I was so excited to pick up this book, but have found myself disappointed. The plot was not particularly interesting, and both main characters were annoying and unlikeable. Some of the world building was good so it wasn't a total letdown, but not one I'll be passing round book club.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

3.25 stars
A Match Made in Hell is a light, fast-paced fantasy romcom with an inventive take on the afterlife. The concept—facing trials tied to the seven deadly sins for a second chance at life—is intriguing, but the execution didn’t always match the potential.

The story’s strength lies in its cozy, found-family vibes and the chemistry between the leads. Willow, our flawed and impulsive main character, may not be for everyone—her personality is loud, and her internal monologue can border on grating—but she grows by the end. Sathanas, the King of Asphodel, brings more emotional depth, and their connection, while a bit rushed, has its sweet moments.

Where the book falters is in the worldbuilding and the trials themselves. Asphodel is pitched as a kind of purgatory but ends up feeling more like a laid-back party town. The sin-based challenges should’ve been the emotional and narrative core, but they felt underdeveloped and too easy. The stakes never felt truly high, which dulled the tension.

That said, this is a fun, easy read for fans of romantic fantasy who don’t mind a bit of fluff and humor in their afterlife adventures. With stronger development in key areas, this could have really soared.

Willow quickly finds herself sent to Hell, where her real challenges begin with seven trials based on the deadly sins. At first, I wasn’t sure about Willow or the story’s depth, but by the halfway point, I was fully invested in both her growth and the plot.

A Match Made In Hell fits perfectly into the New Adult category. At 21, Willow’s journey takes her from impulsive and flawed to more self-aware and in control. Her decisions feel authentic for this age group, and the story balances tension with steamy—but not over-the-top—romantic scenes.

I struggled to get thought this and ended up DNFing at 60% when I realised I was skipping a lot of passages.

I really liked the world building in this book, which is based on Greek mythology. The magic works via willpower, and there is a lot going on. It was intriguing. But not much is actually show about this world beyond Sath’s rooms, the club and the gates to Tartarus.

The book follows Willow, who dies at 21 and finds herself in Asphodel. But she doesn’t want to be there. She wants to go back to her life so she makes a deal with the devil (Sath) and ends up doing 7 trials based on the seven deadly sins. Throughout the trials, we learn Willow is holding onto a lot of trauma, and her for someone who has a lot of trauma, she’s very happy-go-lucky. There was a disconnect for me between the character we see and everything she keeps telling us about her past. I also didn’t believe the chemistry between Sath and Willow. Honestly, I stopped reading because I just didn’t care.

This was a solidly entertaining rom-com, but not one that will stick with me for very long, I don't think, as it's strangely bland for such a good concept. Nothing about this really says "romance with the devil", as with a few tweaks Sathanas could have been any other mildly supernatural creature putting Willow through trials!

The main character, Willow, is oddly one-dimensional for someone with so much trauma, and love interest Sathanas is extraordinarily bland for the ruler of the underworld. I did enjoy the trial concepts, but the overall execution is rather lacklustre - it wasn't so much that I struggled to connect to the characters as that they were in themselves almost completely unconnected to the world around them. Side characters were interchangeable and impactless, so it felt strangely self-centred and almost as if the main characters were operating in isolation from any worldbuilding. Despite heavy reference to the emotional abuse Willow underwent while alive, and the unfairness of her untimely death, there's no real depth to the exploration of grief or recovery, and I'd even go so far as to say there's no real character arc at all, so I felt quite shortchanged as this could have been really impactful. Even in a rom-com, I feel like the characters should develop separately and together, not just start kissing regularly! It reminded me a lot of Mary Janice Davidson's style of plot-light romcom, except with less sex.

Thank you to Hot Key Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

At twenty-one, Willow was supposed to be turning into a responsible adult, not proving her mother right when she called her a failure. Now, thanks to one tiny (if fatal) mishap, she's landed in a dimension named Asphodel that looks suspiciously like hell. Determined to redeem herself, Willow makes a deal with Asphodel's ruler, King complete seven tasks, resist the seven sins, and he'll let her return to her human existence. But when Sath is sin itself, temptation may be hard to resist . . .

