Can we take a moment to appreciate how cute this cover is?! I knew I had to read it the second I saw it and even though the story didn’t meet my expectations, I thought I was a fast read for spooky season. This book is told in 3rd person which I’ve never been a fan of. I found it hard to like the characters. I grew to somewhat like Essie, but I wasn’t exactly rooting for her or the other characters either. I didn’t like the way Josh described Essie. He made a comment about how the stairs were sturdy enough to hold her without squeaking and her ‘unremarkable features’ then proceeded to say that his sister, Siena, ‘shrugged pretty’ and kept calling her ‘very pretty’? I just found it very weird and couldn’t get into the romance aspect of the story because of it. I honestly felt he was more attracted to his sister than Essie. As for the pacing of the story, it felt very off. Many times I lost track of what was even happening because the timeline kept skipping. We missed so much character building and information. I really don’t even know how some of the characters met each other. I enjoyed how descriptive their little town and house was. I love all things witchy and I loved seeing that come to life. However, their house was so active that I lost track of what was happening and don’t really know what was happening with the plot. I appreciated how the author gave us realistic intimate scenes, real family styles, and briefly mentions of mental health. I do think with more structure and backgrounds on the characters it would have been a great story, but unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me. It would be a decent read to get you in the spooky season feel!
TW: brief mention of sexual assault

The kids are back to school and the weather has turned chilly, so spooky season is officially upon us; I celebrated by reading this witchy ARC from NetGalley and One More Chapter.

I was a bit unsure about the story at the start, I found it more challenging than I expected to keep track of the various witches living in Beldam House and the direction in which the story was headed. I'm not sure if this was done on purpose by the author to help solidify the idea that the house was always changing and everything was a bit all over the place for the characters, but either way I found it a bit distracting and it took some getting used to.

Once I had settled into it, though, I found that I quite enjoyed the characters underneath the mess. Essie was a quirky female lead - she was strong, vulnerable, witty and funny all at the same time. Josh was a charming male lead, and acted as a great foil for Essie with his determination and suspicion, but I didn't connect to him on the same level as I connected to Essie.

The secondary characters, particularly the "family" of witches living in Beldam House were fantastic fun and gave depth to the story. They provided different perspectives on the magic world and made the story's world feel more multi-dimensional. I'd love to spend more time with all of them in future stories (hint to the author if she ever reads this), particularly Lilith and Avery.

When it comes to the fantasy elements, everything felt really well researched and was executed in a very believable way. I never felt like I had crossed into something that was silly or false.

Despite finding it challenging to get into at first, I enjoyed the story and would like to spend more time with the characters.

Hex Appeal ist ein richtig toller Fantasyroman. Ein moderner Hexen, Romantasy Roman und ein bisschen Grusel ist auch dabei. Das Setting und die Protagonisten sind super sympatisch. Toller Roman, Hoffentlich kommt mehr von der Autorin!

Essie Winterscale is a witch. A would-have-been-hanged-in-the-17th-century witch. And the new landlord is such a cutie (even though they haven't paid rent in about 300 or 400 years) but there's something strange about him - for one thing, why can he remember her house when there's a spell on it to make people forget it exists?

This is a cute, entertaining, engaging novel about a English witch and an American (former) lawyer, where shenanigans and sex are had, and winter is brought in using rituals. Truthfully, I was not expecting much depth here, particularly about the magic, and I was surprised that Essie elaborated on its nature (willing things to happen through the words, which are the vehicle) to Josh, which leant as much realism as a novel like this could have, to it, so I was pleasantly surprised that the magic felt like it had... not rules per se, but guidelines.

It was fun, and tropey, and a good, easy, funny read. It felt warm and inviting. If you love the movie Practical Magic and its midnight margaritas and enjoyed the aesthetic of the Harry Potter films, expect to find a similar vibe here. Essie and Josh are cute and sweet, have appropriate depth for a novel like this, and I appreciated the author throwing in nonbinary character Avery as well. I would read a whole spin-off novel about Avery and their cooking. Definitely give it a look!

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book at first, but after reading it for a little while I got very confused. The story was all over the place and the pacing felt very off. And tbh I disliked Josh (the male main character) and I really really disliked his sister Sienna. I’m sadly disappointed and thought this was going to be a fun witchy romance, but the romance was a light as the character development. Maybe this one just wasn’t for me, but may be someone else’s cup of tea!

