This book is for you if you like the following:
-very horny magical folks
-complex supernatural power struggles
-triplets
-mates and such
-all sorts of magical creatures
-stories for black sheep

I'm gonna go ahead and admit that I don't read a lot of paranormal romance/erotica and thought this was more romance with a supernatural twist than it turned out to be. There was a lot of info dumping up front about magical politics and hierarchies and the wide variety of magical creatures there are in this book, and it was a lot to take in. It was as if I had thought I was dipping my toe in and ended up in a bit deeper than I expected. To be honest, I feel like I just need to stick to more familiar waters/genres for the time being. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my thing. I am also accustomed to slow burns in my romances so it was jarring to have Vi talking about her lady bits getting wet in the first chapter and the first encounter with Lincoln we see in the book. It was just a bit much for me and definitely made me feel like I was the wrong audience for this book.
There were things I enjoyed like the fake dating bit and the sister relationship along with the Prima. I am a sucker for sister stories and sassy old ladies. I just kept finding myself feeling like I was the wrong audience and a lot of it just didn't land right for me.

What’s better than an adult contemporary romance? An adult contemporary romance with witches, wolves, and everything supernatural!

Not the Witch You Wed tells the story of Violet as she deals with not having magic (or maybe she does!!), being the outcast in her family, and her feelings for a certain alpha wolf shifter who she has sworn never to have feelings for again.

This was not everything I wanted to be but if nothing else, it was fun. Let’s discuss!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne—the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time.

The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance—along with Violet’s magic—they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for sure: magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier.

In Not the Witch You Wed, April Asher brings all the hilarity and sweet, sexy moments you love in a romantic-comedy—plus a fun dose of magic—to this spell-binding new series about being sexy, single, and supernatural in New York City.

Ok, let’s get right into it.

Why do I keep reading romances with alpha males when I hate them so much (or at least most of the time)??? Linc wasn’t too bad but the whole overprotective thing makes me want to vomit.

I did like the fun moments where he’s bantering with Violet, playing with the kids at the daycare, and hanging around his friend (I’m pretty sure he only has one friend).

I also didn’t totally buy their reason for fake dating. It just felt like the book was trying to do too many things and the fake dating part, unfortunately, kind of fell by the wayside.

As for Violet, I liked her character but there were certain moments where she was saying she didn’t have powers when it was clear SHE TOTALLY DID. It wasn’t clear whether she was just trying to hide it because it would mean her life would completely change or if she was in denial. Not knowing the reason for that denial confused me.

I did love her relationship with her friends and her sisters. They had a great bond and I LOVED how much they supported Violet once it was clear she had powers and that she needed to learn how to control them. Those moments were actually really fun.

Overall, I really just wanted more. I felt the connection between Linc and Violet but I wanted more from their bond. I wanted more fun, light-hearted moments and maybe fewer animalistic, sexual ones.

And I don’t mean they kept having sex. Because they didn’t. There was just this vibe every time they were together that was like they were about to tear each other’s clothes off at any moment. Like I get they are attracted to each other and he has wolf senses or whatever but JESUS MY DUDES.

I might continue the series just to see how the story continues and how the other romances turn out, but I wish this one was more to my liking.

I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

If you like supernatural romances that don’t take themselves too seriously, this might be the book for you.

Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher is available now.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @ 4%
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
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Normally I’m able to give books more of a fair chance, but I’m trying to not waste my time or energy, which is why this is a DNF at the end of Chapter 1. I’m not remarking on the entire book, so this will only be referring to what I read.
This book is simply not for me at this point in time. It is written in a very outlandish style of humor, with witch-themed curse phrases (ex. “son of a witch’s tit”—you’re literally adults, just swear normally) and physical blunders (we have had the “falling on her ass” scene about two or three times already, which is a lot for being simply Chapter 1). On top of it, there’s the alpha male hero who was childhood rivals (and simultaneously falling head over heels in love) with the heroine, and is now doing all he can to win her over despite the fact that they haven’t interacted since senior year of high school; for reference, I believe they’re in their mid-thirties, so it’s been nearly two decades since they’ve seen each other.
I can tell this is going to be a comedy of errors, with lots of miscommunication, pining, corniness, and physical humor, and while that definitely suits some people, it’s just not for me right now.