Willow is sassy and seems to only consider herself. She’s gone through quite a rough patch but I still feel like she held her own. However, I have to admit that she just felt a little too unrealistic? I can’t think of anyone who would essentially end up in Hell and start questioning the Devil. Especially when you’ve literally just seen people be punished for it. Her lack of “survival skills” was rather concerning! I do think she got a little better over the course of the book but I was just expecting more.
Considering who he is, it felt like there was a relative lack of Sath here. You would think his character would pack a punch but he just didn’t make this huge impact on me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a broody male character with the weight of the world on his shoulders but Sath didn’t really appeal to my emotions or tug on my heartstrings.

When I stumbled across this story, I have to admit that I was rather interested. I mean, who doesn’t like the idea of a possibly hunky and attractive devil possibly doing bad things? I do feel like this plot was very good, just that it was a little too drawn out. The tasks being every month felt unnecessary and it almost seemed as if the bits in between were more like fillers than important plot. Not to mention constant repeats of scenes where Willow’s mum’s voice is a trigger for something. The overbearing parent is a good addition but it felt overused to me. It’s a shame because there is so much potential for this idea and it just felt that the execution was lacking. The characters were okay but we don’t truly get to know anyone. We have supporting characters we barely truly know, let alone their backgrounds and what forms them and their personalities. I do think that we could have delved deeper into a few of them and that would have helped the overall story make a bigger impact. The romance here… I don’t know. It initially felt rather insta-love on Willow’s end, and then seemed to almost be a little forced? I liked the budding friendship between the main duo a lot but it’s almost as if they were trying too hard - if that makes sense? I don’t want romance there for the sake of it. I want true chemistry that can knock my socks off and start fires! Not to mention the blurb has the words “sincul” and “heat” to describe this book. The only more spicy moments were literally in the last 10%… The ending was okay but I just felt glad that thr story was over. I really wanted to thoroughly enjoy this but I feel like my final impression is … good.

Overall, A Match Made in Hell is a book I had high hopes for but it just missed the mark.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Hot Key Books for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on 12th September and is available now on Goodreads.

Was this a groundbreaking, incredible read? No. However, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every page.

While the basic premise is pretty silly, it is teamed with pretty good world building and interesting main characters who develop in a fairly short book.

Willow does a lot of self discovery, and while it was fairly predictable, it was done well and in a realistic way. While Sath was pretty mopey, he was really there just to support Willow's journey and look pretty, so that's fine.

I enjoyed the slowburn romance and all the tension it brought with it. While I do think Willow was too quick to forgive, the pacing matched that of the rest of the book and slowing it down at that point would have been a disservice to the wider plot.

This book was a good time, kept me entertained and was just what I needed after a few heavier reads. If you want a romxom with a bit of spice, you could do far worse.

A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham, think Lucifer meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Thank you NetGalley and Charlotte Ingham for this ARC.

We follow Willow, who dies at 21 and wakes up in Asphodel. Feeling that her death was not supposed to happen, she mades a deal with broody and maddeningly attractive King Sath, to conquer the seven deadly sins to earn her freedom. The catch? He’s the last person she’d ever want to spend eternity with… and yet she can’t help falling for him.

This book is everything I love in an enemies-to-lovers story: snappy banter, slow-burn tension and chemistry. Willow’s sass and stubbornness bounce perfectly off Sath’s dark, guarded energy, making every interaction electric. I also adored watching Willow grow from a lost, angry soul (whom I actually found quite annoying at times) into someone who finds strength and even family in the unlikeliest of places.

There were a couple of moments where the pacing dipped in the middle and I do think the ending felt a bit rushed but I overall enjoined the lot.

If you’re craving a funny and delightfully spicy romantasy with a fierce FMC and a grumpy demon love interest, this is your next read.

Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers, demon romance and anyone who enjoys a little heat with their heartache.

