Penny and Willem are just like any other familiar and witch duo- except Willem is forbidden from taking a familiar and they kind of hate each other. Will they learn to work together or is their partnership doomed from the start?

What I loved:
-the absolute cutest sunshine/grump romance
-super unique premise
-no third act breakup/miscommunication
-clear affection between the main characters
-side characters and their own relationships
-sense of found family
-spicy!

Ok I enjoyed this WAY more than I was expecting! This was so shockingly cute and heartfelt. The text speak vocabulary of the female main character (ex/ oh em gee) wasn’t necessarily my favourite thing but the rest of the book was so cute that I can overlook it.

This was such a pleasure to read and I enjoyed this book immensely! 4.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reading copy!

This was cute although not as unputdownable as the first book in this series. I liked the bad guy but the two main characters were less interesting.

Like the prior book, Go Hex Yourself, Jessica Clare has created a fun and romantic ride in What the Hex. The book starts with an interesting premise, a reasonable reason for both the main characters to interact and get to know one another. The clash between the two only creates a romantic tension that flavors the relationship and the intrigue of the novel. The language and differences between Penny and Willem makes for lively dialogue, romantic interludes, and an intriguing plot. 

Just like in Go Hex Yourself, there is more to the plot than just the romance and the pair have to figure out how to work together to resolve who is targeting Penny and why. What I loved the most is how much power and dynamic Penny has in figuring out the solution and how much the pair end up supporting each other. Willem doesn’t just swoop in and save Penny. They work together and that is the key to why this romance is so successful. Penny gets her own motivations and her own power. 

If you like dynamic female characters, romance with a ton of spice, and an intriguing plot, I suggest this light but powerfully written novel. It is fun and romantic, with touches of fluff and a whole lot of carnal exploration.

This is an outstanding paranormal, enemies to lovers, romance.
Penny is dying to be a familiar to a witch. Her parents are, and they learn witchcraft by being familiars. She’s has been a member of Society Of Familiars, but no luck finding her own witch so far.
One of her friends, Reggie, is the familiar for a witch named Ben. They come to Penny with an unusual proposition, be the familiar for a witch, but it has to be kept a secret. The witch, Wilhelm, is forbidden to have a familiar and if they’re caught they face serious repercussions. Wilhem is a witch with an intimidating and unlikable personality.
He also has an old master named Stroker, who is determined to destroy Wilhelm after he left as Stroker’s familiar.
In the meantime, Penny is finding out that Will isn’t as scary as he seems, and Will is developing feelings for his little familiar.
I loved this story and the characters, I was sad when the book ended.
5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Willem is a warlock who has been banned from having a familiar and is stuck doing small spells while hiding out from a previous master. Penny, Secretary for the Society of Familiars, is facing a grim future of never being selected to work with a witch. When mutual friends put them together for some illegal, under-the-table magic, sparks fly.

What the Hex is the second book in the delightful Hex series. Having established her fascinating world of magic and introduced the characters in the first book, Ms. Clare is able to jump right into Penny and Willem’s story. The pair is like oil and water when they first meet. He’s been around the block and abused by a previous master. He likes his gray, orderly world. Penny is all sunshine and optimism, and the thought of being trapped as an unselected familiar scares her enough to break the rules. Both desperate to cast magic and a bit lonely, each is willing to bend a bit to fit with the other.

Due to the secret nature of their relationship, they pretend to date and be in love: FAKE RELATIONSHIP (my favorite trope). I love that the pair finds a kinship and trusts the other fairly quickly. This allows the pair to join forces against a common foe. Playing lovers while keeping a secret and growing into close friends, brings romantic feelings to the surface.

The story is filled with humor and cartoonish villains. It is campy and a lot of fun. But despite the silliness, both characters experience some hefty emotions and process previous turmoil. I enjoy the balance of the light and more serious moments.

Ms. Clare’s Hex series is a lot of fun, and I hope the author continues to pen romances set in the world.

My Rating: B+

The story started super cute! I loved the the banter, even the funny inner monologue. The man’s perspective sounded ancient. The plot os adorable. The situations didn’t seem contrived…that is till I was around 60% into tje book. I never thought I would say this but too spicy for me, folks. This book tested my limits on spicyness and...it won.

So Penny is waiting to become a familiar to a witch or a warlock because that’s the only way to become a witch or a warlock. Willem is prohibited from having a familiar or from casting. They do their witch thing under the guise of dating. The steam and shenanigans ensue!!

This was a nice, almost cozy spin on fake dating and hate-to-love. The fake dating to real dating has an actual build up in between, so it feels earned rather than shoehorned in. I like this world and characters, the cozy fantasy vibe (even though it's primarily romance). I really enjoyed it, it was fun! My only real criticism is it feels very immature at times, like it may be intended for a younger audience, even though I know it isn't. There's a lot of phrases used like "lady boner" and "lady bits" and that is a bit too much for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved
The first book and this one did not disappoint.
Fake dating trope is always a good set up and the chemistry was great.

I loved the first book so much and sold it left and right at my bookstore, therefore my expectations for this one were high!

