This story follows Dina, a kitchen witch who owns her own bakery and Scott, a museum curator who is recovering from a bad breakup.

Dina and Scott continually run into each other and find themselves sharing a cottage during their friend’s wedding weekend. The two quickly fall for one another but trouble ensues given that Dina is hexed - all her future romances are doomed to fail until the hex is removed.

Things to be aware of going into this read:
* This is a spicy read, don’t let the cover fool you! I’d rate this about 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
* While magic is a component of this book, I wouldn’t say it’s magic heavy - there’s little information on the magic system and magic is quickly accepted as reality in this universe.

Things I liked about this read:
* Good representation! Bisexual/gay/trans all relevant
* Focused on the importance of self-love and mental health
* Strong fall vibes

Things I didn’t like about this read:
* I found the first 30% to be slow
* This is HEAVY on insta-lust to insta-love pipeline

I personally found the characters to be a bit under-developed and the relationship to lack substance, but if you’re looking for a spicy fall read, this could be a good pick.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing the eARC for review!

Location is London…
Dina owns Serendipity Cafe and since Dina is a good witch she only casts cozy spells on the treats she makes. Dina’s spells leaves everyone feeling cozy. Dina meets Rory who she falls in love with but things go so wrong. Dina goes to far when she goes overboard and puts a spell on Rory to bring them back together after a separation. When Rory finds out she puts a HEX on Dina, everyone that loves her will hurt.

Dina decides to keep her distance from love until Scott walks into her Cafe.

This is such a magical read! It’s so cute I loved it. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a steamy, magical read.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Posting on Goodreads

September 30th

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6853070089

4.25⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. I am a little bias because I loooooove stuff about witches so it was already up my alley but mixed with romance? A perfect read for me! Especially for the the fall season! I love that it was not only a romance BUT a self love journey and I'm really looking froward to more books from Nadia.

4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“No one in the history of the world has ever looked so good in a dress. Please take it off.”

Best Hex Ever is a standalone adult paranormal romance following Dina, a kitchen witch with a booming cafe thanks to her magic infused sweets, has spent the last number of years running away from love thanks to a curse placed upon her. So when she first meets Scott Mason, a curator for the British Museum, she tries to ignore the feelings and connection...until a series of coincidences leads these two to be stuck together for a weekend. They quickly realize there is no denying their feelings but can they figure out a way around this hex or will the danger tear them apart?

This was adorable!

Dina is a sweetheart who made a few mistakes in her life. She has built an amazing career and done such good with her magic to better people's days but nothing can compete with the burden of her curse. There is a lot of guilt around the origins of this curse she must unpack and it is a lot. She struggles with keeping distant and you can see the yearning. I truly adore the pining at times but Dina does tend to lean to the negative.

Scott is a man who falls hard and fast, which makes him perfect for Dina. I loved seeing his attempts to keep Dina's attention and his openness and honesty throughout. He has had his heart bruised in the past but I loved seeing him preserve when he realizes this is the one.

I also want to shout out the side characters for showing such healthy friendships and the importance of communication. Dina is dealing with a pretty big cloud over her head and it is her friends and her mother that act as an anchor for her in so many ways.

This book is about 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. The spice is slow-ish burn (though the romance is instant attraction) with it not happening until the second half and there are only a couple full spicy scenes alongside some foreplay and rounding of bases...but the spice is very detailed and explicit. It highlights the connection between Dina and Scott and why they can't ignore it. I loved the control Scott takes and the risk locations of their spice to up the tension. These two are perfect for each other and the spice shows just how in sync they are.

This man…this man was going to end her, he was so [effing] cute.

The story itself is light and easy to read. You have the overarching story of Dina's curse but also a friend's wedding and Scott's job to help add a bit of variety. This story isn't anything groundbreaking but it was just a fun time. I liked the friendship, the slices of life, the banter, and the shenanigans. There are also these sweet moments of vulnerability that drew me in. The ending itself is a bit rushed but the epilogue is the perfect treat.

Overall if you want a cosy quick witchy read for fall this book is the perfect one for an evening!

Thank you Dell Romance for this arc!

Best Hex Ever is a cozy, steamy, witchy romance—perfect for curling up under a plush blanket with a warm cup of tea. The story follows Dina, a local bakery and café owner cursed with a disastrous love life—literally. Enter Scott, a museum curator with a passion for history, whose unexpected connection with Dina sets sparks flying. But with the curse looming over them, will their budding romance survive?

