this book is the cutest blend of paranormal romance, mystery, magic and love.

featuring the most delicious second chance romance, while there was a lot going on in this book—it was relatively easy to keep track of.

one of my favorite aspects that resonated with me was the dynamics between a woman and her niece, and I saw glimpses of myself and my eldest niece in.

if you’re looking for heartwarming relationships, deep character development (and some bad ass female characters), this one is for you!

3/5

After finding out her teenaged boyfriend Jaxon was fated for her best friend, Elodie, Harlow swore she'd never return to her hometown of Fates Haven. But when her goddaughter needs mentorship from an experienced shifter, she finds herself back where she started - trying not to fall madly in love with Jaxon again.

I really enjoyed Asher's Supernatural Singles series, and I was excited for the start of a new series (fingers crossed) which seems to take place in the same world. With all the chaos in the world right now, it was lovely to be able to escape into the world of Fates Haven, where all supernaturals are appreciated for themselves, as well as enjoy delicious baked goods. This book was just a sweet escape from the real world and I was so sad when the book ended and I had to leave Harlow and her family in Fates Haven. Luckily, the book seems to be setting up a new series (I'm very excited to see Elodie and Silas' story) and I particularly enjoyed the storyline of fated mates. While I love that trope, it was thoughtfully used as a reminder that ultimately, we choose our own fated partners.

I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed Sarah Hawley's Glimmer Falls series or who loves the idea of a cozy yet spicy romance. I'm certainly excited to read the next instalment!

A Simple Twist Of Fate
By April Asher

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this book.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a story of coming home again and finding that part of yourself you always knew was missing. I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a super fun read and did not disappoint. The story was a well developed cross between fantasy and romantic comedy that drew me into it with ease and had me giggling frequently. It gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings any good rom-com should, while triggering my imagination to see the world the author created.

All of the characters were entertaining and engaging. The slow burn between the two main characters was palpable and absolutely incredible. The banter and snark was fantastic. Then, there’s the world building; that in itself was superb. There was an abundance of all things magical and it worked so well. Not only were there witches and shifters, but angels and demons and dragons, oh my! It was a beautiful blend of how all the different kinds of people could live in harmony, or at least find middle ground.

I’d honestly love to see a series created around all these characters as a whole. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen!

Tropes in this book include:
Second Chance Romance/First Love
Fated Mates
Slow Burn
Magical Beings
Self Discovery
Found Family

Cute little paranormal romance book! Love the vibes of the book but just wish the plot had a little bit more to it. 3.5 stars.

I'm really trying to avoid DNFs this year. This was my first NetGalley ARC, so I wanted to finish it as a courtesy, but I'm really struggling.
The FMC is Harry (Harlow—and I hate that Harry's a girl's name now; so confusing!). She's a witch. She and the MMC, Jaxon (a mountain lion shifter), were high school sweethearts. They were crazy about each other until a Fates ceremony declared Jaxon was destined for her friend, Elodie. Devastated, Harry (around 18 at the time, I think) fled town and cast a spell to make herself untraceable. Thirteen years later, she's guardian to Grace, a 16-year-old whose mom, Cassie (human), is off searching for Grace's father. Grace has uncontrollable fire powers and gets expelled from schools because she burns things down when she's upset. So, Cassie leaves her with Harry to find Grace's dad, figure out what kind of shifter he is, and learn how to help Grace. Cassie's been gone over a year, which is odd, but whatever. Harry's consulted local shifter packs near NYC, but no one can help Grace. So, Harry decides to return to her hometown in Colorado, hoping the Alpha there can offer guidance. Guess who the new Alpha is? Jaxon, of course. He's seen Grace's power firsthand; he agrees to help, though he's unsure his methods will be enough to reign in such a powerful ability.
The story's now a repetitive cycle of Grace spending time with Jaxon, supposedly learning to control her powers, but mostly just shoveling horse manure. Harry and Jaxon occasionally run into each other; the spark is still there, but Jaxon keeps his distance. A festival is coming up with games, and Harry's friends are planning a showdown with Jaxon's crew. Four games, starting with paintball, all childish, with even more childish punishments for losing. There's also a strange bakery owned by Harry's friend, with a suggestive theme, though all they seem to sell are cinnamon rolls and eclairs. I'm just not invested. Harry does nothing but stalk Jaxon while pretending she isn't, and these games feel so juvenile. Plus, the book cover kind of gives away the big mystery about Grace's powers—why the drawn-out suspense?
I'm at 45%. I've tried to get into this, but I keep putting it down, even while trying to force myself to finish it. I think I'm throwing in the towel, at least for now.
Read this if you like:
-Small-town romance (where gossip is rampant)
-Shifter romance
-Second chance romance
-Slow burn romance
-Feisty teenagers
-Secretly sweet MMCs

OKAY so. this had everything I wanted it to have. A positively delicious second chance romance with so many fantasy elements. There was a heartwarming and captivating relationship between a woman and her niece. There was intrigue with the magical problems in the town and a sense of mystery regarding Grace's shifter abilities. There was a lot going on in this book, but I felt that it was really easy to keep track of. Overall, I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to more in the future!

