I absolutely was bewitched by the book from the very beginning!!! The story hooked me quick, but it was the characters and stories between them all that made me read this book in record time.
I adored the FMC & MMC but also…the fully supportive characters in the best friends and parents were just…cozy. I wish I could transport myself in to this world and somehow convince Dina, Immy & Rosemary to adopt me in to their friend group. There were parts where I was kicking my legs in joy, yelling for a miscommunication to just stop! And then the tears that flowed when the ending started to come clear…I will have a special place on my shelf for this. Love the cozy witchy vibe this book delivered on and I can’t wait to read more.

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi is a magical and romantic delight! Dina Whitlock, a kitchen witch who runs a cozy London café, is cursed with a hex that brings bad luck to anyone who falls for her. Scott Mason, a charming curator fresh from global travels, is instantly smitten with Dina when he returns to London for his best friend's wedding.

Their chemistry is undeniable, especially during a whimsical weekend in the countryside filled with hedge mazes, palm readings, and a midnight Halloween ritual. But the hex threatens their budding romance, and Dina must decide whether to protect Scott by walking away or to fight for their love.

El-Fassi's writing is engaging and full of charm, with endearing characters and a magical setting. The blend of romance and magic is perfectly balanced, making it a delightful read. The sex scenes are great, adding just the right amount of spice to the story, and I'd rate them 3 chili peppers.

Overall, Best Hex Ever is a heartwarming and enchanting read, perfect for cozy evenings. I’d rate this book 4 stars for its delightful characters, engaging plot, and the perfect blend of magic and romance. I can't wait to read this again closer to Halloween!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the NetGalley team for providing me with the ARC to review.

Nadia El-Fassi's debut novel, Best Hex Ever, serves up a delightful blend of cozy romance, lighthearted magic, and mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods. The story follows Dina, a London-based kitchen witch whose love life is cursed, and Scott, a charming museum curator who might just be worth breaking the hex for.

The novel is a quick, enjoyable read that excels in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. El-Fassi's passion for baking shines through in her vivid descriptions of Dina's magical pastries, which are sure to leave readers craving a sweet treat. The inclusion of Moroccan folklore and traditions adds a unique and refreshing layer to the familiar witchy romance trope.

Dina and Scott are likable characters with an undeniable chemistry. Their relationship, while fast-paced, is undeniably charming, and their banter is often humorous and heartwarming. The supporting cast, particularly Dina's friends Immy and Rosemary, add depth and levity to the story.

However, as much as Best Hex Ever has to offer, it also leaves something to be desired. The writing, while engaging, lacks the polish of more experienced authors. The plot, while heartwarming, is somewhat predictable and relies heavily on tropes common in the genre.

The novel's biggest missed opportunity lies in its underdeveloped magical elements. The concept of a magical house is intriguing, but it's only briefly explored. Similarly, Scott's profession as a curator of cultural symbols could have been woven more deeply into the magical aspects of the story. This underutilization of potentially fascinating elements leaves the reader wanting more.

Overall, Best Hex Ever is a promising debut novel that delivers a sweet and satisfying romance with a sprinkle of magic. While it may not be the most groundbreaking or innovative story, it's a charming and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of cozy fantasy and lighthearted romance. With a bit more development of its magical elements and characters, El-Fassi's future works have the potential to truly enchant readers.

Recommendation: If you're looking for a light and fluffy read with a touch of magic and a generous helping of romance, Best Hex Ever is worth picking up. Just be prepared for a sweet treat rather than a hearty meal.

This was such a cute read!
It gave all the witchy vibes and I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a spicy/cozy witchy book.

Some troupes are
-instant lust
-bipoc fmc
-paranormal romance

Dina is a kitchen witch who owns a bakery/cafe in London and loves infusing her goodies with magic. She loves her family and friends but worries she'll never find romantic love because she's hexed. She normally doesn't even <i>try</i> to date because it's not worth the disappointment once the hex rears its ugly head—that is until she meets Scott.

The premise of this book was really cute, but I think the writing style just wasn't for me. It took awhile for the story to get going, and there were a few parts where I really wanted the narrator to get on with it. Some of the descriptions felt a little corny to me, and I kept thinking, "show, don't tell." I almost DNFed a few times but I wanted to see it through. I don't regret finishing the book, and I do feel like the story picked up as I got closer to the end. Overall, it was a cute story, but the writing just wasn't my preference.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A cozy, autumnal witch romance (so many excellent Halloween vibes!) that doesn't skimp on steam, much to my surprise and delight. I think I would have enjoyed more time and space given to Dina and Scott's emotional journey together overall; the book leans heavily on establishing their physical chemistry and connection, but then spends more of its focus on resolving the magical obstacle between them while they're enjoying each other's bodies, allowing for less page space to grow them beyond the (admittedly fabulous) sex scenes. Overall, though, this book was super charming, perfect for fall, and anchored by a great set of characters worth building a series around (I see you, sequel bait, and I am NOT mad about you in the slightest given which couple you set up).

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the moment you open the book and start to read, the author weaves magic around you. Her descriptions of the spices, ingredients and spells constantly makes you feel the magic enveloping you with warmth and a feeling of welcome. I have never read a book that did such a fabulous job setting the scene for magic and making you actually feel it. Five stars for that part alone!
I loved the story of Scott and Dina together. Their connection, the insane chemistry between them - it was perfect.

