This was such a delightful romance to read - Dina was so warm and fun, as were her friends and I found myself desperately wanting to join their friend group. Scott, our MMC, was also a joy to read from - his interests and his internal monologue were well-matched to Dina. While normally I dislike insta-love as a trope, the feeling from Dina that they couldn't be together made it feel more of a slow-burn but my one issue with the book was how incredibly horny they both were and the near constant sex that began happening. It was like as soon as it happened once they were at it like rabbits. It was still an enjoyable read though and I'm looking forward to the author's next release.

Thoughts in 3:
- I adored Dina and Scott and thought the whole cosy romance vibe was just perfect. Dina frustrated me just the right amount, her flaws and bad decisions making her so much more reliable. Scott was adorable, sweet and damaged but clearly had a fiestier side when it came to the bedroom (the spice was unexpected, I enjoyed how it interacted with the magic)
- The baking magic was an adorable magic storyline and I just wanted to visit and sample all the drinks and bakes - who wouldn't want a mug of something that filled them with a little more self belief or a sprinkle of childhood memories. I wish we got to hear more about the history of magic in Dina's family, especially with the Moroccan roots... Perhaps this may lead into an unconnected series... Hint, hint ...
- The friendships were brilliant, I loved how we got to see friendships for both our MCs, so often we only really see one side and the other partner just melds into their friendship group. It was great seeing how Dina had found her people she could share her secrets with. Plus the family dynamics were excellent and I loved how effortlessly Nadia wove a little history of each family in. The wedding was also a wonderful setting to get lots of character cameos in. I really just want to see and hear more about all our characters!

Recommend to:
- Anyone looking for a cosy witchy romcom with a dose of spice and a simple easy to read magic system. This is that perfect comfort read as there weather turns and will be perfect for fans of Erin Sterling or Kate Johnson.

This was such a delightful, witchy romance. The story follows Dina Whitlock, a talented kitchen witch who runs her own cafe in London, serving magic infused pastries, however she's cursed and anyone who falls in love with her is doomed to bad luck. Enter Scott Mason, a museum curator who recently returned to London after a painful breakup. When he meets Dina, the chemistry is undeniable but she is determined to keep him at arm's length to protect him from the curse.

What I loved most was how the book blended cosy autumn vibes with sizzling romance. The setting was enchanting, with Halloween rituals, candlelit palm readings and a charming countryside wedding. Dina's journey of self-acceptance and breaking free from her curse was both heartwarming and empowering. The chemistry between Dina and Scott was electric and their banter added a fun dynamic to the story.

I was all set to be giving this book five stars when I started and even getting to the 20% mark. Then sadly, it all went downhill from there (it's even almost like another writer picked up from that first part, and the two never gel again). All the cosy vibes and the sweetness of this story, its magic (I mean this as reader magic, not the actual magic described), its uniqueness just seems to fall to the wayside, and there's so much piled on from this point on. It really felt like someone started this tale then a completely clueless and terrible at writing ghostwriter got in at the quarter mark and finished the story...
The chemistry was 'there' in the first meeting in the cafe, but then it just went 'poof' and never reappeared, and the characters were just driven by their lust, which at the same time didn't even feel organic to them (like, insert thought of lust and what it's doing to their body here/there/now), and that keeps on. Then nothing happens plot-wise. I got to the halfway mark, and it's been the lead-up to the wedding and this and that and everything else (insert lusty feel here/there/now) and just no progress on the romance itself. We learn about all these side characters, all about the wedding castle or inn or spectacular place it was, we have meddling friends who are cringey in their obviousness... And again, don't forget the list thrown in here/there/now at any point whatsoever.
Sadly, not a good book. Would not recommend at all! Want witchy vibes? Go watch the OG Sabrina The Teenage Witch and you'd come away with more cosy magic feels with humour and feels.

You can’t go wrong with a cosy witchy romcom and this one didn’t disappoint. These are such good quick reads and just feel so magical

Umm....this book was....something. It felt highly unbelievable and I'm not talking about the magic part.

I loved how sweet this was. The romance was cute, if a bit ‘insta love’ with a fair bit of spice and the plot felt engaging.
I wouldn’t say it was my favourite magical romcom I’ve ever read but I would say that I would definitely be willing to pick up more of El-Fassi’s future works.

"There was something different about Serendipity Cafe, a certain spark in the air that no one could quite put their finger on. It was a place where good things happened."

GENRE: Cozy Paranormal Romance
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eBook eArc

Would I recommend to others?: YES, YES and YES! This book was so good, you literally go on an adventure with Dina and Scott and like honestly, every single page was better than the last one so I'd recommend this to everyone. It can pass as Cozy Romantasy but definitely look at the list of sensitive topics before heading into it

Long Review:
Best Hex Ever is a lovely book that explores multiple topics: grief, heartbreak, losing oneself due to external factors and self-confidence or believing in yourself. We go on a whole journey with Dina and Scott, we see their downs and their ups, the good and the bad. And the result of it? A beautiful relationship that is built based on reality while still being wholesome and cozy. There is a softness to the magic in Best Hex Ever:
"When she'd been fashioning the spell for the first time, it had occurred to Dina that one day your parents put you down and they never picked you up again, and so she'd made the honey cake to recreate that feeling of childhood comfort."

