Releasing this in the fall is perfect timing,

A cozy little story with magic, second chances, and family.

Also plenty of pop culture and Taylor Swift references you can hunt down like Easter eggs!

Overall a fun little time, and I would love a sequel with an adventure for my girls Prissy and Evelyn.

Hopelessly Teavoted is a cute paranormal romance book that hooked me from the start. The characters were easy to fall in love with, and the early pacing kept me turning the pages. The way grief was addressed really stood out, and I found myself mourning alongside the characters. The mystery-solving and sleuthing were a fun addition to the story, adding some adventure to an otherwise slow-burning romance. But the “miscommunication” trope got carried on a little too long, to the point where I almost put the book down. The middle dragged a bit too long (due to the miscommunication), and Vickie’s struggle with being "too clingy" wasn't clearly expressed enough to justify some of her decisions in the relationship; at times, it seemed like she was intentionally sabotaging the relationship.
There were way too many detailed sexual thoughts and suggestive moments between Vickie and Azrael, which ruined the seriousness of the situation they were in. Despite these issues, the story as a whole was cute, at times sexy, and had an interesting backstory and well-developed characters. I could easily see a prequel or several sequels set in this universe, and I look forward to reading more from this author—her storytelling shows great promise, and I believe she will only get better.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me, I just couldn’t get into it at all so I don’t feel I read enough of it to leave a full review.

While a sweet premise, this book felt disjointed and confusing. The writing was all over the place, and while I hate to say it- felt like it was supplemented by AI.

After the death of his parents, Azrael returns to his childhood home in Hallowcross to live with his sister, Priscilla. He’s not expecting much—certainly not to reconnect with his former best friend, Victoria (Vickie), who has just taken over the town’s tea shop, the very same one their parents once owned. Their last interaction years ago ended awkwardly, and now, old feelings and unresolved tension bubble back to the surface.

Azrael and Vickie both struggle with the weight of unspoken emotions, uncertain whether the other still cares—or ever did. As strange happenings begin to stir in their town, they’re forced to work together, pushing past their doubt and discomfort. But can they overcome their own fears in time to uncover what’s really going on, and maybe even find their way back to each other?

This debut novel delivers a cozy, witchy atmosphere filled with magic, curses, and small-town charm. The romantic tension between Azrael and Vickie is heartfelt and compelling, marked by longing, emotional vulnerability, and a refreshing twist, Azrael is the one who knows what he wants, a welcome change from the usual trope.

Perfect for fans of magical realism and slow-burn romance, this is a quick, enchanting read with just the right mix of heart, mystery, and fantasy.

Special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark and spooky; while also being cozy and cute! I am calling it now that “Hopelessly Teavoted” will be a big hit this Halloween!

This story follows Azrael and Vickie.
Azrael is a powerful witch that has recently lost both of his parents. Vickie is Azrael’s childhood neighbor and crush, and a human who has the ability to speak to the dead. Both of them have recently returned home, and after reconnecting they discover that something very sinister is brewing around them.
They must work together to uncover the truth, break curses, and reap evil souls to save any chance they may have at love.

I really thought this was so fun.
There is actually quite a heavy fantasy/magic system going on in this story- something I wasn’t expecting! It was a nice surprise though. I feel like heavy romance AND heavy fantasy is hard to come by, as one typically ends up as a subplot on the back burner. This however balanced the two quite perfectly.
This story was really well developed, and there was a lot of background information, which I think is great for this type of book.

The romance here is goooooood. They are YEARNING.
For part of the story it becomes dangerous for them to touch each other, which just made things so much better.
The longing that came from that? Beautiful. 10/10.

Overall, I just love the vibes this story gave. Perfect for the magic lovers out there.
I mean, who wouldn’t love a witchy teashop/café around Halloween time?
This was a very anticipated read for me, and I was quite pleased with it!

Side note: I have to mention that the cover is this book is GORGEOUS!

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and author Audrey Goldberg Ruoff for providing me with the eARC of “Hopelessly Teavoted”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
Reviewed on goodreads: August 16th, 2025

Cozy mystery meets spicy in this charming debut that brews romance with just the right amount of heat.

Audrey Goldberg Ruoff’s Hopelessly Teavoted is a delightful blend of comfort and chaos, steeped in small town charm and stirred with slow burn tension. Set in a quaint tea shop that feels like a warm hug, the story follows a heroine, Victoria, navigating healing, and the unexpected arrival of a love interest who upends her life with a twist. Azreal, the cursed witch, is dealing with the loss of his parents and seeing his former crush while returning back to his small town.

