This was a really fun book filled with eccentric characters, dual POVs, a second chance romance, fated mates, witches, shifters, found family, magic, mystery, and a dollop of spice. It really is a perfect romantasy read for any time of the year, but especially during these weird, foggy, gloomy May “spring” days we have here in California. I found myself cozying up with my giant bowl of coffee in bed reading this while I was sick and absolutely loved it. Between the banter and humor of the cast of characters to the actual town the story is set in, there’s never a dull moment. This book leaves you with a smile on your face once you flip that last page.

I just finished a Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher @novelsbyapril and here are my musings…

It’s been 13 years since Harlow “Harry” Pierce has been home but when her half human, half shifter goddaughter is having trouble controlling her magic, she knows home is the only place she can go to get the help they so desperately need. Coming back was never supposed to be on the cards especially since that fateful night… When her best friend and the love of her life were fated to be together but swallowing down her dread, she makes the trek home.. Jaxon is still the same shifter he has always been and when Harry turns up begging for his help… He isn’t prepared to see the witch who stole his heart.
I have been a fan of April Asher since not the witch you wed and I have been addicted to her paranormal romance reads ever since. She didn’t disappoint.

I love all the characters. Jaxon is the typical grumpy shifter with a dash of touch her and die. SWOON!!! I usually despise second chance romance because I hate miscommunication but this one gets away with it. I think I would have ran like my ass was on fire as well. You don’t mess with fate but Harry is the kind of witch that doesn’t look back and if it hadn’t been for her goddaughter… she would never have gone back.

I love the zany plot too. The magic has gone wonky and things haven’t been quite right since that night 13 years ago but the gnomes stole the show for me. Read it and find out haha. I like the way each friend has a different personality but they all work so well together and the chemistry between Jaxon and Harry is out of the world HAWT!!

I had one problem with the book. The competition… I get it was there for comic relief but it was a tad distracting for me. I could have done without it and had more of the search for Grace’s dad. Maybe in some POV of the mother looking for the dad. Food for thought.

I had the audio and the ebook and I did immersion reading for some of it. The narration was bang on!

It was a solid 4.25 stars for me.

Thank you to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for my gifted ALC and ARC.

If there is one thing that Asher does right it is definitely a bad ass curvy FMC. The wit and snark that she brings to life in her characters always makes for a good time. I really liked Harry and thought that she really started to get out of her own way and come into her own once she returned to her roots. I think that the chemistry between harry and Jax was done well and I was rooting for them right from the start. I latched onto the type of shifter Grace was pretty early on but there was definitely a few twists that I didn't see coming which I am always grateful for. I hope that there are going to be more books set in this world!!

April Asher delivers another enchanting and emotionally resonant romantic comedy with “A Simple Twist of Fate”. This novel is a delightful blend of magic, sisterhood, and second chances that hits all the right notes for fans of paranormal romance with a heart.

The story centers around a fiercely independent heroine navigating both magical chaos and romantic vulnerability, a hallmark of Asher’s signature style. With sparkling dialogue, quirky yet relatable characters, and a swoon-worthy love interest, Asher crafts a world that feels both whimsical and grounded in real emotional stakes.

What truly stands out is the balance Asher strikes between humor and heart. The banter is sharp, the pacing breezy, and yet the emotional beats land with authenticity. Themes of identity, belonging, and choosing your own destiny are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making it more than just a feel-good escape, it’s a story that lingers.

Whether you're already a fan of the “Supernatural Singles” series or new to April Asher’s writing, “A Simple Twist of Fate” is a magical must-read that will leave you smiling, sighing, and maybe even believing in fate.

A Quick(ish) Review

And by quickish, I mean I'm gonna try and keep this to a reasonable length. Fingers crossed.

Small town romances with a paranormal bent are a fave of mine, and when you combine that with April Asher's writing, I had some high expectations for this. I'd enjoyed her Supernatural Singles series so far - a nice blend of family, blood and found, with good heart and heat mixed in. I did like several aspects...but not all. Lemme 'splain.

