Hopelessly Teavoted was cozy and sweet but the romance and connection between Vickie and Az just didn't hit hard enough to make their relationship feel well written.

I was super excited with the promise of this book, unfortunately it just fell flat. It was a lot of information overload in the beginning, but then it just never stopped. In the synopsis it mentioned the death of one of the characters parents, but to start the book and realize their death was because of Covid19 really threw me off. In a made up town of witches and deals with the devil, the real life pandemic was the cause of death? Every interaction felt forced and there was no flow. Additionally, Hopelessly Teavoted is a book where the author makes their political views loud through their characters. I have no problem with this, it just got to a point where it was added nonsense.

This book had potential. However, it was really overwrought to the point of annoyance for me. I feel like the whodunnit part would have worked better as the A plot and Vicky and Az's snail-slow burn could have worked as the B plot. As it stood, the romance between Vicky and Az was overdone, repetitive, and quite frankly boring. We get it: they've loved each other for soooo long, but wait, maybe not, oh but wait maybe they do. Too much attention was spent on them spinning out on whether they really loved each other while the quest to figure out who made a deal with the devil seemed underdeveloped and tepid. I found myself internally screaming, "What about the mission to find the evil person stealing living souls in town???" while Az and Vicky wallowed in their feelings AGAIN for each other. The non-romantic plot seemed to take a backseat and felt weak.

I think what this book lacked was some good editing. This reads like a draft where the pacing needs to be tightened up and the tension honed sharper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Hopelessly Teavoted is a cute, cozy, novel about childhood friends that have to “fight” their love for each other while dealing with loss, some unforeseen circumstances in their hometown, and a snarky devil with his own ambitions (he’s giving Astarion- for sure).
It was a slow read for me, and I couldn’t really connect with the characters, but I can see the appeal for people that like calm, cozy, books with a bit of drama and a bit of mystery subplot.
There’s a cute dynamic between the main character and his sister. There is a TON of diversity in this book, in terms of LGTBTQ characters and POC which is wonderful.
However, If you don’t like the misunderstanding/miscommunication trope, you may be a bit irritated during this book as it happens quite frequently between the MMC and the FMC. I don’t mind that trope, so I thought that was fun.
I liked the cute addition of the Star Wars bar too!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this eARC! I’m looking forward to what Audrey Goldberg Ruoff has next!

Azrael and Victoria are childhood best friends who secretly love each other, but they haven’t spoken in six years after a fateful night in college. Now, both are back in their hometown after the deaths of Azrael’s parents, and they join forces to uncover a mysterious evil presence in town.

Tropes: Paranormal Romance, Small Town Romance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Miscommunication, No Third-Act Breakup

I love a good seasonal romance novel, especially during spooky season. I was really excited for this one—and while it was definitely entertaining, I was hoping for more.

What I really loved about this book were the magical elements. Azrael’s parents reminded me so much of Gomez and Morticia Addams, and their family house was wonderfully magical. In this world, witches have to snap their fingers to use magic—which is cool, but the sheer number of times I had to read the word “snap” was a bit much.

The summary of the book gave the impression that the “awkward incident” in college was, well…just an awkward incident. I did *not* expect it to be a much more *ahem* intimate situation based on how it was described. When Azrael and Victoria reunite, it’s awkward for a few days—but then they’re immediately 100% in love and barely try to hide it. The amount of miscommunication in this book is *astronomical*. The “awkward incident” from college turns out to be a huge misunderstanding, driven by the classic immature-boy move of jumping to conclusions instead of actually talking to the love of his life. Then they don’t speak for *six years*, but the second they see each other again? BAM—they're in love.

Like… y’all really need to take a minute, look inward, and make sure you’ve actually matured.

For some reason, I also wasn’t feeling much chemistry or tension between them. The words on the page *told* me there was tension and love, but I didn’t really *feel* it.

Then there was this whole subplot (or maybe it was supposed to be the main plot?) about some evil force in town that’s been stealing souls or something. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to care about that storyline, and I still don’t fully understand what even happened. It seemed like it *could* have been interesting, but it didn’t hold my attention. The characters kept talking about how little time they had to solve the issue, but then the next chapter would open with "several weeks later." Like... what? I thought this was *urgent*! But weeks go by with little to no plot movement?

