The catchphrase of The Ex Hex is definitely "never mix vodka and magic". Halloween is by far my favorite holiday and I love watching witchy movies and tv shows, so I was excited to read a witchy romance novel.

Vivienne, or Vivi, grew up not knowing much about magic until she went to Graves Glen to live with her aunt and cousin after her parents died. At 19, Vivi finds out that her boyfriend Rhys, is betrothed back in Wales, Vivi breaks up with him and he heads home. With encouragement from her cousin, Gwyn, Vivi mixes vodka and magic to curse Rhys. Neither of them thinks the curse actually worked. But 9 years later Rhys returns to Graves Glen and things go wrong which means that the curse might have actually worked after all.

I enjoyed this spooky and steamy second-chance romance. Vivi and Rhys had great chemistry, and they seemed more intent on their romance than finding out how to end the curse. It felt real because they were leading with their hormones and emotions more than with their brains. For me, I wish that the deep connection Vivi and Rhys had the first time around would have been further developed or elaborated. I struggled with seeing how they went from being apart for 9 years to having lots of intimate moments to being in love?

I loved Vivi's family and hope that Gwyn gets her own book. I'm excited to see where this series takes us next.

Overall this book gave me the perfect fall and spooky vibes. It was a humorous read that left me excited for Halloween.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for access to this arc.

The start is a lot of fun and proves what Vivienne’s aunt always swears – never mix vodka and witchcraft. In the intervening nine years, neither Rhys nor Vivienne have forgotten those lovely three months they spent together in a haze of love and smoking hot sex before Rhys announced that he had to go home in order to put the kibosh on the betrothal his father was arranging for him. Vivienne, as would be expected, didn’t take this well which led to the cursing.

Unfortunately Vivienne and her cousin Gwyn don’t actually realize what they’d done was a lot more powerful than they expected until the shit hits the fan when cursee Rhys returns to the town his ancestor helped found because of the powerful ley lines which he either realized were there or actually created. I was confused about this as I thought ley lines already “existed” and weren’t things that were created. But I digress.

After Rhys tries to strengthen the ley lines (which apparently need a touch up every now and then which must be done by one of the Penhallow family) things go tits up. Suddenly this town that was founded by a witch and which has a college that (somehow) manages to have both witch and non-witch students and (somehow, mainly) manages to keep the non-witches from knowing about the witchy stuff for most of the years the college has existed (yeah, whatever, I’ll buy into it because you say so) has magic zinging around. Deep magic, strong magic, rank magic that gets real in a damn hurry.

After the initial explosive display of the effects of the rank magic, Rhys manages to help Gwyn and Vivienne cover up evidence of this from the mortal customers in Aunt Elaine’s shop but it’s soon evident (Kinda, maybe. We’re told that it is) that this curse could be a lot more dangerous than anyone expected. Can they undo it and fix the other unintended disastrous results?

The effects of the curse are clearly bigger than Gwyn, Vivienne, Aunt Elaine, and Rhys realize but I wondered why they’d think things wouldn’t be bad all over town? The original curse had fritzed Rhy’s magic in town but the ley line debacle quickly set off things in town for Gwyn, Vivienne and Auntie Elaine. So why wouldn’t other witches be affected? Oh wait, they sort of are but nothing to the extent that Vivi’s family was, apparently, though little is said about this and after a while it doesn’t seem to matter. Nah, Vivi, Rhys, and Gwyn will just get a good night sleep then deal with it in the morning.

The family doesn’t relish the thought of asking anyone else for help. Hello?! They’re in a town with a college of witchcraft with witch professors so why not seek any assistance they can get as things progressively go haywire?? Sorry but Vivi’s family’s “they’re snobs” excuse doesn’t cut it with me. And even when other witches seem to finally notice the problems like the shrieking vengeful ghost in the library, all that the head of the college says is “fix this.” No “can we help?” or “have you got any clues as to how to clean up the shit show you’ve created?” Reason?? Rhys actually has cause not to correct his father’s (who has a well known temper) impression that anything is wrong but with a local source of assistance there, why not make use of it?

The romance worked slightly better for me. Vivienne doesn’t spend every waking moment of the last nine years fixated on how Rhys done her wrong and he realizes that he was a wanker in how he handled letting Vivienne know about what his father was doing. She even abandons him by the side of the road his first night back in town. Vivienne has excelled in her profession (never cheat in her class or turn in a plagiarized paper because, by its screaming, she’ll know). Rhys has started a successful business. Neither is languishing over the other though there are happy and hot memories for both of them.

