This was such a cute book
I literally just wanted to hug it and the characters

I miss autumn in London so much 😭 so this made me want to be in October 😂

The sweetest cosiest romance! Dina is so relatable, the writing flows so well, it might actually be too succinct, I was desperate for more Dina and Scott moments!

I can see this becoming a hit in the autumn when everyone is looking for a book that feels so warm and sweet.

Best Hex Ever is a spicy, spooky and soft romance novel! This was a very quick read and I really enjoyed it! The magic was simple and easy to understand and the descriptions of the baking magic were truly unlike anything I have read before. I felt like I was in the cafe with the characters enjoying the baked goods for myself and experiencing the magic that they
were laced with. The romance was very fast moving, definitely not for you if you prefer a slow burn, but I did feel that we got to know the characters but I would have enjoyed more of their conversations and relationship development. A lot of this seemed to happen off page while we were privy to the spicier elements of their budding romance. I would recommend this as a light and fluffy read in the autumn or spooky season. The magic and the descriptions felt like stepping into that time of year and it was a very enjoyable read!

E-ARC review - The Best Hex by Nadia El-Fassi 😍
Firstly thank you NetGalley/ Nadia for allowing me to pre-read this beautiful book!!

Release date: Thursday 3rd October 2024 🎉

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 👏🏻

UGH! I fell in love with this book after 3 pages. It's a captivating magical masterpiece that effortlessly blends witchy vibes with an enchanting romantic love story. ❤️‍🔥

This book delivers such a wonderful heartwarming fairytale ending while imparting incredible lessons about self-love and acceptance, making it an essential addition to any reader's collection! 📚

With elements of whimsical fantasy, this book I'm recommending to everyone as that cosy summer time read for 2024!

** DINA & SCOTT ** 👌🏻
The romance is a slow burn! Dina and Scott's relationship develops gradually, filled with moments of serious lust & tension, trust-building, super spicy scenes and shared magical experiences.

The chemistry between them is electric, and their evolving bond is both tender and passionate, making for an ultimate romantic love story that keeps you eagerly turning - I absorbed every page.

** SELF-LOVE ** 🥹
At its heart, the story is about self-discovery and acceptance. That only you - are always your worst enemy. Diana's relationship journey, embracing her sexuality, magical identity and to love herself despite her 'perceived flaws' is profoundly moving. I was a blubbering mess at the end! 😭

Scott, Immy, Eric, Rosemary & her parents unwavering support and acceptance play a crucial role in her transformation, highlighting the importance of surrounding oneself with those who see and love us for who we truly are. ✨

** THAT fairytale ending! ** ☁️
The book concludes with a perfect fairytale ending, where every person finds their place and every conflict is resolved with a touch of magic, love & acceptance. It’s an ending that feels both heartwarming and well-earned, leaving you with such a sense of fulfillment and joy.

** Overall Thoughts 💭 **
Nadia has woven a wonderful, enchanting tale in The Best Hex. I don't usually rate cosy reads with a 5 Star - but this five-star book is a must for anyone who loves a blend of magic, romance, and meaningful life lessons. The slow-burn romance, accompanied by lots of juicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️, coupled with the emotional self discovery journey - makes it a standout story that resonates deeply.

The Best Hex is my ideal fairytale, lighthearted romance, that will leave you believing in the magic of love and the power of being true to yourself. 💜💜💜

.. Now take me to Dina's cafe & let me eat all the delicious bakery creations! ✨🥐

A fun quirky read with an excellent blend of romance and magic. A great cast of characters and a friendship group I wish I could join.

My favourite parts:
- (Putting aside the questionable nature of charming people's baked goods and hot drinks when they come to your cafe without their knowledge) I do think the concept of infusing them with happy memories so it evokes that feeling is pretty cool and the setting of Serendipity evoked the cosy fantasy vibe of the genre!
- I found Dina and her dad's relationship to be very wholesome, in fact their whole family + the house scenes brought a smile to my face.
- I love a healthy trio friendship where they're honest with and support each other in all their endeavours
- the Britishness of it all! The focus on tea, wet autumns and gothic estates added to the cosiness for me