Also, there’s this whole thing with the devil cursing Azrael and Victoria, supposedly to make their relationship more “difficult.” It felt very random, like it was intended to heighten the sexual tension—but it didn’t. That whole subplot fell flat for me.

Azrael is grieving his parents, and Victoria has this power where she can communicate with the recently deceased by touching a beloved object. This comes into play when Azrael wants closure and says goodbye to his parents—which was touching. But then he wants to ask them a follow-up question, so they find *another* object and talk to them again. And then… again. And again. It started to feel repetitive. Honestly, it diluted the emotional weight of their deaths. One of the reasons losing someone is so painful is because they’re *gone*. But if you can just keep chatting whenever you find a favorite sweater or an old mug, it cheapens the finality and the grief.

Overall, I know I’ve had my complaints, but I *did* finish the book, and I got through it pretty quickly—though I may have skimmed a few parts. The romance could have been better developed, and the subplot needed more cohesion and urgency. In the end, it left me wanting more in just about every area.

This was a cozy magical romance. The magical system was different. The characters were sweet but at times hard to connect with. The middle pacing was off and at times dragged on. I loved the premise and world but I wanted a little more from this story. A little more whimsy and the characters less wishy washy with coming through with their feelings

This book came with a great whimsical tone and wonderful world building! I enjoyed the main characters. However, I felt like the minor characters really stood out! This was a cozy romance mixed in with magical realism. It includes spooky and mysterious vibes. I think this book had a great premise and I found it to be well executed. I really wanted more character depth, especially between the two main characters of this story. It started off slow, but came with a strong finish. I feel like this was both plot and character driven, came with lovable characters and was easy to read.

This book made me feel hopeful, lighthearted, reflective and adventurous. It is all about forgiveness and second chances, healing from past trauma, finding purpose, a romance and family dynamics. This book also comes with supernatural elements such as ghosts, a witch, magic and making a deal with the devil. I really liked the setting of this story and how it came with vivid descriptions! I also loved the themes of this book and how it ended!

“Hopelessly Teavoted” is about a witch named Azrael, who goes back to visit his parents tea shop, after his parents’ passing. He visits the Crescent Moon Tearoom, only to discover his childhood crush named Victoria now owns it. Spooky things happen and they need to figure things out fast! They end up forming a bond and ultimately become very close. Overall, I rate this a 3 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Audrey Goldberg Ruoff and Atria Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I think anyone that enjoys a good cozy and twisty romance, along with magical elements, would really like reading this one! It gave me the movie “Hocus Pocus” and the movie “Casper” vibes. Content warnings include death, grief, sexual content, cursing and mentioning of the COVID pandemic.

This book is expected to be published on September 16, 2025!

The perfect cozy fall read! I can't wait to have this book in my hand when the weather gets cold and the leaves turn! This one's for the girlies who LOVE pining, and the curse poor Vicky and Az have to navigate their relationship around just adds even more to the incredible yearning. The slow burn is so delicious, and boy does it ever pay off in the end! I hope there will be more books about the side characters, specifically about a certain mischievous devil? Yes please!

A+ for setting, B- for characters.

This is the first book set in Hallowcross, but I hope it won’t be the last. This small town has such wonderfully quirky small businesses and a wonderful sense of setting.

That being said, I fell more deeply in love with the town than the main characters. Vickie, the owner of the tea shop who dresses only in Taylor Swift video-inspired costumes, smacked of a manic pixie dream girl. Az was a little better fleshed out. But every time one of them said anything like “We were just kids before,” I wanted to smack them and yell, “You’re STILL kids!” Seriously, at age 26 their prefrontal cortex isn’t all the way done and they’d only just be old enough for their own health insurance.

It doesn’t help that the side characters stole the show. Lex struck me as a supernatural answer to Everett in HAPPY MEDIUM, and Priscilla and Evelyn contained better nuances as both individuals and a pair than the main couple.

All in all, I was mostly charmed by this debut and thrilled to find Addams Family Easter eggs. Excited to see what’s next for the author!

I was initially drawn to Hopelessly Teavoted by its enchanting premise-magic, romance, and a mystery woven into the story of two childhood friends reconnecting.

