The Ex Hex - Erin Sterling

Love the name of the shop “something Wicked” it's the type of thing my Mum would have called her business.

Great little story, a must read ☺️

I've heard a lot of buzz about this book recently and was excited to get an arc of it, especially in October as it is perfect for autumn/spooky season. A book about a witch putting a curse on her ex, sign me up. I was really excited to read this and the opening line 'never mix vodka with witchcraft' really pulled me in. However I was a bit disappointed by this book, there was nothing that stood out to me as wrong but it just all felt a bit basic and rushed. The characters were so close to being endearing but i felt like the book could've really benefitted from being a bit longer. If the book was a bit longer and the characters were more fleshed out this probably would've been a 4 star read for me rather than 3, it was a fun little romance which is easy and quick to read but because everything felt so rushed, nothing felt memorable. I would still check other books by this author out in future though.

This is one of my favorite reading seasons because there is absolutely nothing better than curling up under a fuzzy blanket with a good book A wonderful magical book. Reminds me of holiday movies but in print. Such a cute story for this time of year. A lovely light-hearted read. Warms my heart.

This was a cozy, funny rom com with a witchy theme.
This is a lovers to enemies to lovers (??) again. I found this to be well written with likeable characters that you are always rooting for. There was sufficient spooky theme which is perfect for Autumn - from bewitched toy skulls, a frightening library ghost and of course dodgy ley lines.
I really enjoyed this and would happily read again - perfect reading for a spooky evening curled up with a hot chocolate and cuddly cat.

I am extremely grateful to have received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a quick and fun read, I managed to finish this one within a day !! Perfect if you’re looking for a romance book with spooky vibes for October (to quote the author, it is literally hocus pocus but they fuck). Whilst the plot didn’t wow me, I enjoyed how light and cute the romance was, and all of the banter between rhys and vivi kept me very entertained, I love them both so much ESPECIALLY rhys. I also really enjoyed the side characters and would not object to a sequel starring gwyn ;) ;)

I thought that this was a fun book however i was a little bit disappointed by it. I was enticed by the witchy aspect of this romance, but the witch element wasnt really focused on. However i did enjoy the curse part, it was interesting and a good way to bring the characters back together. This is very focused on the romance, theres a fair amount of romance and sex scenes which i did enjoy but i wish there was more. More character development and having the characters have friends outside of family would have been great. i like how it was dual pov, getting both Rhys and Vivis perspective gave us more insight into what was happening. i do feel like the ending was a little bit rushed, there could have been so much more depth to the situation. Rhys could have had a better reaction, it could have been more emotional which is what i would want from a romance book. I gave this 3 stars

This was the perfect book to get me right into the spooky season feels, think Stars Hollow meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes 🎃

I was such a fan of this one, the characters were fun and there were lots of laugh out loud moments for sure. The romance between Viv and Rhys, I felt, was really well executed. As someone who is a big fan of second chance romance/enemies to lovers this ticked all the boxes for me!

I also loved the dynamic between Viv and her cousin and aunt. They were such a tight knit team and seeing how they worked together to help break Viv’s curse was so heartwarming 💕

I loved this book, I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this in a long time. This book is pitched as Hocus Pocus, but it bangs and it certainly did. The banter was really cute and I can't wait to re-read it again during spooky season.

Oh this book was lots of fun! It’s safe to say that the description for The Ex Hex definitely intrigued me. The reader is taken on quite a journey with Vivienne. We see how a seemingly harmless curse made in the past comes back to bite her in the present. The curse ends up being a little too real when ex Rhys returns to Graves Glen. The question is can Vivi fix that hex!

When I first saw the cover I knew I had to read it. It instantly made me think of Bewitched. I loved watching that show when I was younger. So I couldn’t wait to see what this book had in store for me. Well, I’m happy to report that it definitely lived up to expectations. Providing me with oodles of romance and magic. Along with a fun escape with plenty of entertaining moments to make me smile. The pacing is pretty good throughout and I was completely caught up in Vivi’s attempts to fix her mistake. The connection between Rhys and Vivi was feisty and sizzling. I really enjoyed seeing their second chance romance play out.

There was a little bit of everything in this story from a sweet but at times steamy romance. Some family drama to add a bit of tension and even a talking cat. The Ex Hex really was a brilliant book to curl up with especially as we go into autumn. There’s also that wonderful Halloween feel that’s perfect for this time of year. Oh and before I finish my review an important message to remember… never mix vodka and witchcraft!

