The Ex Hex

I went into this book with rather large expectations because of its hype as a fun, Fall romance with a magical vibe. Granted, I'm a bit late for an autumn themed book, but thought I'd dive in anyway because I loved the premise and its setting of Graves Glen, a magical town complete with a witch university.  

I wanted to love this book but witch, please! 

The Ex Hex lacked the magical mishaps, humour, and cool couple I expected. I loved the hex premise and the first line (see below), but the plot dragged because nothing much happens and found Rhys and Vivi to be pretty dull. Readers are told instead of shown the bond between them and I didn't buy into their fated second chance romance. There was no spark between them and despite the sex scenes thrown in as a spicy Hail Mary, most of the book felt like a tame Teen read and I was frustrated that the hex premise wasn't used to its full potential.

In the end, this was a big miss for me. I liked the Hallowe'en vibe and magical locale, but the story lacked substance and failed to deliver on its premise with a predictable ho-hum romance, not enough humour or magic.

My Rating: 2 stars

Author: Erin Sterling

Genre: RomCom, Romance

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Publisher: Avon

First Published: Sept 28, 2021

Opening Line: Never mix vodka with witchcraft. 

Book Description from GoodReads: New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.