This isn't exactly the book I was expecting but I really enjoyed it! I had originally thought this was another installment of the fix it witches series but I think this is a new series in the same universe. This one has paranormal creatures other than witches and is a closed door romance unlike the fix it witches books. This story starts when Iris inherits a run down Victorian house and move to a new town. She quickly meets Eli who has been infatuated with her since they were kids and she defended him from bullies. I did really enjoy the found family element of this story and really liked the side characters. I will say I do wish the romance had gotten a bit more attention. It was clear that Eli and Iris cared about each other but we didn't get to see them connect one on one that much. I'm looking forward to future additions to this world or series!

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it! Carly Robins did a great job with all the different voices! This is dual point of view but single narrator, however, I still felt the voices were distinct.

A quirky purple house in need of repair and an eclectic group of people are the heart of this cozy story.

Main character Iris and love interest Eli (who read a little like someone with ADHD and someone with autism, respectively) collect a variety of interesting boarders for Iris's new house, the Violet Gables. They may all be very different people, but they bond immediately. Each roommate has a story to tell and a place to fill in the house. Whether cooking meals, repairing the old home, or pursuing passions, the little group quickly discovers in one another the family they all need.

Not everything is rainbows and butterflies though - there are several things about this story that feel uncomfortable and out of place.

-Love interest Eli has been scheduling creepy monthly checks for years on the social media for a woman he met one time in middle school. When she finds out and is understandably upset that he started dating her without mentioning any of this, he rearranges his entire life to move permanently to her city with a plan to wait around for her until she's ready to take him back.

-There are little hints around a recently-rescued-from-a-bad-situation nineteen year old hooking up with an ancient fae couple after implying the fae dazzled the teen. Older characters who allegedly care about the teen's safety seem to think it's cute.

-There is altogether too little explanation of Iris's situation and too much expectation on readers to sympathize with the main character on the strength of her being the main character. The book opens with broke Iris two months behind on rent and no mention of any efforts in that time to earn money beyond buying tools to make jewelry. She is terse with family members who try multiple times to call, getting angry with them and hanging up. Turns out her family is awful, but there's very little attempt made to explain that until later - so Iris comes off as a lazy, self-absorbed person who wants to play the victim.

The overall feel of the book is sweet, and the care that the found family members share for one another is lovely. This is evidently the fourth book in a series, but it reads perfectly fine as a standalone. There's plenty here to love, even while wishing for a little something more done a little bit better.

Carly Robins does a fine job of narrating the audiobook, though dialogue scenes with multiple characters and switches between mental and verbal dialogue are sometimes difficult to follow.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre was a joy to listen to.

It tells the story of Iris, who is having a terrible time of everything – family issues, money issues, and is feeling like a failure when she suddenly inherits her Aunt’s home.

While her original plan for the home fails, she rents rooms and suddenly finds herself with a family of her making and this tells the story of that including maybe (no spoilers here) finding love with Eli, a tenant. Iris finds quirky new friends, herself, and more along the way.

The narrator had a pleasant voice that made this a fun book to. I actually spent an entire day listening to it in one sitting and didn’t get bored or feel the need to stop at any point. I listened in the car, at work, and then back home for my commute. I wish all day’s could be like this and with a book like this.

4 ⭐
Thank you Netgalley, Ann Aguirre and Sourcebook publishing for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

First I wanna say that I had no idea this was part of a bigger series but I was happy to find out this could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this! I will definitely look into the other books in the series!

The book read like a cozy fantasy which I love. The main focus of the book is found family which is one of my favorite tropes. I really enjoyed the characters! There were a lot but they all felt different enough that I didn't get them all mixed up.

as for the audiobook the narrator was great! I do think this is a book that could have been a bit better with 2 narrators since the book does switch up POV's and I would get confused who we were reading from between Eli and Iris.

Now I must try and convince my fiancé to paint our house purple.