I also liked that they pay attention to each other. Vivienne internally confronts beliefs she carried which she now realizes might not be correct when she sees that some of Rhy’s casual quippiness might be to cover deeper feelings and wonders if he’s always been this way and she missed it. Rhys is horrified to learn that Vivienne was more emotionally wounded by what happened nine years ago than he thought. Their current bantering was fun and felt as if they shared equal agency but at times Vivi (who hides her witchness) was a bit bland (compared to her vibrant cousin) and Rhys’s depths were not plumbed.

But what I didn’t like was that Rhys and Vivi’s improving relationship leads them to become fuckbuddies for a week – albeit they claim to still be doing some research on the curse – but mainly fucking like bunnies. It takes an outside character blowing into town with frosty anger at how much time has been wasted for our little fuckrabbits to sheepishly admit that they should have been concentrating on fixing the frickn’ curse. Even when they’re tracking down something important that Vivi’s stupidity lost them, Rhys still can’t help himself from doing a wink-wink-nudge-nudge suggestion that they find a room instead of figuring out how this important item can help.

Separately, some of both parts of this book actually worked for me. The magic stuff at the beginning was fun. The initial worry after the ley lines got borked was concerning. The chemistry of Rhys and Vivi’s past, present, and growing relationship felt hot yet also emotional. Combining the two, however, didn’t go well. It was like someone learning to drive a stick shift car. The magic plot would rev up then stall into the romance, race then stall, jerk forward then stall. Or it could be looked at the other way with the progression of the romance stalling into the magic. I got bewildered about whether the out of control magic was actually anything to be worried about because the characters were frankly blasé about it most of the time. Until something would happen and then it would be discussed a bit only to be ignored again for some hot boinking. Even the promised talking cat with some interesting things to say was a bust because instead of helping them uncover ways to undo the curse (honestly, no witch has a clue how to do this??) mostly all he did was whine for treatstreatstreatstreats.

The consistency and logic of the world that was built was also shaky. I’ve said before that cute cartoon cover romcom books with happy sounding blurbs that wind up delving into deeper subjects and emotions often annoy me but for once, I actually wanted deeper. I needed it here because the balance between the fluffy stuff and the danger of the curse wasn’t equal. Had the curse only caused small plastic Halloween skulls to come to life and chase people across a store or equally silly things, then okay. But that’s not how it was presented or (when they bothered to think about it) Vivi and Rhys viewed it. When fixing the curse was finally front and center of the action, it was too much too late but then solved too easily. I really wanted to enjoy this but the inconsistencies pulled it apart and did it no favors. C

THE EX HEX is a ghoulishly chaotic, comical and charming paranormal novel. Vivi Jones, a pretty witch, is also a history professor at a college in Graves Glen and helps her cousin Gwyn run a witch souvenir store in town. However, she had her heartbroken years ago after a fling with Rhys Penhallow, who is one of the town ancestors. So, Vivi and her cousin Gwyn put a curse on Rhys after one too many vodka shots. Her aunt warned her not to mix Vodka with witchcraft. Gwen and Vivi doubt the spell even worked.

Rhys returns to town all these years later to adjust the town's ley lines. Rhys runs into a caldron full of magical problems when he tries to fix the lines. Oops! Looks like the curse worked.

Tingling sparks fly between Rhys and Vivi. Oh no, their attraction is still off the charts hot! Vivi's ex hex is apparently working, since there is one disaster after another hitting Rhys. The town's annual fall festival is nearing and the town is overrun with killer toys, a vengeful ghost, and a host of other catastrophes. Will Vivi and Rhys discover a way to rescue the town and break the curse before disaster strikes?

THE EX HEX is non-stop action, spellbinding, and lovable! Witches, ghosts, a talking cat, and more, fill the pages of Ms. Sterling's supernatural story. I absolutely love all the quirky, feisty characters! The sizzling attraction between Rhys and Vivi is magically delicious! I speedily read the story to see how they were going to undo the curse on Rhys. It took girl power and then some. This book so compelling that I couldn't put it down! THE EX HEX is addictive, adorable and great witchy fun!

This is a wonderful story by a new author to me and I have not read anything by her other name either. Very cute and I was engaged in the story from the beginning. I cannot wait for another story by this author.

It’s spooky season! 👻 Or close enough. I just finished this witchy read, whose book birthday is today. It’s a fun small town contemporary romance with a heavy dose of witchcraft that illustrates why one should never mix magic and vodka - no matter how heartbroken you are.