Dina is a Chef/Baker who owns her own cafe in London and she is half Moroccan (there is a lot of Darija mentions related to food in the book like Zaalouk and Louiza and ahhh my half moroccan heart filled with love reading these things). Dina is proud to be a witch and infuses her pastries with harmless magic that makes her customer's life a little bit better without it being so noticeable.

Dina, however, has a problem. She believes she is cursed and is doomed to be single forever as anyone she loves is guaranteed to have bad luck the minute she loves them. Using this curse, El-Fassi explores self-confidence, loving oneself and how certain experience break us more than we can ever know. Dina talks about wanting to find a love like her parents, the softness of it and finding someone who gets you inside out:
"Dina wanted a love like her parents had: unflappable, unscathed by time."

ANDD the second MC? That is Scott, who is recovering from a break-up that shred his heart and caused him to leave London. He is now back and about to attend a wedding as his best friend's best man and guess who is the maid of honour? Dina! Scott is the type of MC that is so wholesome, feels everything to a whole other degree and wants only the best for everyone around him.

Not only that, he is also a museum curator and believes that every item belongs to where it originated from. He believes every little item he curates is important and has a little magic in it and when he meets Dina? That belief in him gets confirmed:
"He'd always wanted to believe in magic, to believe that the world was bigger than what he saw around him. He'd tried so hard to believe. In a way, he'd dedicated his work to it. But Scott didn't have to try anymore. Dina was the manifestation of everything he'd so desperately wanted to believe in."

Sparks start to fly as they get together and can no longer deny the chemistry between them. Dina tries hard to deny it as she wants to protect Scott from the curse that she believes is following her. Scott is recovering from a breakup and can't believe that he has found someone like Dina (okay, this is like the best kind of MC, one who knows they are lucky to have their loved one):
He'd forgotten how it felt, being with someone like this - the giddy feeling in his chest. He couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to spend more mornings with Dina, waking up in their bed, eating breakfast together in a sunny kitchen before he pulled her onto his lap. Imagining a future was a dangerous thing, but for a short time, Scott let himself revel in the idea of it."
"He couldn't even begin to compare Alice and Dina. With Dina everything felt so ... easy. Liking her was easy, and he suspected that loving her would be even easier. It would feel as natural as breathing. Perhaps it already did."
"Home; he felt at home with Dina. Had he ever felt like this with Alice? Scott racked his brains but couldn't summon any memory with such clarity."

On the other hand, Dina was having strong feelings for Scott and loved him but the curse was haunting her. The loveliest thing about the Best Hex Ever is that we have a mother-daughter duo in here and we get to see the beauty in their relationship, get to see them come together and love each other more and more:
"Dina watched her mother's face, a mirror image of what Dina would look like in thirty years. Laugh lines crinkled around her brown eyes, age spots beginning to dot the top of her cheeks. Nour had the ability to remove these of course, if she wished. But Dina's mother had always been one to age gracefully. She'd even kept the white hairs that now blossomed at her temples, saying they made her look distinguished and elegant."

Despite their strong relationship, Dina hides the curse from her mother and internalises the fact that she is not good enough for anyone. She hides the fact that she struggles with self confidence and fully accepting herself. Because of this, she cannot fully confide in her mother and ends up almost losing Scott because of it (not really, but that is what Dina believes):
"She stared at him blearily through her tears. What if she'd lost him, this man who she'd come to care about so deeply? This man who made her happier than anyone ever had, who knew every inch of her body and loved it so well."

Best Hex ever ends in a lovely, satisfying HEA as a romance book but it takes you on a whole adventure. You will have to read it to discover who cursed Dina, how she deals with her internal struggle and how Scott finds his soul mate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

Best Hex Ever is a charming and whimsical dive into a world of witches, spells, and the complicated ties of family. It’s not trying to be a literary masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be — this book is all about fun, magic, and emotional warmth.

The story mixes lighthearted humor with heartfelt moments, weaving in themes of love, personal growth, and the sometimes messy but unbreakable bonds of family. The magical elements add sparkle without overwhelming the characters, who feel relatable and real, even with a little extra magic in their lives. There’s also a solid thread of mystery that keeps the pages turning.

That said, the ending left a bit to be desired. After such an engaging buildup, it felt somewhat rushed or underwhelming — not quite delivering the payoff I hoped for. Still, the journey there made it more than worth the read.

If you're looking for a cosy, witchy escape with heart and a touch of chaos, Best Hex Ever is a great pick.

Dina has sworn off relationships after a love spell went wrong and left her hexxed resulting in anyone that falls in love with her being hurt. Then she meets Scott at her friends wedding and she really wants it to work but when the hex starts getting stronger and Scott ends up hurt she wonders if she'll ever be able to end it or if she'll always have to walk away from love.

I really love a witchy read and I enjoyed this. It starts off slow as you learn about the magic and the characters but it doesn't take long to speed up. This was wholesome and romantic and spicy. I liked seeing Dina grow throughout this and realise that she needs to love herself and let people in. This would be a great autumnal read as it gives you all the cosy vibes highly recommend.