The Good, Small town romance with an interesting set of characters and a good blend of all kinds of supernaturals. The friendships were believable and made me want to see more of them. There's not alot of worldbuilding, but there's the promise of more in future books. Decent chemistry between the leads, but speaking of...

The Bad. I mean, it's a solid question - what would *you* do if you found out the person you loved was the fated mate of one of your best friends? I'm glad I never had to find out but I will say that this is a pretty big hurdle for me to get over and I'm not sure I was completely on the FMC's side of it. It's why my rating is more middle of the road. I think I would have been devastated, but so devastated that I essentially cut myself off from EVERYONE I loved, not just the MMC? THAT I struggled mightily with. Considering it was that big of an issue, I didn't love that this book seemed to focus more on setting up future books rather than focusing on this couple.

Everything in Between. It's the found family as well as their blood ties that I enjoyed the most and why I would continue with the series.

The Bottom Line. I liked it. I wanted to love it, but it felt too much like the setup, not the payoff.

**ARC provided by netgalley publisher in exchange for honest review**

This was a fun book, full of small-town charm, loveable characters and magic, perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls.
The romance is sweet, and there is a great found family aspect.
Overall, a really decent read.
Highly recommend for fans of cozy fantasy.

You know if she writes it, I’m gonna read it. So this was an obvious request. And this new ‘community’ was a great way to start after the Supernatural Singles series.

The dynamics between the main characters were absolutely melt worthy. And the fact that it was second chance and they truly deserved that was so good. As always, there’s a touch of adventure and a hint of mystery in this read which made it that much better.

This one lands at a 2.5-star read for me. I had a fun time with it overall, and I can definitely see it appealing to a wide range of readers. That said, it’s probably not one I’d revisit. Still, I appreciated the unique elements it brought to the table. Big thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

This was the cutest paranormal romcom! The small town vibe of Fates Haven was lovely. The characters were so good, all of them from the FMC/MMC to the side characters were amazing. Their personalities and differences could make for great future stories and who doesn't love found family?!
Harry is so relatable and such a badass for stepping up and doing what she has to do for the people she loves.
Jax though, Jax is a perfect broody bad boy. We love a good nickname and playful banter.
The spice is pretty perfectly spicy as well, definitely recommend.

A Simple Twist of Fate is set up in a way that could mean spin off books for the others and I sure hope that is the case. I would love to journey back to Fates Haven and see how everything turns out.

"Any gift has both the potential to do good or bad. In which direction it goes relies completely on the gift wielder. Stay true to your heart, and you'll never need to worry."

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher
Contemporary paranormal romance. Second chance troupe.
Harlow “Harry” Pierce is guardian and care giver to her teenage goddaughter, Grace. The teen has been accidentally setting things on fire, both at home and school. It’s a new power that she can’t control. Harry has tried getting help from supernatural groups all over without success. They don't know what kind of supernatural Grace is which isn’t helping. After a suspension from school and a fire in the apartment, Harry makes the decision to return to her magical hometown of Fates Haven, Colorado. She hopes the Alpha of the Rocky Mountain Pack can help Grace control her fire abilities.
Grace left her hometown more than thirteen years ago with a broken heart. She had expected Jaxon Atwood to be her Fated Match but when that didn’t happen, she left town with a spell that hid her from anyone trying to follow. Going back home will mean facing all those she left behind, including Jax, who still holds her heart.

Enchanting with lighthearted humor and emotional healing. A teen that misses her mother. A witch that doesn’t know her own impact. A hero that’s tried to find his mate over and over again. A town whose bakery loves the shock value of sex. A romance with a bit of magic.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Fun, witchy read set in a cute magical small town. I actually would have liked a bit more from it. There were so many fun characters and moments that made me chuckle.

Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

If you enjoy Paranormal Romances, with witches, that are cozy and cute, second chance romance, dual POV, Small town, great characters and plot, well written and will leave you with a happy heart this is your book. I love April Ashers books so much, she writes the best books to get you through the worst book slump I have ever been in. I laughed, I smiled, I cheered, and I was a little sad, but no worries there is HEA in this book.

