Oooh this one was better than The Ex Hex! I did enjoy The Ex Hex a lot but I liked this one better. I was getting my witchy rom coms a little confused though, there seem to be a lot these days! I loved the witchy shops and Gwyn's "baby witches" were such a fun side character addition! I can't believe book 3 doesn't come out for another year when this one has already been out for a year!! 😭

This book was just as good as the first.

The characters are enjoyable and I especially like the three little witches Gwyn has decided to help along the way.

The story was up and down for me. Some parts were really great and some felt slow for the story progression, but overall I enjoyed it. It was the perfect read to go in and out of and not miss anything. A great book for the fall.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

I read the ex hex with a Bookclub a couple of Halloween seasons back and just enjoyed this one to kick off spooky season! I think I actually liked it more than the original story which is hard to do for a sequel! It was a little bit funnier in my opinion and just a great ride with lots of great banter consistently! I will recommend as a fall read to my friends for sure!

The Kiss Curse follows up The Ex Hex with a business rivals to lovers story. Gwyn's a livewire and Wells has got a stick up his butt. Wells sets up a witchy shop right across the street from Gwyn's witchy shop in a town that survives and thrives on Halloween tourism. Gwyn finds Wells aggravating, and Wells finds Gwyn mind-boggling. When Gwyn's magic inexplicably starts to fizzle out, the two lean into their attraction while working together to sort it out as uneasy allies.

It's a light-hearted romance that worked for me on some fronts but not others. There are many quippy one-liners, usually from Gwyn, that contribute to the levity. She's kind of a classic bi disaster, fitting stereotypes and lacking nuance. It's not precisely harmful, but from a queer representation standpoint, it's boring at best. In terms of the romance, I just wasn't very invested, though I appreciated some cute moments. The side effect for me is that if I don't care much about the characters' love story, the steamy scenes aren't very interesting to me, either. The author is very careful about consent, though, so that's a thumbs up. And there's no final act breakup (hallelujah), but it's amazing how that joy doesn't quite land the same when you don't care about the relationship much in the first place.

I'll also say that I think I enjoyed this one more than The Ex Hex, which I hoped would be true. I think the writing just isn't for me, and no trope or character can move you past that. Those who enjoyed the first installment are likely to delight in the sequel since it's in the same vein and with familiar faces. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!

"The Kiss Curse" by Erin Sterling casts a spell of romance and magic that readers won't be able to resist. Sterling weaves a captivating tale of love and enchantment, exploring the complexities of breaking a curse with a touch of whimsy and a dash of heartwarming emotion.

I struggled getting into this one. i loved the witchy background and the characters but struggled a little with the plot.

“If I yell ‘boo-ya’ when we catch the ghost, you’ll get it’s meant to be ironic, right?”
In a fantastically fun follow-up to hit novel The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling has served up The Kiss Curse to hungry fans just in time for Spooky Season to commence and it delivers on every delicious promise.

Gwyn Jones has held a grudge against gorgeous and talented Llwellyn Penhallow since their college days. Those days are long since passed and the Jones family magic is now securely in control of Graves Glen. When Wells rolls back into town ready to set up his own magical-based shop, Gwyn can’t help but try to thwart his success. Gwyn has been the forthright and feisty character that I was most drawn to in The Ex Hex, right alongside Sir Purrcival.

“So I can only assume you’ve come here to ruin my life.”
Poor Wells. He surely wasn’t blessed with the coolest of names, although I do like his nickname. After the family bar in Wales began its final death throes, the Penhallow Patriach, Rhys and Wells’ father sends Wells to Graves Glen in order to reclaim some sense of Penhallow glory again. I like that Wells is secretly pleased to be back in Georgia and the college town that has held his heart for years. His arrival in Graves Glen feels like a homecoming, and I’m happy for him.

Gwyn and Wells’ relationship is like oil and vinegar—they don’t want to work together, but when they do it’s magical. What’s not to love about witty repartee in a whimsical enemies to lover’s romance? It’s when Gwyn’s magic begins to act haywire that Wells and Gwyn’s trio of Baby Witches begin to sleuth out that the other new arrival in town may not be as benign as she would lead everyone to believe. There truly is some magnificent storytelling in The Kiss Curse. I was riveted to the page and found myself lost in the whodunnit-style mystery.

