Hopelessly Teavoted is a cute and spooky childhood best friends romance with magic, witches, ghosts, a handsome devil, a town mystery, a curse and much more.

I enjoyed the devil bargain debt plot a lot and also the town mystery.
I also liked the anxiety rep, we don't see that often in books with magic.

However I didn't really care for the romance. Childhood best friends is my absolute favorite trope but it didn't work in this book. Apart from them saying they were horny, I ddin't feel any chemistry or tension between them.

The writing was very repetitive and it made me skip paragraphs because I had just read that exact thought from the previous chapter. Overall there was a lot of telling, not showing. Like they kept saying how in love they were but not showing me??? They kept having the same conversation and inner monologue over and over again it was very annoying.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if the writing was first person (there is 2 POVs but it is written in third person).

I wanted to love this book so bad but unfortunately it was not for me.

I didn't like this

This cover is so cute and the synopsis sounded like something I would love. Unfortunately this book was just so choppy and disjointed. At the 15% mark I started looking to see if I missed a book I was supposed to read first because this book was making no sense. It felt like the author expected the reader to already know these characters, and I just felt lost. There is no book 1. This is debut novel.

The next thing that bothered me is the writing style. The author jumps time a lot and then has a character explain in their head what happened during the time jump rather than just showing the reader what happened. This book reads more like two people telling a story of what happened rather than telling a story of two people.

The characters aren't consistent in this book and after finishing it I couldn't tell you any consistencies in any of these characters. None of the motivations are clear and they constantly are making decisions that make no sense as a way to try and further the plot.

Lastly it felt like this author tried to put too much into one book. Editing down ideas before writing would have helped this significantly. So many plot lines are started and then forgotten about for chapters at a time before going back and addressing them. It left for a very confusing experience all around.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy

Hopelessly Teavoted started off so strong, and I was really hoping it would be my next five star read. The vibes were there. We had a witch that had been in love with his best friend/neighbor for his entire life, a woman breaking free from her controlling parents, and a hot demon. Everyone was at least a little bit queer! A man with a cat! A sentient haunted house that an agenda and a taste for mischief! It had all the right ingredients, but the end result was so, so disappointing.

What went wrong- miscommunication/incredible LACK of communication, a plot that went to buy milk and cigarettes around 30%, endlessly repetitive thoughts and conversations, a "mystery" that wasn't very mysterious or exciting, and an absurd amount of Taylor Swift outfit references, and disjointed chapters. Oh, and the grave dirt!!! That was such a great idea, but it was not used to effectively advance the plot or the romance either time.

I really hope we're not heading back into a manic pixie dream girl phase, because Vickie essentially served as a platform for Azrael's yearning and his grief in her quirky little outfits.

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for providing an ARC 💕

2.5 ⭐️

DNF at 51%. I just had to stop. This is marketed as a cozy, spooky romance. It does include those elements but they’re so disjointed. The guy has been pining over the girl pretty much their whole lives (girl next door). They have a one night stand in college that “ruins everything.” They both end up back in town years later after his parents die and she buys his mom’s tea shop. All a recipe for good reading. It just never comes together. The romance and relationship seem forced and just weird. Then add in the mystery of the town and it’s just more weird. This for sure was not for me.

3.5 stars!

The adorable cover is what initially drew me to this book. While the premise was intriguing, I found myself not being able to connect with any of the characters. There was a lack of character depth, I had really hoped it would get better the further I got into the book but unfortunately that never happened.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I’ll take any book that got a cat, some tension and of course all the TEA! I absolutely adored Az where are they keeping the men like this! Childhood friend to YOU DONT KNOW ME AT ALL to nobody knows me like you! Perfect fall read with tons of witchy vibes! The one thing that I’m always wanting is something to tug at the heart strings and this one will definitely get you a few tissues out the box! Having a man not afraid to show his emotions and wear his heart in his sleeve. And the Tay Tay references 🤣 I enjoyed the little name drops but I really wish there was more lean into story line but the slowburn made the spice come in HOT OR…wet.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

1.5⭐

LIKED:
- The best part of this book to me was Az’s parents. They’re seen as this great love story and it shows. They’re also the only part of the book (to me) where the magic is actually explored, whether it’s magic type, the bonding magic, etc. We’re supposed to see a mirror between them and Az & Vickie, but that really didn’t happen.
- I liked the sibling relationship between Az and his sister. It was cute. I didn’t really *like* his sister, but their relationship felt like a genuine sibling one.
- The cover is…fine. I guess. I do feel it’s more at home in the YA section (a la how many, myself included, feel about the Icebreaker cover).