In this book you will meet Harry Pierce, she left Fates Haven after the Finding Ceremony confirmed that her boyfriend wasn’t her fated match, but her best friend was his. She leaves and doesn’t ever want to return back to her hometown but when her goddaughter, Grace is having issues with her fiery abilities. You see Grace is half human and half shifter, but her mother (Harry’s best friend) had a one-night stand and found out later that she was pregnant. Now Harry and her BFF are trying to find answers to help Grace and nothing that Harry has found is helping them. She finally realizes that she has to go back to Fates Haven and speak with the local Alpha and have them see if they can help Grace with her abilities. However, the local Alpha isn’t who she thought it was and when she finds out who is it… she isn’t sure if this is the right person to Grace, but Harry will do anything and put herself in situations that she doesn’t like to help her out.

I found the plot to be great, it was a simple paranormal romance but the way that Asher writes, she will leave you wanting another book right away. It’s so beautifully written, the words just flow through the pages, and the pace of the book was perfect for romance. This book is plot driven, but you will see a mix of character driven as well. The character’s development was perfect, and I liked the fact that I saw the development throughout the book. I loved that it wasn’t just the main characters with the development, but it was also the side characters. Getting to watch them learn to reconnect and put away old feelings that they had, but we all know how hard that can be. I loved that we also had a subplot that was a mystery trying to figure out what is going on with everyone’s magic in Fates Haven

I can’t talk too much about the book because I will give away spoilers. Just know that this book was filled with the right amount of romance, drama, spice/steamy scenes, mystery, and great characters. I can’t wait to read the next book by Asher.

I want to thank NetGalley and SMP for the opportunity to review this book.

If you're looking for a sweet and cheese fantasy romance, A Simple Twist of Fate is definitely the book for you. It's nothing deep or impactful, but it is a fun read that has you rolling your eyes just as often as making you smile. It's the kind of book that gives everyone a happy ending without having to fight for it too much. It's a very fluffy romance for when you need one in your life.

In my opinion, the dialogue and interactions between characters felt very forced. There were moments where I thought to myself "people don't talk like this in real life," but it still felt in line with the characters themselves. The ending set up the possibility for spin-offs with side characters, which could be cute reads (I'd love to read how El and Silas finally sort their issues out)!
Overall, I found this to be a very quick and easy read, but nothing that will stick with me long term.

4.5 ⭐ 2 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was so much fun. I absolutely loved this world that April built and how it all came together. Harry and Jax were amazing together and the second chance, hate to love vibe that started this book was so perfect. Grace was a freaking peach and I absolutely adored her and the single guardian esque trope she brought with her.

I'm really hoping this is going to be a series because I need Cassie, Lenny, and Elodie's stories like I need air to breathe. I love this friend group so dang much.

The audio was perfect. Isabelle Ruther is new to me, but she did a wonderful job, especially paired with my fave Teddy Hamilton. I absolutely loved this listen.

What an entertaining paranormal story! I enjoyed the characters in this one and how they fit into the plot of this book! I also really loved the plot it was intriguing and easy to get sucked into! I also enjoyed the romance in this one it was easy to root for but I did wish we had gotten to spend a bit more time with it. Overall a great read that I definitely recommend reading!

3.75 out of 5 stars!

This book was def not for me. The setting was cute and definitely delivered on the small town vibes! But I found the dialogue all so cringey, there were way too many subplots going on to care about at all, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between our main characters. And where was the tension?! For a second chance romance, it was all pretty lackluster.

Also, I do not trust a book that uses the word “snortle” unironically multiple times. Seven times actually. That’s seven too many times to use a fake word. And I sincerely hope a bunch more editing was done between this advanced copy and publication because there were SO many typos/missed words throughout the whole book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy to read and review.