By themselves, I was disappointed in Dina in that she had kept this huge secret from her mother for the majority of her life and did not ask for help. I felt this way up until the end, when the author hits you with the surprising twist.

The spice level in this was just right. Some scenes more mellow, some spicy hot! But also done in a classy way that made you still enjoy reading it. The only drawback was they seemed to do a lot of "hissing" which kind of pulled away from the mood and I found myself constantly looking for that word in those scenes!

The cast of characters were all so great in this book. THe friends, the parents, even Dina's familiar-all had such distinct personalities and it was. a really fun read!

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the kind of book that will live in your heart for the rest of your life.

Cozy, romatic, spicy, and truly magical. A kitchen witch FMC and a museum curator (who lets himself CRY!!) MMC who had me giggling and kicking my feet. This is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves sweets, magic, autumn vibes, or even just a good ol' steamy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

I really liked the chemistry between Dina and Scott, however there is more spice than expected in this book, these two are hot and heavy for each other! I love the autumn/spooky atmosphere throughout the book, its a perfect read for spooky season. (which for me is all year round)

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for an arc.

Best Hex Ever is a cozy and spicy fantasy book starring Scott and our kitchen witch Dina. The book is a quick and easy read and has a delectable Halloween aesthetic. I enjoyed the exploration of magic and the queer representation. I believe there is room for improvement due to the insta lust and the repetitive sex scenes that started to sound too alike but I will still read the authors next book!

This debut romance is a delicious, cozy treat to read. Dina's a kitchen witch with a cursed love life. When Scott, a museum curator, stops in her cafe, it's insta-attraction. Dina has to decide what she's willing to risk to follow her heart. Reading this book is like the perfect autumn snuggle wrapped in a cozy throw with a cup of hot tea

Thank you, NetGalley and random house publishing group for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book so much! It was such a heartwarming, and cozy magical RomCom. The story is about a kitchen, which aimed Dina, who was cursed by a hex and every time she falls in love it doesn’t work out. She owns a café in London, and she puts positivity into her food that she makes! She is a maid of honor at a wedding and finds Scott who is a museum curator. They have instant feels for each other and wind up going into a suite and spicy romance. The only problem is Dina needs to undo the hex in order for her and Scott to have a magically ever after. I really enjoyed this book for the atmospheric field of autumn vibes throughout and I really loved the romantic fantasy magical elements as well. I love the cover and I will definitely reading more from this author. I would highly recommend this book.

This is my first book by this author and I was not disappointed. I loved the fast-paced romance and the spice! Of course, I always love me a good, paranormal/witchy vibe book. If you're looking for something that has fast chemistry and is super spicy, but also cozy and magical, this is the book for you! One thing I will say, I wish there was just a touuuuuch of more magic!

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Reviews will also be submitted to Goodreads when possible.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine|Dell and Netgalley for the arc!!!

This book was predictable but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a cute witchy romcom. One of my favorite things was the magic weaved into food. I feel this book will be a hit come Autumn!! I may have to read it again for the cozy feels!

If witchy romances that are equal parts cozy and steamy are your thing, you'll definitely want to pick this one up! I really enjoyed the bi representation and the mouth-watering descriptions (of the food... of course I mean the food) and am looking forward to Rosemary's book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

This book worked for me because I love an insta-love trope, if you don't then this is not for you. This book was very spicy, so yes!! I really enjoyed the magic, although I think the book could have delved a little deeper into the magical aspect. All together I enjoyed this book, it was a cute and cozy paranormal romance with lots of spice. I will definitely read the next in the series!

I've never read a cozy witchy paranormal romance but I thought this was a good read. The fmc is Moroccan, lives in London, and owns her her own cafe. She has had a terrible time finding love after a hex was put on her by her ex-girlfriend so anytime she's in a relationship or likes someone they get hurt. She meets the mmc and there's that instant lust between them and she has to figure out what to do about the hex and magic etc. Despite the instant lust, there was a lot of chemistry between the main characters and I found their romance very believable. There's a lot of spice in this book(like a lot) and I was so surprised by it because of the cozy cute cover lol. The fmc is a chaotic bisexual and I liked that, i wish the mmc had been a little more fleshed out but overall I think this is a good fast-paced cozy romance. Thank you Dell for the arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Paranormal romance
- Bipoc fmc
- Witchy vibes
- Instant lust
- Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Praise kink

While I liked this, I wish I had realized just how spicy it was going to be when I went into it. Dina and Scott are very horny for each other pretty much as soon as they meet each other. This book also takes place over a fairly short period of time, which made me struggle to believe they were actually in love, rather than just lust. Still, I do think I'll end up reading Rosemary's love story.

DNF at 60%.

Was excited for this! Believe me, I’ve been hearing and seeing it around Booktwt. But all the elements of the premise that I hoped would make this stand out and feel special let me down so unfortunately I had to set it aside.

This rating is definitely subjective so please keep that in mind. As far as a promise of fantasy goes, the magical elements are light-light-light. I wouldn’t even count this as a magical romance because there's so little explanation of the magic (Dina bakes magical treats and suffers from a love-related hex). As far as the romance: good characters overshadowed by some romance tropes that just aren't my favorite.