This feels like it had the potential to be a really great witchy contemporary but it still just lacked something.

I didn't hate it but for the most part I was very indifferent on the couple.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book at the start. But I was pleasantly surprised by it.

Vivi was so relatable, and I instantly loved her. (Which if you ever see any of my reviews, you know can be a rarity for me). But I truly adored her. and wanted her to be happy and find herself.

I'm always down for a story set in the south too. You give me a good New Orleans setting, or even a good Georgia setting like this one, and I'm for it. (Maybe because I've grown up in the south and love all the history and old buildings and towns that come from it)

But I really did enjoy the slow burn of this one. It had a little magic, a little romance, a little fun, and little revenge, even if it isn't like revenge revenge haha.

This is a cute, witchy, romcom. It was definitely enjoyable and I’d recommend the audiobook because the narrator was really good. But, some of the magic elements were a little cheesy or “too easy” for my liking. The romance was cute and I’d continue the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

the book was such a fun quick read! Fun cozy fall vibes. It’s a perfect romcom book. If you like second chance romance this is for you.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

I have been on a search for the perfect witchy romance for me...and am yet to find it, sigh. This one didn't grab me although I have enjoyed previous books of Erin Sterling (Rachel Hawkins) -- her Hex Hall series is one of my favorites but this one was lacking that humor and excitement.

I wasn't a huge fan of this one. I love a witchy romance but this one was a little to cutesy for me personally. It felt more like Halloweentown fan fiction than anything.

Thank you to Avon and William Morrow for my copy of The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was instantly interested in this one when I saw the cover and read the synopsis. And I was even more excited when I saw that it was written under a pen name for Rachel Hawkins, as she wrote one of my favorite books of 2020. The Ex Hex has the perfect amount of witchy magicalness + romance! It's very Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Gilmore Girls. It is a second chance romance, which I've gotten a little burned out on lately, but the witchy twist gave it that extra umph for me! The story is set in the small town of Graves Glen. The whole town just has a perfect magical vibe to it, down to the college that is half humans and half witches. And all the humans in the town are totally unsuspecting that they live amongst witches.

Cute spooky themed paranormal romance. While I can't say I shipped the main characters, it was a nice fluff read for the season. Was it cheesy as all get out? Absolutely. Massively trope-y but still a fun read.

This was fine, it was a cute concept and I love the town and how much they love Halloween, but I didn’t feel any chemistry or connection between the romantic leads.

This book felt very formulaic to me, I had a hard time getting into it. It was written well though, so I will give credit where credit is due. It just wasn’t my favorite.

Fun, cheerful and feel-good with a gorgeous Welsh wizard - what's not to love about that?

I have to be honest here and say that stories with witches and wizards aren't my usual pick-up, I think I grew out of wizards and witches but something about this caught my attention and overall I wasn't disappointed, true witches and wizards and casting spells on each still isn't one of my favourite genre's but this has certainly changed my initial opinion of these stories.

I really enjoyed this one, it's ever so cute and lots of fun plus at parts quite steamy (always a good thing in my opinion) I liked the characters they are great fun and the story is original and engaging, i really liked how easy this was to read.

actual rating: 4/5 stars

i really had such a fun and amazing time reading this book. it isn't one of the best romances i've ever read but it is amazing for the spooky season and perfectly put you into the halloween mood but in a lighthearted way similar to halloweentown or hocus pocus. this story is gilmore girls meets halloweentown.

the atmosphere is what really made this book with the spooky southern small-town vibes which i absolutely adored. the characters were fun and i loved that it was a second-chance romance because those are some of my favorites. while i wasn't specifically attached to the characters, the witchy aspects made up for the lack of personality either one had. their family relations also made this book a bit more interesting.

this book was super funny and i enjoyed the writing. the fact the heroine cursed the hero without being able to normally do magic and doing it in an accidental way set this book off on the right foot.

the ley line aspect of this book really made it interesting and reminded me of the raven cycle and the fact that there was this spirit that played a role from the middle of the book to the end was entertaining. i enjoyed that is had a plot and conflict that had to do with something other than just the romance because just a normal rom com can be a bit repetitive and boring.

This was a cute book, but I found it to be a just okay. I thought the characters could be a little more developed and it dragged in the middle. The audio version was done okay as well. The narrator was a bit annoying. That being said, I am planning on reading the second book in the series.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling | Full Review available on GinaRaeMitchell. com

I wanted to love this story but there was just a bit of “something” missing that would push it to the next level. Let’s see if I can work that out in this review.

The characters were great. Vivi’s unease with her magic and Rhys with his constant deflecting were very believable. The pace was good for the most part. The story took a few sidesteps that I thought needed more definition or left out altogether. They just didn’t enhance the storytelling for me. It felt like either I missed the first book in the series or those threads were left dangling for a sequel.

I can see this turning into a successful series. Elaine, Gwyn, Simon, and the brothers all seem destined to have their story told.

Final decision: 3.75/5


I received a digital copy of the book through NetGalley. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

LOVED! This book had me laying in bed reading all day because I just could not put it down. Sign me up for anything with a witch and romance and the fantastic writing style of Erin Sterling!

This book had an interesting concept to it. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Halloween and spooky-themed romances, took me three tries to read it, and still ended up DNFing it about 38% of the way there. Just personally couldn't get into it. Thankful for the opportunity to read it, just was not a book for me.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, (aka Rachel Hawkins), was high on my list of most anticipated reads for Fall 2021. The book sounded SO cute and it sounded like the perfect fall read. This is why it was my very first read of fall this year! Bringing in the new season with an awesome book, and it was perfection.

Let me start this by saying that my most favorite thing about this book was the setting. It’s absolutely no secret AT ALL that my favorite season of the year is fall. I love everything about it! The weather starts to get cooler, (though here in the south that takes a while), the colors of the trees start to change, oh and did I mention that the weather gets cooler? (lol!)

That brings me to the setting of this book. I don’t think I’ve read many books set in fall, but this book is, AND it’s around Halloween time as well! (My favorite holiday!) Everything that Erin described in the setting was absolute perfection and I could picture it perfectly in my mind. I sooooo wanted to be in Graves Glen, GA with these characters during this lovely season. I don’t know if this place is fictional or not, but I for sure want to visit. lol

I also really enjoyed the characters and storyline for this book as well! Add them in with the gorgeous setting, it made for a fantastic read, and I was HOOKED! I definitely plan to make this a yearly fall re-read, and I really hope that there is going to be a sequel in the future as well.

Overall; The Ex Hex was an all-around fun read! Read it in the fall, or read it whenever, but I definitely hope that you enjoy it if you do read it!

This novel is good for a reader who enjoys romance and fantasy. Reading this book reminded me of the television show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. It is about a witch who lives with her aunt and cousin in a small town where both humans and wizards and witches live together, but the humans do not know that. You learn in the beginning of the book, Rhys, left Vivi, nine years ago because he was betrothed to another. She was upset so Vivi and her cousin "curse" Rhys. Years later, Rhys's father forces him to go back to Graves Glen to reset the ley lines of the town. Rhys and Vivi run into each other and weird things start happening in the town...and it's because of the curse that Vivi set of Rhys. Now, the two must work together to lift the curse and to acknowledge their previous relationship.

I thought this was a fun and easy summer read. I would read more by the author.

this was soooo good! For as much as they were opposites, Rhys and Vivi were meant to be together. This had a great blend of lightness and drama.

Such a fun and delightful read! I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the second book whenever that might be.