The Ex Hex
by Erin Sterling
This book is like Hocus Pocus meets The Witches of Eastwick meets a grown up Harry Potter.
I knew going into this that The Ex Hex was going to be all sorts of fun. First off, Erin Sterling is a pen name for Rachel Hawkins, who, under that moniker, has written some truly hilarious and highly entertaining YA novels. Secondly, my friend Bonnie enjoyed the heck out this, Hawkins’ (Sterling’s?) first foray into adult romance, and Bonnie has yet to lead me astray with her recommendations.
I laughed A LOT while reading. I also swooned a fair bit. In the beginning, we’re told that Rhys, the male lead, is charming. Very rarely does charm translate off the page for me. Hottness? Sure. Humor? That too. But a little less than halfway through, I found myself swept up right alongside the female lead, Vivi, by Rhys’ Welsh appeal.
“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”
Erin Sterling
In the opening pages of the book, Rhys has just unintentionally broken Vivi’s nineteen-year-old heart. So she does what any woman blessed with magic and a belly full of vodka might: she curses him.
Flash forward almost a decade, and Rhys is back in town. One of his forefathers established said town, and every Samhain a Penhallow, this year Rhys, has to be within its boundaries to renew their magical attachment to it.
Only this time, the curse Vivi cast on him rears its ugly head midway through the ritual and everything goes sideways on them. The dark magic rushes through the town, and all sorts of danger and hilarity ensues.
There are maniacal, animated toy skulls, a raging ghost, and my favorite, a talking cat who knows all of three words: treats, mama, and dickhead. Unsurprisingly, Rhys is the dickhead. I ugly cackled when I got to that part.
My one gripe was that I didn’t think the actual magic was fleshed out enough. How does it work? What does it feel like flowing through Vivi’s veins? Are the spells cast in Latin or English? I have no idea. Pretty much every instance of magic is glanced over, kind of like, “She cast the spell.” As an avid reader of fantasy books, I wanted more.
Aside from that, there are very few cons about this book. So if you’re looking for a cute, fast-paced, fun romance to get you hyped up for fall, definitely check this one out.
TO BE FRANK i could care less about worldbuilding in romcoms. I’m just built like that idk? Something about the fluff and the magic just makes me not a care a crap. THIS LOOKS SO GOOD.
I totally get that. Normally I’m pretty similar, but it was so vague I couldn’t even picture what their rituals of magic look like. Did she speak? Wave her hands around in the air? A wand? I had no idea and so my brain got stuck on it. It really didn’t take away from my enjoyment though (thankfully!).
charming, funny, and loving. Thanks for sharing this. We have also reviewed this novel. Do read our review and share your comments. https://gobookmart.com/the-ex-hex-by-erin-sterling-is-charming-funny-and-loving/