I adored this cute romance novel, perfect for cosying up in front of a roaring fire at Halloween.
Fabulously witchy and full of autumn ambience, I was sucked in from the first page.
There isn't a great deal of world building around the magic system, but that works for this story. It helps that I also love a good hate to love, second chance romance.
The NSFW scenes are written well, and just as heart warming as the cutesy romantic scenes.
If you're looking for an immersive, non spooky, Halloween story with hilarious characters and a plethora of magical hijinks, this is the book for you.

This fun, frothy contemporary fantasy romcom is perfect if you’re looking for a lighthearted, cozy autumn read!

This book is pure fun from start to finish. It’s Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls, set in a small town that’s obsessed with Halloween but unaware of the witches and magic that really exist there. Vivi is one of those witches, and she’s kept her magic more or less low key most of her life, but she’s drawn into deep magic when she has to fix the titular hex she accidentally cast – but although there’s plenty of magical peril, mostly this is a light-hearted romcom about Vivi and Rhys having to navigate their awkward attraction nine years after a spectacular break up. There’s flirtatious banter a-plenty, and lots of very cute moments, plus the narration is full of snark that had me giggling out loud as I was reading.

The point of view flips back and forth between Vivi and Rhys, though the narration always stays third person, and this really helps the story fly along at real speed. They both have really fun personalities, and the sparks fly between them whenever they share a scene, leading to really wonderful dialogue. They’re obviously meant for each other, and luckily for me very little of the drama revolves around emotional misunderstandings or denying they have feelings for each other – there’s still awkwardness, but mostly they’re tackling outside obstacles like ghosts and wayward magic rather than getting all angsty. This is pure fluff (okay, it does get quite raunchy in places so it’s not all fluff, but it’s very fluffy in its plot). There’s also a great supporting cast of characters, including Vivi’s wonderful family and a fabulously annoying talking cat, Sir Purrcival!

I really don’t want to say too much about this one, because it’s only short and the joy of a book like this is being taken along for the ride. Suffice to say this is hugely good fun, and absolutely perfect for an autumn evening read. I didn’t know I needed this genre til I read it, and now I want all the cute Halloween romance, please and thank you! Five out of five talking cats.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling is a fun romance centred around Vivi, witch, lecturer and chaotic young woman. A decade ago she accidentally hexed her ex, hot Welsh witch Rhys, which they only just found out as he’s in town for a big ritual. This is basically one big comedy of errors as the two bicker and eventually fall back in love as they try to save the town and undo the curse. The Ex Hex is lighthearted and entertaining, with charming characters, though it lacked substance for my taste. I felt like it was just this tad too easy of a read and wished there was a bit more of an underlying issue. Part of it was probably also that this was a cishet romance, which is not something I pick up often – I was drawn in my the witchy aspect, and it was definitely more romance than witchy novel. So I think this is exactly what it says on the tin, and if that’s what you crave, go for it! Just don’t ask it to be anything that it’s not trying to be.

This book is so much fun!

I will start by saying I don't read a lot of witchy books but I do read a lot of chick lit fun, light romances and this one hit every expectation I would have. I love a light read and this one is perfect I also adore an enemies to lovers with plenty of banter and bickering!
I had so many laugh out loud moments yet it also had a very cosy feeling to the story. I have already planned a re read once I decorate my house for Halloween and am in the festive mood because I feel in will be perfection!

The tagline ' Think practical magic in the Gilmore Girls stars hollow' pretty much sums this one up perfectly.

A witchy romance sounds like something I'd love but this was fairly average.

The two main characters, Vivi and Rhys, are quite one dimensional and for me, if the characters aren't especially funny or intriguing or dynamic then its unlikely I'm gonna be invested in the romantic outcome of their relationship. The development between them was honestly pretty boring. The magic in the book was also pretty lacklustre.

Far from the worst book I've read but didn't hold my attention at all.

If you are looking for a fun, lighthearted romance with a bit of Halloween flair, this could definitely be the book for you. The tagline "like hocus pocus but with spice" is the perfect explanation of the book.

There are curses, cozy witchery, a talking cat and a romance that seems inevitable. You can practically smell the autumn in the air and reading this when its dark out, next to a crackling fire, would take this reading experience to the next level.

The atmosphere and the fun plot are definitely the books strongsuit. It doesn't take itself overly seriesously and I appreciated that.