I read this book a 5 out of five. This book covers so many great topics and has so many tropes that I just love. It is so warm and cozy feeling and also the main character is so amazing. The found family and the magical elements were all perfectly distributed. Also the representation for self discovery, different pronouns and the LGBTQ community was awesome to listen to. I truly hope there is a series that will come from this because I want a book for each character.

This book is so good! A lovable cast of misfits! These characters touched my heart without making me sad. The world is so fun and interesting.

The MMC gives golden retriever vibes while being a romcom version of a stalker.

The narrator did an absolutely excellent job!!!!

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aquire
Paranormal romance. Fix-it Witches series #4. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Iris Collins doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family and her current roommate situation is no better. The news that she has inherited a house from a distinct relative is the perfect time to start over and get her own jewelry making shop started. Iris moves into the huge purple house with gingerbread trim and starts looking for roommates.
Eli Reese believes moving into Iris’s house is the perfect opportunity to thank her changing his life all those years ago. If he can help her now, he will think of it as fate. Spending time with her has his feeling deepening and he realizes he needs to come clean about their history, his job and the fact that he’s a hawk shifter.

🎧 I read an ecopy of this book and followed up with an audiobook. The narrator is Carly Robins and the performance is wonderfully done with distinct voices for Iris, Eli, Sally, Henry Dale, and others. The narration makes clear the careful steps Eli takes with Iris, the gruffness of Henry Dale and Sally’s exuberance. Emotions are clear and timing is well done. This narrator has an extensive catalog and it’s clear with this book that experience lends to an audiobook preference over reading.
I listened to this at 1.5 which is my preferred timing.

“When Iris smiled, stars might as well be twinkling in her gray eyes. He lost his breath a bit.”
Eli is a bit timid with Iris but so adorable in his wanting to help make her life better. When the home group teams up, it’s clear they are now a family. The paranormal twist for Iris is a bonus which brings joy and satisfaction.
3.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

2-2.5 stars

Based on the cover and the description, I thought this would be such a cute and fun romance with fantastical elements. Unfortunately, it feel flat.

Starting with what I liked: all the LGBTQIA+ representation and the found-family focus of the book. I thought this was well done and I loved reading about the diversity of the characters.

What I didn’t like were the two main characters. Iris is a mess and was frustrating to read about; I empathize with her struggles and understand how difficult times can be, but she had very little self awareness and acted without thought constantly. As for, Eli, he was a stalker!! His story and reconnection with Iris could have been addressed in so many different ways, instead he was just creepy.

I also struggled with parts of the plot. There were so many moving parts and things happening, that none of the plot points felt overly developed, for example the fantastical and magical elements of the story, which had so much more potential!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this book for escapism, however I found it very boring. Most of the book focused on restoring the house and it was hard to read through it. I was hoping to relax not get caught up in the logistics of restoring this house which just added extra stress.

The book deals with some problematic concepts such as stalking from the main male character which was a huge turn off.

The writing style also didn’t work for me, it was too flowery.

I really wanted to like this book! The cover caught my eye and the premise of the book dealing with supernatural concepts made me want to request this book.

This book did not work for me but maybe others wouldn’t mind what I have commented on and enjoy it!

I have seriously mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I was sick while reading and having a hard time focusing, so I needed something easy to read. This fit the bill, but I suspect that if I *hadn't* been sick I would have been a lot more critical of it. I also suspect that if I had read it rather than listening I would have been a lot more critical of the writing. Even in the audio it took me a while to get into it because I could tell the writing wasn't great, but I was eventually charmed by the found family.

I didn't realize it was fourth in a series until I'd already finished it, but I would argue that that doesn't matter and it works just fine as a standalone - you just don't recognize the cameos. And I suppose you have to accept the world for what it is with all the magical creatures, but that seemed natural enough.

I wasn't ever 100% on board with the romance. Eli and Iris are each disasters in their own way - Eli reads as autistic and while he is quite good at making money by developing successful apps he is a disaster socially and has pretty much given up on it. Iris is a disaster financially/adulting-ly and reads as ADHD but is great at pulling in a charming found family.

