It was cute. A 3.5 to be honest. Just sweet and a good palette cleanser. I wish it had revealed more of a depth to any of the characters. They seemed rather one-note and that bugged me. But it was sweet and effective at filling the time between books.

It turns out that witchy romance books are a genre I really enjoy. This one was great, I loved the 2 main characters, and their conflicts and issues were reasonable. The way they got around the just won't talk to each other problem was very good. I did not like Emma's two best friends, because they were not very nice to her, so I'd be interested to see if there are sequels about them and if I start to appreciate them more. Anyhow, if you also love a witchy romance, check this one out.

This is a great read when you are in the mood for a light witchy rom-com. Childhood sweethearts Emma and Bastian have great chemistry together, until Bastian abruptly ends the marriage contract and disappears. Shy and conservative Emma is very relatable, however the villain/mom character was a little over the top. Her friends are also a bit on the bossy side, but do seem to have her best interests at heart.
Bastian suddenly returns, insisting on honoring the binding marital contract to prevent dire consequences of a broken contract. As the two get reacquainted, sparks fly, but both must learn to trust, appreciate and embrace the changes each has made.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and the unexpected twist in the resolution was quite the surprise and the plot was engaging throughout.

Thank you to @Harlequin for the ARC. This book had it all. Friends to arranged marriage, Curses, Betrayal and Romance. Emma was so relatable and sweet. Her love for her sister was strong, love for her friends was unwavering and the boy who came back a man romantic. I plan to read more by Sophie H. Morgan.

This was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the characters but would have liked a little more info or back story on their world. It did all come together very nicely at the end.

"The Witch is Back" by Sophie Morgan is a charming and fun romantic comedy with a magical twist. The story follows Emmaline Bluewater, a witch who has given up on fitting in with her own society and is content with living a human life in Chicago. But her world turns upside down when her former childhood sweetheart, Bastian Truenote, shows up at her bar, Toil and Trouble, wanting her back.

What follows is a delightful romp as the two of them navigate their complicated past and try to forge a new relationship. Along the way, they must deal with magical contracts, a goofy dog familiar, and a best friend who is more than willing to use her magic against Bastian. The chemistry between Emma and Bastian is palpable, and their banter is witty and entertaining.

Sophie Morgan has done an excellent job of blending romance and fantasy in this book. The magical world she has created is unique and interesting, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. Emma's journey of self-discovery and acceptance is a central theme of the book, and it is heartwarming to see her find her place in the world.

Overall, "The Witch is Back" is a delightful read that will have you laughing, swooning, and cheering for Emma and Bastian's happily ever after. If you enjoy romance and magic, then this book is definitely worth picking up.

If I had to choose one word to describe The Witch is Back, I choose "lovely." From the first few pages til the very end, I loved Emma's story. Emma (short for Emmaline) is witch that chooses to live mostly outside of witch culture for several reasons, including a huge heartbreak. Unlike many romances in which a new man comes in to mend the broken heart, Morgan brought back the heartbreaker.
I truly enjoyed the characters-well developed, likeable, and a good mix of fun, serious, and evil. Morgan doesn't spend a lot of time world-building the magical world which I actually prefer but others might find it lacking in that aspect. My preference is for time to be spent on character building and Morgan delivered! I also appreciate a romance in which the third act conflict is not overly dramatic or drawn out and this has the right balance.
I feel like I'm raving but this story was just wonderful! I would love to see more books focusing on these characters-maybe the friends can find love one by one?
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!

Emma and Bastian's parents enter them into a marriage contract when they are young, but one day, Bastian disappears. FOR SEVEN YEARS! When he finally returns, it's only because if he and Emma don't fulfill the contract, his mom will die.

Witch lite: It's 💯 witch vibes, without the hardcore witchiness...does that even make sense? Yes, Emma and Bastian are witches, but that is secondary to the development of them as individuals and a betrothed couple.

I'm a sucker for a good witchy book, and this definitely was an enjoyable read for me. I loved the banter between all of the characters, the chemistry between Bastian and Emma, and the writing made it a page-turner.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and @harlequinbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity.

The Witch is Back by Sophie H Morgan is a light, beach-read book. The characters' magic was used effectively to enhance the story.

Emmeline Bluewater was contracted to marry Bastian Truenote her whole life. Seven years ago, he left without a word to her. Witch society blamed Emma, and treated her with scorn or pity.

She escaped to Chicago where she and two friends started a bar called Toil and Trouble. All is going well, until Bastian walks into the bar and says he wants her back. His failure to marry Emma has caused unexpected problems in his family. The only remedy is for them to get married.