LAMENTED:
- There is a lot on paper that I should like about this book: friends to lovers, fall, witches, tea shop, etc., etc. But oh my gosh did it all just fall so flat for me. Nothing felt like it was actually progressing, too much of the plot felt trite, the characters lacked depth besides parental trauma, and the world building was so minimal. This was incredibly disappointing.
- I am quite possibly the world’s number one childhood friends to lovers apologist out there and there is truly nothing I can defend about this book in regards to that trope. We got little to no insight into what made them friends, even, besides them living close to each other. What do they even like about each other outside of lusting?? It’s infuriating. If you’re going to make characters friends who have known each other for decades SHOW US THAT THEY KNOW EACH OTHER.
- This book should not have been written to be marketed to adults. It’s writing style, substance (or lack thereof) and plot feel so much more inline with what you would see in a YA book. I don’t think it would have been quite as aggravating if it were not meant to be consumed by a more mature audience.
- What is this weird contrived bit about her not being able to touch him? Like I get that we’re supposed to have stakes as to why they can’t just get together, but that’s it?? The Devil she’s contracted with just wants to mess with them? Ugh.
- The mystery aspect is so underwhelming. It A) takes away from the romance and B) can be seen a mile away.
- Listen, I know that a pandemic happened. I know that many people lost their lives. I know it happened. I just am not separated enough from the occurrence to want to read about it happening in a fluffy romance. People are still dying from COVID. I read romcoms for the escapism and that jolts me right out.
- I am not a fan of wordplay or punny titles so this title is not for me. Nor is there enough tea to even justify the wordplay to begin with.

LONGED FOR:
- More exploration as to why these two are even friends that would then inform the ‘-to-lovers’ aspect of the trope.
- A mystery that kept its momentum going and wasn’t hindered by the dumb curse.
- This book to just be New Adult or YA.


How Long Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Probably forever, but I mean this derogatorily.

Will I read the next one? : no.

A cute romance with a twist of magic.

I loved the found family in this one - the Harts seem like such great people and I enjoy the quirky Adam’s Family vibes they give. They are welcoming and in love and seeing how the house welcomes in Victoria after her family disowns her is so heartwarming.

The romance between Victoria and Azrael is cute but frustrating. The years of yearning between them since childhood is cute but the lack of communication is frustrating at times. Their desire is clear but they dance around each other and it makes the moment when they finally come together all the more exciting yet heartbreaking.

The mystery aspect was cool, but I wish it was more fleshed out. It felt rather anticlimactic, but as this is a romcom and not a mystery book at its core, I think it was my expectation that was skewed.

The writing didn’t hook me quite as much as I would have liked, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Overall, it was a cute romance with a paranormal twist!

Yes, all the yes.

This book is giving cozy fall vibes. Full of a beautiful second chance romance, and a tempting (literal) devil.

Loved the mystery, loved the love, would definitely love to read more about this weird little town!

This was the cozy fall read that I desperately needed to help me get through the rest of the summer! I couldn't put this book down. The vibes were perfect and the writing was addictive. Hoping to read more of Audrey's books in the future!!

I loved the concept and the characters were likeable but I really struggled to get into this one and stay connected. Perhaps it was just me though. I believe this book has it's audience, unfortunately it wasn't for me though.

Thank you so much to Atria books for my ARC!

3.75/5

I loved the way the author wrote this story with longing, grief, and joy. The emotions were as strong as the scooby style mystery in this book. Vickie and Az were the perfect leading character and the supporting characters were, well, characters, which made the book amazing. Demons and witches, and ghosts work for and against each other to solve the big mystery while Az and Vickie find their way to the love they both desire and deserve. Overall, this was such a fun and romantic book.

