Looking for a little magic, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy charm? A Simple Twist of Fate delivers just that. Set in the whimsically witchy town of Fates Haven, this paranormal rom-com is the perfect comfort read for anyone craving low-stakes tension, second chances, and found family vibes with a spark of spellwork.

Harlowe and Jaxon’s chemistry crackles from the very first page. Their shared history adds depth to their banter and makes every stolen glance feel that much more meaningful. This is a second-chance romance that leans into its emotional roots without ever dragging the mood down. The heat level is just right—sweet with a bit of sizzle—and the pacing feels natural for a couple with unfinished business.

Grace, Harlowe’s goddaughter, brings a wonderful subplot to the story with her coming-of-age magical journey. Her struggles with her powers and identity add richness to the narrative without pulling focus from the central romance. And honestly? Her bond with Harlowe was just as heartwarming as the romantic arc.

The town itself feels like a character—full of magical hiccups, quirky locals, and just enough mystery to keep the plot moving. The missing Fate Witch storyline adds a touch of intrigue without ever turning this cozy tale into something too intense.

Is it groundbreaking? No. But it’s comforting, and sometimes that’s exactly what a book needs to be. If you love magical small towns, second-chance love, and stories where the emotional stakes are just high enough to make you care (but not stress), A Simple Twist of Fate is well worth the read.

Perfect for fans of:
The Ex Hex
Light paranormal romance
Small-town magic
Found family with a sprinkle of spice

This book had everything I love in a supernatural romance—small town charm, second chances, spicy chemistry, and a full cast of magical misfits I wish I could be friends with. From shifters and fae to vampires, demons, and seers, the supernatural world-building was rich and delightfully chaotic in the best way.

I absolutely adored the found family vibes and the fun, flirty dynamic between the characters. The second chance romance was swoony and sizzling—these two had chemistry that leapt off the page. Add in a town festival complete with challenges, competitions, and a hilarious boys vs. girls bet? I was hooked.

There’s mystery, mayhem, and moments that made me laugh out loud. The plot felt layered but never overwhelming—just full and engaging from start to finish. If you’re into magical towns, romance with heat and heart, and stories that balance humor, emotion, and just a touch of chaos, this one’s for you.

If you’re looking for a cozy escape filled with quirky characters and magical mishaps, look no further than April Asher’s latest gem, A Simple Twist of Fate. It is a delightful rollercoaster ride of fun, romance, and a sprinkle of chaos.

I love second chance romances and when it comes to Harry the witch and Jax the cougar shifter, it’s like watching a slow-motion trainwreck in the best way possible. Early on, the long-held misunderstanding between the two is laid out like a neon sign, and yet, they tiptoe around each other like they’re on a first date. The tension is palpable, and the humor? Don’t even get me started on how their flirty banter had me swooning and laughing out loud at the same time.

And if you thought the story couldn’t get any more entertaining, just wait until you meet the Fearsome Four. Their competition against the Big Bads is pure gold. It’s fierce but so much fun, like a playful rivalry that keeps you turning the pages while you root for your favorites to come out on top. As the undercurrent of a magical shift looms over the town, it feels like everything’s building toward something explosive and exciting.

The way Asher crafts these moments of both miscommunication and camaraderie is brilliant. It’s lighthearted enough to keep you giggling, yet there’s an undercurrent of depth that keeps you invested in the characters. As someone who loves a good mix of laughter and heart, this novel really hits the spot.

There are many supporting characters that flow together so well. Young Grace is a great addition and I loved her journey to find her shifter identity. Elodie the fierce angel and Silas the broody demon are a hot enemies team that I can’t wait to read more about. Lenny the tattooed seer and Gavin the librarian vampire will be a wild ride. And Harry’s delightful Aunt Nora is a very sneaky matchmaker who has many magical surprises up her sleeve.

So here’s hoping April Asher gives us a new book soon! I can’t wait to dive back into this magical world and see where the characters take us next. Well done, April! You’ve captured my heart once again. If you haven’t read this book yet, get on it! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Ms. Asher for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

I adored the Supernatural Singles series, so A Simple Twist of Fate, set in the same world, was an automatic addition to my tbr. I am pleased to report that this book exceeded my expectations!

When Harlow (Harry) returns to Fates Haven with her teenage ward Grace, thirteen years have passed since she ran away brokenhearted believing that her boyfriend was the Fated Mate of her best friend. But Harry will make any sacrifice for Grace, the girl she helped to raise, get a handle on her shifter nature and fire magic. Even if it means facing the love her life mated to someone else.

April Asher’s characters are loveably flawed, witty, and relatable. Jax and Harry are both strong MCs and the chemistry between them is sizzling. The secondary characters are just as engaging as Jax and Harry, and I am so excited to see where this series goes.