What really made this story sparkle was the rich witchy atmosphere—Dina’s magic, passed down through generations, is full of emotional depth, swirling energy, and sensory details. Her sentient, opinionated house and the headstrong, sassy cat add to the whimsical charm. I also enjoyed the solid friendships, especially between Dina, Immy, and Rosemary (fingers crossed for her book!). The unconditional love and support in their tight-knit bonds made their relationship dynamics shine. Similarly, the friendship between Scott and Eric was equally heartwarming. These friendships added to the story, making it not just a tale of romance but also one of loyal connections and enduring love.

One thing I struggled with was the lack of heart-squeezing tension in the romance. While the premise had potential, the romantic scenes didn’t quite deliver the emotional depth or make-your-heart-ache intensity I enjoy in a romance novel. I'm not usually one for "insta-love" tropes, readers who enjoy instant connections (think "invisible string" vibes) will fall head over heels for this romance. It's got everything: magic, spice, and all the cozy fall feels you could want.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This was a great read for spooky season. I loved that she was a kitchen witch and how they described her magic. I wish her bakery was real because I would go everyday. I loved her friendships with her two best friends and I loved the relationship between her and Scott. This is a perfect October read.

Best Hex Ever was such a perfect fall read. With the setting of the cafe and our main character being a witch, it’s a great cozy read for the fall months. I found this book enjoyable and a light, simple read. I appreciated the humor sprinkled throughout the book as well!! This book put me in the perfect mood for October.

It's very slow at the beginning. It honestly felt like it was dragging after a certain point.

It did pick up a little more closer to the halfway point, though it was definitely too far into the book for what was insta-lust, essentially. I would've liked a little more banter.

What I did love the most about this was the magic system. It was soft, seamlessly blended into their lives. It was a simple system, and it really added an extra sense of comfort.

If you're looking for a cozy, but also very spicy romance with a sprinkle of magic, this will work for you.

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why I Chose It: Honestly, the title.

So I’ve officially decided if I was a witch, I’d want magic just like Dina’s. I adored the magic in this one; I mean, infusing baked goods with good vibes - YES!

This was the perfect cozy fall read. I felt snuggled up the entire time. The characters were warm and lovely. Well-developed, quirky, and distinct - I think I loved everyone. The focus on friendship and family was refreshing.

And then the nerdy love interest was delightful. While the romance felt a bit instant for my taste, I did completely support both Dina and Scott. The spice was enough and their connection felt like it did grow.

All in all, don’t miss this one! Fans of cozy reads, books with magic, and books with great, quirky characters will love this one.

4.5 rounded up!

this was a really cute book. this is peak cozy fantasy wish a dash of sexy.

like... really sexy. kind of caught me off guard a couple times.

Best Hex Ever is a short romance novel that focuses on a kitchen witch, Dina, who runs her own cafe. she has two best friends (both writers) and one of them is planning her wedding, which Dina is the maid of honor for.

Dina has a cat familiar, great friends, loving parents... and a hex on her love life from an ex-girlfriend years ago. the hex manifests in harm towards anyone Dina tries to have a romantic future with, so she chooses to close herself off from any romantic prospects.

the romance in the book was great, but I think what elevated the book to a new level was the relationships on the side. Dina’s friendships were a lot of fun to read, and I LOVED her parents.

I also loved Dina being a bisexual woman and getting to read her struggles regarding coming out even as a grown adult.

I will say that I felt like the hex plot line was a little weak for being the primary conflict for the story, but I enjoyed everything else enough to cancel that out.

plot: ★★★★☆
the plot was cute, but honestly a little flat when you look at the big picture. I just feel like the hex wasn’t enough of a conflict, like I was SCREAMING at Dina just to talk to her mom. it was like a flip on the miscommunication trope. I totally get why she hesitated, but like... I would have made up a story or something just to try and get some idea of what to do, lmao.

but it was still great. definitely a must read for fall.

writing: ★★★★★
this book was well written! it was cute and had a lot of different layers to it that all seemed to blend together really well, without feeling like there was too much going on.

I kind of wish we got more time with Scott and Dina as an actual couple though. most of the story was the build-up (which was great) but I would have loved a little more couple time.

romance: ★★★★★
as noted above, I do wish we had more time with Scott and Dina as an actual couple.

besides that, I LOVE them. they are so f*cking cute and the maid of honor x best man trope was so fun with the added element of magic in the mix.

pacing: ★★★★★
the story was very quickly paced!! I loved this, especially since Dina and Scott were struggling to connect in the beginning of the book. the fast pace meant that I never had to wait for long for the next meet-cute opportunity or for anything to start happening.

characters: ★★★★★
I genuinely loved every character in this book.

the other great part is, there’s a wide cast of characters, but they are all given enough of their own quirks and personality traits that they all feel real/genuine.

over-all: ★★★★★ (4.5 rounded up)
I liked this book a lot! I only take the half-star off because I didn’t love the hex as the primary conflict. it felt like for the way Dina made it feel like such a big deal, it should have BEEN a bigger deal than it ended up being.

Best Hex Ever is a witchy romance about a café-owning kitchen witch who unexpectedly bumps into a hot archaeologist who works at the British Museum. Listen, with a pitch like that and a cat on the cover, I was in! I love witchy reads for this time of year and was so excited for this one.

It started out so fun! I loved the magic system, the descriptions of amazing baked goods, and the fall vibes. I LOVED the café and hearing about all of the recipes that the main character dreamed up. I really liked that the MMC is an archaeologist and talks about museum curation!

But for some reason... the characters are taken from the amazing café and museum and dropped into a nondescript wedding! What the heck!!! Give me more descriptions of croissants! Go back to talking about hot chocolate with ghost marshmallows! I thought the rest was fine, but super didn't live up to the beginning of the book. Sad face. I was so excited to be all over this book!! And I'm left feeling :(

This ended up being around 3 stars for me, learning more towards 2.75. It does go quickly so I'd say give it a try if you live witchy romances and are particularly a fan of forced proximity. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC, my thoughts are my own!

3.5/5 stars

This was such a cozy, magical read—perfect for fall! Dina, a kitchen witch with cursed love, and Scott, the charming best man, had instant chemistry that felt believable despite the insta-love trope (thanks to a magical twist). The witchy vibes, wedding shenanigans, and meddling friends made the story soooo fun.

I loved the mix of magic and spice—Scott’s devotion to Dina was sweet, even if things moved fast. The setting, with magical pastries and maybe haunted castles, added to the charm. It’s a quick, fun read full of romance, magic, and Halloween vibes perfect for this time of year.

Thanks to NetGalley, Dell, and Nadia El-Fassi for the ARC! I'm excited to read the next book in this series.

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi offers an interesting take on the world of modern magic and hexes. The story provides a blend of humor and supernatural elements, making for an entertaining read. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it’s a solid choice for fans of light, witchy fiction.

*The Best Hex Ever* by Nadia El-Fassi is a spellbinding blend of magic, romance, and humor! Dina Whitlock, a pastry-baking kitchen witch with a knack for conjuring up more than just delicious treats, meets Scott Mason, a worldly museum curator back in London for his best friend’s wedding. Their chemistry is undeniable, but there's one little problem—Dina’s love life is hexed. Cue a weekend of magical mishaps, a spooky Halloween ritual, and a hedge maze you’ll wish you could wander through yourself. Can Dina break the curse before her love life crumbles? A charming, witchy romance that’s both sweet and spellbinding!

Paranormal Romance/Witchy Rom-Com, Half Moroccan Nonbinary Author, Dual 3rd POV, Kitchen Witch FMC, LGBTQIA+ Rep,

Pros:

Spooky, cozy fall vibes are on point

Inclusive/diverse cast of characters - Bi FMC, Enby barista

Cons:

Listen, I understand that there is a difference between good writing and a good story. Call me picky, but I need my books to be both. At the very least, I need the writing to not be a distraction from the story.

Unfortunately the writing is quite unrefined. It’s clear that this is a debut novel. There were many run on, rambling sentences stuffed with unnecessary or cutesy details. (Page 4 had an entire paragraph made up of one sentence. I’ve never had the reading voice in be head be out of breath by the time I finished a sentence before, so that was an interesting experience.) The grammar used to punctuate these run on sentences was atrocious, especially for a trad published book that should have access to editors and proof readers. There was also a lot of switching from 3rd person narration to 2nd person narration and breaking the 4th wall. (Pick a POV and stick with it.) Overall, the tone was trying a bit too hard to be quirky. It wasn’t the most cringey writing voice I’ve ever read, but it did grate on my nerves. I think editing and structuring the sentences differently would have eliminated the rambley, breathlessness of the tone and incorporated the quirky details in a more natural, organic way.

If all you need is vibes, this book has it in spades - cozy, autumnal, witchy, spicy, all the things. Unfortunately the vibes and tropes were not enough to compensate for the poor writing, in my opinion, and I had to DNF because my brain was screaming.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley for review

Best Hex Ever is a swoony, witchy rom-com that is perfect for autumn.

Dina is the owner of bakery in London who also happens to a skilled witch. When a gorgeous museum curator comes in one day, Dina can't stop thinking about him, but knows that dating is off the table. Scott is a curator at the British Museum with an interest in protective charms and household rituals. He can't get the owner of the coffeeshop out of his head, but is wary of dating after a terrible breakup that kept him away from London for years. When Dina and Scott realize they are the maid of honor and best man at their friends' wedding, the weekend away at a cozy cottage on the grounds of a gothic estate might be too much for them to resist. But with a bad hex looming of Dina that causes bad luck to everyone she loves, Dina can't get too close to Scott. But then again, maybe there is a way to break the hex for good??

Best Hex Ever is a super cute and sexy romantic comedy, with lots of witchy vibes and a perfect fall setting. Dina is hesitant to get too close to anyone, lest the hex set in and cause harm to the people she cares about. She has gotten good at letting people go, and building walls around herself. It was great to see her growth in this book, as she comes to accept herself and let love in. Scott may be my perfect book boyfriend - he's sweet and devoted, and an anti-colonialist curator at a major museum who insists on repatriation of stolen artifacts - absolutely wonderful!. This was a super quick read - I read it in one sitting and just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book a lot and thought it was perfect for autumn.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy of this lovely book!

Dina is a kitchen witch who owns her own coffee/pastry shop; Scott is a museum curator who is creating and happens upon Dina’s cafe one morning and instantly the sparks fly. Coincidentally, later that day, they meet again on the train heading to their respective best friends’ wedding - and then it turns out he is the best man and she is the maid of honor - and the bride and groom in a matchmaking scheme put them in a cozy cabin together for the weekend. The attraction to each other isn’t the problem (this book has some spice) - this issue is that Dina has had a hex placed on her years ago so that anyone she falls in love with will be harmed, and Dina doesn’t want Scott to get hurt. Unless Dina can break the hex their relationship is doomed.

This was cute but a bit spicier than I am used to (I am not a prude, I just felt there was more than needed and I would have preferred more story because I was enjoying the story). I thought the premise was good and I would have liked more of the backstory of Dina’s origins (I felt that was left open — maybe for a sequel?) and I wish there was a bit less “instalove” between the two characters because I like a bit of a slower burn. I did like the story in general and enjoyed the read as well as the message in the end. This is a debut and I am excited to read her next novel; this is great for you if you are looking for a fun, sexy (very sexy), witchy Halloween treat.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Ballantine Dell and NetGalley for the ARC to review

if you want a super cozy witchy book with some ✨spice✨ to read just in time for Halloween this is for you! Dina is a witch who owns a cafe in london where she puts a lil bit of her magic in the pastries leaving customers to believe eating at her shop is good luck. which is ironic since she is hexed! a love hex to be precise which she fends off with by keeping potential love interests at arms length and just stays focusing on her cafe and baking for her customers. scott is a curator for the British Museum not only is he dina’s handsome new customer, he is the best man at her friend's wedding that she is the maid of honor of and they are gonna be stuck together for the entire weekend. the slow burn was so worth it to see the chemistry between these two. it had its sweet and funny moments and some deep ones, the relationships you get to see between Dina and the other characters like her female friends was amazing to see and her mom and dad were so sweet. Dina and scott was just perfect and it was written so well. 4✨

Tropes/things:
- witchy
- bisexual FMC
- maid of honor x best man
- forced proximity- only one cottage
- set in london
- insta love
- dating curse
- cozy fantasy
- slow burn
- spicy 🌶️


Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi coming out on October 1st!

A delightfully spicy witchy romance between a cooking witch who was cursed to have everyone she's ever love be harmed and the the museum curator who's stolen her heart. Dina Whitlock is a kitchen witch who has her own cafe in London. She serves up magical trats and has been careful to keep her heart at a distance despite wanting romance. Dina was cursed to have any partner she falls in love with be cursed with a string of bad luck and harm..... and then he walks into her cafe, Scott Mason. Scott is a museum curator who has returned from his global travels only to find out that his partner had cheated on him and now two years later he's still recovering from the breakup. Dina is attending as the maid of honor for her best friends wedding... and Scott just happens to be the best man for the groom. Dina knows she shouldn't let herself fall for Scott, but it's hard to be just friends when he's the sweetest and hottest man she's ever encountered. Can she make a relationship work without having him be harmed by her curse? This was the perfect witchy romance for my Practical Magic loving heart. it's equal parts cozy witchy vibes and spicy romance. I adored this book so much and will absolutely be reading anything else that the author comes out with. This is an absolute must read for the autumn season!

Release Date: October 1,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars! Best Hex Ever is a super cute and spicy rom-com about Dina who is a curvy witch with a focus on baking magic. She is hesitant to date anyone due to a hex put on her by an ex many years ago. Since then, anyone who falls in love with her will get hurt in some way.

She ends up meeting Scott who is a dreamy museum curator and she can't stay away...especially when they are in the wedding party for their best friends' wedding. Needless to say, Dina can only deny her feelings for Scott for so long before things get spicy. Then, Dina has to make the decision to face the hex or give up Scott.

This was such a fun and quick read. I really liked both MCs. I always love a FMC with curves and a MMC who is obsessed with them. This is a great fall read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.