Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom
Narrator: Laura Knight Keating; Zion Jang
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: Closed-door
Pub date: 9/3

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing for my advanced copy and to Hachette Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This cozy rom-com blends magic, love, and a whole lot of chaos in the best way possible. The story centers on Delia Merriweather, who doesn’t believe in magic despite her family’s firm belief that they’re witches cursed to have no powers. Delia’s family thinks she’s the "blue witch," a chosen one destined to restore their magic. But Delia’s not buying it—until she accidentally breaks the family’s hex, and all magical mayhem breaks loose.
Enter Max Halifax, the brooding and oh-so-irritable neighbor who’s been keeping tabs on the Merriweather family to make sure they don’t regain their powers. Max is convinced they’re a harmless bunch, but as he gets closer to Delia, he realizes that maybe this quirky family is more powerful than he thought. Especially since his heart seems to race whenever Delia’s around.


I loved this witchy read! It’s full of delightful moments, from the Merriweather women’s hilarious antics to the sweet and slow-building romance between Delia and Max. The small-town setting and magical elements add a charming, cozy vibe, making this book perfect for fall reading. I loved all the side characters, including Max’s brother and Delia’s quirky family. The audiobook narrators did a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life, making my listening experience delightful.

This is a great choice if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read that’s perfect for spooky season! It’s one of those books you can devour in one sitting, and you’ll be left wanting more of this magical world and its lovable characters.

Read if you like:
*cozy witchy vibes
*slow burn
*grumpy/sunshine
*small town
*dual POV

I’m on a roll this spooky szn to get my fill of Witchy Romance, and next up was HOT HEX BOYFRIEND. This was such a great story with great characters and I loved Delia and Max together!

This would make the perfect Fall read to set the cozy vibes, and I listened to the audio format and loved the narration.

*many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This wasn't my favorite witchy romance, but the audiobook was great. The narrator did a great job with inflection and pacing.

First, I would like to thank #netgalley and #hachetteaudio for granting me an advanced listener copy of this book! This does not affect my opinion.

Now that we've got that part out of the way, I would like to say that this book was a fantastic read. It was cute, it was witchy, it was impishly delightful. I loved the dynamic between Max and Delia. As a plump Texas girl myself, I really resonated with and loved Delia and all of her quirks. She was loving, kind, generous, and she was doing her best despite all of the naysayers and mishaps she faced. She had a lot of expectations on her shoulders and was carrying them with a smile, even when she doubted herself. Her family was a riot. I found myself laughing at their antics and comparing them to the aunts from practical magic. They seem like such an eclectic and boisterous bunch, much like my own family. Max was like sourdough. He was a little a little different from the others, but he wound up having the same soft center as them as well. His grumpy demeanor from the beginning made him likable for me. I appreciated that he was quirky, too, with his own traditions and understanding of things. His familial relationship was certainly interesting and entertaining. Luke was a loveable golden retriever who I just couldn't help but live from the get-go. He was like a kid so fascinated with everything he didn't understand. I think we all may have had a friend like Amy who was prickly around the edges, but once you knew them, they were a lifelong friend. Don't even get me started on Nicky. He was probably my favorite character in the story. There is something about his playful and sarcastic nature that immediately made me smile. I enjoyed all of the little details about different aspects of Texan life, especially the food from The Morning Glory Cafe. Overall, it was a wonderful and cozy fall rom-com that had me giggling and crying at one point. This was my first read from Carly, and I was not disappointed. I look forward to reading more of her books!

This was a cute Halloween/Fall romance novel about witches in Texas. It definitely gave me 'fall vibes' and kept a smile on my face throughout the audio. I enjoyed both narrators and felt the story was easy to follow with their alternating chapters. The storyline was relatively predictable, but I appreciated the limited romantic scenes, and it was relatively open-door.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this in audiobook format from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: This was a fun paranormal romance read that is a bit goofy. The characters were decent, but the world-building was weak. The story is very predictable as well. However, it made me laugh multiple times, and that is what I wanted it out of this.

I did listen to this on audiobook and the audiobook quality was okay. The chapters alternate POV between Delia and Max and each POV has a different narrator. This is where the trouble came in. The woman narrator is very loud and clear, while the male narrator is more soft spoken. I kept having to increase and decrease the volume when the POV switched because the woman's voice would be too loud and shrill and then the man's voice would be too soft to hear. This really could have benefited from better sound balancing between the two narrators.

Delia's family is convinced she is a rare blue witch but Delia knows her family likes to play at being witches but aren't actually witches (because they have no magic, duh). When the sweet old neighbor man who was like a grandfather to Delia passes away, his stuck up nephew, Max, shows up to sell the house. Delia is an aspiring interior decorator and sees a good opportunity to stage an amazing house. However, Max has another purpose that Delia doesn't know anything about. Delia's family are witches who had their magic cursed away, and Max is here to make sure that Delia doesn't break that curse on her birthday. Delia and Max weren't expecting to like each other so much, and neither one of them was prepared for the curse to accidentally get broken.

