The Hex Appeal is one of those books that sounds amazing with a beautiful cover to boot, but I just couldn’t get into it. I’m around 30% and I am DNFing it. I won’t be posting this review to Goodreads; however, maybe I’m not alone with my thoughts on this. There wasn’t much plot or much pull to liking the characters. Several times I found myself asking what in the world I was reading. Maybe it is just me, but it felt overly sexualized without much point in it. There was so much going on it was hard to really grasp what was meaningful to the story and what was just added information. This book has potential, but I just don’t think it is for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

If you’re looking for a spooky, romance mystery this is the book for you!

Lovers of The Ex Hex would enjoy this book!

Favorite Quote from the Book: “You froze his d*ck?”

This book was an absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. I like that there was a clear climax in the middle but then it was like but wait there’s more and we got a second climax. We don’t always get clear storylines like that these days so I really enjoyed that.

I did not see the plot line coming at all. I saw all the hints but I didn’t get how 1 2 and 3 were all going to add up. It all played out really well.

I gave it a 4 star rating because while it was a great read and I did enjoy it. I typically reserve 5 stars for books that knock my socks, and are so good they are seared in my memory forever. This was good, but it didn’t knock my socks off. I will be recommitting it to friends and in my book groups because it was a really fun read.

The romance was cute but the book was so boring. It took forever for anything to get going. I would still probably read a book about his sister though.

I received an arc through netgalley.

My feelings about this book are very complicated and not easy to explain. I thought that the book was very well written and the style of it was just impeccable. The plot, however, I wasn’t completely sold on.

But let’s start with the things that I liked:

I like that it was written in dual pov, I think that’s a bold and creative choice. I like books that give both points of view in a love story. I thought it was adorable how Josh fell for Essie first. That was adorable. The cats were adorable. Normally I hate the miscommunication trope, but I enjoyed it in this case. I thought it was hilarious how Essie thought that Josh had a pregnant girlfriend when in reality, he was just caring for his pregnant sister.

If I’m honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the way that the dialogue is presented. I don’t like that they use apostrophes instead of using normal quotation marks. But that is a minor issue that I can get over.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I thought that the plot was really a lot more complicated than it had to be, considering it is a romantic comedy… But I’m not complaining a lot about it. It was enjoyable. However I didn’t like the “I forgot about you and then regained my memory” trope, I thought it was just a grab at making the book longer.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are personable and likeable, and the story is an easy read - the plot follows 2 people who are not looking for love, but whose lives collide in the most unsuspecting way. I really enjoyed reading their story, especially the twists and turns along the way.

The writing flows beautifully, is easy to follow and makes for an enjoyable read.

I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys romance, cosy mysterys with paranormal hints.

Sorry, this book wasn’t for me. I just couldn’t get in to it. I found the start really confusing with too much going on. DNF.

Honestly, I expected to enjoy Hex Appeal. I was looking forward to a fun, sexy, Halloween-y romp with a witch MC. To my surprise, I got that and SO much more! I absolutely loved this book, these characters, and the feminist, historical, meaty plotline that kept me glued to my couch cushion.

Essie, an English witch living in a mysterious coven, meets a cute American guy who is new in town. She will come to learn that there is more to him, and his family history, than meets the eye. The historically accurate depiction of (accused) witches in England was absolutely fascinating. I also enjoyed the colorful cast of characters that made up the coven, including one who changed genders as the mood hit.

Another delightful surprise was just how creepy, even terrifying, this book could be at times. Some scenes chilled me to the bone. This book also had some great subplots about family, power, and control that filled it out nicely.

I would give this 10/10 stars and recommend it to anyone who likes romance, thrills and chills, history, or adventure.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book so much. I tried to fall in love with it over 10 whole days of reading it and instead was falling asleep, or being so bored I had to read something else before falling into the dreaded reading slump.
I almost DNF during multiple parts of this book just because none if it made sense and this book was all over the place. If someone asks me what this book is about, I will honestly tell them that I have no idea.
What was the plot?
What was the challenge?
What was the end goal?
I have no idea. I just know that I went into this story thinking it was a fun Witchy Rom-Com, perfect for the spooky season. There was no cute witchy romance, the main characters were all over the place in their thinking and actions, that it made me wish I was reading from any of the hundred other side characters POV.