All this being said its nothing to write home about but that's not necessarily a bad thing, just judge for yourself if this is the type of story you are looking for and if you would enjoy it.

This book had humor, wit and romance, all combined with the perfect sprinkling of magic. Th Ex Hex reads like your typical rom com but the twist comes from the fact that love interest #1, Vivi has cursed love interest #2, Rhys. Oh their banter and repressed sexual tension. It made me laugh so much, and was the perfect light read, while still tackling deeper issues. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good enemies to lovers with magic, but in a contemporary setting!

⭐️ rating: 5
📖 genre: romance
#️⃣ pages: 320
🍾 pub date: September 28, 2021

If “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Gilmore Girls” had a book baby, it would be THE EX HEX. And yes, it’s just as glorious as it sounds!

Vivienne Jones is 19 years old and has just had her heart broken. How does a young witch get over a break-up? Vodka, weepy music, scented candles, a bubble bath - and a little hex on the horrible boyfriend and his family, of course.

Fast forward nine years later and the gourgeously annoying and annoyingly gorgeous ex, Rhys Penhallow, is back in town for a few days when things start to get out of control. Between murderous toys, talking cats, and pissed-off ghosts, Vivi and Rhys will have to join forces to save the town and find a way to break the curse before it’s too late.

Oh, this book! It was just DELICIOUS! Truly, THE EX HEX was the perfect fall read. The little town of Graves Glen gave me major Stars Hollow vibes, and I loved the funny dialogues and characters, the mystery surrounding the town and the curse, but most of all, Vivi and Rhys! Their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS, as confirmed by the fact that after nine years apart, they’re still not over each other *swooooon*.

Do you love Hallmark movies? Do you love witchy stuff? How about a rom-com that brings some serious steam? If the answer's yes, then THE EX HEX is the book for you!

This was such a fun autumnal, witchy read, with all the Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic vibes I could have wanted. Perfect for anyone wanting to get into the mood for Halloween. It was such a fun and easy read that I would have flown through it, but I struggled slightly with the way the ebook was formatted.

Thanks to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for the chance to read The Ex Hex.

Apparently the writer pitched this book as Hocus Pocus with banging and that’s exactly what it is! Who wouldn’t want that?! The Ex Hex was so much fun! Vivienne and Rhys had a summer fling when they were 19 and Rhys forgot to mention he was betrothed (not engaged! There’s a difference!) naturally Vivienne is a bit put out so she chucks his jeans as his head, chucks him out, gets drunk and she and her cousin sorta kinda curse him not really but also maybe really.
A decade later Rhys is back in town and things get a bit complicated when his bad luck begins to turn potentially fatal. His hair still does The Thing and Vivienne can’t seem to ignore it.
It’s a huge amount of fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously, I mean the lay lines might be buggered and we might all die tomorrow but there’s still time to have a quick snog and a grope in the library. Of course there is! The coven is charming, the town is charming, even the Penhallows are charming and there’s a talking cat. What’s not to love.

Thank you Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read The Ex Hex. Available to buy 28th September

Vivienne is a heartbroken college student when Rhys breaks her heart after a whirlwind 3 month long fling. Despite warnings never to mix Vodka with Witchcraft, that's exactly what she and cousin Gwen do... Nine years later Rhys returns to the town of Graves Glen, where it all started. It quickly becomes apparent that Vivi and Gwen may have actually cursed her ex all those years ago.

This was such a 'lark' as Rhys Penhallow would say.

Things I liked:
- Rhys Penhallow. The name. The Welsh accent.
- The references to Wales and the Welsh language was such a nice touch. Loved that the magic of Graves Glen had Celtic roots.
- The accuracy of Vivienne's feelings towards Rhys throughout this entire book is just so spot on.
- The Practical Magic vibes I got from this. Vivi is your Sally type and Gwen is your Gillian type.

Things that could be better:
- Some of the steamy bits felt a bit clunky or there was mention of something smutty that seemed to come out of nowhere.
- I felt like we lost the urgency to solve the problem somewhere between half and three quarters of the way through. The addition of a new issue with little build up lost me a little, too.

All in all, it's a decent 3.5stars from me!

Read if you like:
- Practical Magic, Sabrina the teenage witch, Charmed, Hocus Pocus and dare I say it... Gilmore Girls!
- Cute spooky romances for the spooky season.
- Lovers to enemies to lovers

Will I reread? Maybe next spooky season!