It did not disappoint! I’ve already put in a larger order for this and I think that sums up how much I enjoy Jessica Clare’s writing/books. I can’t wait for more people to read this and fall in love with these characters too. I’m hoping we keep on getting more books from her that are this fun, entertaining, and laugh out loud joyous.

Can’t recommend enough.

I just finished reading WHAT THE HEX in one sitting and I really enjoyed it! This is the second book in the Hex series by Jessica Clare and can stand alone. I say this because I haven’t read the first book yet but I do plan to!

What the Hex is a paranormal romcom with a fake dating and grumpy/sunshine trope! This book not only had me laughing out loud but it has some really good spice too! I wasn’t expecting it to be so SEXY, but it most definitely was. Don’t go into this one thinking it’s a clean romance because it’s not! You’ve been warned!!

If you’re looking for a fun, HOT, hilarious romcom where sunshine MAKES the grump change his brutish ways then I highly recommend this one. I love how these two started off with so much disdain for one another but that changed because of how cute, quirky, and sweet our heroine is. You just can’t deny her! There’s also a little bit of a revenge plot within the story that I think many readers will love. It certainly has you rooting for the characters!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥 🔥

Penny Roundtree comes from a family of familiars. It is all she has ever wanted to do, but when witches and warlocks live for centuries and get set in their ways, the opportunity to become a familiar is rare. Willem Sauer has been banned from taking on a familiar and his casting has been handicapped ever since. As his old master ramps up his efforts to make Will’s live miserable, he becomes more desperate than ever to get a familiar. Due to [redacted] from book one (Go Hex Yourself), Ben and Reggie approach Penny to become an under-the-table familiar for Will - an opportunity that she can’t pass up, even if it is breaking all the rules. As Penny and Will start casting together, they find themselves wanting more than the business arrangement they’ve made.

A sunshine-y and strong-willed apprentice and a grumpy, set in his ways warlock? Sign me up! These two could not be more different if they tried and yet the chemistry between them is amazing, even in the first meeting. It is clear from the start that they are going to continuously butt heads and that adds to the fun of the story.

Both Will and Penny take on bits and pieces of the other’s personality and that feels like what ultimate helps them reach the end. Though the stakes are high for the characters, I never felt like I needed to worry that they’d make it out okay. This pairing was a good reminder that your strength comes from yourself but having that extra little oomph from your partner never hurts.

It was fun to revisit these characters that we saw as side (important) side characters in the first book. The way they find themselves in their little found family, even begrudgingly at times, warms the heart and feeds the soul. And to be completely honest, Pipstachio is probably the stand out star for me. Do we get a lot of time with Pip? Not more than any other character. But did I immediately fall in love with him, thereby making me also fall in love with the book? Absolutely.

(P.S. That scene where they are hiding from intruders? Please and thank you.)

contemporary witch romances are having their day! I loved this one and how it drew me right back into the world Clare created with the first book. I wish there was a bit more magic involved but enjoyed watching this romance unfold and these two come together and protect each other

I love a grumpy hero and Willem takes the cake here. Penny is a familiar that feels like it will never happen for her and Willem is a warlock who has been cast out and is banned from having a familiar. When his friend Ben tells him that he thinks he knows someone that can help, Willem is not exactly sure what he is in for.
Penny shows up all vibrant colors and bubbly personality. Her pet squirrel is just another thing in the long list of things he will need to get used to if he's going to be able to use her. He is all dark and shadows and isn't ready for Penny and all her light.
What they are doing is on the down low, and both of them risk complete ruin if they are caught, but the more Willem is around Penny, he looks for ways to make her smile just to see her face light up and ways to make her happy and at ease. He doesn't recognize himself when he is around her and maybe, just maybe she will bring him out of his grumpy demeanor and let him show the world who he really is behind the dark exterior.
I am obsessed with grumpy/sunshine trope and these two were complete opposites to each extreme. Willem was so perfectly grumpy I wasn't sure if he was going to ever come out of his shell, but when he did, it just made my heart soar with how much he felt. Witches and warlocks are some of my favorite paranormal reads and I can't wait to continue this series. The spice level was higher than I expected as well, so if you are looking for that, you won't be let down, 4.5 Stars
Thank you to Berkley Jessica Clare and Netgalley for an early copy.

This was a really fun opposites attract book and surprisingly pretty steamy. Will and Penny are an odd pairing on paper but they had amazing chemistry. What starts as a secret business transaction ends up solving a century old mystery and imploding life as they know it. I am loving all these witchy books that are on trend right now and this hits all the right spots with banter, spells, and magical catastrophes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (2.5 rounded up)

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
- Paranormal RomComs
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Fake Dating
- Enemies to Lovers
- Witchy/Magical Vibes

What the Hex blew me away! I finished this book so fast and went out to grab the first in the series, Go Hex Yourself. Even though this is a sequel, it can easily be read stand-alone.

What the Hex is pure fun and an absolute delight. The grump is grumping hard and the sunshine forces him to change his ways with her pure delight and quirkiness. There is some time spent explaining how magic works in this universe but I never felt lost or bored at all.