Essie, a modern day witch, is duty bound to magically ushering her small town into winter year after year. She also lives (along with her quirky coven) in an enchanted house, hidden to and forgotten by outsiders. Needless to say you can only imagine the impact this has on her romantic and professional aspirations. Josh is new in town, recently coming into ownership of several properties, making him land lord to a majority of the locals. As Josh attempts to get the rent and paperwork in order, he stumbles across an unaccounted for property.. Essie’s home. Josh and Essie have several run-ins and begin to form an unforeseen friendship.. only Essie soon realizes something is wrong with the town and it may have to do with her new land lord…

I loved this charming atmosphere the author created! The characters had such flair and I loved how all the details came together. Would definitely recommend this book!

Loved this book! This was the perfect witchy romance to kick off spooky season reading for me.

I love the characters, and their different “specialties” as witches. The chaos that is the Beldam House where Essie lives adds a fun element that the reader can easily visualize. Especially the first time Josh visits the house.

With a little bit of evil banishing witchery, and some extra spice added between Josh and Essie, this is a really great and quick read.

I couldn't finish this book. I really tried, but read up to about 25%. It is just way too over the top and at times the author tries so hard to make something weird and then it doesn't even make sense. This story could've been written so much better, because the premise is good. I'm having to put a star rating for netgalley, but don't feel like that is entirely fair because I DNF.

Essie Winterscale lives in a huge and ever-changing house in the village of Good Winter, in deepest, darkest Essex. She lives with various witches of various ages, one of whom is still a bit salty about having been burned at the stake in 1635, one who keeps accidentally casting fertility spells, and one who knits things that create the future.
All Essie ever wanted was to have a normal life but in the end she found herself drawn back to Beldam House because she just can’t stop her witchiness (although the ability to instantly chill wine is pretty awesome, even she has to admit).
Into this coven of chaos stumbles gorgeous, clueless Josh, their new landlord – and he’s just discovered his tenants haven’t paid rent since the 1700s! As Josh is drawn further into the lives of the inhabitants of Beldam House, Essie is determined to keep him at broomstick’s length. That is, until a family secret, lying hidden for centuries, puts Josh firmly under her spell…
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins Uk One More Chapter
I just reviewed Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson. #NetGalley

I truly had no idea of what was waiting for me when I requested this book! This was so good. I laughed so much, and also swooned!

The first half was so bonkers. I love witchy romances and this group was hilarious. Every witch has a different skill, but all of them were equally amazing. I loved Essie, the heroine, the most. She was adorable. Josh was such a big softie! I loved the romance and their sunshine/sunshine dynamic. Both of them had difficult relationships in the past but that didn’t stop them rom being soft and vulnerable with each other. I truly loved it. I also loved Josh and Siena’s siblings bond! I hope she gets a book if this becomes a series!

If the first half was bonkers, the second was total mayhem. This book relies heavily on the magical aspect and while some witchy romances read as contemporary, this one feels more like a fantasy, especially in the second half. I was so stressed out! Lol.

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved the romance, the friendships and the witches, at it left me with a big mushy feeling in my chest.

TW: Rape.

Rating: 4/5
Steam level: 2/5

Thanks to Avon UK, One More Page and Netgalley for my ARC!

Hex Appeal is witchy, atmospheric, light romance and eccentric. The strangest thing is that I liked the idea of this book yet I found the context at times all too much?! At times it was absolutely hilarious and then suddenly a total mess of words colliding all together and making almoust no sense at all. I would imagine if this is turned into a movie it probably would be very fun to watch. My favourite humour was how an american perceives village life in Britain and English ways in general.

Hex Appeal is a super cute and light witchy romance. I loved getting to know Essie and Josh and found the character development to be very well done. Essie and her coven live in a home called Beldam House that a lawyer named Josh has recently inherited. Josh and Essie meet when he attempts to collect the back rent on their home, and the chemistry flies. She will come to learn that there is more to him, and his family history, than meets the eye. I also enjoyed the colorful cast of characters that made up the coven, including one who changed genders as the mood hit. I laughed out loud at parts, and would like to revisit these characters.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I had to DNF at 20%. I typically give a book 70 pages before I put it down, but I wasn't able to concentrate long enough to make it to that point. I don't know exactly what it is that I didn't like. .Honestly, I think I struggle with the 3rd person writing style because it takes a little more to get into the characters. The house also seems interesting, but it just wasn't enough to keep me going.