Unfortunately I was not able to finish this book. It is going into my DNF pile for the year 2025. I was all set to love it. It is witchy, and there is a romance, and they are friends but then something happens and they have to find their way back to being friends and maybe lovers. It has all the things that I have previously loved in my romance reading.

There was just something about the way the book started that I couldn't get behind the characters and I just didn't really care about them enough to keep reading. I tried my best. I got about 50% of the way through. I usually love a good smut scene but even those couldn't hold my attention. I am so sorry, I wanted to love this book. I am thankful that I was able to get an advanced copy.

This book just wasn't for me but I would recommend to those who love a witchy, second-chance, with some mysterious vibes going on.

Thank you Atria for sending an ARC copy.

I was so excited to read this because I LOVE Magical Realism and cozy fall vibes.

I tried so hard to keep reading, but I could not get past the writing style. The dialogue was too flowery for my liking and I found myself cringing throughout.

I put this one down, but would recommend it if you’re a fan of witchy puns and lots of yearning.

⭐️⭐️
I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn’t work for me. The concept sounded fun and cozy, but the pacing dragged and I struggled to stay engaged. The characters felt a bit flat and I never connected with their relationships or motivations. There were moments that had potential, but overall it left me feeling disappointed and ready to move on to something else.

Thank you Atria Books for the E-Arc.

I liked this! I thought the magic was unique. The yearning and childhood friends to lovers did its thing.

I did think that certain things were added simply to add to the word count. I hate when characters keep repeating themselves nonstop in a conscious stream of dribble. And that bit happened way too much for me to throughly enjoy the book.

DNF at 11%

The concept on this book is cute. Personally, I found it hard to connect to the characters and the writing style wasn’t for me. I’ll never say “don’t read this” because books that work for me might not work for you and vice versa. A+ for the adorable cover though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hopelessly Teavoted is an enchanting blend of spooky atmosphere, sharp humor, and heartfelt romance—a gothic rom-com that completely swept me away.

Azrael and Vickie are both such endearing, layered characters: Az, with his brooding, self-deprecating charm, and Vickie, with her fierce determination and quirky, magical gift. Their dynamic crackles with witty banter, unresolved tension, and a chemistry that only grows stronger as they’re forced to work together under the curse that keeps them apart. The “can’t touch” trope is used brilliantly here—clever, romantic, and achingly emotional.

The gothic Hallowcross setting and the eerie tea shop backdrop add so much texture, weaving together whimsical charm with a tinge of the sinister. The family secrets, meddling spirits, and looming threat create a plot that’s both suspenseful and cozy, striking the perfect balance between rom-com levity and darkly magical stakes.

At its heart, this is a story about love, second chances, and carving out your own place in the world—even when curses, devils, and wayward cats complicate the journey. I laughed, I swooned, and I stayed up way too late turning the pages.

A witty, lyrical, and utterly delightful gem. Fans of The Ex Hex and Legends & Lattes will fall in love.

I liked this (and had Olivia Newton John singing in my head for days on end while reading it) but I didn't love it as much as I anticipated -- could've been my mood / state of mind while reading? I appreciate Ruoff's creating a greater world for her MCs to operate in, and found several of the supporting characters charming as well as the main characters, but struggled with the rhyme and reason of some of the mythos. Bonus points for super hot "but we can't actually touch" sex!

This book had a lot going for it: it was cozy, witches!, a sentient house (and we all know how much I love those), great side characters, pop culture shout outs (the Addams family, Pushing Daisies), parents who made a deal with the devil and disowned their child, and a decent mystery.

The mystery was well set up, and I was kinda all in on it - Mega Church, Dark magic, Lucifer (who goes by Frankie...which I found hilarious), Curses. But then we ran into pages and pages of exposition about how much our 2 MC's loved each other and yet couldn't figure out how to be together until a pushing daisies type curse stopped them from touching. So. Many. Pages. It disrupted the flow of the mystery and took me out of the story a bit. I kinda wish Ruoff had spent some of those pages showing us what happened to Victoria's parents instead...that would have been more entertaining to me.

Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for this book.