A Simple Twist of Fate is a paranormal romance that blends mystery, magic, and love. The story follows Harry Pierce, who left Fates Haven at 18 after her boyfriend was matched with someone else at the finding ceremony. Now, 13 years later, she's back in town with her troubled goddaughter, Grace, who's half human and half shifter, and can't control her abilities. Harry seeks help from the pack led by Jaxon to teach Grace how to manage her powers and to find Grace's father, who holds the key to her abilities. Jaxon is a fantastic male lead—so patient and kind. The plot is intriguing and definitely feels like it's setting up for more books in this world. The chemistry between Harry and Jaxon is palpable, and their second-chance romance was heartwarming. I also appreciated the depth of the plot beyond just the romance. The strong female characters, especially Harry, add significant strength to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest reivew.

2.5 stars for me. Harlow “Harry” Pierce ran away from the town of Fates Haven 13 years ago after a heartbreaking revelation during the town's Fates Festival. Now she’s back in Fates Haven with sixteen year old Grace in tow to help the young girl uncover what she is and help her control her fiery powers. Feelings become complicated when she runs into her former childhood love, Jaxon, and the best friends she left behind.

There were too many different and unnecessary side stories and it was hard to stay interested. Some parts felt essential to the plot while others were complete filler. You also really have to suspend the typical supernatural stereotypes for this story because there are so many different characters that it’s difficult to really imagine the setting and relationships within the town and world.

I really didn't care for the interactions between the characters either. Dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and a bit too eccentric from certain people. Also a little too much sex talk with and around a sixteen year old was odd.

A Simple Twist of Fate can be a cozy romance with a supernatural touch but there were too many plot holes and unanswered questions to give this more than 2.5 stars. It has really good potential but I think it needed to be fleshed out and tightened up a bit more.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Harlow is a witch who watched her best friend revealed as the fated mate of her bf Jaxon. She leaves and only returns 13 yrs later with her goddaugher seeking help from Jaxon...

Lots of characters in this book and lots of details. It's a little hard to follow in the beginning but it got very interesting... Love Jax and Harlow together...

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

If paranormal romances are your thing, A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher should be on your tbr list. It was a good one.

Cute, lighthearted magical romance set in a small town in Colorado. Harry is forced to return to her hometown after 13 years to help her friend’s daughter lead to use her own magical gifts. Of course her ex is the only one who can help the teenage shifter and so she’s forced to face him and explain why she left. It’s second chance, small town and a whole cast of fun friends and family. Great if you are looking for a quick fun read. 3.75 rounded up✨

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for this advanced copy! It publishes 5/13/25. Perfect summer read by the pool or beach or while being a passenger princess on road trips.

I loved this second chance fantasy romance! Harry left Fates Haven heartbroken after it was revealed that the love of her life - Jax - was fated to be with another. But now she's back, with a teenage Goddaughter in tow, and needs help only Jax can provide. The book is an easy, steamy read that will have you falling in love with this small town community.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy to be reviewed.

I am a huge fan of April's supernatural singles series and was super excited to read this new paranormal romance from her. While full of her typical humor and heat, this one just didn't quite hit the five star mark for me.

There are so many characters and side plots which made the book feel too busy and took some of the focus away from the second chance romance. I'm assuming these characters will be getting their own book if this continues as a series so I wish there had been a little less of them and more of Harlow and Jax in this one.

Yes, no, maybe? Yes, if you love paranormal romances with shifters and witchy vibes.

If you like paranormal romance then this novel is for you! Follow along with Jaxon and Harlow (why would you go by Harry with a cool name like Harlow?!) as they rediscover one another after Harlow fled town with a broken heart. This time, she's brought her best friend's daughter with her who gets swooped up in the misadventures.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.

i fear i am dnf’ing this one for now…but only because of my life circumstances!! i thought the premise was intriguing and after giving it multiple attempts, it simply isn’t the vibe for me but i would still recommend to anyone who wants a whimsical fantasy story!!

Here's another example of a moderately fun read that simply shows too many of it's cards in the cover and tries to juggle too many tasks in the text. Seriously.

The book is simultaneously trying to introduce readers to yet another urban fantasy setting, sew seeds for potential next books and romances, introduce the extensive town of Fates Haven, and

I like when the book is focused on the narrative. I like a handful of the side characters and the main romantic pairing. I don't like the overloading of information that won't be relevant until other entries in what I assume will be a series.

