Rating: 3 stars

This book is hard to rate. It had so much potential and I love the concept of essentially a Spirit Halloween popping into town unnoticed and disappearing just as mysteriously because that seems to be exactly how it works in real life. But the first 75% of the book was flat. Pepper and Christina just didn’t have much chemistry and the dialogue was awkward. I was more compelled by the last 25% but I’m not sure that makes up for the slog of the first 250 pages.

Sapphic spooky season is here!! I’m ready for fall and this is a great book to get you in the mood for it. I liked our main characters and their love story. I enjoyed the small cozy town. I was invested in the haunted house being a success. And I always love a dash of paranormal in my romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this eARC.

Okay so the only thing I regret about this book is that I wasn’t able to read it for the very first time at Halloween time, but that’s okay because I can re-read it with pumpkin spiced everything (please don’t judge me here…even though I’m judging your book). Honestly, the characters were adorable, the setting was chaotic and so much fun (who doesn’t love a Halloween store?!), and the romance and spooky vibes were ::chef’s kiss:: perfect! Loved it and would definitely read more from this author!

I had really high hopes for this! And I just didn’t love it. The beginning felt like it took forever and I really think that maybe it’s a me problem?? And maybe things get figured out later on…

But I do think the premise is fun! And I do love a sapphic witchy romance!!! And I think it’ll likely be a fun fall read!! It’s just not for me.

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

dnf @ 30%

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love is such a delight. Romance may be booming right now, but this book offers a refreshingly unique twist on the genre. Being perpetually trapped in a Halloween store might not be my personal nightmare (honestly, I’d probably enjoy it), but Pepper’s predicament is full of charm and chaos. Following Pepper and Christina’s story was equal parts fun and heart-wrenching, and the magical realism wove it all together beautifully.

How could I not love this spooky, sapphic story? This book has a clever concept that feels very fresh! Pepper and Christina are both delightful. I also loved that the characters (and author) value teachers and education! This book will be perfect in the fall, but I flew through it as a summerween read, too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh how I loved this book. What a wonderful premise (what if Spirit Halloween had an actual spirit but make it a love story). The author did such a wonderful job of world building, creating really loveable main characters, and making the reader root for a HAE (happily ever after). As a self-proclaimed Halloween lover, this was a great way to kick off spooky season (and yes, it is spooky season). There were a few clunky moments and a few questions of continuity, but not enough to pull me out of the story. I was sucked in from page one and highly recommend it. I'll definitely be checking out Amanda Dean after this!

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love. The most perfect small town romance to add to your Halloween TBR!


Pepper White is cursed to appear and disappear with a Halloween store called The Dead of Night each autumn, and when she meets Christina Loring, their connection might finally break the cycle. But with just 70 magical days before Christina forgets her, Pepper must risk everything, even the curse, to stay with the woman who has changed everything for her.

I absolutely loved the store: the quirky Halloween shop is a magical, cozy centerpiece that makes every scene feel enchanting and full of personality. Pepper is such a lovely character, she’s creative, unpredictable, and so charmingly offbeat that she steals every moment she’s on the page.

The curse and curse‑lifting elements bring such fun and whimsy and you truly get invested in trying to figure out how this magic curse can be broken. Those are the moments that pulled me in the most.

As for the romance… it was sweet and full of potential, but I often found myself eagerly wanting to return to the shop instead. When it shifted into love story territory, I missed the enchantment of the store and Pepper’s world just as much.

That said, the book is so fun for anyone who adores fall charm, magical realism, and quirky characters. If you’re in the mood for light paranormal vibes with a sapphic twist and a delightfully spooky setting, this one’s for you!

Thank you so much to Berkeley Pub and NetGalley for a chance to read this early! 😍

3.5 ⭐️

I adored this book. This was a unique take on magic systems. What happens when every single year, the town you knew and loved forgets about you because of a curse?

A relationship blossoms between Poppy and Christina, two very different, yet equally fascinating women. Their relationship is a fast burn but not at the same time.

Christina is a school teacher with budding responsibilities that don't align with her family. Poppy is a former teacher with a past that makes her feel unseen.