There were some good laugh out loud moments, and I enjoyed the authors writing style, I just personally didn't love this book because it was so hard to follow along with the story.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be published on October 1, 2022!

Hex Appeal is a fun and fast paced paranormal rom-com from author Kate Johnson. This is the first book I have read by this writer but I plan to read more. I enjoyed the laid-back writing style and quirky characters of Hex Appeal.. It is a story with eccentric British witches, a good-looking American man, and an ever changing mansion that reflects the moods of its inhabitants. The love story is central but the obstacles to the happily-ever-after are myriad and highly entertaining. I also enjoyed the author's use of many pop culture references, which also added humor. This was an enjoyable book and a fast read. I hope there will be more stories about the Beldam House witches.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher One More Chapter for the digital ARC of Hex Appeal in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Johnson, and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is a really cute and fun read that’s perfect for Spooky Season. It follows Essie in the village of Good Winter as she meets Josh, who is new to the town. It describes Essie’s household full of witches and witchcraft and I really enjoyed learning about all of the characters! The history aspect was really fun to read about as well. I recommend this one!

This book was SO much fun! It got me into my fall/spooky mood in the best way. I was laughing out loud and loving every minute. Essie and Josh's relationship was so much fun and I found myself rooting for them all along. I REALLY hope there are more stories that are added into this world. A must read for spooky season!

Hex Appeal was the perfect book to kick off my Autumnal reads with - fun, flirty and oh so witchy, it was such a joy to read. I loved it!

From the blurb, I was prepared (and very much all) for the fun and the flirting - which Essie and Josh delivered in spades! But I got so much more from the witchy-ness than I was expecting. There was the usual magic and mayhem but amongst the curses and concealments, were small nods to actual witchcraft history and with it's nod to a real life Witchfinder, the storyline was both fascinating and enchanting.

The characters were quirky, original and a whole heap of fun. So much so, that I'd happily read a sequel to learn more about the witches of Bedlam House and to see how Essie and Josh's relationship develops - I need more of them, please somebody, make it happen!

I'll definitely be reading more from Kate Johnson, as I found her writing style wonderfully witty and thoroughly engaging. Her sense of humour, really shone through and had me in stitches. It's unusual to enjoy every character in a book, but Kate has managed to create a fabulous cast of colourful characters, I loved every second I spent with them.

Summer is ending, there is a whisper of autumn in the air and with the equinox just days away this was the perfect read.

Essie Winterscale, a witch with a very limited skill set, has the unsettling feeling that things aren't quite right in Good Winter. Maude is knitting monsters, Blessing's carnivarous plants are out of control and Essie is having nightmares about a lawyer called Hobs. She is desperate for the day when she performs the ritual to summon winter and things will begin to slow things down.

Meanwhile, Josh has inherited half of Good Winter, which involves a money pit house to live and the rent for properties, including Beldam house that hasn't been paid for 300 years. He has the lease, but for some reason he can't find the house -- until he meets Essie and follows her home. And that is seriously weird -- or did he imagine it? Then his half-sister turns up on the point of giving birth and he becomes seriously out of control.

Welcome to Beldam House where Maude knits the future, Blessing nurtures stuff, Avery manifests ideas into reality and then there is Lilith...

Great characters, a wonderful setting and story that will keep you engaged to the very end. Recommended.

American lawyer Josh Henderson has relocated to the quiet village of Good Winter in Essex, UK, after inheriting several cottages. He discovers his new home is somewhat dilapidated, and the rent he is owed is virtually nonexistent; however, one property appears to have vanished.

Hex Appeal tells the story of Josh and Essie, who lives in the ever-changing house Josh cannot find and is a witch responsible for bringing in "winter." When the two meet, inquisitiveness slowly becomes a well-handled and convincing romance. Kate Johnson's characterisation is realistic and believable, which is often not the case with this genre. So you root for these two.