I can forgive disasters though. I can't as easily forgive Eli for his initial stalkerish behavior. She saved him from being bullied when he was 10, he's stalked her socials monthly ever since, but he runs away every time he tries to talk to her. Then he works up his courage to thank her and give her bracelet back and ends up accidentally renting a room in her house. I mean, he grows on me. He's sweet and seems to mean well and wants Iris to succeed and to help her, he just goes about it in a stalker-y way that is uncomfortable. And Iris, while being initially creeped out when she discovers it, forgives it VERY quickly and just lets it all go with an 'oh but he meant well.'

The actual romance takes up very little page time and is implied rather than shown. I was a little relieved to not get a sex scene as skimming those is harder via audio, but a single sentence 'they became one' was also a little weird, especially when the rest of the romance takes a back seat to the rest of the found family.

I have mentioned found family quite a bit haven't I? It's because that's where this book shines. Iris collects misfits, and as her house and life fill up its just so, so satisfying. Several of them are even queer which makes it even better. As they slowly work together to refurbish the house, they grow closer and become a real family. I was so happy that this takes up the majority of the book because it's the part that really kept me hooked. I would have happily read twice as much about them slowly coming together and making the house shine. (I think it's the proper length as-is, I'm just saying I didn't want to let the characters go.)

The ending twist came out of left field (yes, it was foreshadowed but still) and I'm not entirely sold on it, but it was entertaining. I don't think enough questions of Iris' background get resolved though. And I also don't think enough logistical questions get resolved (how they earn a living beyond Eli just quietly buying essentials, questions of inheritance, property taxes etc, how things actually get resolved with the nasty neighbor...).

Basically read it for the found family, but be prepared to forgive/overlook a lot of everything else.

The narrator does a great job with different voices for the characters and does a lot to help smooth out the writing but it is still a bit awkward in places.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Dreamscape media for providing an early copy and early audio copy for review.

An enjoyable story of found-family. Though the first three books in this series focused on the relationship, this one focused on the whole group. And is only slightly related to books 1-3. I enjoy this world and I hope we get more from it!

Meh - I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Iris was WAY too "this girl shits rainbows" for my taste. Though, that being said, it might take that kind of person to fall in love with a stalker. The love story in this book was not for me. That being said, this book had a lot of redeeming qualities: The side characters were all insanely charming. The messages of acceptance and love were everywhere, and I adored that. The boomers who were willing to learn and grow and be open minded toward a younger generation were refreshing - they do exist in real life, and we often don't see them portrayed in popular culture. Really, if this had different main characters and all else the same, I probably would have loved it. The two main characters were either too naively positive (Iris) or too creepily stalkerish (Eli) for me.

I adore this author. I loved the Fix It Witches series and I didn't know this was a part of this series so that was a nice surprise. We get a lot of cameos from Danica, Clem and the gang.

Iris was such a sweet protagonist. I loved how real she was and relatable. She was sort of a hot mess, but I still loved her. Eli was a bit stalkerish, but it was kind of "guy falls first" so I wasn't super mad about it.

Iris' family was ridiculous/awful/the worst. Like worst family ever possibly? I wanted a bit more closure with them tbh.

If you like supernatural and found family -- this is for you.

I loved Carly Robbins as the narrator. She did both Iris and Eli and it wasn't weird. Usually I prefer a male narrator as well, but didn't mind with her.

4/5

I was provided an audiobook by Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested it, I wasn't aware that it was a part of a series. Even though it seemed like a cute read, with a really good narrator, the story did not do much for me. There were so many plots that at one point, I wasn't sure what was happening.
I liked Sally and Henry and the found family theme but that was it for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

Carly Robins did a superb job narrating this charming story of overcoming, hope, found family, and lovable characters.

I had a marvelous time listening to this story.

I loved this book! It was refreshing!