It didn’t feel like a first kiss. It was too good, too sure of itself, and once again, Gwyn tried to tell herself that had to be magic because surely a man named Llewellyn didn’t kiss like this without some kind of magical intervention.”
Between some pink glitter dust, a sneaky Sir Purrcival, and a mystery plot that will have readers gobbling up the pages like a Halloween-deprived goblin, The Kiss Curse is the perfect novel to help get you in the mood for Spooky Season. I could not get enough of Gwyn and Wells. Seeing how happy Vivi and Rhys are was also a great tie in, and I only hope that Bowen finally gets his own HEA soon too!

You absolutely cannot miss The Kiss Curse! Due out next week, Erin Sterling as truly harnessed her magic for good in this phenomenal new release!

A quick read that works well. It’s fun to be back in the world of the first book, but the story isn’t quite as suspenseful or romantic as it’s predecessor.

I liked this book a lot. There has definitely been an upsurge of witchy romcoms on my TBR as of late and this was a fun read. I definitely liked it better than the first book. Perhaps it was because I liked the tropes more or maybe it was because the world felt more established since it was a sequel. Either way, this was a solid read and I would definitely continue with the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Kiss Curse returns us to Graves Glen for a wonderful enemies to lovers romance between Gwyn and Wells. The Kiss Curse is a cozy fantasy filled with witchy vibes blended with a romcom. It gives us fun banter while also providing an interesting plot where we need to solve the mystery of Gwyn’s fading powers. This is a great read for lovers of the Ex Hex and other witchy cozy reads.

This is the second book in the series and let’s just say, it wasn’t the classic sequel. I enjoyed the tension in this book as much as I did in the first one. Sign me up for more of these Practical Magic-esq books.

Enemies to lovers is a great trope & this book does it well. It's a good one to read to get into the Halloween spirit. If you like magic and shenanigans and a general witchy vibe, but all very cozy, this is a good choice.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling is a captivating blend of romance, magic, and humor. With relatable characters, witty writing, and a touch of enchantment, this book is a delightful and heartwarming read. Sterling weaves a spellbinding tale of self-discovery, love, and the power of embracing one's true self. If you're seeking a charming escape filled with romance and a dash of the supernatural, The Ex Hex is an enchanting choice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

I love, loved this follow up to The Ex Hex. Such fun reads! This one gave me total Halloweentown vibes. I loved that it was sweet, steamy and had good banter.

I adored The Ex Hex so I couldn't wait to dive into the sequel. The Kiss Curse is equally magical and hilarious! Sterling has mastered the cozy witchy rom-com.

This book absolutely did not live up to the hype of the Ex Hex. If you swear by the first book I think you'll find this one redeemable, but otherwise I would skip this,

This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't overly invested in the characters or the story. I think that this was an enjoyable read and good for when you need an easy read.

This was an adorable second installment in the series! If you liked The Ex Hex, you will absolutely enjoy The Kiss Curse, which follows Gwyn (from the first book) and Wells, the "perfect" Penhallow brother who moves into town. There's banter, enemies to lovers, a talking cat, baby witches, and a whole mess of hijinks. This series is perfect if you're wanting something to get you into the Halloween spirit without being dark or spooky. Erin Sterling (pseudonym for Rachel Hawkins) is an insta-read author for me, no matter which pen name she is using. I have never not been thoroughly entertained.

I was SO EXCITED to read this book because I LOVED the Ex Hex but I had a hard time getting into it. Chemistry between Gwen and Wells was a little lack luster (although the "love spell" spill in the closet was hilarious and maybe my favorite part of the book) Also I'm going to be completely honest and say I hated the addition of Parker the they/them character. It added zero substance to this book, and was really annoying to read. Here is a character that could be a boy, or could be a girl and were going to tell you nothing about him/her and every time you read this character you will have to read twice because you think its more than one person. This feels like a box to be checked and was very off putting.