Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

TW: loss of parents

This was like reading a book made of a mix of Pushing Daisies, Practical Magic and Charmed, and I love all three of those. At times it felt like there was a bit too much going on, and the mystery aspect seemed to get lost a little in the romance/curse plot. That being said, it’s a solid debut, the characters were well written and relatable. The way grief was shown over the loss of the MMC’s parents, and not being able to say goodbye in person, but finding a way for closure, and also knowing you were loved and still are was so beautifully done. And the yearning, so much yearning. The tension between the MMC and FMC going from friends to lovers was so well done. This ended up being more than just a fun, cute read, it had some heart behind it. And how can you not love an MMC English teacher who names his cat Emily Lickinson?

Absolutely chefs kiss, The title? draws you in, the cover? immediately grabs your attention and you won't want to put it down.
The characters grow on you pretty fast and I just know we'd be best friends.

"Hopelessly Teavoted" offers a unique blend of romance and political intrigue, set against the backdrop of a fictional election. The premise is intriguing, with the protagonist navigating the complexities of love and politics. The author does a commendable job of creating a vivid setting and a storyline that keeps readers engaged.

However, the book falls short in character development. While the main characters are interesting, they often feel one-dimensional, lacking the depth needed to fully connect with the reader. The romantic elements, though charming at times, can feel predictable and rushed, leaving little room for genuine emotional investment.

The political aspect of the story is well-researched, providing an insightful look into the machinations of a campaign. Yet, it sometimes overshadows the personal stories, making the narrative feel unbalanced. The pacing is uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush through crucial plot points.

Overall, "Hopelessly Teavoted" is an enjoyable read for those interested in a light romance with a political twist. It has its moments of charm and wit, but it doesn't quite reach its full potential. A solid three-star read for its creativity and engaging premise, but it could benefit from more nuanced character development and a tighter narrative.

I freaking devoured this! It was so good and you get so attached to these characters so fast. This adorable feel good romcom will have you stuck in your reading spots for hours!

I really liked the concept of this book. The supporting characters, the world building - a very Pushing Daisies/Wednesday (Addams) vibe that’s been mentioned in other reviews. All that said, I felt the execution needed some work. Some more editing? The mutual pining became very, very repetitive, to the point I was skimming whole paragraphs. The author definitely shows promise, but I think the work itself needs some tightening up. Thanks to Atria for the ARC.

If you’re looking for your next cute, cozy, and spooky read for this fall here it is!!
The story mixes romance with magical realism and has spooky mystery vibes. All the characters in this were wonderful, I loved that the side characters stood out as much as the main ones did too.
It’s all about forgiveness and second chances, healing from past trauma and finding a purpose. Also about finding love not just romantically but also in family dynamics.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Hopelessly Teavoted comes out 9/16/25

If you're looking for a cozy, Halloween-y friends-to-lovers romance with some mild fantasy, this is the book for you.
I've been wanting to read this since I saw the cover reveal on Instagram, and it did NOT disappoint. Victoria and Azriel's love is so incredibly lovely (for lack of a better term haha). The inclusion of grief and finding love after experiencing a loss was really beautiful and is something I don't see often. The survivor's guilt was also such a real and raw addition to the story, and it really added a ton of depth to the characters.
I really loved this book and finished almost all of it in one sitting. The supernatural elements felt very natural and made sense in how they were described and how the world was built.
I will absolutely be re-reading this around Halloween and will be recommending it to anyone wanting a cozy supernatural romance for the season!

Thank you to Atria for the advanced reader copy of Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff.

At the beginning of the story, Azrael returns to his family manor following the death of his parents. He's forced into a partnership with his former crush, Vickie. She has purchased Az’s parent's tea shop, Hopelessly Teavoted. These two must team up to address a sinister threat and save small town, Hallowcross. As feelings bloom between these two, Vickie’s devil places a curse on them, which keeps Az and Vickie from touching.

I think this book is super cute and charming! The depiction of Az’s feelings for Vickie in this book are top notch! This was what drew me into this book and kept me engaged as these two faced different hurdles to being together. There was quite a bit to the plot but I found myself drawn in mostly to the romance.

If you’re looking for a magical, mutual pining, friends to lovers romance, this is one to check out!

The titled of this book is "Hopelessly Teavoted" and it is written by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff. This book is scheduled to be released on September 16, 2025. This book has the perfect spooky vibes for reading around halloween time since it also includes, witches, ghosts and magic.

hear me out: hocus pocus BUT with a down bad MMC full of pining as an art form set in a cozy little town with a unique magic system.

the witchy man of the hour Azrael has always been in love with his ghost-speaking girl-next-door bestie, Victoria. don’t even get me started on how much I adored Azrael’s family home with its Addams family vibes and sentient personality—which is something that I saw Audrey pitching this book as when she was querying. it’s absolutely everything.

when i tell you this romance was romancing, I mean it. the yearning was so reminiscent (and i’m dating myself here) of the X-men’s Gambit and Rogue being unable to touch yet being disgustingly in love, and dying to touch one another. the build up to that moment was absolutely perfect, earth shattering even.

all in all, i’m absolutely charmed by this debut and it’s such a fun ride to go from seeing Audrey pitch this book to publication!

I really adored this book! The pace of the story makes sense, the plot is easy to follow and full of delightful twists and turns! The characters were well fleshed-out, with good room for growth and development. The two main characters don't engage in the miscommunication trope that runs rampant, which I appreciated. Overall a stellar read!