The dynamics between the characters were well-developed and their relationships felt authentic. The concept of found family was beautifully explored, showcasing the power of unconditional love and support.

Iris Collins, is a unique woman who inherits a house from her great aunt. This inheritance not only brings her closer to her true roots but also creates a sense of conflict and challenges in her life. Throughout the story, Iris navigates these obstacles with resilience and determination.

Eli, a childhood friend of Iris, has always been infatuated with her. His unwavering loyalty and admiration for Iris are endearing, and his character growth adds depth to the narrative. Together, Iris and Eli form a strong bond, providing each other with the love and support they've longed for.

The inclusion of different magical beings, such as vampires, witches, and shape-shifters, adds a unique twist to the story. The author seamlessly weaves these supernatural elements into the narrative, creating a rich and vibrant world for the characters to inhabit.

Ultimately, The Only Purple House in Town is a heartwarming tale about the power of friendship, acceptance, and finding one's place in the world. It reminds us that family is not always blood-related, but can be the people who love and support us unconditionally. This book is a delightful read, filled with light-hearted discussions on important life lessons. It is highly recommended for those who enjoy stories about found family and the magic of connections.
Highly recommended to all!!

I was initially pulled in with this gorgeous cover and the genre is right up my alley (cozy fantasy).

This book was a fun read, especially after some really heavy reason. I enjoyed Iris' character and related to her sense of chaos (and financial irresponsibility). The magic system was fun and interesting, if not a little bit simplistic. I think the integration of technology and magic was intended to have a wow-factor but it was slightly awkward in some situations (why did Iris need magic to fix a crack in her phone screen?).

The romance left a little to be desired as I didn't feel as much chemistry between our protagonists Iris and Eli. However the found family aspect of this story make up for the lack of romance and I thoroughly enjoyed how unique all the characters were!

This was a nice rom-com with a sprinkling of magic/witches/shape-shifters mixed in. Eli has been obsessed with Iris since she helped him with a bully problem when they were younger. When Iris comes to town, he sets up an accidental meet to try and rekindle feelings. In the mean time, Iris has inherited a house from a great aunt (that's why she's in town) and this causes problems of its own.

I thought the writing was good. There was a nice mix of suspense, romance, and humor. The characters were interesting and relatable. I could picture what was going on in my mind. After I listened to it, I found out that it's book 4 in an established series. I'll probably go back and read the other 3 books.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Cute but nothing new. Misunderstood and underachieving 20-something is struggling but miraculously inherits from a distant relative, she creates a new life for herself, one or two issues arise to challenge her, and then the happy ever after with her cobbled together family. The characters were endearing with the exception of Eli, who was a little creepy with his stalkerish ways, but other than that an easy to read book. It did tend to drag in places but maybe I would have been more invested had I read the rest of the series.

Have you ever needed reading/listening to a book that will give you so much warmth and joy that can help you boost your mood? This, this book right here is the one you are looking for!!! I'm forever Team Iris and Eli, they're just both adorable and cute GAH I love it!

A found family trope that really just warmth my heart, a bunch of misfits that find solace, a sense of belonging and happiness with each other. So many life lessons here that are discussed in a very light discussion that help us to understand and digest but without forcing us, instead I would say that this book helps you to question some of the sensitive topics and let you decide for yourself, a really good book recommendation for friends & family. Everyone has their own story to tell, and even when the main characters are Iris and Eli, the other character also play an important part in making this book a perfect light and heartwarming read.

The urban fantasy aspect is kinda rush IMO, there's no proper build-up on why or how or a drop of a clue for that revelation but still okay. Just don't read it and expect some high fantasy romance, it's more like an urban romantasy. As someone that often than not, reading a spicy book, this is still enjoyable and even when there's no spice, I didn't mind it in the slightest.

5/5!!!!

Almost forgot, this is kinda stalkerish but more like softcore stalkerish(?)

Thank you Netgalley, Publisher, and Author for this E-ARC.