Their relationship felt authentic and cozy, and genuinely was a great read.

If you loved Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeist, I think you're going to love A HEXCELLENT CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE. While the storylines aren't the same, the cozy vibes are.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the ARC!

"In this slightly spooky paranormal romance, will two women finally break their curse and get the happily ever after they've fought for?

Each year, when no one is paying attention, The Dead of Night Halloween store appears in a new location with its giant sign and great low prices. No one sees them setting up or tearing down - one day it's just there and then, two days after Halloween, it's gone.

Pepper White knows exactly how this works. For five years, ever since the last Keeper of the Store tricked her, she has been cursed - appearing when the store does, and disappearing when it goes away. People will remember The Dead of Night, but they'll completely forget Pepper. That is, until Christina Loring walks in the door. Their chemistry is instantaneous and, for the first time in five years, Pepper finds herself wishing for more time.

But how do you tell the girl you're falling for that you're cursed and that you only have ten weeks together before Christina forgets...everything? To have a chance at happily ever after, Pepper has to do the one thing she swore she wouldn't - find the right treat to trick someone else into taking on the curse. But all's fair in love and spells, and this spooky season, Pepper and Christina are ready to stir up trouble in the name of love."

I love that someone out there went, you know, I want to make a love story with a curse about Spirit Halloween stores.

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love is the perfect read for fall. It made me want to curl up with a blanket and a cup of apple cider. This book has got curses, spooky season vibes, romance, and a good storyline. I had such a good time reading it.

I really liked Pepper and Christina. I think they have a lot of chemistry and I loved their flirty banter.
Their story together was super emotional and played into deeper themes.

I think the plot was decent and the pacing was good. There were some plot twists I didn't see coming, which I loved!

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love is about Pepper, who has been cursed to work at a Halloween store for 70 days each year, and then she just vanishes from existence and everyone's memories until she and the store reappear the next year. She meets Christina, and they fall in love, despite Pepper knowing that Christina will forget her once the 70 days are up.

I think this book had a lot of promise, but turned into one confusing mess. I really liked Pepper and Christina both as characters, and I liked them together. Christina's storyline with her job and her family issues was interesting.

However. From the very beginning, this book had issues with the timeline (this is not a spoiler!): The 70 days is through November 2. Do the math backwards and you begin in August. What is it like outside in August where you live? Is it chilly and breezy? Do you wear coats and sweaters and scarves? Are people drinking cider? Granted, I grew up in Texas, but I think most places in the contiguous United States are pretty warm in August. I'm not sure exactly where this book takes place, but I remember it being somewhere on the West Coast. I know this is so nitpicky, but for characters to be talking about fall vibes when it's still sundress weather drove me a bit crazy.

The ending was... no spoilers, but the ending left me very confused. To the point where I don't know if I'm too smart or too dumb for this book. On the one hand, I want to dive back in and dissect to figure out exactly what was going on because I don't like being confused. On the other hand, it pisses me off that it's not clear and that makes me want to say fuck it.

Altogether I would say... it's not an unpleasant read, but I could not explain to you what happened.

Great concept, but the writing is pretty weak. The characters didn’t have a distinct enough voice for me to get pulled into the story. Worth a shot if the concept intrigues you enough, though!

I adored this book and am so glad Berkley approved me for an advanced copy! It has a cozy, slightly spooky vibe which is perfect if you love fall & pumpkin season like I do. You know how those Spirit Halloween stores just appear out of nowhere every year? What if someone appeared and disappeared with the holiday store? This story takes that concept and spins it into something whimsical, emotional, and unforgettable.

Pepper is cursed to vanish with The Dead of Night Halloween store each year until she meets Christina, the one woman who might just be able to break the cycle. Their relationship is instant chemistry, fun, playful and supportive, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

This romance is full of flirty banter, tender moments, and just enough spooky magic to make your Halloween heart flutter. It’s also an emotional love story—about being forgotten, about fighting for connection, and about finding that one person who sees you, every version of you, even if the world forgets.

This is the kind of book you want to curl up with under a blanket, candle flickering nearby, pumpkin spice in hand. A Hexellent Chance to Fall in Love is everything I love about romance and Halloween rolled into one.