The main characters in here are fun and cute. I had trouble keeping Delia's family straight; the aunts, mother, and grandmother all seemed fairly interchangeable. However, Delia, her friend Amy, and Max and his brother Luke, and the familiar Nicky, are well done. The romance is simultaneously spicy and cute. There are heavy themes around family and belonging.

The world-building here is pretty weak. We get some explanation about the main big powerful witch and the city they live in and how everyone else is considered a "stray" witch. However, this is very shallow world-building and doesn't explain how witches function outside of the tiny sphere of this one town. This was odd because the main witch lives pretty far away and I was confused about how she didn't have oversight to more towns. Let's just say don't read this for amazing world-building, there are a lot of plot holes if you think about it too hard.

The plot was incredibly predictable. The author tries to throw a couple twists in there; but you can see them coming from a mile away. This is a decent typical paranormal romance with some humor. There really isn't anything special about this story. The story is cute and fun and sexy, but don't think about the world or plot too hard or you will find it lacking. This fit exactly what I needed at the time I read it. I needed something light and fun, filled with kind characters, and I got that.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this is a fairly typical humorous paranormal romance read. There are heavy themes of belonging and family. The main characters are adorable but the side characters are interchangeable. The world-building is very light and doesn't necessarily make sense, and the plot is incredibly easy to predict. If you are looking for a fun and light paranormal romance this is a decent choice. It doesn't really stand out for me from the million other cutesy paranormal romance books out there but it wasn't bad either.

WOW, what a ride! This audiobook is an absolute gem that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Carly Bloom has a knack for weaving together humor, romance, and a touch of magic that makes for an unforgettable experience.

The characters are so vibrant and relatable! I found myself laughing out loud at their antics and rooting for their love story every step of the way. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the way Bloom captures their banter is pure gold. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel all the feels—joy, laughter, and even a few swoon-worthy moments!

Listening to the audiobook was such a treat, especially with the narrator bringing the characters to life. The pacing was perfect, and I loved how the magical elements were seamlessly integrated into the everyday world. It’s a delightful reminder that love can be a little bit magical, even in the most unexpected ways.

If you’re looking for a fun, flirty escape that will leave you smiling, "Hot Hex Boyfriend" is a must-listen! I can’t recommend it enough—perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea or while on a long drive. Trust me, you’ll want to dive into this enchanting world! 💖🔮

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

I thought this book was delightful and charming - the perfect cozy read for spooky season. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I also thought the narrator did a good job. I enjoyed the romance and the humor in this book. I would definitely look for more books by Carley Bloom in the future!

Hot Hex Boyfriend is a cute cozy-romance/family story with a great premise that I was happy to listen to even through the parts that I thought were slow. I really like Delia as a main character and I loved the rest of her family and the cat. I liked the narrator a lot and she almost made up for how long it took to get to the parts that pertained to the curse and get the story moving, which was at least 40-50% into the book. Thank you to Hachette Audio for Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, the story was enjoyable - the Merriweathers are chaotic in the best way and the Halifax family is essentially the entire opposite, which made for a fun opposites attract element and the set up alone with the hex and these characters was a recipe for disaster haha. So many times, I felt bad for Max, his parents are something else and I could relate to him and his struggles. That being said, I had to remind myself these characters are in their 30s since some interactions they had struck me as quite immature and a bit annoying. It was also hard for me to immerse myself fully into the story and some parts held my attention more than others. I expected this to be a romcom full of fun magic and perfect for spooky season but it fell a bit flat for me.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was enjoyable. I'm glad there was two because I've heard the POV switches are not super obvious in the ebook.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom is a fun witchy Rom Com. This book was so much fun and a perfect read for Spooky Season.
The characters were well-written and interesting, and I loved getting to know them all so much!

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

I love witchy romcoms in the fall and Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom hit the spot. I adored her cowboy romances and was excited for the magical world she’d create. This was charming and bewitchingly funny. There are witches, curses, and an imp, oh my! The side characters added so much humor, with Nicky the imp (bound as the Halifax familiar) as my favorite. Delia and Max were wonderful together, but I wished for a bit more spice earlier on.

✨ small town romance
✨ slow burn romance
✨ dual POV
✨ grumpy/ sunshine
✨ sassy, comical imp

This a delightful blend of magic and romance in a world full of quirky characters. I know October and spooky season is almost over, but this is great book to pick up when you’re in the mood for a cozy magical romcom, even after Halloween is over.

I enjoyed the narration by Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang. Her slight Texas accent was great for Delia’s character. Both were new to me narrators and I enjoyed them both.

This was a cute, witchy book set in Texas. It was a little slow to start but once all the quirky characters were introduced the magic really started to happen. (Pun intended) The second half of the book really took off and in the end I thought it was perfect for witchy season. If you like any of this author’s cowboy romance books, you’ll enjoy this one, just replace cowboys with witches.
Thanks to forever publishing for the audio arc!