Here are a few of the things I loved in this book:
Chapter Titles: a hilarious foreshadowing
The Trouble Trio; a witch, a seer, and an angel with anger issues make an epic girl squad
Sugar Tits & Treats Bakery: the name says it all!
Klepto Gnomes: the garden statue never looked so good!
Aunt Nora: she’s life goals for my golden years.
Fates Festival: Fearsome Four vs. The Big Bads in three epic contests

Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC.

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 5/13

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!

Set in the quirky town of Fates Haven, this story brings Harlow “Harry” Pierce back home after thirteen years away—along with her half-human, half-shifter goddaughter, a lot of emotional baggage, and no plans to see the guy who broke her heart. Spoiler: she sees him.

Jaxon Atwood, now the Alpha of the Rocky Mountain Pack, isn’t exactly thrilled to see Harry again either. But as old sparks fly and the town’s long-missing Fate Witch throws everyone’s destiny into chaos, the two are thrown back into each other’s orbit in the best kind of way.

If you're into second-chance romance with a magical twist, this book is an absolute must-read. Harry and Jax have amazing chemistry, and April Asher does a great job making their emotional journey feel real. The side characters are just as fun, especially the Trouble Trio. Also, major shoutout to the klepto garden gnomes, the hilariously named Sugar Tits & Treats Bakery, and Aunt Nora, who I fully aspire to become one day.

There’s heart, humor, magic, and just the right amount of angst to make the payoff feel worth it. A Simple Twist of Fate totally lived up to the hype and then some—I already can't wait to see what happens next in Fates Haven.

I enjoyed April Asher’s Supernatural Singles series, so to have an arc of her new paranormal romcom is exciting!

This book gave the same vibes as the Supernatural Singles-you got the small-town, colorful characters, the romance, and a sprinkle of spice. I thought it was interesting with the mention of other realms and the introduction of other supernatural beings beyond the usual witches, shifters, vampires, and the like. Asher is expanding the supernatural world in her books, for sure.

As for or MC’s Harlow and Jax, their romance was slow burn. Their relationship in the past did not end well so when they met again, it was not with open arms. It involved some grudge holding, banter, and denials of old feelings resurfacing.

I wasn’t sure how the story was going to wrap up but overall, the subplots were addressed in the end and left room for sequels. I’d be interested reading about the other fated couples.

✨ Second chance
✨ Found family
✨ Magic
✨ Friendly competition
✨ Fun chapter titles

A second chance paranormal rom com.. I"m not a huge fan of this genre but strip away the shape shifting and the witches and you've got a nice read about Harry and Jax. And young Grace. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I know there's a big readership for this.

I liked the overall plot but the execution wasn't the best for me. I would label this a cozy fantasy with minimal world building, and being more character driven. With that being said a character driven book needs really good character development and that fell a little flat and underdeveloped. Some of the pacing was off, either slow or really fast. The pop references are ok if they aren't overly done but sadly they were in this book. I wanted to love it more then I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first April Asher book, so I went into this book expecting a fluffy lighthearted romance. Guys! This is the type of romance book that we need more of. There is such a well-rounded cast of characters that we actually learn about and feel emotions for. There are actual plot lines that are deep and make you think to put things together. The ages of the characters are varied! Everything about this book came together so nicely. I really loved how this felt like an easy romance while at the same time, being so fleshed out that any other fluffy romance will now feel so bare bones. I loved the story, the conflict, the relationships, the mystery, and everything in between. I’ll be off to read all of April’s other books! 5/5!

This was a cozy paranormal and for me Cozy stories are usually not as gripping enough to keep me entertained. I did enjoy this one, but I felt myself slipping out of interest a bit often. I did like the magic and the characters were great.

A fun paranormal second chance romcom!

It had all that hallmarkesqueness that I just love: a girl who ran to the city from her small town , than returns, the “even hotter than she remembers “ex , second chances, friendships to reconnect etc. but in a world where witches and shifters are the norm !
Along side the second chance romance- the FMC seeks to mend her past friendship as well as solve the mystery of what kind of shifter her goddaughter is.

Halloweentown but make it horny??

Listen, I really wanted to like this book but ultimately it just wasn’t for me. If you read the synopsis and are really interested, go read some of the highly-rated reviews for this book, there are a lot. Those are your people. This book just fell out of the real of my personal taste.

The good: I liked the plot. The general storyline was interesting, and honestly, the CW could have a GOOD time adapting this.

It was cozy and the magic system was light enough that you don’t need to have read tons of fantasy to get it.

The not-so-good: The different types of magical beings were poorly explained. I actually wondered, at one point, if this was a second book in a series. I’m all for letting the reader do some critical thinking and legwork, but there were gaps in my knowledge that took me out of the story.

