I absolutely love Kate Johnson. The write fantastic books and this one was just as good as the last.

Chaos follows Poppy everywhere so when she meets illusionist Axl it’s hardly a surprise that things don’t go smoothly.

This felt like a mix of the magic key adventures from my youth mixed with a rom com. The adventures felt a bit silly at times but the romance was cute with funny banter and lots of chemistry

“The man could put on a cow onesie, complete with udders, and still seduce a nun without breaking a sweat.”

Both characters backgrounds play a lot into their personalities and I liked that we got to see some of that stripped back as they got to know each other more.

Shout out to Poppy’s vicar mum who just takes everything in her stride.

Overall I thought this was an endearing romance that kept me wanting to read on. I wish it had been a little spicier though.

Hex and the City is the second novel in the 'Hex ... ' series by Kate Johnson and although there is some overlap of characters, is it not necessary to read the books in order. The first novel is Hex Appeal and introduces us to Essie Winterscale and her family (found family mostly) as they try to live in harmony with the non-magical world around them.
In Hex in the City, our protagonist is Poppy, a witch with hair that Rapunzel would envy and magical powers that are usual chaotic. And of course, being a romantic comedy, we have the 'romantic interest' in one celebrity magician Axl Storm. Our intrepid duo are drawn together to retrieve a amulet that Poppy has accidentally cursed and their problems seem to escalate with every adventure.
I did laugh out loud while reading Hex and the City - the novel is exactly what it claims to be - a funny, magical romance, the type of lighthearted read that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good.

Poppy’s chaos and the antics of the witches of London had me constantly grinning. Kate Johnson’s writing has you fully immersed in the characters and scenes. Hilarious and fun, pandemonium-inducing protagonist + a quick highly entertaining read. Cauldrons are optional 😉

This was such a fun read! I loved the fast moving plot points and crazy adventure that was still sweet and managed to develop complex characters.
A great read for when you want something light hearted but still a unique story.

It was an okay read, definitely to try if you don't mind the third person POV and a character all over the place.

Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Poppy was way too chaotic and maybe childish, it was a struggle to follow her antics. The ending was a bit predictable but not bad overall.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book that surprised me, a little different from what I expected... full of events, perhaps even too many in the initial part, which left me a bit confused in following the plot. A story of love, magic and acceptance of oneself for who one is.

Summary: Chaos follows Poppy everywhere-accidents happen, ghosts appear, historical creatures emerge from the dead. Because Poppy is a witch. With magical hair.

Alex is an illusionist. He and Poppy meet under random circumstances but their futures become entangled as they embark on a series of adventures together to try to stop the chaos.

Review:

I loved this book. It’s an easy, enjoyable read.

The adventures are completely unrealistic and the book offered the perfect escapism.

Poppy and Alex are great main characters. Funny and loveable. The chemistry between them is electric. The steamy scenes manage to be hot and funny at the same time.

The plot is great and the plot twist unexpected.

A great read that I would definitely recommend

Oh boy! Can you imagine a book combining Sex and the City with four witches from Great Britain, Ghostbusters, and Hocus Pocus?

Quirky, chaotic, and big-hearted Poppy, who has gorgeous waves like Carrie Bradshaw, finds herself enchanted by a flirty illusionist who actually has more groupies than rock stars (I was expecting someone between Mr. Big or Aiden, but I found myself affected by the irresistible charms of Axl Storm!)

I have to admit, I loved both of these quirky characters who deal with their own vulnerabilities. Poppy nurses her heartbreaks after getting dumped by each person she sets eyes on. You also shouldn't be fooled by the glamorous looks of Axl, who was once a chubby, shy, rejected boy, but recreated himself by spending the longest hours at the gym, counting calories as if he's solving the most complicated equations in his head.

Their paths cross when Poppy sees her ex with another woman, gets extra drunk, and heads to the magic shop where she works, accidentally cursing a pendant. The very next day, Axl stops by the magic shop to buy a gift for his coworker and one-night stand to compensate for his rudeness. As you may guess, he chooses to buy the accidentally cursed pendant.

Poppy requests the help of her three roommates, who are also witches like her, to capture the pendant without harming anyone. Unfortunately, Axl's sold-out illusion show ends with a tragedy. Axl and Poppy find themselves teaming up to find the pendant and break the curse, but instead of that, they turn into Ghostbusters, chasing bizarre creatures lurking around Great Britain!

I absolutely had a great time reading this and laughed out loud! Even though I found the first book better executed, I still couldn't put this down and finished it in one sitting. The magical world-building, the likable characters, and the palpable chemistry between Poppy and Axl make your reading experience extra delightful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for sharing this very entertaining digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved Hex Appeal by this author and reading this one has made me want to go back and read it all over again!
Magic, hunky vikings, time travel, chaos, romance and sentient hair, I mean, what more could you want?!

This book was so easy to launch into and I devoured it in a few days. Poppy was a great character as she’s all mess and chaos which greatly adds to her appeal. And Alex also wasn’t such a bad edition…I mean, the imagery I have in my head of him now… not such a bad thing I assure you.

There were plenty of twists and turns (some that I definitely wasn’t expecting) and I can’t believe how quickly the book seemed to end. I can’t wait to read more from this author as everything I’ve read so far has been more than enjoyable.

Hex and the City was a fun witchy adventure! It’s a romance for sure, but I also had so much fun learning about all the chaos that Poppy has follow her around London. The ways magic showed up in this book were so original and it was super enjoyable to be getting the perspective of Alex, a mortal who was brought along on the adventure.

The connection between Alex and Poppy is super sweet and though it all happens quickly over the course of a week if still sweeps you up and makes you believe their feelings for each other.

The only thing I struggled with this book was it was told from the third person but swings back and forth from Poppy’s and Alex’s perspectives intermittently. It took a little bit of getting used to at first but once I did I really enjoyed the writing!

I will definitely be going and reading Hex Appeal the other book!

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and the author Kate Johnson for providing me the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the ghost mummies, time travel, witches and I loved the romance. Our main character was relatable and sweet and I loved this story. This surprised me by how unique it was, considering witchy romcoms seem to be getting more popular.

Poppy is a witch whose only talent seems to be making a mess. She accidentally sells a cursed pendant to Alex, otherwise known as the Axl Storm. Axl is a famously beautiful illusionist. During his opening night performance, for what we would call a magic show a la Houdini, Axl’s assistant was wearing the pendant. And that is when disaster begins to strike …

This book has it all: witches, ghost mummies, time travel, and more. However, the romance felt a little forced to me. Some of the fights I saw coming a mile away. The ending was a bit predictable but good nonetheless. I’m sure some people will be surprised.

If you are looking for a witchy romance that is lighthearted and fun, go for it. I’d give this 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an arc of this book.

Flirty and fun. Exactly what everyone is going to be in the mood for in September. I hope to see more like this soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hex and the City is a hilarious, magical romance. I fell in the love with the characters and the story immediately and laughed out loud in many places. Kate Johnson is a very talented writer and I can’t wait to read more of her work.