I also think that there are characters that feel like they are from a complete different genre of story. A reader needs a lot of disbelief to suspend in order to not raise an eyebrow at some of the set ups for these characters- Elodie in particular I found a little baffling.

There's just too much going on and the time spent on each subplot is too scattered. The competition, romance, mystery of Gracie's shifter form, the town's festival returning, and other things are enough to make any reader's head spin.

Now if you are the type of reader who enjoys seeing characters in as many situations as possible go for this one. There is a lot of moments building up the cast of characters throughout. For me though, who prefers a more streamlined read, I found it just okay.

Thirteen years after having her heart broken at the Fates Festival Finding Ceremony, Harlow “Harry” Pierce, a witch with muted powers, returns home to the magical small town where she grew up. She never expected to return there again, but her teenage ward is exhibiting shifter behavior and needs guidance stat. With the mother off searching for the girl’s father, Harry seeks help from the Alpha shifter of the pack back home.

She just isn’t expecting that Alpha to be Jaxon Atwood, her longtime flame who was fated to another all those years ago.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Paranormal (Witches and shifters and vampires, oh my!)
- Second chance
- Opposites attract
- Guardian to a teenage shifter
- Magical small town with diminishing magic along the ley lines
- Fated mates
- Steamy
- Book 1 in a new series

When I pick up an April Asher book, I know I’m going to get humor, heat, and found family, and A Simple Twist of Fate delivers all those things here. I enjoyed this one, but there’s something about it that felt maybe not as developed as I would have liked. That said, though, I am intrigued about the relationships between the other characters in this friend group and will gladly read whatever comes next in this series.

3.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin’s Press. All review opinions are my own.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a small town, paranormal fantasy second chance romance. Harlow and Jax seem like the perfect teenage couple in their small town of Fates Haven. Jax is a cougar shifter and Harlow is a witch, paranormal people and towns are common in this world which explains why there are angels, demons, vampires and seers all in their friend group. At a local festival Harlow is heartbroken when a Fated Mate ceremony reveals that Jax is actually fated to be with Elodie, one of Harlow's best friends! Of course the only thing Harlow can do it run away from home and throw down an anti-locator spell so that no one can ever find her. Thirteen years later Harlow must take her roommates daughter, Grace, home to Fates Haven for help from the town Alpha to figure out just what kind of paranormal shifter Grace might be,
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 2.5 stars.
Unfortunately with this book it is a case of the bad outweighing the good.
What I did like:
All that delicious angst that goes with a second chance romance. There wasn't enough of it for this book in my opinion.
The female bonding and rebuilding of friendships between Harlow and her two abandoned friends in Fates Haven.

What I didn't like:
Way too many pop culture references, Yes this even includes the Buffy the Vampire Slayer references, by the time those started to happen it was too late.
The massive infodump of characters and abilities within the first three chapters. I understand the set up of multiple characters in a small town, but this all happened at once with an avalanche to retain immediately. Characters can be introduced more organically that this and in a way that allows a reader to retain who people are and what their abilities are before 10 more are added to the pile.
The wheelbarrow manure scene.
The inclusion of the Fey/shifter Fey.
The PCOS part. Not sure exactly what the author was going for here especially in the scene it was mentioned in. Was Harlow trying to say that she is overweight because she has PCOS? Is she saying something about her body hair? Its is also implied that its safe to not use protection during this scene because she has PCOS so its not like she can get pregnant. I'm not sure what the intent was with this, but it was a miss.

This book definitely had potential especially as a start to a new series, but it ended up not working for me.

This new love story from April Asher was fun and sweet. Our protagonist, Harlow “Harry” Pierce, has been away from her hometown of Fates Haven for thirteen years after her boyfriend was seemingly fated for someone else. Since then, she has found herself as a second mother to Grace, the daughter of her best friend Cassie who is trying to find Grace's father. Grace has powers that are developing out of control, as so Harry brings her to Fates Haven as a last resort.
I really liked this. At first I was uncertain, as the writing style wasn't something I loved, but once the story got underway at about the 20% mark, I was hooked. The chemistry between Harry and Jax was phenomenal, and Jax seems like such a sweet person (or shifter, technically). I really liked that Asher didn't throw Grace's story to the side to focus on the romance. As much as this is a love story between Harry and Jax, this is also a story about magic being on the fritz in Fates Haven and Grace's powers being a mystery. This was a fast paced, fun, and intriguing read. I'm curious if Asher will expand this into an interconnected romance series, given what is revealed about some side characters in the end.

I was immediately drawn to A Simple Twist of Fate by the promise of magic and romance. But, the story fell flat and didn't quite meet my expectations. The narrative laggedmaking it hard to stay fully engaged, and some of the situations in the book were annoying to me(I hate admitting this in a review).
The execution and the main plot didn't hold my interest. I really really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it couldn't come together for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book. The thoughts and review above are in exchange for the ARC of this book.