Another hangup for me was the pacing. There was so much crammed in that there was very little internal character growth because we were hurdling full speed to the next plot point. There were also plot point that were emphasized once or twice (like the Hex or the promise) that were never brought up again. I get the feeling that this is intended to be the start of a series, but dropping plot points like this just feels chaotic.

The primary relationship was also a struggle for me. It felt clunky and very cheesy. Jax referring to “my cougar” the way he did to explain how he was feeling sent me to a dark place. The characters were saying all the right things, big emotional speeches, but there was no internal emotion to back it up. If cheesy doesn’t bother you though, I really think you’ll like this.

Also. There were so many pop culture references. I don’t mind them when they’re done tastefully but this kind of felt like I was drowning in them. And the random, throwaway line about PCOS didn’t feel handled correctly. The author was clearly expecting us to get the implication and missed the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a light, magical romance with a fun premise and charming moments. April Asher’s world of supernatural beings is imaginative, and the story has a whimsical energy that makes for an easy, breezy read.

However, while the concept is strong, the execution felt a bit uneven. The pacing lagged in parts, and some of the character development felt rushed or surface-level. The romance had its sweet moments but didn’t fully pull me in emotionally.

It’s an entertaining read for fans of paranormal rom-coms, but it didn’t quite deliver the depth or spark I was hoping for. A good choice if you’re looking for something light with a touch of magic.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a charming, second-chance paranormal rom-com set in the magically chaotic town of Fates Haven. With witches, shifters, a dash of small-town charm, and a lot of heart, this book offers a light and easy read perfect for when you need a comfort story with just enough spice and mystery to keep things interesting.

Harlowe and Jaxon’s chemistry is immediately apparent, with their history adding emotional weight to every interaction. The romance is sweet, occasionally steamy, and well-paced for a second-chance trope. Grace, Harlowe’s goddaughter, adds another layer to the story with her struggles to control her emerging powers and uncover her identity, making the narrative feel fuller without bogging down the romance.

The town’s magical misfires and the mystery surrounding Fates Haven’s missing Fate Witch provide a gentle tension that balances the fluffier elements. The stakes are low, but never dull, and the atmosphere is delightfully cozy.

This is a great pick if you’re in the mood for something sweet, low-stakes, and magical—with a side of romantic rekindling and a dash of found family.

This was a fun second chance romance. I am a sucker for a man who is pinning for the FMC and 90% of Jax pov is just that. Loved that it was told from both POVs as well. This was my first book by this author and I will be interested to pick up more.

I do feel the middle dragged a little, but overall I liked the town and the characters. If you like Gilmore girls with witches, shifters, and other paranormal characters you might like this story.

I had a hard time getting into this book. Normally I’m a fast reader but this book never clicked for me. I kept waiting for the story to progress, especially with the love interests but the lack of communication and incessant self doubt made the book more of a a YA type read.

I love the idea and summary of the book, and there are some potentially great characters but how it all came together was a bit choppy. So many characters are introduced at once, and oh yeah they are best friends, but no one is mad that she’s been gone for 12 years? Where is the mom and why is it ok she is out of the picture? Why is her friend driving her kid across the US to a magical town? I found it disturbing that a grandma figure gave a box of penis shaped eclairs to a confused and lost teenage girl as a welcome to town gift.

Overall, I think this book has potential to be a really fun story but how it’s worrying wasn’t for me.

I had a fun time reading this book! The second chance romance was cute and I enjoyed the shifter/witch duo. I love a good shifter, be it werewolf or dragon and this was cute. It wasn't super smutty or spicy (maybe like two chapters?) otherwise it's fairly tame. Definitely check this book out for a good time if you want something funny and light hearted to read on a summers day.

April Asher has created another wonderfully magical story filled with laughs, romance, and hope!

A Simple Twist of Fate is the first in what I hope is a new series set in the same world as the author's Supernatural Singles series. Asher has a unique style of writing where you just jump right into the story and have to trust that all the questions you have will be answered in time. All questions are, indeed, answered, and there are lots of opportunities to laugh and enjoy the witty banter and (sometimes) outrageous situations her characters get into.

Make sure to pay attention to the chapter titles because in addition to being absolutely hysterical, they provide a little foreshadowing into what will happen in that chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC. My review is honest and voluntary.

Second chance romance can be very hit or miss for me, and this was more of a miss. I did enjoy the book, and the romance wasn’t the issue. I think there was too much going on in the book. The plot was a bit all over the place, which left me wanting less plot and more romance.

Gotta love a cozy supernatural hallmark-esque romance…plus spice!

This was another knockout by Asher. I love how her writing is always so quirky, but in a natural way that doesn’t come off as trying too hard. I also really liked how she amped up the cozy small town and found family vibes for this one.

Hopefully more to come from Fates Haven!