Also included: one treat begging talking cat. 🐈‍⬛

4 ⭐️ , mostly for the humor.

Thank you @avonbooks @netgalley for my review copy!

When Rhys breaks Vivienne’s heart, she jokingly places a hex on her handsome, witchy ex. When he returns years later, she realizes that maybe her magic was a little more powerful than she thought. Whoops.

It’s a little late in the day, but I have to say happy pub day to one of my favorite recent reads! I absolutely loved The Ex Hex. Romance, witchcraft, small town and fall vibes. What more could you want this time of year?!

I highly recommend you pick this one up. It’s out today!

📚Read this if you’re looking for a witchy/fall read with some romance.

A delightful and funny story. Viviene and Rhys are both witches. After a break up Rhys is accidentally cursed by Viviene. This causes a series of mishaps. They are quite witty and fun. It even includes a ghost and a talking cat. The cast of characters is truly charming and will make you laugh out loud. Working together gives them the opportunity to fall in love all over again.

This book is getting so much hype, and I wanted to love it. But it just didn’t pull me in. It took me a long time to finish, and while it ended nicely, it just wasn’t worth the trudging through.

If you are looking for a light fun read for Halloween season this is for you. This is fun magical, laugh out loud romance with a hint of steam.

Vivi Jones is a witch, she found out her boyfriend Rhys is betrothed to someone else. So Vivi being broken hearted and young she gets drunk and curses Rhys,all in good fun though. Nine years later when her ex returns to Graves Glen the curse is activated, Vivi find outs the curse turned out to be more than just blowing of steam and it actually worked! Vivi’s Aunt did warn her never to mix vodka and witchcraft!!

Vivi and Rhys have to work together to save the town making this a second chance with a little bit of enemies to lover romance. I was immediately pulled in.. literally by the first sentence. The banter and chemistry between the characters made me so invested. I also love that you get to see the point of view from both Vivi and Rhys. The Ex Hex really does give you a mix of Hocus Pocus and Halloween town but also with a bit of steam! This is going to be a must read for the season and you do not want to miss it!

Thank you NetGalley for honoring me with an eARC. I will definitely be needing a physical copy of this as well because I loved it so much.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Willaim Morrow and Custom House, Avon Publishing, as well as NetGalley for granting me an eArc of this book (even though i waited til its release day to read...yikes)

This book is like Sabrina the Teenage witch, but she's in her mid-20's and puts a spiteful curse on her ex. When Vivi finds out the boy she is dating is being set up to be married in Wales by his father, she kicks him out, and literally throws his pants in his face. Her and her cousin then place a "harmless" hex on him. 9 years later, Rhys is back in town...their chemistry is still magical...but everything that could go wrong for him does.

My rating: 4.5/5 - I'm freaking. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. The conversations are hilariously witty, and the chemistry from Rhys and Vivi just is so present and palpable. There was some spice, with more of fading to gray (not black) cause there is some detail, but ugh what I would give for a tad more! The plot was fun to follow, but the exaggerated magical aspect at the end confused me a bit, but overall an amazing read I highly recommend for any contemporary rom-com reader!

Super cute and quick read-- perfect for spooky season!

Vivi had an explosive ending to a three-month relationship with Rhys when she was 19. Vodka and hexes with her cousin may have been involved. Nine years later, Vivi is a human history professor, and it's time for the town's ley lines to be recharged. This entails the presence of one of the town's founder's ancestors to be present, and Rhys happens to be one of the four options. Guess who shows up for the ceremony! When Rhys and Vivi go to recharge the town's magic, things happen that aren't supposed to be happening. And Rhys seems to be getting in quite a few perilous situations ever since he returned to town. Did that vodka- and heartbreak-infused hex actually work?

Of course it did. And of course Vivi and Rhys have to work together to figure out WTF is going on.

<i>The Ex Hex</i> was a fun little romp. Nothing super serious, a few sexy times here and there. I loved the presence of ghosts, spells, and magical objects. I will be recommending to people looking for some Halloween fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

I adored this story so much and I want everyone to read it!

Small-town, second chance romance with a side of witches, magic, and curses!

When Vivienne was 19 year old, she had her heart broken by Rhys when he had to move away to supposedly marry someone else. While she was wallowing in her heartache, she and her cousin jokingly cursed him with their magic. When he returns to town 9 years later, it appears the curse wasn't so much of a joke after all! While working together to find a way to lift the curse, they find themselves still very much attracted to each other. I got some steam I wasn't expecting in this one, and I'm not complaining!