I totally loved this book! It's a great combination of YA, romance and comedy. Great story that I was not expecting.

Well, this is a magical, fun, delightful, sexy and heartwarming read! I just ate it up and didn't want it to end. this is such a great introduction into paranormal romance too. I can't wait for more from this series!

This was such a fun read! A perfect Halloween treat for romance lovers. I thought the characters were believable and likable. The witchy elements were fun, but this read is not just for anyone interested in that aspect. I felt it was approachable and whimsical for any romance reader.

Loved this PNR with just the right amount of heat, heart and humor. Made me happy and I ripped through it like a kitty through a paper bag. Hopefully I’ll remember to come back with a full review later.

This is romance centered though the worldbuilding is just enough to keep me interested. The Firsts were fun and well done. The enemies to lovers mixed with second chance romance gives a good amount of tension and makes this story sing. Plus I want more from this 'verse and I can't wait to see where Ms. Asher takes it next.

May be the shortest positive review I've done but hey first time for everything. Yeah, I liked it and I happily recommend it.

Note: updated for ARC disclosure.
**Arc provided via netgalley for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This book was delight. I have come to fall in love with this witchy light paranormal genre. This book worked for me. I have been promoting these books in my blog.

This book has all it all, we've got angst, longing, mistrust, humor, heartache, romance, and lots of steam. I felt for both characters and what they were going through individually and together. I really enjoyed how Asher incorporated all the fantasy creatures into our modern society, it felt really seamless and I can't wait to explore the world more in the rest of the series!

Not the Witch You Wed is a magical romcom that I absolutely adored! This is the perfect beach book: frothy and fun but also great for a modern romcom reader. Udder delight!

Unfortunately, I was not at all intrigued by this one after reading the first chapter. It failed to capture my attention, and the dialogue was off-putting.

On paper, this book is my catnip: enemies-to-lovers and fake dating with a paranormal setting. The heroine is plus-sized and independent. The hero is ... hot.

In reality, this book annoyed the heck out of me. I had to push myself to finish it just to see exactly how these two dummies finally figured their very, very obvious stuff out. But let's start at the start.

Violet is part of a magical triad, and by all means should be the next Prima witch. But she wasn't born with any magic, so she's living a life on the sidelines of supernatural society. North American Pack Alpha Lincoln wants to change how shifter society is run, but he's blocked by the archaic Elders and the European Alpha, who like the status quo. He's also required to be mated by the time he turns 33, which is right around the corner. As it turns out, Violet is also expected to be mated by the supernatural Council. Even though they have bad blood between them after some teenage heartbreak, the pair agree to fake date as long as it takes to change the rules forcing them to get married on a deadline. At the same time, Violet's magic makes a surprise appearance, and she has to learn how to keep it under control.

This is all well and good. Except Violet is an insufferable character. She's supposed to be nearly 33! She speaks and acts like she's still the teenage girl who got her heart broken at 18. She makes juvenile snipes at Lincoln and generally acts like a brat. It's played off as the "enemies" banter the trope demands, but it takes a big step over the line into straight up annoying. She also does a lot of "You know what? Nevermind. I don't want to know" during serious conversations with Lincoln about their past and potential future. It's a clear-as-day device to extend their "enemies" phase as well as the relationship angst.

There are also some very transparent plot devices to show what a good guy Lincoln is. Of course Violet volunteers at a youth center and of course Lincoln volunteers, too. Not only does he volunteer, he gets roped into a seriously cringe-worthy fashion show where he's tricked into wearing a pair of cat ears. I seriously skipped this bit because I was wincing so hard. He's also like, the goodest guy -- because he's set on dismantling the monarchy of shifter society! He's even willing to step down if he's not democratically re-elected to his position! What a great guy.