I’ve loved April Asher’s witchy rom-coms before, but A Simple Twist of Fate might just be my new favorite! From the charming, magically quirky town of Fates Haven to the emotionally charged romance between Harlow “Harry” Pierce and Jaxon Atwood, this story had me completely hooked from the first page.

I’m a sucker for the “coming back home when there’s nowhere else to go” trope, and this book does it SO well—especially because Harry isn’t just returning for herself. She’s coming back for Grace, the half-human, half-shifter teen she’s fiercely protective of. This guardianship subplot added so much heart to the story. Watching Harry fight for Grace’s well-being (even if it meant returning to the place that broke her heart) gave the book emotional depth and warmth that I adored.

And don’t even get me started on the romance! Harry and Jaxon are second-chance gold with “it’s always been you” energy pulsing through every interaction. The pining! The tension! The regret and hope tangled together in the most delicious way! Their chemistry practically shimmered off the page. Every look, every conversation, every moment had me completely invested in their journey back to one another.

Yes, some plot points felt a little predictable—but honestly? I didn’t even care. The world-building, the quirky side characters, the magical stakes, and the clear setup for future stories more than made up for it. I’m already desperate to return to Fates Haven and see what fate (and Asher!) has in store next.

Also, shoutout to the audiobook! I listened while reading and the performance blew me away. Teddy Hamilton was Jaxon—deep, broody, and utterly compelling—and Isabelle Ruther embodied Harry with the perfect blend of sass, heart, and vulnerability. I was annoyed anytime I had to stop listening, and this is 100% going on my list of audiobooks to recommend on repeat!

If you’re a fan of second chances, fated love, magical towns, and romance that sizzles and soothes in equal measure—A Simple Twist of Fate is a must-read (and must-listen)!

Thank you Dreamscape Media, St.Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I am not a romance reader, but I am someone who loves mythical creatures, so I wanted to give this book a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised! I really liked how it was written, the romance between the mmc and fmc was so cute and adorable. I loved the moody teenage shifter, and her struggles. I think, though, what really drew me to this story was the way that Harry was struggling with accepting her place within the story of her boyfriend and friend, and how she was desperate to just be included and loved. It felt like it wasn't a story of two people learning to love each other, but instead it was a journey of a woman to love herself.

Adding this to my collection of Julia Quinn, Ali Hazelwood, and Ruby Dixon.

If Stars Hollow had witches, shifters, and a dash of fate magic, it’d look a lot like the charming world of A Simple Twist of Fate. April Asher brings us a cozy paranormal romance that feels like Gilmore Girls meets magical chaos—and I mean that in the best way possible.

This book is light, fun, and full of magical small-town charm, with a lovable cast of supernatural beings. While it's pitched as a paranormal rom-acom, it leans heavily into a subplot involving the heroine's best friend’s daughter discovering her powers and identity. That storyline takes center stage more often than the romance itself, which may surprise some readers expecting more steamy or rom-com-forward content.

The romance that is there is sweet, slow-burn, and full of chemistry. But what really stands out is the cozy atmosphere and community magic vibe that Asher creates. That said, I found myself wanting more—literally. An extra 50–75 pages would have helped deepen the worldbuilding and allowed more time for character development, especially between the main couple and with the supernatural elements that only get a light touch.

Despite some pacing flaws and a slightly misbalanced genre expectation, this was an adorable, feel-good read with just enough magic and heart to make me want to return to this world again.

Final thoughts: If you're in the mood for a cute paranormal romance with found family, magical self-discovery, and small-town vibes, this one is worth picking up. Just know it might leave you wishing for a little more magic.

A Simple Twist is a sweet, second-chance paranormal romance with a cozy, small-town charm and a sprinkle of magical drama. Harlow “Harry” Pierce’s return to Fates Haven offers heartwarming moments, especially through her bond with her goddaughter, and the tension between her and Jaxon has its emotional beats. However, the story leans heavily on familiar tropes and often plays it safe, with twists that feel more predictable than surprising. While the world of shifters and witches is endearing, the stakes remain relatively low, making it an easy but not particularly unforgettable read.