The parts I wished could have been improved:
- I didn't anticipate the romance between Scott and Dina to be insta-love (i do prefer to read the blurb and forget about it so I can go in blind for a better reading experience so this may be my bad) and it's typically not my vibe, however, it didn't seem their relationship developed beyond mutual sexual attraction and insatiable lust for each other in the short time they got to know each other before falling in love
- The spicy scenes. I enjoy a spicy scene as much as the next reader, but perhaps due to the insta-love nature of it all, I wasn't enthralled by these scenes when they eventually happened. In addition to that, I felt that Scott's dialogue in these scenes in particular was quite the 180 from how he'd been presented from the beginning of the story which
- Though the key event to the story is Immy's wedding, it was definitely outshined by Dina and Scott's back and forth on whether they would give in to their desires, and this was applicable to other elements of the story as well - Robin, Immy and Rosemary's characterisations (even Scott and Eric's to a degree), and backstories
- I'm not sure if this is common in cosy fantasy but there was a significant amount of telling to move through scenes quickly or address internal monologue which broke the easy flow of the story due to the awkward rhythm

All in all, an easy and quick read of cosy witchy fantasy!

Blurb:

Witch and coffee shop owner, Dina has been hexed for many years of her life. Keeping her from having that love story movies tell you about. What happens when she ends up with ‘the one’ during a full weekend at her best friend’s weeding? Something magical is guaranteed!

Review:

There are so many things I liked about this story, starting with the magic. I loved how naturally integrated in the story is. Sometimes you can find books with magic that take place in the ‘real world’ and the magic just feels forced. It wasn’t like that. It just felt like it had always been there, one of those stories that, from time to time, makes you wonder ‘what if…?’. I loved the cosiness of it, the autumn vibes, the coffee shop, rainy London. The whole setting had be craving hot chocolate over and over again!

The characters were incredible. From Immy and Rosemary, to Nour and Heebie. Absolutely all of them had something to bring into the story and were all so loveable, quirky and funny to read. Of course, we have our main characters: Dina and Scott. Dina is a chaotic, witty, funny witch that made me smile on so many occasions. Her struggles felt so real, just like her dynamic with her friends and family, and the doubts and fears when going into a new relationship. Scott is like a massive teddy bear. I loved his honesty, and his loyalty to his friends, to his family. I felt like I could relate to him and how it feels to go away from your family and friends: the guilt and the longing.

Of course, the LGBT+ representation was beautiful and made it the perfect book to read during Pride Month. I loved the inclusivity, the queerness, the wedding, absolutely everything about it was perfectly reflected.

The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I’m not the biggest fan of insta-love. I usually enjoy slow-burn a bit more. Other than that? I can’t wait to have a physical copy once it hits the bookshops in October 3rd! 🔮

2.5 rounded up!

This was really fun to read! I absolutely sped through it and enjoyed the general atmosphere and aesthetic of the story.

There was a lot of showing and not telling that made the writing feel kind of juvenile, and the dialogue felt a little awkward at times

Ultimately my biggest problem with this book is the fact that Dina and Scott don’t actually have much chemistry. Sexual chemistry? Yes, without a doubt, but it felt like too much of their story was dedicated to that as opposed to them getting to know each other as people. I wish we had more time dedicated to the development of their actual relationship - especially as they quite literally meet thrice before the wedding, and it doesn’t feel like enough to be throwing around words like ‘love’, as Scott did.

I didn't really give this book that much of a chance, so I don't really think it's fair to rate it below a 3 stars. But if I'm being honest, I just don't see myself enjoying this... I'm barely into it and the characters just keep talking about how hot they find each other, and I can tell that this is gonna be wayyy spicier that what I tend to enjoy, so I'm just gonna save myself the headache. The autumns vibes were pretty good though, and If you like witchy stuff I would recommend, because I found myself really enjoying that aspect!

This novel is a cozy and easy read, progressing at a pleasant and engaging pace. I particularly enjoyed the rich details about Dina's heritage and magical abilities, which added depth and intrigue to the story. The portrayal of her lineage and its connection to her powers was both captivating and well-crafted.

However, I did find that the focus on the relationships among the supporting cast was somewhat overdone and, at times, felt obsessive. This element detracted from the overall narrative for me. The insta-love trope, which features prominently in the story, is not usually to my taste. Nonetheless, I recognize that this is a matter of personal preference, and those who enjoy this trope will likely appreciate the witchy twist on it.

On a more positive note, the setting of the bakery is utterly charming. Its quaint and cozy atmosphere added a delightful backdrop to the story, making the scenes set there particularly enjoyable.

In summary, while the emphasis on relationships and the insta-love trope may not appeal to everyone, the novel's enchanting details about Dina's magic and the endearing bakery setting make it a worthwhile read for fans of light, witch-themed romance.

