looking for a hot and spicy, very fast witchy romance, this is a perfect fit for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Random House Ballantine Dell for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I was very intrigued by the premise of this book - love hexes, kitchen witches, museum curators and thoroughly enjoyed the magic system. This was a very quick and cozy read. My one complaint was that I am not a fan of insta love type attraction.

Loved every second of this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read it! Witchy vibes, a cafe with pastries, spice, and romance. Sign me up! I cannot wait to read more from Nadia!

This was a spicy, witchy romance that the perfect read for the fall. The book is full of likable characters. The book is set in London. I look forward to reading more romances by this author.