And he's SEXY -- as in, Violet rarely leaves out that adjective when describing him at any point. It's practically the only descriptor we get, except that he's tall and broad. I don't think I even know what color his hair is. Everyone else calls him sexy, too. It's lazy writing and gets old REAL fast. The bedroom scenes are also so perfunctory I would have rather it been a fade-to-black situation for how little they actually titillated or added to the sexual or narrative tension.

The most infuriating part of the plot: True Mates. Lincoln doesn't just want to marry anyone because he believes in finding his True Mate: the person who both he and his inner wolf love. Violet wants that too? Her grandma (who annoyingly says bae, as if that's cute but it's cringe and out of touch, even if that is the "joke") had a True Mate that matched her magic. This is *technically* a spoiler, but it's not because it's the most obvious thing from the get-go: Lincoln and Violet are True Mates. Her magic pretty much manifested after she and Lincoln reconnected; it perks up every time Lincoln is around and I think at one point is described as purring in his presence. (Lord save me from an anthropomorphic descriptor of an inner thing. I'm still scared from Ana's Inner Goddess in "50 Shades"). Lincoln's wolf really likes Violet, rises to the surface whenever she's around, is super protective of her and like, pouts when she's away. It's painfully obvious and the fact neither of them even wonder before it's spoonfed to Lincoln makes them come across even dumber than they already do.

A minor-ish thing: the falling out when they were teenagers. Lincoln and Violet were going to run away together so that Lincoln could escape his abusive father. But he didn't show. It was because his father threatened Violet's life after she saw something she shouldn't. Lincoln agreed to be obedient to save her life and was hexed into silence. That hexed was willed to continue after Lincoln's death. But the true parameters are never explained: he's shown not to be able to speak it aloud. Has he tried to write it down? Has he tried to have someone read his father's will and discover it on their own and then that person tells Violet the truth? Could he like, leave out a piece of paper confessing it and then make it so someone else finds it? A quick paragraph of the ways that Lincoln has tried to break the hex but wasn't able to would make it feel like more than a plot device to keep the rift between Violet and Lincoln intact.

The other big problem I have with this book is the surface-level world building. We learn that supernatural creatures only came out to regular human society 50 years before. But there's very little integration of the two except the paparazzi are invested in taking pictures of Lincoln and that normal kids attend the youth center along the supernatural kids. There's no mention of laws regulating them or how humans have taken angels and demons being revealed as REAL. Not only that, but regular society doesn't care that there's this secondary ruling body that determines stuff for supernatural society? I mean, Lincoln's father and former Alpha allowed sanctioned death matches -- it was legal in supernatural society but murder is very illegal in human society. And supernatural people hold jobs in the wider world, so someone would care about all those shifters just dropping off the face of the earth. Also, in other paranormal books where shifter societies are monarchies, there's usually a way to contend for the throne; that doesn't seem to exist here. It appears to be straight inheritance ruling, and not only that, but there's ONE alpha per continent who rules over ALL shifters. There's no conflict about a wolf ruling bears and eagles and stuff? They're just supposed to be chill with that with no way to push them off the throne? If there was, it wasn't explained. It was all so shallow.

That's just where it comes to Lincoln. As for Violet: her grandmother is the Prima, the ruling witch. But somehow Violet lives in a small studio apartment and works as a bartender. I don't buy that they're not wealthy. I also don't buy that no one cares about her merely because she doesn't have magic and wants to stay out of the spotlight. She regularly goes to official supernatural society events. Paparazzi follow TikTokers, for god's sake; they would follow around Violet. In fact, her not having magic might actually make her more popular, because she would be more relatable to regular society. Also, the one pap who runs her off the road? Oh, they would be tracked down and charged.

