It’s no secret I love April Asher books. She has a natural wit and snark that I inhale. Her characters are flawed yet always find a way to do the work to be redeemed. A Simple Twist of fate is no different. I adored the premise of Harlow (Harry) doing what is best for her niece Grace, even if her hometown of Fates Haven is the last place she wants to be. Going home to where her ex-boyfriend Jax is was never the plan because turns out he’s fated for someone else.

Jax is now the Alpha of his pack and the only one willing to help Grace with her shifting magic. I loved the snark, the forced proximity and how this magical second chance love comes back. I highly recommend this book, especially if you love your romances with strong main characters who happen to say the most hilarious things.

“From the moment I first laid eyes on you over that purple crayon, I knew you were mine.”

Thank you St Martin’s Romance for the ARC.

3.5. I really enjoyed the supernatural singles series, so I was so excited to be approved for an arc of this.
I hate to say I didn't enjoy this one quite as much. It felt a little slower and didn't hold my attention as well. However, the way everything came together in the end was so satisfying and exciting! It was worth the slower beginning. This book has some very spicy scenes so be aware of that.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

A Simple Twist of Fate is an enchanting blend of magic, romance, and humor that captivated me from start to finish. Set in the whimsical town of Fates Haven, the story follows witch Harlow “Harry” Pierce as she returns home after thirteen years, accompanied by her goddaughter Grace, a half-human, half-shifter teenager struggling with newfound abilities. Seeking help from the local Alpha, Harry is confronted with her past in the form of Jaxon Atwood, her former love and the current Alpha of the Rocky Mountain Pack. Their rekindled connection is both heartwarming and sizzling, making for a compelling second-chance romance.  

April Asher masterfully creates a cozy, magical world reminiscent of beloved shows like Gilmore Girls and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, offering a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere. The supporting cast is vibrant and well-developed, adding depth and charm to the narrative. The witty banter and playful interactions had me laughing out loud, while the emotional moments resonated deeply. 

What sets this novel apart is its seamless integration of paranormal elements with relatable human experiences. The exploration of fate, choice, and personal growth is thoughtfully woven into the plot, providing substance beyond the romance.

Overall, A Simple Twist of Fate is a delightful and uplifting read that I wholeheartedly recommend to fans of paranormal romance and romantic comedies. April Asher has crafted a story that is both magical and profoundly human, leaving me eagerly anticipating her next work.

I have enjoyed previous works of this author, and this book is no exception. Harry thought she was doing the right thing when fate pointed her friend and her very own love as fated mates but didn’t stay to find out what was really happening. After moving away for thirteen years, Harry needs the help of the Fates Haven community and the Alpha. Returning home after leaving abruptly brings up all the old hurts and the lingering feelings. The characters are funny and caring. I love the sense of community. The romance is sweet, loving and spicy. I loved this story and hope to hear from this cast of characters again. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Didn't know what to expect, but this ended up being such a cozy, whimsical read! The romance was sweet, the magic was fun, and the pacing made it super bingeable. Definitely a great pick for a weekend escape.

I loved this, it was a very fun and easy read!! My only issue with it was how I felt like there was too much going on outside of the romance and I went into this thinking it would be the main plot. I would reread this though given how fun I had with my first shape-shifter story!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a fun paranormal romance!

The chemistry between Harlow and Jax was great. I’m a sucker for second chance romances and couples falling back into love.

I loved the found family of it all. The town was really cute and I liked both Jax’s and Harry’s friends. Harry’s relationship with Grace was also really special.

Read if you like:
- Paranormal Romance
- Second Chance Romance
- Fated Mates
- Found Family
- Shifter x Witch

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

3.5⭐

I don't hate witches per se, but I don't like them either. However, I love shifters and fated mates. The book itself is okay-ish, I think, but not a WOW. I just hate that they had to lose each other for 13 years cuz of this stupid reason.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

SKIP CHAPTER: 16, 22

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

I have no idea what this is about, but it has a dragon on the cover, and I'm a sucker for dragons. Let's not forget to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request 💖

This was a nice continuation of the world April Asher had built through her previous witchy romances. I liked that it was a unique take on unrequited love. Or rather lost love. The plot building was really great in this book with a fantastic slow burn build up of spice. You really by the end are rooting for all of the characters. The twist that is revealed is one that I truly did not see coming. I loved this take on a witchy romances and can’t wait to keep reading whatever Asher puts out.