Ruoff’s writing is cozy without being too sentimental. There’s a softness to the emotional pieces, a tenderness in the friendships, and a palpable sense of safety in the community she’s created. But don’t let the cozy vibes fool you: the romance simmers with tension and delivers a spicy payoff that’s both satisfying and emotionally earned. The chemistry, the banter and the intimacy feels grounded in vulnerability and growth.

What makes this story shine is its emotional layering. Their journey isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about rediscovering joy, taking back control, and learning to trust again. The tea metaphors are woven throughout with whimsy and warmth, adding a unique flavor to the narrative that feels both fresh and familiar.

If you’re looking for a read that wraps you in a blanket and then sets it on fire (in the best way), Hopelessly Teavoted is your next obsession.

Tropes you’ll love:

• ☕ Small-town romance
• 💔 Second chance at love
• 💌 Found family
• 🌶️ Slow burn with spice

This book was ok. It had a lot of potential, but some aspects didn't pan out. I liked our main characters and the support cast, I liked the couple together. Some of the time pinning and "sexy time without touching" could have been edited out, as it was just repetative and broke the flow of the story. Other aspects of the story didn't make much sense or were just really convinient to happen. Even the epilogue was underwhelming. Overall, an ok story that had the potential to be better. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

This book was such a fun mix of spooky, magical, and romantic. Azrael, a down-on-his-luck witch, returns home only to be thrown back into the life of his childhood best friend—and old crush—Vickie, who now runs his parents’ old tea shop. The catch? She owes a devil a dangerous debt, spirits are warning of a bigger threat, and thanks to a curse, they can’t even touch.

The banter, slow-burn tension, and creative magic system kept me hooked. It’s got humor, heart, and just the right amount of dark whimsy. Perfect if you love paranormal romance with a quirky twist.

Super cute with its major witchy vibes! Perfect for anyone that is looking for the spooky meets cozy book. MASSIVE rep for LGBTQ!!

Vickie and Azreal taking pinning for one another to the ultimate level. With the help of some devious magic and a mystery afoot all truths are revealed.

This book was an equal balance of plot and mystery to keep you hooked into the story AND spicy longing of long time best friends to keep you wanting more and also wanting to reach through the pages and shake the characters.

A perfect spooky-time book! It put me right in the fall mood. I loved the paranormal aspects of this book. I would recommend it!

I love a cute cozy spooky read ugh it’s my favorite it’s so whimsical and the longing that Azrael has for Victoria just my favorite!!

Perfect fall read! This book is both cozy and serious. Tackling grief is a part of the story and the characters work through their parents' death. As for the romance, it's full of yearning between the characters. This is a slow burn romance so beware if that is not your jam.

Perfect cute, spooky read, perfect for fall! The main characters are meant for each other and the yearning is next level! The beginning was slow, but the story picks up when Azreal meets back up with Victoria.

Thank you so much to the Author and publisher for this ARC copy!

Let me just say I’m absolutely obsessed with this story! The fact that the female lead loves Taylor Swift so much that there are multiple outfit references and eater eggs is such a delight. And a Pushing Daises reference?! You’ve got to be kidding!

The love story was so sweet and overall such a well written story!

I wanted to love this book, but at times it just seemed like the author was trying too hard, reaching for content. There were times that I found myself enjoying the story, but then the author would write something that made me pull back. It took me awhile to actually read the entire book because I couldn't get fully invested.

This made me so excited for spooky season!! The romance was cute, though the writing was clunky sometimes, especially when they were thinking about sexy things. Read it curled up under a blanket with something warm in your mug, grinning (or grimacing) at the puns and pretending it’s fall already.

Hopelessly Teavoted scratched that yearning itch I had, and then some. This book was the definition of yearning, OMG. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and it’s everything I want in a romcom. If you love paranormal romances that come with witches, devils, magic, and all the heart clutching pining you could ask for, this is the book for you. I devoured it and was grinning (and maybe fanning myself) the whole way through.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Atria for the complimentary DRC.

I dnf'd at the 50% mark.

I like my romances to have a little depth, and for me Hopelessly Teavoted was 99% focused on the lust between Azrael and Vickie. I honestly got so fed up with reading about how much they wanted each other but were 'just friends', or the mention of the disaster that happened in college. The 'sinister threat' (up until the point I had read) was entirely off page, the characters learning about something going on from ghosts and some talk about investigating but the side characters were looking into things - again, off page. The whole scene with the devil and the curse felt cringeworthy. The dialogue was awkward to read throughout. Just not for me unfortunately.

This book is a perfect witchy, paranormal romance. Best friends who get a second chance to love one another. A magical mystery to solve. A deal with a devil. A spooky season must read.