The magical elements in this story were absolutely wonderful - I want to read more about magical baking and houses with a mind of their own. The romance was cute too, and I liked that it was largely set at a wedding, great occasion for forced proximity!

Fun , spicy, cozy and witchy! all those combined and you have this book.
I love a witchy story and this one did not disappoint.

Looking for your next cozy, witchy and spicy read? Then do NOT miss out on this book!!

📕 Dina - a kitchen witch cursed to hurt anyone who falls in love with her - meets Scott - a museum curator - at her cafe in London, and sparks quickly fly.

The main couple’s chemistry radiates off the page, and I was honestly racing through this book to see what happened next. Also, the 🌶️ is really well written - especially as it’s so refreshing to read a book with early 30s protags.

If Dina’s magic is like a self-described warm chocolate brownie, this book is a bit like a chilli hot chocolate (with marshmallows on top, of course). Gorgeously rich prose, with depth and a spicy kick - utterly cozy and magic.

Also make sure you’ve got a hot chocolate or a sweet treat next to you when you’re reading. You’re going to need it (safe to say I’ve been googling baked good recipes for a few days now).

I would like to thank Netgalley and del rey for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was gorgeous. Full of food and magic, and a touching exploration of grief.

I DNF this super early into the book, around 5%, I just could not get into it. I was finding it boring sadly and could not find it in myself to care about the characters as I was looking forward to reading this one but never mind!

This was a great cozy romance with some fun magical elements, however I do wish that we could have seen more of the FMC's kitchen magic throughout the story. This book had a surprising amount of spice, which sometimes felt a little forced but were still pretty enjoyable. I also really like that the story didn't feel like it only centred on the MC's but that the FMC's dynamic with her friends was really well developed.

This book was cute, cozy and surprisingly spicy!

I really enjoyed this one, Dina is a kitchen witch who sprinkles just a little bit of of magic in her baking and I loved the way that baking was woven throughout the book, Dina is pretty content or has accepted a single life she's got her friends and her beloved cat but she's also hiding a secret that she is Hexed- destined to stay single because anyone she falls in love with will get hurt, so she stays single. Then she meets Scott a dashing museum curator and Dina is sold- but what about the hex????

This was such an easy feelgood read, it was a lot of fun and as I said earlier surprisingly spicy, I blushed hard! The characters are diverse and I really enjoyed the witchy elements, I especially love the witchy women in Dina's life and at the centre of her world. The romance was cute but a little insta love for me I am definitely more a fan of the slow burn.

Really excited to see what's coming next from Nadia El-Fassi and would absolutely recommend this book.

I received a copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Best Hex Ever is a cosy fantasy, but it contains some really “spicy” scenes. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so graphic, especially with how the cover looks. I was expecting more of a fantasy plot about a cafe and I feel like the cover is a bit misleading.

The book is set in the UK and it follows a kitchen witch who runs her own cafe. Unfortunately, the cafe is only featured at the beginning, and so is the kitchen magic. 😦 Most of the book takes place at someone else’s wedding and we don’t get to see much kitchen magic.

Apart from this, I found the book was enjoyable and easy to read. I liked the characters, although I couldn’t quite connect to Dina somehow. Scott’s chapters were better, and Dina’s were just ok. I was a bit disappointed with the plot, and it seemed like an afterthought to the romance. Now I know cosy fantasy isn’t about plot, but when there is a plot, it should move along and wrap up in a way that makes sense and doesn’t wrap-up suddenly, or by some convenient plot mechanic. I felt like the plot bit of Best Hex Ever was wrapped up too quickly and it hadn’t been set up properly. SPOILER It was just like, “Oh it’s actually because of XXX.” And that resolves the whole issue. END SPOILER.

I also think this book is technically romantasy, sort of, and not cosy fantasy. Except it’s maybe paranormal instead of romantasy? When a book is labelled “cosy fantasy” I’m expecting lots of like making cakes with magic in a world that’s fairly safe or something, and I just didn’t get that with Best Hex Ever,

I did enjoy the book though. The romance was cute, and I definitely shipped the two main characters together, but I was badly misled by the cover.

3 out of 5 stars

Loved this book, so cosy and cute. Perfect to curl up with on a winter night.

The FMC and her friends were so amazing and I loved their dynamic and the romance was so cute. I loved the magic but also loved that it wasn't flashy and always the main point of the plot. Truly a book about loving yourself - amazing!

Dina is a witch whose power is mostly based around making nice cakes which is handy as she owns a cafe in London. One day Scott visits the cafe and they both think the other one is very good looking. It turns out they are both involved in a wedding of their best friends so they spend the weekend together having a lot of very cringey sex (serious the dirty talk made me shudder) and being madly in love after 15 minutes. Although Dina is living under a hex, one that she has spent years avoiding telling her mum (a more experienced witch) about and then when she finally does it’s sorted immediately. The overall story is fluff, the characters are alright, the internal conflict is manufactured and nonsensical, and again the spice scenes are awkward at best.