3.5 stars- a feel good romance! Definitely a light and quick read that you can finish in between readings of series or if you just want to sit down with a book for a weekend.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a cute and cozy rom-com with a bit of raunch. It’s a quick paced, easy read about a second chance romance set in an idyllic magical Stars Hallow-esque town but with a paranormal twist as our main characters are a witch and a cougar shifter with other magical side characters.

I enjoyed her other series Supernatural Singles and the vibes of this book feel very similar to that series. If you enjoyed that series, I think you’ll enjoy this series. Similar to that series, the side characters are likely being set up as additional couples for more books in this series. I’m excited to read them all!

Thank you to April Asher, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and to NetGalley for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I love the main idea behind this book: our main characters - Jaxon Atwood and Harlow "Harry" Pierce were once high-school-sweethearts, until a 'Fated Mates' ceremony reveals Jax's fated mate to be not Harry, but her best friend. Upon completion of the ceremony, Harry leaves town rather than to have to face the man she loves and her best friend together as a couple. Thanks to an anti-tracking spell, and a spell that prevents her Aunt from being able to reveal anything about Fate's Haven to her, Harry spends 13 years in blissful ignorance to the happenings of her former hometown. Until she's forced to return, to beg her former flame's mother for help with her 16-year-old ward, Grace. Grace is a shifter of unknown origin, who is having trouble keeping her flames to herself. A return to Fates Haven, the shifter community outside of Denver, may not be what Harry wants, but could it be what she needs?

The execution of this idea was a little bumpy. First of all, the opening chapter of the book seems to reveal to us that Harry had been hit with a hex, causing the natural progression of things needed to necessitate her move back to Fates Haven. However, the idea of this hex is never mentioned again, which is a shame because it could have been used as a really interesting plot device to reveal who hexed her and their reasoning behind it.

The book introduces us to a lot of side characters who I assume are probably going to paired off in later books in a series, especially after the ending. This book is so full of side characters and subplots that it feels like we miss a lot of substance for our main characters - their emotional growth, or the build up to a relationship between them.

The town is well crafted and seems like an idyllic mountain getaway town. The residents are straight out of Halloweentown pre-Kalabar; they are close knit, a family in and of themselves. They seem to welcome Harry back with open arms, despite the fact that she dropped them like a hot rock and then ignored them for 13 years.

Fans of cozy supernatural romance (with a dash of spice for good measure!) will enjoy A Simple Twist of Fate, it just lacked a deeper connection for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an eARC for me to provide an honest review about. All opinions are my own.

A second chance cozy paranormal romance where Harlow “Harry” Pierce returns to her home town in order to help find clues to the mystery of her best friends daughters new magical abilities. She gets more than she bargained for as she reunited with her ex, gains new magical abilities and works to help the town of Fates Haven fix its magic.

Interested in reading the next books to see the other couples HEA.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the E-Arc!

I personally love a rom-com as well as a fantasy, both genres thrown together? Easily a good read for me. I really enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and the MMC, it felt realistic (well as realistic as a fantasy romance can be), and true to both characters. I hadn''t read April Asher before but I cannot wait to read more of her books. It was such a fun read and cannot wait to have our readers enjoy it!

Thank you so much for the eARC!

First, thank you for the opportunity to read this book early. Second chance romances can be tricky but this one was a total delight. The town is so fun and full of great characters. Would absolutely read another book in this setting.

This was such a fun and quick read. This book has all the fluff of a Hallmark movie mixed with all of the paranormal elements and atmosphere of Hocus Pocus. Witches and shifters, fated mates, magic is on the fritz, and a great second-chance romance round out this whimsical story. I loved all of the magical elements as they truly immersed me into the story. While I would have liked a bit more depth to the story and characters, it was overall a really enjoyable read. I’m hoping we will be getting more books from this fun new world!

Thank you so much to April, St. Martin Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I'm DNFing at 26%. I just couldn't take the useless bantering anymore. There wasn't much of a plot to keep me fully engaged, and I could care less about the characters. The premise sounded good, but the execution is just done poorly, including the pacing of the story, which just feels off. I could have also done without the corny titles of the chapters, it just kind of felt worse as I went along. I can see how some may like this kind of story, but I need something with a little more substance.

This book was “just ok”. It jumps in the trope of “fated mates” but without any of the tension and spice that the genre promises. Also, there’s too much detail on past and not enough focus on the present. Felt like the pacing was a bit uneven, as some parts seemed to happen too slow and others too fast. Overall not a bad read but not what I was expecting when reading the blurb.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I am so sad. I have loved this authors paranormal romances. However, this book felt rushed. The magical system was unclear. Neither if the MC’s was particularly memorable and there was no spark between them.