The novel centers on Azrael and Vickie, childhood besties turned distant strangers after a college kiss gone wrong. Years later, Azrael returns home after a family tragedy, only to find Vickie has taken over his family's beloved tea shop. Sparks fly, emotions swirl, and yet... they keep dancing around their feelings with frustrating levels of miscommunication and self-doubt.

While the chemistry between them was undeniable (the spicy scenes were definitely present), the never-ending cycle of pining and second-guessing wore me down. Their internal monologues felt repetitive and often bordered on melodrama. I enjoy a slow burn, but this was more like a slow stall— especially in the middle chapters, where the pacing dragged and plot progression took a backseat.

That said, the book shines in a few lovely ways. The way magic is treated, particularly the different systems and its ties to family and emotion, stood out to me. The family dynamics were also beautifully done-Azrael's parents were heartwarmingly sweet, and the sibling banter added warmth and levity.

The real scene-stealers here were the side characters-Hazel, Priscilla, Hank, and, believe it or not, a delightfully quirky sentient house. They added a perfect blend of charm and wit that often outshone the main couple.

I wish the mystery involving the town's forbidden magic had played a bigger role earlier in the plot. It felt like a secondary thought until the very end, when it was rushed to resolution and left me a bit underwhelmed.

Overall, Hopelessly Teavoted is a sweet, quirky debut with strong vibes for cozy fall reading. If you love the friends-to-lovers trope, magical small towns, and don't mind a bit of romantic angst, this might be your cup of tea. For me, though, I was left wanting more plot momentum and less repetitive yearning.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF AT 35% I loved the premise of this book and it started strong but personally it just felt a little weird to me (mainly the scene with Lex, Az and Vikki in the elevator) I also thought it was kind of strange how Az was hung up on a girl for OVER EIGHT YEARS and did nothing about it. I definitely think other people will love this it just was not for me.

This book was okay. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first half. The first half felt way too long and some stuff could have been cut. It became repetitive. But once they got together and were actively trying to solve what was going on, I was hooked. I wish there was more of a plot twist. I was expecting something more but it was predictable in the way that it was the exact person that they suspected. I also want more about the demon system, the witch families, and the powers people have. Overall this was a fun supernatural witchy time.

Charming, Cozy, and Perfectly Spooky 🎃✨ Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff was such a delightful surprise! This book is the kind of story that makes you want to light a candle, pour a mug of something warm, and settle in for a few magical hours. It's spooky in the most playful way, more treats than tricks, and full of charm from start to finish. I loved the cozy atmosphere, the gentle humor, and the little touch of magic that made everything feel just a bit enchanted. It strikes the perfect balance between seasonal spook and heartwarming fun, without ever getting too dark. If you're craving a Halloween read that feels like a hug (with a sprinkle of mischief), this one’s a great pick.
Thanks to the author, the publishing house and Netgalley for this book in advance in exchange of my honest review.

loved this romance about a witch and a girl that can talk to the dead. loved that they tried to find a way to be together and loved that each chapter was in a different point of views. loved that different hearts for each chapter.

I feel like this story starts out ok, but unfortunately it was not for me. Some bouncing around time which is fine, sets the story. Azrael has clearly been in love with Vickie his whole life but hasn’t done anything about it/has never professed his true feelings. I feel like he kind of did when they go together in college, but I guess that’s beside the point because he decided to back track. Things, however, seemed to derail rather quickly.

Vickie has clearly had feelings for him for years and also hasn’t done anything about it since she felt rejected in college. Despite Prissy clearly telling each of them to go for it, they don’t listen and are stubborn as well. When they try to give it a go (ish) now as adults, they try to make it clear that they’re friends again, and goodness is that clear despite their thoughts because it’s repeated so many times. They’re friends, but they clearly aren’t and it got old fast. About a little over halfway through the book, I was getting bored and disinterested because of the repetition. Now they hit a road block and they’re being denied something they finally thought they’d be able to try- a relationship with the other. Obviously frustrating but again. got old fast. Just like Azrael constantly thinking he needs to tell her how he really feels. He kind of already did, so what does he mean? They seem like they’re horny teenagers. Awkward and don’t know how to communicate. They keep saying “pretend” when they aren’t pretending. I don’t understand.