Loved the book. The story was fun and addictive, could t wait to pick it up. The characters banter was bantering and the steamy scenes were on point!

Thank you NetGalley and Charlotte Ingham for this ARC.

It is a fun and spicy read, it is a good read and easy to get through, however the FMC could have had a bit more about her to really enhance her character development but overall, I did enjoy the chemistry between the two. I would read another story about the two and see how things have since developed or individual stories.

I would recommend! and I would definitely read Charlotte Ingham work again.

3/5 stars — A fun, witty romcom fantasy with heat and humor, but the conclusion could use some polishing

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really enjoyed the premise and the fun mix of fantasy and romance. Willow’s journey through Asphodel, trying to resist temptation and complete her tasks, was entertaining and full of sass.
The dynamic between Willow and Sathanas, is a highlight — their chemistry and witty exchanges made the story sparkle. The take on the seven deadly sins was fresh and clever.
However, the ending felt too hurried and a bit underdeveloped. After such a strong buildup, I wanted more depth and a smoother resolution to the plot and character arcs.
Overall, a good pick for readers who want a spicy fantasy romcom with humor and heart but are okay with a less polished finish.

I sadly had to DNF this halfway through, I held out for as long as I could hoping the story would pick up, get more exciting or just be more. The FMC is insufferable (and not in a redeemable way) and the MMC has about as much sex appeal as a rotting corpse. There was absolutely no chemistry between the two of them and it felt forced to be believable and swoon worthy. I was so excited about this book and the story but sadly it just fell flat for me

my thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A quick read, this is what I call a palate cleanser. It's not a gritty, heart breaking romance that will stay with you for months after, but a light, fun read.

⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the eARC. A Match Made in Hell is a brisk, engaging fantasy romance with plenty of humor and a main character who commands attention. The playful premise of a flawed heroine striking a bargain with the devil is delivered with sharp dialogue and light-hearted moments, even if the emotional depth is sometimes lacking. Sath is the classic brooding love interest, and his chemistry with Willow is enjoyable. This novel is an easy, lightly spicy read for anyone who appreciates familiar tropes and a supernatural romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

💔 Enemies to Lovers
🧩 Trials & Challenges
👑 Devilish Bargain
🏠 Found Family

This one really surprised me! Charlotte Ingham delivers a fiery blend of dark humour and sharp wit, wrapped up in a thrilling, unconventional romance. The characters are well-drawn and the story’s pace keeps you hooked throughout.

It’s got just the right mix of chaos and charm — perfect for anyone looking for a romance with a wicked twist. Definitely recommend giving this a go!

A Match Made in Hell has an intriguing premise, and that’s what drew me to it. The concept felt fresh and full of potential, something I was excited to dive into.

But once I got into the story, it started to lose me. The characters didn’t have much depth, and the FMC was particularly hard to connect with her constant whining and lack of personality made her feel more like a placeholder than a real person. Her internal monologue dragged things down too; it was repetitive and didn’t really offer any meaningful growth or insight.

The plot itself was pretty predictable, and at times it didn’t even make sense. Major secrets were revealed way too early, before the characters had formed any believable connection or trust so those big moments didn’t hit the way they were meant to.

Still, I liked the bones of the story. The idea was solid even if the execution didn’t quite work for me. It ended up being an easy, light read, so if you're looking for something quick and don’t mind a few clichés or frustrating characters, it might still scratch that itch.

Thank you for the earc. All thoughts are my own.

I really loved this debut fantasy novel. I went in, hoping for a spicy Hades & Persephone vibe. Yes, mission accomplished on that front but what I got from the book went way beyond that. The world building is excellent and the further I read on, the more I felt totally immersed in Asphodel and I loved discovering all the different elements of that place. The trials that Willow had to undergo to win back her freedom were fascinating, with the perfect balance of tension and triumph. The spice between the two characters was pitch perfect in it's the build up, the chemistry, and the witty banter. Willow is such a relatable character and I absolutely loved how the author wrote her and developed her character throughout the book. I found it so empowering and inspiring.
In short, this is a totally enthralling, mesmerising page turner of a fantasy. I'll be recommending it to anyone who loves the fantasy genre, morally ambiguous characters or who is on the lookout for a new book boyfriend. I'll be crossing my fingers that this is the first book in a series and I will definitely be there for whatever this author writes next.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5-3 stars ೃ⁀➷ I can't think of anything to say proving how bland it was 😭