All this to say, this is not a book you read.

| I received an ARC through NetGalley, and this is my honest, freely given review. |

3 stars

This is the debut book in a new paranormal series, which isn't usually my thing but I thought it was cute. It has the fake dating trope as well as a bit of a second chance romance which are both tropes that I enjoy reading. I liked getting into this world and learning about the laws of it, i find that there wasn't a ton going on outside of the romance. There was a lot of cheesy writing and the characters were kind of one note. It satisfied the fluffy read i needed at the moment but looking back I don't know if it is something I would ever read again. I will probably give the next book in the series a chance.

thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yes yes yes! This is the adult rom-com witchy book of my dreams. This is the kind of book that makes me want to write adult rom-coms. This is the kind of book that single-handedly made me push through a reading slump.

Though admittedly it DID take me 2.5 weeks to read this all the way through. But you fellow readers, you know what a reading slump can be like. And I've been in one since November! And I actually enjoyed this book enough to want to pick up the next one. And that's a lot for me right now.

So let's talk about this beauty eh?

The worldbuilding - SPOT ON. It's a contemporary setting but with *MAGIC* witches, shape-shifters, demons, angels, succubae, vampires, the whole dang crowd and I LOOOOVED that the book wasn't about the animosity between the supes and the normals. It was about the antiquated laws of the supes and what they needed to do to bring it into the new century.

Vi and Link were just two fantastic characters to get to see unfurl throughout the book. A literal bad-ass Alpha male with the soft side for his woman, his people, and small children. *sigh* it was fantabulous. And Vi is this mix of social anxiety, anger, and love that is the weirdest combination but reads so well onto the page.

And don't even get me started on their friend groups and the sisters. AND GRANDMA!?!?!? Ugh. I love it so much.

Fair warning this is not a clean romance. If you're wondering, it's probably like a 3 on a scale of 1-5 for how spicy it gets.

And y'all the best part? The end. Because there is 100% series potential here and your girl is HERE FOR IT!

Boring and draggy tbh. I was annoyed by how long the girl held on to her resentment. Didn't really feel any passion between or leads either. I don't think I want to read any more of this series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance. It has a virgin Succubus, triplet witches, werewolves, shifters, and a hot romance, what more could you want from a book!?! I love that you know where the relationship is heading from the very beginning of Vi and Linc's pact but the journey to get there is fun, flirty, and sexy so you don't mind reading it.

Looking forward to reading more books from April Asher.

Not the Witch You Wed is a cute and fun story of a magicless witch and how she finds her way in her family, community and in love. When she enters a fake relationship with a shifter from her past, she thinks that she is gaining time to solve some pretty big personal struggles. Fake relationships add such a great level of forced proximity and tension that once their story got moving, it was easy to sink into it and stay there. I love the sisters, their friend group and the dynamics at the community center and can't wait to see what comes next for these triplets.

It’s unique plot - magic-less witch Violet that’s part of a witch triad (she and her two triplet sisters) gets thrown into a second chance romance/fake dating/relationship of convenience plot with her ex, Lincoln, a wolf shifter- with some unexpected personal developments.

I started and finished in less than a day because I just didn’t want to put it down. There are were some laugh out loud moments, and I honestly couldn’t stop smiling.

This has to be my favorite 2022 romance release so far, not that I’ve read many but it’s going to the top of this list. I need more of the Maxwell sisters, Lincoln, Edie, and their friends immediately.

I regret not picking this one up closer to Pub Day for sure! It’s also a good listen in audio, so don’t be afraid to pick it up that way.

Unfortunately I'm DNFing this one! It seems like it might get better but it's verrryyy tongue in cheek (or however the saying goes) and I'm not interested in reading that right now. I need more serious romances at the moment!

Not the Witch You Wed is a great paranormal second change at love between Violet, a witch with no powers, and Lincoln, a wolf shifter. Lots of humor and snarky banter made this a fun read. I look forward to the next book in what I hope will be a long series!