The spice is very nice as well. 😏

If you didn't think enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine was enough, there is also a side plot of revenge which kept me very interested but best of all... no third act break-up! Instead of a third act break-up, you get our hero and heroine teaming up to take down the villains!

I will for sure be picking up a physical copy of this as soon as I can because it will be the perfect fall read. Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free ARC!

Reviews Posted: March 29, 2023
Goodreads
Storygraph

I’m not going to lie the start of this book was a rough start for me. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to be quirky and different. But as everything started to settle in, so did the characters, and things started to feel more smooth.

While I wasn’t a fan of either character at the start, but the end of the book, I had defiantly been charmed by them. I thought that over the course of the book, they developed great chemistry. The spice was great, and defiantly more of it than I expected.

The author tried adding a decent amount of plot into the book, and while I was interested in there was so much left hanging. There were things that the author picked up and just never addressed again. Honestly, I have a lot of questions.

Overall a fun romance read with great witchy vibes. But the amount of plot put in was not utilized well and got distracting at times.

4.75 ⭐️

This book has everything! "What the Hex" is a witchy, grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, fake dating rom-com with a bit of mystery. I was a little nervous going into this one that I just wouldn’t like it as much as book one, but I actually enjoyed it a little bit more!

Penny and Willem are opposites who clash at first, but once he opens up they’re really cute together. I loved both of these characters and their relationship was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.

The magical elements in this book were also so fun to read about and the cozy, lighthearted vibe was absolutely delightful. I hope there will be more books in this series coming up!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What the Hex by Jessica Clare

Published: April 4, 2023
Berkley
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 330
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Jessica Clare is a New York Times bestselling author who writes under three pen names. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance. As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. Finally, as Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales.

“I don’t want better. I want you.”

Penny is vibrant and colorful. She is like the sun, desperately waiting to be a familiar. Willem is surely and slightly arrogant and not very popular among people. When an unconventional deal brings these two together, the results are electric.

I love Penny so much. She was such a fantastic character. I love how bright and cheerful she was, how bold and unassuming. She is such a loyal person, perfectly balancing Willem’s brooding.

I liked Will a lot, too. He had a rough start to life and his craft. And after a mentor took advantage of and manipulated him, he because untrusting and did his best to isolate himself.

I love that Jessica gives her characters real issues to overcome, and through the character's journeys, they learn that whatever their issue is, they are seen and heard. It’s a powerful moment, and I love how beautifully it’s played out.

This was such a fun read. This series is perfect; it’s steamy, funny, and filled with a unique storyline that keeps you engaged. I’m glad I read the first book to get all the groundwork details for this world. The books can be read as a standalone or in any order, but I liked knowing who was getting into this book.

I am ready for the next book!

I really enjoyed the first book in the Hex series last year, Go Hex Yourself, so I was excited to jump into the sequel, What the Hex. The second book in a romance series usually doesn’t do it for me. I think it's a "me" problem and I'm so stuck on the first characters that I have a hard time switching to new characters.

Penny has been on the known list for years and has not been assigned anywhere near a witch. Willem Sauer is a wizard who is forbidden to meet for another ten years. When Penny is offered the chance to know Willem's books, she jumps at the chance, even though it could cost them both if they find out.

I loved Penny in Go Hex Yourself. He was enthusiastic and charming, and although he begins this book as such, his personality was felt throughout. Sometimes he was a doormat and sometimes he took what he wanted. Seemed irrelevant. He also makes CRAZY decisions that were difficult. I mean who jumps to say he's trying to have someone's baby like that could use so many other options. Literally anything else would have worked. Willem's personality was a typical grumpy person, but although I liked him, I never loved his character. Penny and Willem's relationship was sweet. The progression of their relationship was abrupt, but the sexual chemistry between them was well done. This is definitely an Open Door romance, even more so than the first book, so be prepared for some steamy scenes.

Usually we have one main romantic trope, but this story uses the big three, which I thought about a lot. Not only is it a friends versus enemies story like book 1, but it also has fake dates and angst/sunshine. It was a bit much for me.

Overall, it's still a fun, fast-paced rom-com, but the transition from Penny and William hating each other to loving each other was a bit abrupt. I never really felt invested in their "love story" which took away from the story for me. I read the second book in the series, but it wasn't my favorite.

In Jessica Claire's follow-up to "Go Hex Yourself", we find would be familiar Penny waiting patiently in the wings to finally have a witch to train under. After the society of familiars president makes a comment about her being a lifer as a familiar, she knows something needs to change quick. So when a less-than-legal opportunity arises, Penny goes against the order and rules she loves and agrees to work with the "retired" Willem Sauer. What starts off begrudgingly as a fake dating charade quickly becomes something real. Too bad Willems past is catching up with him and his old master would rather him dead than happy.

I loved Penny in "Go Hex Yourself" and was really excited to see her star in her own romance. Willem is the perfect rain cloud character and watching him go from greys and practised perfection to head over heels for the sunshine girl was absolutely adorable. There were a few moments I felt the character's thoughts were repetitive or the relationship took leaps, but overall I loved this fun witchy romance.