As always, things get complicated. The annual ritual Essie is responsible for isn't just to ensure a snowy Christmas, and Josh's genealogy throws up a curve ball.

Kate Johnson has a rich cast of characters. Elsie's housemates are well crafted and engaging. I loved Avery and Prudence.

Hex Appeal is in the top three reads of 2022. It has genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and I hope we revisit these characters again.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the eARC.

A perfect magical romp for the start of the Autumn season.

Living in an ever-changing house full of witches and witchcraft, all Essie wants is a "normal" life and she works very hard to maintain this until one day Josh appears and throws everything Essie knows into the air as an old family secret is unearthed.

Essie and Josh's story is very sweet and all of the witches / coven provide some light relief and truly comedic moments. A really enjoyable stand alone magical rom com that is great for the chillier days to come.

If you are looking for a fun autumn read featuring witch hunters, time travel, and poppet dolls, Hex Appeal is a great pick! The book is about Essie and her coven, who 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 sparks fly. There is a monster involved in the plot and some somewhat confusing family lineage that I almost needed a family tree to understand, but I was more here for the romance! And we definitely get a romance, along with a bit of miscommunication between the two main characters.

The side characters, from Essie’s coven to Josh’s sister, are quirky and unique personalities who are fun to read about. I enjoyed the interactions between the various characters. The house is a character all of its own that changes to be whatever the witches need and can be straight up chaos at times. Each witch has specific abilities, and their abilities are so unique and original!

There was a section in the middle that took me a bit out of the story, where the characters spoke in such an odd old fashioned way that it was just tough to read. Without that section I would likely have rated this higher!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I made a mistake starting this book whilst on holiday in 35°c heat and I struggled initially to get into it and read about 30%. I ended up finishing it after returning home from Cyprus and cosying up with a blanket and some hot chocolate which was much more fitting with the witchy autumnal vibes of this book and I finished the rest of the book in a few hours.
I found this book to be an enjoyable read, but it felt like there was too much going on at some points. Some scenes just seemed a bit too chaotic with too much going on at once and it felt like the story was a bit choppy because of this rather than flowing nicely. However, I really liked the characters in this. I think they are well thought out and even the secondary characters had very different personalities. This book wrapped the ending up nicely, however I am hoping for a sequel as I’d like to see what adventures they all get up to next! I’d recommend this if you’re looking for a witchy read in the lead up to Halloween. This book would pair nicely with a pumpkin spiced latte.

I quite enjoyed this book. Perfect fall read with a cozy, witchy romance. It had funny moments and some mystery with some spellcasting action. The only thing that did not work for me was Josh's overused, demeaning comments about Essie's weight. Once would have been fine but it was like he was hung up on it and he was with her in spite of that. It just rubbed me the wrong way. Without that infraction this would probably had been 5 stars.

DNFing @ 32%. Now, it may just be me, but holy crap I cannot get into this book. I gave it a good go -- I got to 30%, and at this point I should really care about at least one of the characters, but nope. I don't care at all. About ANY of it. The world seems like it has potential, but again, there's just nothing grabbing hold of me. It seems like there should be a romance somewhere in here, but what we've gotten so far doesn't really pique my interest at all. I think it might be how this is written, but who knows. I'm just not interested, and life's too short to keep reading something that just isn't doing it for me. Moving onwards.

As we head into the cool autumn days and towards Halloween, I was so excited to get an ARC of Hex Appeal.

Josh inherits property only to find rent hasn't been paid by its inhabitants for hundreds of years. Essie is a witch who lives at said property with other witches. Essie brings in winter. And can instantly chill wine (very important in my opinion).

I thought the book concept was cute, but I didn't feel the connection between Josh and Essie. Or maybe I just didn't vibe with either of the characters. I felt like Essie was immature. And Josh made some comments I wasn't a huge fan of.

I will say Kate built a nice world and wouldn't mind heading back there to get more stories from the other characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.