I loved this book so much! The banter between Vivi and Rhys is so funny and the side characters are hysterical too!

In the magical town of Graves Glen, Georgia, Vivieen, a witch, accidentally curses her ex-boyfriend following their breakup. The Ex Hex is a light, paranormal romance that follows witches Vivienne Jones and Rhys Penhallow. Nine years ago, Rhys Penhallow breaks Vivieen’s heart when he returns to Wales to convince his father to let him out of his betrothal— a betrothal Vivieen was fully unaware of. When Rhys returns to town to recharge the ley lines that provide magic to the local witches, Vivieen’s curse begins to take effect.

With the help of her cousin, Gwyn, Vivi and Rhys must figure out how to break the curse before Halloween, with the added distraction of Vivi and Rhys rekindling their romantic relationship.

This book is a light, comical read that will appeal to readers of romantic comedies. The magic is simple, not complicated, so comprehension of mystical enchantments is not necessary. I really enjoyed reading this with my windows open, letting in the crisp autumn air. I felt like I was right there in Graves Glen watching everything unfold. This is the perfect fast-paced, second-chance romance read for spooky szn/October.

Thank you so much to William Morrow and Custom House, Avon for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

The cover for this book is very memorable, and I could not wait to read this one. Once the chill comes into the air, I'm always in the mood for atmospheric tales- and this one did not disappoint!

The Ex Hex is pure rom-com with its fun tone and witty characters, author Erin Sterling takes things deeper with potent, beautifully portrayed symbolism, especially when it comes to tarot cards and the intriguing, melancholy mystery tangled up with the curse. It's a romance magically enhanced to be more vivid, more daring and more potentially deadly, and it's all the more satisfying for it.

This book is outside of my usual genres but I enjoyed it. Likeable characters and well paced, Good for fans of romantic comedies and light fantasies. It's a great read for fall.

🎃 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱 𝐇𝐞𝐱 🎃

Six words: Hocus Pocus but make it steamy❤️‍🔥🕸💥

Idk what’s happening to me (was I hexxed??) but y’all I am vibing with romcoms more than I usually do and this is one exceeded all expectations (similarly to the love hypothesis)!!! LOVED IT!!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱 𝐇𝐞𝐱 is a really light, paranormal romcom that gets 5 spooky stars from me. It’s not a deep romance at all but I adored the setting, the characters, and the humor so much👏🏻🤩


🪦 Quick synopsis:

Nine years ago, Rhys Penhallow left 19 yr old Vivienne Jones to go back to Wales. With a broken heart and the encouragement from vodka and her cousin, Gwyn, Vivi decides to jokingly curse Rhys. Here’s the kicker: the Hex wasn’t a joke. As Rhys returns to Graves Glen, the hex ramps up speed and he and Vivi must work together to stop it❤️‍🔥😬


⚰️My thoughts:

Who doesn’t love a fated lover’s trope?! After reading so many heavy books lately, this light and funny quick read was exactly what I was needing. Perfect for a spooky pick me up🕸🍂

☠️: Have you already started compiling your spooky book tbr for October?! What are you guys planning on reading?!

Vivi knows you never mix vodka with witchcraft, but after a doozy of a break up with her boyfriend Rhys, what’s one little curse (like it’s going to work) going to hurt? Fast forward 9 years and Rhys is back in Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines and attend the annual founders festival. Not everything is going to plan when he arrives and Vivi starts to wonder if her little “curse” actually worked. Crazy things start happening and Vivi and Rhys have to work together to save Graves Glen!

This was such a fun read and STEAMY! If you are in a romance mood but looking to pick up something with witchy vibes this is PERFECT.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in an exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun story about magic in the modern world. Vivienne and Rhys met the summer she was 19 and he was taking summer classes at the local college. To most people it is a regular college, but it also has a secret magic college that was started by Rhys’ ancestor. Things did not end well and while drowning her sorrows, Vivi puts a curse on him. Nine years later Rhys is back in town and that is when crazy things start happening. Read the story to find out how it all works out. I love stories that combine magic and romance in a modern setting and the author did a wonderful job.

I received a free copy of this book to review through NetGalley.

Like many other reviews I’ve seen, this is like an adult version of Hocus Pocus. A fun read as we transition to fall. Generally this isn’t my favorite kind of book, but it was still a fun, steamy read.