I received a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley.

What to say. What to say.

I didn't request this ARC -- the publisher offered it up to me. This isn't the kind of book I would ever choose for myself, but I'm all about expanding what I read from time to time, so I figured I'd give it a try. The synopsis was intriguing enough.

And... it was okay. I didn't love it. Again, though, this wasn't my typical read. I wouldn't even steer someone away from reading it and I would probably even recommend it to a patron who it felt like a good fit for.

It had a slow start. About 35% in, I felt like it was really dragging and I wasn't very invested. But it picked up from there and started to move along. I still wasn't overly invested, but I was feeling a little confused.

There is a twist. But I'm not sure it's a very good one. I didn't feel like it really paid off for me, as the reader. I actually think I would have been more invested in the entire book if I had known that twist from the beginning. It would have added some stakes. As it stands, though, it kind of felt like something the author did just to prove she was clever. And there were breadcrumbs along the way; she definitely did some clever things. I just don't think the way it was executed added to the story in any way. In fact, just before it's obvious what the twist is, I found myself going back to look at certain details because I thought the author had actually mixed them up. I'm not sure that, as an author, you want readers to think you just lack attention to detail for a period of time between the clues and the reveal.

So I'm going to say this is an overall net neutral read for me.

First off, huge thank you to Berkley Pub for the arc!

Secondly, A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love was unlike anything I've ever read before. I loved the concept of a cursed Halloween store that just randomly pops up, and the cozy vibes. Unfortunately though, this just didn't hit the mark for me. I never really felt invested in Pepper and Christina's story, despite how likeable I found their characters. It just felt like there was more telling than showing, and I just never clicked.

This is extremely not good. Details kept being brought up in such a way that they feel like clues, but they...never come back up. It felt like there was a plot in which they had met in a previous year that had been scrubbed, but not all the details made it out of the book. I started scanning to find them mentioned again, and none of them ever were. Do not recommend, and honestly, do another round of revisions.

okay I was not expecting to like this as much as i did! a lot of reviews were calling this predictable, but i couldn’t disagree more ! i had no idea where this was going, but i do think they should’ve sacrificed kevin. sorry !

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love was unlike anything else I've read to date. It felt like the perfect Halloween book (which is not my favourite holiday, but I love the vibes regardless).

I did not predict the twist in this book at all. Pepper's and Christina's dual perspectives blended so well that I truly didn't know where this book was going until I got there. Looking back, I see how a proper sleuth could've caught on, but I prefer to let books take me along for the ride; if I predict a twist or an ending, it has to be super obvious, because I'm actively trying not to do that.

The pacing was just right and the side characters were entertaining. The family dynamics were interesting as well, but I wish they'd been focused on a tiny bit more. I really wanted to know more of Pepper's backstory, and maybe a few more flashbacks. Specifically, Pepper's Thanksgiving flashback could have been even further developed, in my opinion.

Ultimately, the reason for my (3.5, not 3 star) rating isn't that this book was bad or underwhelming. For no reason I can comprehend, I just didn't get sucked into this story like I wanted to. My only tangible critiques, if you can call them that, were that (1) the dialogue wasn't necessarily as "witty" as it needed to be (one character refers to another as so funny when they haven't really said anything that funny), and (2) the chapter titles (X days until the store closes) got a bit confusing around the time the twist was revealed; perhaps that's a me-issue, but I couldn't initially understand why we jumped from a clear conflict to a peaceful/melancholy scene with the same characters, 12 full days later, with no explanation (yes, I eventually grasped it, but maybe there could've been a smoother way to do the Big Reveal).

A fun, slightly spooky sapphic novel, perfect for Halloween season! Forget Christmas, let’s get more spooky season novels out there!
I enjoyed the romance and the stakes. I ended up reading it in one sitting.
One issue I had was that the setup seemed like the store trapped people who lacked critical thinking skills, and the “solution” felt a bit heartless. I think the story could have benefited from more setup of the magic and world involved in the story. Overall, though, the main characters chemistry was delightful and captured my attention.