This was cute, whimsical, and spooky! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I am currently working through my ARC backlog and will be posting full reviews momentarily for books that have been completed!

I love a pun and this was no different. Also a cat. The cute cat on the cover got me to pick this up. If you like a witchy vibe and magical story then you will enjoy this. It is a similar vibe to The Ex Hex which was so cute.

4.25/5 stars

GAH. THIS WAS SO CUTE.

Az and Victoria were a charming couple to follow. While I will say, it focuses quite a bit on the romance versus the mystery of the book, I still loved it so, so much.

I will start by saying--I (personally) love books like this. I know I'm not in the majority and a lot of people will be looking for something with a little more focus on the synopsis (aka, mystery, save the town vibe), which isn't as front and center as some may like. However, If you've read Haunted Ever After (Jen DeLuca), My Roommate is a Vampire (Jenna Levine), A Dark and Secret Magic (Wallis Kenney), or Love and Other Conspiracies (Mallory Marlowe), then you'll probably love this book. It's the perfect amount of whimsy with easy, digestible writing, YEARNING (hello, Az, you sneaky thing), and a bit of far-fetched-ness in the best way, I think you'll love love love this book.

Also, Hocus Pocus. If you love the movie, please pick this up.

3.5 stars ✨
A story of what it means to trust, forgive, grieve & embrace what makes you different in a world that will judge those differences.

This story is definitely more focused on the romance than solving the mystery in the town. I loved the two main characters & all the things that made them unique.

Small issues I had was a lot of the characters feelings were told to us from internal dialogue and rather than shown in action. At times the pacing was a bit clunky & the back and forth of the characters feelings felt a bit confusing but overall it was a cute read. It had all the cozy feelings with so much sexual tension in every interaction. For two people who cannot touch without dire consequences they sure come up with creative ways to get around it.

Cute, spooky, and cozy in all the right ways.
Hopelessly Teavoted is a charmingly witchy rom-com with just enough gothic flair to make it stand out. After a failed career and a tragic loss, Azrael Hart returns to his eerie hometown of Hallowcross—only to team up with his childhood crush-turned-tea-shop-owner, Victoria, who’s got problems of her own (including a soul-binding deal with a lesser devil).
This book balances whimsy and darkness with a lyrical, slightly quirky tone. The romance is slow-burn and heartfelt, the banter sparkles, and the haunted small-town vibes are pitch-perfect for fans of The Ex Hex and The Crescent Moon Tearoom.
Overall, a cozy paranormal read with a touch of bite—perfect for curling up with a blanket and a cup of enchanted tea.

Hopelessly Teavoted was adorable, but the pacing killed me and I struggled to stay focused on the plot.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This novel follows Az and Vickie. Az is a witch, and Vickie has the power to reap souls, thanks to a deal her parents made with a lesser devil. These two have a mystery to solve, or Az and Vickie will never get to see each other again.

The storyline could have been so much more in my opinion. I wanted more of the mystery solving, and less of the will they, won't they. I love a good romance that makes you question if they will end up together, but this gave me whiplash.

On top of that, all of the good bits of the novel were in the last fifty pages or so. The ending was so rushed, and you feel like it was added without thought. I would have liked seeing more of that throughout the book.

Overall, it is a three star read. It's ok for a one time read, but I wouldn't be telling my friends it is a must read.

This book was fun. Witches and devil's and magic I believe would be a realistic version if we did, y'know, have magic like that. Azrael is painfully perfect (this is a good thing, I promise). We love a man who's emotionally aware of himself and the people around him. I see a lot of myself in Victoria; strained relationship with her parents and all.

The thing I loved the most about this, was the representation. Characters are queer without it being made their entire personality and multiple religions and belief systems are shown. This brand of witchery blended with Judaism was incredibly interesting to read and honestly one of the only interactions with religion as a whole in media that hasn't left me feeling a bit itchy.

The only qualm I think I have, is the pacing. At times it's hard to fully discern how much time has passed between plot events and it feels a little jumpy in places.

This was very cute, but unfortunately I did end up doing a soft DNF about 70% of the way through! I think I'll pick it back up at some point, but I struggled a bit with the romance.

These two are very in love with each other, which was cool with me! I'm fine with the characters being obsessed with each other early on in the book, even though I know some people don't love that. But I was confused! They kept saying things like "I'm all in on this" "I have real feelings for you" "I wish we could we be together" but then acting like they... hadn't said those things? I know they were under the influence of the grave dirt for a lot of it so maybe they're doing each other the courtesy of not putting weight into statements that were literally forced out of them, but what's the point of joking about how they're "pretending" or Az saying he's going to "tell her how he feels" about her. Like he definitely already has, several times. I know he meant by saying he's still in love with her, but still. It felt like sometimes they were going backwards, and I don't think that feeling was helped by their inability to touch at all!

Now, for the good. I loved these two idiots. Az is the biggest sweetheart in the entire world. Vickie was a bubbly princess who can do no wrong. I loved them both immensely and loved them together. I love this little queer-normative society that Audrey built in her book. I loved the magical spookiness too! The devils, the curses, the witches, it had such good fall vibes. I didn't mind reading it at all in May, but I know that this would hit in October! Still really enjoyed it, which is why it's a soft DNF for now.

Very spooky cutie vibes!