Perfect for fans of-
🔥 Trials (simple ones)
💗 Strangers to lovers
🔥 Little spice
💗 Flawed Characters
🔥 Fantasy Rom-Com


A Match Made in Hell follows our very flawed (and borderline annoying) FMC Willow, who dies after jumping off a cliff and discovers she's been sent to asphodel. Distraught and confused, she begins seeking a way to return to life to finish what she wished she could have. Just when it proves to be futile she finds a way by making a deal with the devil, the King of Asphodel, King Sathanas. She needs to complete 7 tasks, one for each sin to prove she is good enough for a second chance at life. If she fails, she'll be forced to stay in Asphodel...

This book would have done better with less of a colloquial tone. My personal preference when death and the afterlife is discussed is for it to be handled with more of a grave (pun intended) and serious tone, because it is genuinely such a vast topic with so many opportunities for symbolism and grand events.

This might be my fault for picking up the book to be honest though. It's literally a fantasy romcom so perhaps it wasn't up my alley. To be fair, I eventually liked the plot I just found Willow to be slightly annoying- her personality and the writing style of her internal monologue.

Willow is a girl with major mommy issues. And that's lowkey pretty much all we get about her. That and how she was a shit friend and also had a shit boyfriend. Her personality switch up at the end was cool but I feel like we needed more to it.

Sath AKA Sathanas was cool. Your regular love interest. He actually had some personality though which I appreciated. He's got this tough exterior but really he's a sad, tortured little boy. At the end his glamour wore off for me and he became mid. Aside from that we dont get anything else about him much.

They had good chemistry. Not OMG, amazing chemistry but it was there and I really wanted them to give in to eachother. Whatever transpired at the end, his actions made up for it completely. He's lowkey so wholecome.

I semi liked the plot. The trials plot is always wicked but these trials were so lame and completely HALF ASSED. Not an ounce of effort. It was like she just stuck with the first thought that came to mind and didn't bother developing it. Like come on!!! Trials testing sins can go CRAZY.

One more thing that it is FACT, is that the title is a MAJOR lie. 'A Match Made in Hell'- NOPE, it's more 'A Match Made in Asphodel', which is described as a middle ground AKA Purgatory between Tartarus (Hell) and Elysium (Heaven). It is literally stated that they aren't in hell, lol. Secondly, for this place to be a middle ground sort of afterlife place, it's not even bad. Everyone parties, drinks and does whatever they want. Only meh thing is the living quarters- which are really small and not great tbh, but they don't even have to pay so I wouldn't complain.

Overall, this is a light read, fantasy rom com that should have had the feel of high stakes but in reality it was really low and I couldn't have been less invested. But the vibes were nice and Willow and Sath had a cute romance.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)

2.5-3 starssss

What happens when you suddenly find yourself dead but you refuse to accept your fate of Asphodel? You make a deal with the devil to get out of course! The fact that he is sinfully hot doesn't make it easier and in fact, might be your downfall.

Willow is not happy to find herself in "hell" after a sudden fall from a cliff and she wants to get out of there, so she makes a deal with Sath thw King of Asphodel that if she can complete 7 tasks (resiting all 7 deadly sins) she can go home, easy right? Wrong. Willow is a life long f-up and a disappointment to her mother and she now has to prove she's worth another chance.

This book was fine, for me it was lacking a bit in character depth and getting to know them, it may have benefitted from a dual pov. However, I was intrigued by the tasks and how things would go, which kept me reading until the end. The concept and the overall story were great, but the execution wasn't my favourite.

A superbly crafted romance book full of more charm, intrigue, angst, longing and adventure than you've ever seen - but in the best way possible.