A cosy and easy to read novel which goes along at a nice pace. I enjoyed all the details about Dina's heritage and magic but like other reviewers, I found the focus on the relationship by the supporting cast a bit overdone and obsessive. Insta-love isn't a trope I normally like, but that's just a personal preference, and anyone who does enjoy it will love this witchy take on it. And the bakery is so cute!

Prepare to get very sick of me talking about this book!

Best Hex Ever was like a very warm witchy hug on a cold autumn day. I loved every second!

If you loved books like The Ex Hex, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Legends & Lattes this book is going to be your next obsession.

Cosy, romantic, steamy and hilarious. Absolutely brilliant!

This is a cosy, spicy, fantasy romance about a witch cursed to hurt anyone who falls for her. This certainly gave me all the autumn, witchy vibes. Dina & Scott meet in her café, and dont realise they are both friends of friends that are due to get married, so they meet again at their friends wedding at Honeywell House, and the cottage they stay in sounds magical and cottagecore, on halloween and a full moon. But Dina is slow to let her guard down because of the hex curse. They return home, Scott is a museum curator and Dina back to the café, where the coffee, teas and pastries sound divine, ft her cat Heebie, a lovely autumn/halloween read. Thank you for this arc

My thanks to the author and publisher for my digital review copy, provided through Netgalley.
Dina is a kitchen witch who runs a London café serving magic-infused pastries to her loyal customers. Only a few close friends know about her magic and the hex that plagues her partners with life-threatening bad luck. Scott has just returned to London after travelling the world to get over a devastating breakup. After starting his new job as a curator at the British Museum, he realised how much he’d missed in his 2-year absence. Thrown together by their best friends’ wedding, it’s undeniable Scott and Dina have amazing chemistry. Will Dina’s hex get in the way of their feelings for one another, or is it too late?
Best Hex Ever is a bit of a step outside of my comfort zone. I don’t read much spicy romance. I also don’t read tons of books that are just romance, but I like magic so I thought I’d give this one a try. Best Hex Ever is a romance with a fantasy element with Dina and her family’s magic. It was a fun and easy read!
I did have a few issues with the book though. The main characters seem to have insta-love or insta-lust at first sight of one another. Which ended up just being a little annoying to read. Equally everybody else in the book seemed to be obsessed with whether Dina and Scott would get together – even Immy on her wedding day. As a result, the side characters felt a little underdeveloped and seemed only to exist to support Dina and Scott. Scott’s mothers both had the same job, and so did two of Dina’s friends, which felt a little lazy to me.
I wanted Dina’s magic or the hex to add more jeopardy to the plot, but the lust and physical attraction aspects definitely had the reigns. While I have no problem with the book being a romance, the hex needed a better resolution as it was a little underwhelming.
This is a great spicy romance if you’re looking for a casual fun read. Just don’t take it too seriously on the magic & fantasy elements! I did enjoy reading this, it was a nice break from the more intense fantasy I've been reading lately. Solo genre romance just isn't my usual type of book! If you like romance I hope you give Best Hex Ever a chance, it would make a fab cosy spooky season read.
n.b. The book has a list of trigger warnings at the start but doesn’t mention Dina’s internalised homophobia about her bisexuality which is brought up a lot over the course of the book.

Nadia El-Fassi's The Best Hex Ever is an engaging urban fantasy that blends magic with modern life. The story follows Kira, a young witch who discovers an ancient spellbook containing a legendary hex. This discovery thrusts her into a conflict between powerful magical factions.

Kira is a relatable protagonist, and the supporting characters, like her friend Serena and the mysterious Max, add depth to the story. Themes of power, responsibility, and identity are explored thoughtfully, making the narrative more than just a magical adventure.

El-Fassi's descriptive prose vividly brings the urban magical world to life, and the dialogue feels natural and compelling. The plot is well-paced, balancing action and introspection.

The Best Hex Ever is a fresh and exciting addition to urban fantasy, perfect for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. It's an easy, fun, light-hearted read which will have you giggling and get you out of your reading slump!

The perfect book to read this autumn! It's packed with cosy, comforting and feel-good vibes and is set across various wholesome places that are sure to keep you immersed: an enchanted bakery cafe, a museum and an idyllic cottage. The plot is pretty predictable (although this is often common with romance novels) and although the romance definitely leans more into the instant-love trajectory, I think it worked fine here as the main character's own personal struggles (primarily the issue of the hex!) drove the tension throughout the book. Even the side characters are also well developed, and I loved the inclusion of Moroccan cultural elements throughout the novel. Anyone who loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Enchanted to Meet You or the Pumpkin Spice Cafe will absolutely love this! I also hope we get a novel on Rosemary's implied romantic adventure...