They needed to stop being stubborn and listen to Prissy or, honestly, Prissy should have gotten involved more. She sees what they don’t and could have sat them down rather than playing coy or nonchalantly set them up. It would have saved so much time, and from reading most of these circles.

Azrael and Prissy’s parents remind me a lot of Mortica and Gomez Addams which is sweet.

Azrael’s multiple attempts to talk to his ghost parents seems unhealthy. I get the first time was for closure since he didn’t get to say goodbye, but more than that seems excessive. Also, I feel like Prissy wasn’t angry enough that they contacted her parents without her. I would have been livid.

I received an eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A magical debut novel romcom?! Yes, please! This was cute; I loved the unique storyline and the importance of family in this novel. Victoria and Azrael are childhood friends, brought back together to solve a mystery in Hallowcross regarding a curse and forbidden magic.

Read if you adore:
*** Friends to lovers
*** Miscommunication trope
*** Magic theme
*** Family dynamics
*** Steamy fun!

Would recommend if you love magical themes! Perfect for the Halloween spooky season.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Hopelessly Teavoted is an enchanting and delightfully gothic debut that blends magic, romance, and second chances in the best way. After losing his parents, witch Azrael Ashmedai Hart returns to his eerie, Addams Family style family home, only to find that the old tea shop he grew up in has been purchased by none other than Victoria Starnberger, the girl he’s been in love with since childhood. But her bold move came with a steep price: being cut off by her family and landing three souls in debt to a devil. Now, these former flames must work together to pay off that debt, all while dealing with a curse that keeps them from touching and the emotional baggage they never unpacked.

What makes this story shine, aside from the haunted mansion vibes, soul contracts, and supernatural shenanigans, is the depth of representation and emotional care baked into every page. Azrael is a Jewish witch living with anxiety, and nearly every character reflects a spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities. There’s open communication, respect for mental health, and a clear list of content warnings provided up front. Audrey Goldberg Ruoff gives us a love story full of charm, warmth, and Halloween-worthy magic, all with a steamy slow burn that makes the emotional payoff even sweeter.

Author excels in descriptive prose from Azrael's physical features, the teahouse's interior, and the attire donned by the characters.
The storyline and plot, however, was tepid. Like a former hot piping tea that was left at room temperature. The souls (or quest) Victoria had to accomplish seemed to be drag. Ironically, found the interaction between Priscilla (Azrael's mischievous sister) and her friendship with Victoria to be better developed.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis, but I had a hard time with this one. It was a slog to get through. Azrael and Vickie were childhood best friends who had a moment in college that ruined their friendship. After the death of his parents, Azrael returns to his hometown where he discovers that Vickie has purchased his parents’ tea shop. Both pine for each other yet never reveal their true feelings for one another.

It was frustrating to read the same monologue about how the other doesn’t feel the same way about them that they do. The plot gets bogged down in this wishy washiness. The constant reminder that they were just friends got old very fast. I tend to stay away from friends to lovers for that reason, but was hoping the mystery in the novel would help with pacing. It did not for my tastes.

I did like the queer representation and the magical rules of the world and the nod to Morticia and Gomez Addams. Vickie and Az are likable characters for the most part. I also really liked Lex and could’ve done with more appearances from him.

Azrael es un brujo, marcado por una identidad dividida entre la magia y el deseo de ser "normal". Carga con la pérdida de sus padres, una carrera fallida como guionista, y una historia de amor no resuelta con Vickie, su mejor amiga de la infancia. Regresa a su pueblo natal, Hallowcross, buscando consuelo, y se encuentra cara a cara con su pasado… y con Vickie.

Victoria, por su parte, es una joven brillante y decidida que, tras rebelarse contra la rígida expectativa de su familia adinerada, compra la antigua tienda de té de los padres de Azrael. Pero su vida también está marcada por el peso de un don mágico heredado por un pacto demoníaco: puede hablar con los muertos, pero debe pagar una deuda muy concreta en almas. La ruptura con su familia y su independencia recién adquirida la empujan a enfrentarse sola a este nuevo mundo.




Para mi gusto, Vickie lo perdonó demasiado rápido. Me molesta cuando no hacen que el protagonista se esfuerce al máximo por recuperar a la mujer que ama.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest