Review: A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

April Asher casts a spell with A Simple Twist of Fate, a paranormal rom-com that blends second-chance romance, found family, and magical hijinks into one irresistible package. Set in the quirky town of Fates Haven, Colorado, this story follows Harlow “Harry” Pierce, a witch with a broken heart and a goddaughter in need of guidance. Thirteen years after fleeing her hometown, Harry returns—only to find herself face-to-face with Jaxon Atwood, the shifter ex she never quite got over.

The chemistry between Harry and Jaxon is electric, layered with history, hurt, and undeniable longing. Asher excels at writing emotionally grounded characters with supernatural flair. Harry’s protective instincts and chaotic magic make her instantly lovable, while Jaxon’s gruff exterior hides a heart still bruised by the past. Their dynamic is deliciously tense, and watching them navigate old wounds and new sparks is pure joy.

The supporting cast adds depth and humor—from Grace, Harry’s fiery goddaughter with emerging dragon-shifter powers, to the meddling Aunt and loyal best friends who rally around her. The town itself feels alive, with its fading magic and whimsical traditions adding texture to the romance.

With witty banter, heartfelt moments, and a dash of fate-defying rebellion, A Simple Twist of Fate is a cozy, feel-good read perfect for fans of paranormal romance and small-town magic. Asher’s storytelling is both comforting and fresh, making this a standout in the genre.

This was such a cozy book! I loved the small town vibes. Characters were each unique and felt integral to story. Loved the witch x shifter romance. The perfect read for the beach or in a cozy cafe!

Thank you to NetGalley, April Asher, and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one was super cute. Definitely loved the small town vibes perfect for a fall season cozy read. This one also had second chance romance but it would have been nice with extra angst - just needed a little more. I was definitely entertained with the story - lots of fun - but did it push the romance to the back? The town and all the surrounding characters made this story fun. Definitely give this one a chance if you like fated mates, dual POV, festivals and unique characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC!

This was such a fun paranormal rom-com! Vibrant and eccentric characters, easy to follow storyline, and cozy little magic town. Great dual POV. The humor in this novel was brazen and I loved every second of it. Some of the chapter titles had me cackling. Normally in these types of novels, there's always a character or two that I find insufferable, but I cannot say any character in this story fit that description. All of the characters were so likable and I would actually love to read a spinoff of any of them to explore the side stories (especially Elodie/Silas). The only thing that kind of threw me off was the brief (and I mean literally once) mention of PCOS. I appreciate representation in novels, but it seemed just thrown in without any real significance.

This was my first April Asher read and definitely won't be my last!

A Simple Twist of Fate is a fun, fast-paced paranormal rom-com with lots of heart and humor. Asher delivers a charming story filled with magic, found family, and a slow-burn romance that feels both swoony and sincere. I found the worldbuilding to be whimsical yet grounded, and the characters (especially the fierce female leads) shine! If you are a fan of light fantasy and romance, you will love this one for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A spicy paranormal romance that has:

Second Chances
Grumpy Cougar Shifter MMC
Curvy Sarcastic Witch FMC
Undercover stealing garden gnome
Demon ex-Assassin
An Angel on a Leave of Absense
A Librarian Vampire
A Tattoo Artist Seer
A Tattooed Human
Meddling Granny Figure

When Harlow Pierce returns to her hometown she discovers that her leaving all those years ago impacted everyone she knew.

Jaxson Atwood was devastated when Harry left but now that she's back will they be able to re-kindle what they had?

Things have changed and it's time to find out what really happened and address their feelings once and for all.

If you love a world building paranormal romance with a little spice this ones for you.

Classic April Asher 🥰 she's done it again folks! Funny, lighthearted, happily ever after, magic, love, and all around feel good vibes. So fun and funny. I have genuinely enjoyed every book she's published.

Such a fun romantic comedy about a shifter, a witch and a teenager in the mix. I was laughing out loud while listening. Whimsical and magical.

This was a super cute romcom with a spicy romance as it's endgame. Well worth the read and I enjoyed the story immensely from start to finish.

A Simple Twist of Fate is great for those looking to read…
💙 Small Town Paranormal Romance
💙 Shifter x Witch
💙 Second Chance Romance
💙 Grumpy, Cougar Shifter MMC
💙 Curvy, Sarcastic Witch FMC

April Asher effortlessly blends humor, charm, small town antics, meddling family members, steamy spice & so much heart Into their romance stories.

If you’ve read April Asher’s other work, you will easily fall for this exceptional story. If you are new to this author, this is the perfect place to start & a wonderful introduction to their voice.

I also was fortunate enough to listen to the audiobook & it was epic! I loved the dual narration. Both narrators did such a great job of bringing the story to the life ranging from the laugh out loud humor to the intense romance. I listened at 2x & it was perfect for my ADHD brain.

If you are looking for a magical small town romance that’s highly entertaining with humor, a bit of a mystery, rekindling & heart, I highly recommend A Simple Twist of Fate!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & St. Martin’s Griffin for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

What would you do if you had to return to your old hometown and ask for help from your ex? After a terrible incident at her town's ceremony, Harry leaves, vowing not to return until a situation forces her to. The problem is tense yet there is that pull that brings them together as much as they both try to stay away. Our two main characters find themselves in some interesting situations, and the gnomes are quite funny.

✨ Publication date: May 13, 2025✨

A Simple Twist of Fate is a paranormal small town romance by April Asher.

Harlow “Harry” Pierce left her small town 13 years ago after the annual Fates ceremony showed her best friend was fated to her only true love.

After casting a spell to ensure no one could find her, she ended up in NewYork until her best friend went in search of her daughter Grace’s father, a shifter.

Harlow is tasked with keeping Grace safe but as her shifter genes begin to surface and neither of them know how to handle it, Harlow knows she needs to go back to Fates Haven.

Harlow has some making up to do. After leaving her beloved aunt, best friends and the love of her life Jax, she knows her return will be uncomfortable but Grace needs help.

As Harlow familiarizes herself with the town and people again, she learn that the magic is wonky. Ever since the fates ceremony, things haven’t been quite right.

Did Harlow leave for now reason? Was magic not working the night of the fates ceremony? As Harlow and Jax heat up, she has to figure out if her future is in Fates Haven or if Fate has other plans for her.

This was a decent book with some steamy scenes. I like this author but this one took me longer than usual to read. This is a 3+ star for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #aprilasher #asimpletwistoffate

book had a lot going for it on paper: small-town magic, second-chance romance, cozy fantasy vibes, and a whole cast of quirky characters, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. The setting of Fates Haven is super charming and definitely gives off that Hallmark meets Halloweentown energy, which made for a fun, whimsical backdrop. There's a strong found family theme and plenty of shenanigans with magical friends that added some warmth and humor to the story.

That said, the romance, which is supposed to be the heart of the book, felt flat. I never really bought the chemistry between the two leads, and there just wasn’t enough tension or buildup for a second-chance, fated-mates love story. The miscommunication that kept them apart for thirteen years didn’t feel like enough of a reason, and the way everyone just forgave and moved on made the stakes feel really low.
There were also a lot of subplots, side characters, and tropey moments jammed into one book, and it ended up feeling kind of overcrowded. The dialogue was often cheesy (and not in a good way), like using “snortle”, which really pulled me out of the story.

Overall, this was a cute, cozy read with a fun magical setting and good intentions, but it tried to do too much.

Was this book mad predictable? Sure. Was it also fairly hilarious and fun to get to its known inevitable conclusion? Heck yes. Who doesn’t love a small town second chance romance, especially with funny banter, a snarky teen, underwear stealing gnomes, and a dirty town bakery selling cinnamon tits? And the tension built the whole book, and the spice when it happened was delicious. Exactly what I expect from an April Asher book

I really enjoyed! I loved the world that was built, and the found family aspect between the characters.

This book is like a warm cinnamon latte spiked with shifter drama, fate magic, and unresolved feelings aged like a fine vintage potion.

A Simple Twist of Fate is everything I want in a paranormal rom-com: witches with emotional baggage, shifters who brood like it’s a competitive sport, and a town so magically chaotic it feels like Stars Hollow with a supernatural HR crisis.

Harlow “Harry” Pierce returns to Fates Haven with a goddaughter, a broken heart that's still lowkey smoldering, and a town full of magical glitches that may or may not be the result of a decade-long Fated Match drought. (Yikes.) Re-enter: Jaxon Atwood, her ex, her almost-fated-match, and now Alpha with the emotional range of a haunted log cabin. He’s grumpy. She’s guarded. The sexual tension could power a small cauldron factory.

Add in a delightfully rebellious teen, a missing Fate Witch, and a town hanging by a mystical thread, and you’ve got a spellbinding mix of high stakes and heart. The banter is snappy, the pacing is breezy, and the romance? Pure fated slow-burn gold with a second-chance twist that hits just right.

For fans of magical small towns, found family, and couples who argue like it’s foreplay, this one’s a must-read. Also: I would like to move to Fates Haven immediately and start a magical bake shop or a chaotic potion Etsy.

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher is an immediate 4 star read! Harlow “Harry” Pierce thought fate had her future all figured out—until the magical Blue Willow Wisp led her soulmate not to her, but to her best friend. Devastated, she fled her hometown of Fates Haven and left everything, and everyone, behind. Thirteen years later, Harry returns with her rebellious goddaughter in hopes of healing old wounds and finding new purpose—only to come face-to-face with Jaxon Atwood, the shifter she never truly got over.

What I loved most about this story was the witty, electric banter between Harry and Jaxon—every conversation was laced with history, heat, and just the right amount of bite. The paranormal world felt rich and lived-in, full of shifters, witches, and the mystical magic of fated bonds. And while the trope of destiny played a strong role, it was the slow unraveling of past hurt and present hope that gave the story real emotional weight.

If you enjoy second-chance romances filled with magic, shifters, and characters who have to reckon with the ghosts of their past, this book is for you. Perfect for fans of cozy-but-steamy paranormal reads, small-town fantasy settings, and stories where fate might have a plan—but the heart gets the final say.

I really enjoyed reading the story. It was a slow build, but it kept you entertained and turned in the pages to find out more. I enjoyed learning about each character and seeing their personalities develop throughout the story and the ending tied everything together nicely I would I’m definitely recommend this book

April Asher books are always a laugh out loud experience. The characters are all flawed in the most interesting and fun of ways. The spice is really good without being too much. I can't wait to see what other books are published about this same mystical town, because there are a lot of stories to tell.

Gotta love a good paranormal romcom set in a small town with a pack of quirky characters. Second chance isn't normally my jam, especially when a character leaves due to some kind of mis/lack of communication, but I really enjoyed this one and was rooting for them to get back together! It was cozy, an easy read, and has a great found family too. The concept of the whisps showing the fated mates during a festival is pretty darn cute.

I started with the ebook version but quickly swapped over to audio to help me habit stack with some chores! The narrators were excellent and really brought the characters to life.

Thank you to St-Martin's Press, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.