This book isn't bad, but just isn't my particular flavor!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the chance to review this book!

Thank the stars witch books are back. Hex Appeal was an utter delight and I hope we hear more from bedlam house soon. A lovely read, one that I will absolutely recommend to other witchy and non witchy reader alike.

This was a fun book to read in the fall, it's atmospheric, witchy and has some cool magic in it. I think my favorite part was the residence of the witches, Beldam House. Kate Johnson did a great job with the descriptions and I could imagine everything in great detail from the hurricane room to the horny plants.

There were some interesting characters that I liked reading about, like Avery and Essie's mother, but the two MCs Essie and Josh, weren't too memorable.

I couldn't always follow the plot, I thought it was a bit chaotic and all over the place, but there were some parts that I really enjoyed, like when they traveled back in time.

Hex Appeal was a really quick read and while it had some great elements in it, I don't think I will remember it for long.

Honestly, this book was underwhelming.
It's a bit of a stretch calling this a romcom, with all the things that are happening. I had a hard time following the plot and its characters, as both were very much all over the place. It's sad, because I really wanted this to be a lovely Halloween romcom!
When I finished reading, it felt as though I'd read several books with the same character, all set in different genres...

Sadly though, I had a hard time connecting with the characters, who were older than I anticipated when starting this book. Their way of thinking did not reflect their age and it just caused a lot more chaos.

I caught myself skimreading pages and that's a surefire way for me to decide it's not a book for me. There are definitely good moments, pages where you'll laugh out loud, and the writing style had me flipping pages really fast. Sadly, it just wasn't for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was Alice In Wonderland-ish but on crack and not as well written. A shape shifting house, a bunch of witches with actual brooms, time travel, and about every witch trope you can conjure up. Yup…there is a cauldron at the front door. #witch #crazyhouse #magical #silly #hexappeal #strange @netgalley @onemorechapterhc
🧙‍♀️

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2022..

#bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

Josh moves into a new area called Good Winter where he owns the house he is currently moving into along with other houses within that village.

He finds out that he could be making a lot of money if only rent was collected from this one house. Josh decides to go over there, to Beldam House, to talk to his tenants.

This is where he meets Essie, a witch. This house has a spell where visitors go in, but when they leave the house, they don’t remember any of it.

Essie discovers that Josh’s ancestor was famous for finding witches. This upsets Essie, but she is apparently so attracted to Josh that it is slightly conflicting.

This book really sounded cute, but I can’t say I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were in 3rd person and it seemed like there was a barrier between the characters and the reader. I didn’t fall in love or like any of the characters. I didn’t see any chemistry between Josh and Essie.

It seemed like 3+ people wrote this book as the writing styles and moods were different and not cohesive. The part about witches seemed different from the interaction between Essie and Josh, which seemed different with the sex scenes, which was different from Essie fighting a demon when she fights to save the world.

This book could have been great if it was written in a 1st person narrative and if it was more descriptive. While reading this book, the story didn’t flow that well and it jumped from one scene to the next, but it didn’t make sense as it seemed like a paragraph or page was missing.

Paranormal Romance - MF - Overall 4/5 - Spice 3/5

Lovely witchy vibes throughout with some historical references too. A slow burn romance with some mysteries to solve. I really loved Essie and her confidence and wit.

I liked the bits of humor and sarcasm throughout. The characters were relatable and quirky in a good way. The Beldam House's mysterious ways had me wanting to know more about the house and the witches who live in it.

In the end I could not put the book down, and would recommend this twisty love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and ONE MORE CHAPTER for the ARC!

3/5 🧙‍♀️
Josh is a Seattle lawyer who inherits a falling down house in Essex and moves out to England. Essie is a witch who ushers in the winter in Good Winter, England and lives with a couple other witches in a house spelled so that no one ever can find it unless they need to. Many things happen including traveling through time, and a lot of stuff about witch hunters, and vanquishing a monster, and even stuff with inheritance from a mega rich father. Oh and Josh and Essie fall in love, natch (spoiler alert). It was A LOT, honestly too much for one book, and not all of it was easily followed but I had a fun (if slightly confused) time and it scratched my spooky season itch. If the author pares down all the things she tries to do in one book and sticks with one maybe two storylines, I am totally in for sequels with the other witches. (Not sure if a series is planned but just a note in case it is).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#hexappeal #katejohnson #bookreview #spookyseason #spookyseasonbooks