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED

Best Hex Ever is the debut novel of ex-Waterstones employee Nadia El-Fassi. This novel revived me from my month long reading slump, which I didn't think was possible for this bisexual witch cafe owner x museum curator romance.

I don't often read contemporary novels - or romance novels, in general - but this book is making me start. I didn't feel like the magic elements were out of place (yes, there are only 4 characters with magic) in this novel: a balanced blend of witchy magic and the usual chaos of dating/relationships with the business of life in London.

However, I have seen criticism of this novel and its use of tropes, in particular the insta-love trope. Whilst yes, the characters are attracted to each other from their meet cute, neither of them act upon these feelings until much later in the novel. In fact, Dina (our witchy protagonist) spends a large chunk of the novel scared of these feelings and what they mean (in regards to a spoiler which I will not mention).

Nadia El-Fassi's debut novel is like coming home to the kettle already boiling. I will definitely be reading her next book.

You can find Nadia El-Fassi on Twitter @chronicles_of_n.

3.5 stars - A witchy romcom is ALWAYS a good idea, and Best Hex Ever is such an easy and charming read.

At first I was worried this was going to be a predictable and basic book as there is not much character or world building, plus it has a very simple style at the start which feels rushed and exposition heavy. The relationship is lust at first sight which makes it feel a bit cliché, but luckily the story quickly picks up and grows on you.

Dina and Scott are so lovely - they're kind hearted and driven, and both have struggled with past experiences of love which adds a bit of tension to the dynamic. The romance starts purely steamy but quickly develops into something more. That being said, I thoroughly despise the phrase "good girl" and it made me cringe every single time.

I particularly adored the great friendships presented in this story. Immy and Rosemary are hilarious and wonderful, and you can really tell how much these women support one another. Eric was less drawn out, but his bond with Scott is clear. Some of my favourite moments were when it was just the friends having a chat - it was super cozy and sweet.

The magic was more atmospheric than a plot driving force, and I'd have loved to see this be even more developed. I loved how Dina uses tea, cocoa, and baked goods to create emotional memories for customers - it really added to the cozy elements.

The ending feels melodramatic, but it was an interesting twist and worked thematically. Overall this is a cute book with lots of spice, some cute café moments, and pinches of magic. Oh, and of course a magic house, anxieties around sexuality, a cat familiar, and even potential forest spirits! A perfect weekend read for autumn.

Cute witchy vibes straight off the bat which gave me high hopes for this ARC. I loved the magical bakery vibes, loved the representation in all the characters and by far my favourite thing was her magical house and Hemmie the cat! I’m not a huge fan of insta love and this really is love at first sight. I liked the characters overall, especially the side relationship of Immy and Eric. I feel like i would have rather read their story than Dina’s. Scott was okay, though again the whole instant falling in love kinda ruined it for me, I liked his back story though i do think it could have gone into more detail to give him some more depth. The whole ‘hex’ plot for me was a little watery, i feel like it was a bit wispy washy and i ended up skipping quite a few ages where Dina’s inner monologue was just ‘how do i break this curse’. The ending wasn’t surprising but that wasnt a bad thing. Overall this was a nice read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes instalove, witchy vibes and some spice.

Dina loves everything about her life as a witch, and has even made her peace with the hex that has plagued her love life. But then Scott comes along, and Dina knows that unless she can break the spell, they both risk getting their hearts broken...

Best Hex Ever is a page-turning, feel-good, witchy romance with plenty of spice. I would quite happily have read this book in one sitting, if time had allowed. There is enough tension to drive the plot, first as Dina tries to stay away from Scott, and then as she tries to break the hex, but this is one for people who like happily-ever-afters, and don't like their characters to suffer too much in the process. Both Dina and Scott are incredibly wholesome characters, with wonderful support networks, and I particularly loved the way Scott embodies some stereotypically masculine traits while breaking down others. I also loved the way that Dina's magic is depicted, as she is confident in her powers from the start of the book, and is able to use them in creative and consistent ways. Best Hex Ever tackles its characters' low self-esteem, grief, claustrophobia, and fears of queer, racial, and national acceptance in subtle but affirming ways, offering some much-needed escapism while also creating a world that the reader can relate to, and maybe even derive comfort from.