It’s Spooky Season Witches!
This was a delightful paranormal romance with a captivating and engaging premise!

I absolutely loved the cozy, enchanting feel of the story and thoroughly enjoyed the quirky cursed witch family, along with all their entertaining antics and shenanigans!
And who doesn’t love a fun familiar sidekick?!

If you’re searching for a charming and magical witchy romcom to wrap up the season, look no further!

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Delia Merriweather may love her family, but she doesn't believe that she comes from a family of hexed Cor Witches (practitioners of heart magic) like they do. In fact, no one in town believes it except for Max Halifax. He's sent to Willow Root to make sure that Delia doesn't come into her full powers during the upcoming Blue Moon on her 30th birthday. He has his secrets, and yet, he can't deny his attraction to the sweet Delia. Will he be able to prevent her from becoming the most powerful Blue Witch?

What I 🤍:
🎃 Fall Vibes
🐈‍⬛ Talking Cat (aka Imp)
🏡 Neighbors to Lovers
🧙 Witches
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
👋 New in Town
📜 Magical Historical History
🔎 Hexed Mystery
🤣 Hilarious Moments

I combined listening and reading this book, and I have to say, the audio version was AMAZING. It took me about a week to finish the audio because I was savoring it and didn't want it to end. In fact, I kind of got into a book-hole after this because it was such a precious Halloween read. I've read Carly's other series-Big Bad Cowboy- and I'm so pleased with this new series, especially because it's so different than what she's done before. It's magical, sweet and mysterious. The whole time I was wondering how/if they got hexed and how Nikki (the cat Imp) could be freed from his servitude. This book is marketed as perfect for Practical Magic lovers. I honestly disagree. To me, it's more like Hallmark vibes but add a little bit of swearing and some intimate scenes.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Passion: 🔥🔥🔥 (Mild Scene)
📍 Pretend Small Texas Country Town-Willow Root
Read 📅: Fall 🍁
Read If ➡️: You love sweet, small town romances with a touch of magic.
CW ⚠️: Swearing, Death of Family Member (Off-Page)

This book is not for everyone. If you love Hallmark vibes, kitchsy, cute holiday things like pumpkins, leaves and witches but not scary or dark, you'll love this book. Is lighthearted. I was cackling throughout the whole thing because of the innocent humor. I know this writing style is for a certain person, and for me it really works. This book made me feel good, and I was in a better mood than when I started. So, if that's what you enjoy, do yourself a favor, read this book. This book is going down as one of my favorite Fall reads from 2024.

🙏 Huge thank you to Forever Publishing and Hachette Audio for a copy of this book. Hot Hex Boyfriend is out now, and is the PERFECT read this fall.

Such a cute slightly steamy halloweeny romcom! It is always hard finding new holiday themed books that aren’t too corny but this one fits the bill!

A fun, lighthearted witchy read that hit the spot. Loved Delia and Max. Excellent side characters and fell in love with the town as well.

Overall just a perfect witchy book for this time of year with audio that brought it to life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom is a delightful and cozy romantic comedy that's perfect for autumn! The story centers on Delia and her quirky family, who think they are witches cursed to be without magic. Little do they know, they really are witches, with only a week left to lift the hex before they lose their powers for good. Max, their new neighbor, is tasked with watching them and is convinced that this chaotic family won’t manage to break the curse. However, as he bonds with Delia during her birthday celebration, he’s in for a surprise when the family starts to tap into their magical abilities.
This book was such a charming and entertaining read! The mix of magic and small-town vibes made it incredibly sweet. I loved the close-knit interactions among Delia's family; they felt genuine and heartwarming. Max and Delia were adorable together, and it was lovely to see how much faith Max had in her. His affection for her was truly endearing! The entertaining family antics added a wonderful sense of chaos and fun. While some pacing and plot elements could use a little tightening, if you read it with a relaxed mindset, the romance and whimsical story will definitely shine. I devoured this book in one sitting and can’t wait to explore more of this enchanting magical world!

I was so excited for this witchy romance. Since it is spooky season, I craved a cute romance with magical vibes. Mostly, the vibes were there - the small town, the familiar, magic, and hexes, but I was so bored. Unfortunately, I felt no chemistry between the couple, and a whole lot of nothing happened. I did enjoy the aunts.

I listened via audiobook. The narrators were fine. I didn't particularly love them, but they did a fine job.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Delia Merriweather does not believe in magic. But she does believe in family and they believe they are hexed. When Delia accidentally breaks the hex, restoring her families powers she is forced to accept that she is indeed a witch. With the help of her neighbor, Max, she learns how to control her magic and fall in love.

This audiobook is perfect for October where you don’t want something spooky or scary. It is as comfortable as a warm blanket, like a mix of Practical Magic and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Loved the duel POV’s and narration. Hoping to read more from this author soon.

I want to thank NetGalley, Carly Bloom and Hachette Audio for the audio-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.