But Emma is not the girl he left behind. She has secrets she can't share, and someone put a hex on Bastian that prevents him from explaining his reasons for leaving.

How it gets sorted out made for an amusing read. There were hints that additional books could be forthcoming with secondary characters taking center stage.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the plot never dragged.

It’s a cozy romance that really makes you feel good! Is this an original plot line that changes your reality? No. Does it make you want to curl up by a fire and get warm fuzzy feelings? Absolutely! I loved the banter and the fact the love interest wanted the MC to have a spine!
I’m typically not a fan of second chance romances or friends to lovers. But this just hit in the feels. These characters had to face the fact they both needed to grow up and experience life before finding each other. I love early on they both recognize that they are not the same people and respect the other has changed too. Yes there’s a miscommunication trope but honestly it has complexity that is usually lacking.
My only issues were the pacing was sometimes off. When it was good it was like flying through pages. But there was a lot of gaps that were being filled in that could have been great plot points. And the ending felt a little two easy to fix. I appreciate the choice the characters were given and not a drawn out second act.
Overall a solid 4.5 for a cozy read! A great selection for fall and really cute love story about growing up to become the person you want to be!

I loved Emma and Bastian and how their families both brought them together and drew them apart. Emma's progression throughout the book was wonderful and I really enjoyed the story!

This book was so wonderful! I will admit it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did I fell in love. Bastian and Emma are so perfect together and their chemistry is undeniable. I loved that the book switched back and forth through their perspectives in some of the chapters. It really gave a look into how both individuals were feeling about a situation and made their chemistry so much more believable.

Overall, The Witch is Back is a fun romance with a some fantasy. It is perfect for those who enjoy friends to lovers, second chance romance, and marriage of convenience. I absolutely loved this book and I would love more stories within this world,

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review!

If you love witchy romances check this one out! It's got some banter, spice, and lots of magic.
The characters are likeable and have depth.
Emma is shy. She has had a difficult life. She was raised by a cruel mother and has been ostracized in witch society. Her relationship with outgoing and confident Bastion who comes from a powerful family is an interesting dynamic.
It's a little bit of opposites attract, friends to lovers, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, and second chance.
This was a fun read. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I sadly ended up not finishing this book as I just could not connect with the characters, despite my love for witchy romance. I just couldn't feel the connection between the main characters; the swoon didn't happen for me. I know that many other readers have enjoyed it immensely, so I would still recommend trying it if you're into witchy contemporary stories.

This was cute with a fun cast of characters. Emma and Bastian have a second chance at love and embrace the witches they are today instead of just all those years ago. Clarissa was a piece of work but made the story more interesting. This has a good ending. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion.
Pretty good I guess, but not my favorite book lately. It's like it needed a prequel to explain everything that had gone on before this book happened. I enjoyed it, the characters were pretty good, but I just feel like I would have enjoyed it more if there was more backstory. It needed a little bit more world building.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Summary: Love is a hex of a thing. Former childhood sweethearts fake a relationship in this charming, witchy romcom.

3.5/5 stars
Emma has made a life for herself after the heartbreak of Bastian leaving and breaking their arranged engagement...then he strides back in. The plot was complicated and sometimes clunky which threw off pacing. Some character development wasn't smooth, but the ending was spot on.

Emma is a shy witch who was left by her fiancé and best friend right before they were to wed. She has happily rebuilt her life away from witch society and is happily living amongst humans…until Bastian walks back into her life.

This book was so sweet and earnest. It’s a story about trust and love and how we manage those things when we’ve been hurt so many times before. The story in this book was wonderful and I loved the back and forth with Bastian and Emma. It’s sweet and cute with a little spice thrown in. A friends to enemies to lovers slow burn that will leave you wanting more!

We all know from the gig that fantasy requires a huge helping of "just go with it," but I was a little disturbed in the first few pages when the characters shrug off with a joke the suggestion that one just wipe the memory of a performer who had come to do their job, but oops, the person hiring forgot to pay them. Maybe I'm too old, but I found that not funny at all.

Shortly after that, the hero turns up after dumping the heroine years ago, no explanation, when they were engaged. Does she act like an adult and ask for an explanation before going on? Nope. Yearns and burns, and he goes home and years and burns, and my eyes were rolling so hard that they clanged against the back of my skull.

There was a lot of fun with some of the magic, and I liked some of the characters, but for me this one never quite got past that jolting beginning. And there was more. Anyone think roofies are fun? Even magical?

Yeah, readers who don't find any of that a turnoff should really enjoy an otherwise sprightly, witchy romance.