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Best Hex Ever
A kitchen witch with a penchant for baking and a (literally) cursed love life meets someone who’s worth breaking a hex for in this enchanting romance debut written with a heap of spice and an equal measure of heart.
As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused treats. However, only a few select friends know about her magical abilities or the hex that has plagued her love life. It’s hard to fall in love when your partner is guaranteed to have a string of bad luck the moment they develop feelings for you.
Scott Mason has returned from global travels thrilled to embark on his new role as a curator at the British Museum. After leaving London two years ago to recover from a devastating breakup, Scott realizes how much he has missed out on. With his best friend’s wedding approaching, Scott is determined to be the best best man ever. Little does he expect to be enchanted by the maid of honor, who is not only the owner of his new favorite café but also a witch!
During a weekend in the countryside filled with peculiar hedge mazes, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. But there’s just one problem: The hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger. In the past, she’s always chosen to cut her losses, but this time feels different. Scott could be the one. Will Dina be able to undo the hex before it’s too late?
As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused treats. However, only a few select friends know about her magical abilities or the hex that has plagued her love life. It’s hard to fall in love when your partner is guaranteed to have a string of bad luck the moment they develop feelings for you.
Scott Mason has returned from global travels thrilled to embark on his new role as a curator at the British Museum. After leaving London two years ago to recover from a devastating breakup, Scott realizes how much he has missed out on. With his best friend’s wedding approaching, Scott is determined to be the best best man ever. Little does he expect to be enchanted by the maid of honor, who is not only the owner of his new favorite café but also a witch!
During a weekend in the countryside filled with peculiar hedge mazes, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. But there’s just one problem: The hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger. In the past, she’s always chosen to cut her losses, but this time feels different. Scott could be the one. Will Dina be able to undo the hex before it’s too late?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
About the author
Nadia El-Fassi
5 books266 followersNadia El-Fassi is a half-Moroccan, half-Australian author of spicy romance and fantasy. She has an addiction to iced coffee, period dramas, buying D&D dice and watching horror movies. They live in London with their husband and perfectly round cat. Best Hex Ever is her debut novel. You can find them on Twitter @chronicles_of_n.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,184 reviews
September 18, 2024
This is a gingerbread kind of read - wholesome, comforting, with a bit of spice. I absolutely flew through this, with it being a lighthearted witchy read that just felt so *natural*. There was just enough magic to suspend my belief and roll with the insta love vibe, wholeheartedly letting the joy witnessed in this book fuel my own. I loved this, and if you’re looking for a Practical Magic sort of read with both actual and found family connections, this is the book for you.
(Bonus points for proving a quick chat about contraception and the like will NOT kill the vibe)
(Bonus points for proving a quick chat about contraception and the like will NOT kill the vibe)
October 9, 2024
Το "'Ερωτας, ξόρκια και ζεστή σοκολάτα" το βρήκα σοκαριστικά παιδαριώδες και ανούσιο. Ωστόσο το διάβασα. Από την πρώτη ως την τελευταία του σελίδα, δίχως να παραλείψω παράγραφο. Είναι ένα από εκείνα τα βιβλία που ξέρεις ότι χάνεις τον χρόνο σου διαβάζοντάς το, αλλά δεν μπορείς να σταματήσεις, για τον απλούστατο λόγο ότι διατηρείς την μικρή ελπίδα πως δεν μπορεί, κάτι θα αλλάξει και θα το σώσει. Κάποιος λόγος θα υπάρχει που εκδόθηκε και μεταφράστηκε στα ελληνικά. Ωστόσο δεν υπάρχει. Πρέπει να είναι το πιο ανόητο βιβλίο που διάβασα φέτος, για να μην πω τα τελευταία χρόνια. Πλοκή σχεδόν απολαυστικά βλακώδης, το ζαχαροπλαστείο απλώς να κάνει την εμφάνισή του εδώ κι εκεί, οι περιγραφές, παρομοιώσεις κλπ στην γραφή της El-Fassi μοιάζουν αντιγραμμένες από πρωτόλειο ατάλαντου σπουδαστή δημιουργικής γραφής, οι δυο κεντρικοί ήρωες είναι διαρκώς σε ερωτική έξαψη (σελίδες επί σελίδων μοιάζουν παρμένες από Άρλεκιν-50 shades of Grey χωρίς τα σαδομαζό), μαγεία που λειτουργεί διακοσμητικά, μια κατάρα από το πουθενά που αναρωτιέσαι πως έπιασε κατάρα απλού ανθρώπου σε μάγισσα τόσο ισχυρή που ένας αμοιβαίος οργασμός με τον σύντροφό της προκαλεί black out (ω, ναι!) και τελικά (spoiler) αποκαλύπτεται ότι την είχε ρίξει καταλάθος η ίδια στον εαυτό της (plot twist για κλάματα). Το κερασάκι στην τούρτα είναι πως η συγγραφέας επιχειρεί να κλείσει το ματάκι στην κουίρ κοινότητα (ο ήρωας έχει υιοθετηθεί από δύο γυναίκες, στο ζαχαροπλαστείο της ηρωίδας βοηθός είναι Το Ρόμπι και η ίδια δηλώνει αμφιφυλόφιλη που το κρύβει από τους όχι και τόσο προοδευτικούς γονείς της) αλλά η τελική ιστορία είναι μια ερωτική ιστορία ανάμεσα σε έναν άντρα (στου οποίου τις αγαλματένιες αναλογίες, το μέγεθος και το δασώδες στέρνο του βρίσκουμε αναφορές σε κάθε δεύτερη σελίδα) και σε μια, όχι και τόσο καλλίγραμμη αλλά στα μάτια του πανέμορφη όπως διαρκώς τονίζεται, κοπέλα παραγεμισμένη με όλα τα κλισέ των κλασικών ιστοριών του είδους. Αν το δείτε στα βιβλιοπωλεία προσπεράστε το, πάρτε το Pumpkin Spice καφέ καλύτερα, είναι κλάσεις ανώτερο.
October 22, 2024
Best Hex Ever is a delightfully cozy and magical romance following Dina, a kitchen witch, and Scott, a museum curator who can't help but fall for each other. Despite their instant connection, Dina is hesitant to start anything with Scott as she has been hexed and anyone she falls in love with is at risk of being hurt. However, when the two end up at their best friend's wedding as Maid of Honor and Best Man, Dina and Scott quickly succumb to their attraction.
This was such a fun and horny read! Nadia El-Fassi did an amazing job in her debut, the story is just completely whimsical and flowed wonderfully. The magic was so cozy and fun, I loved how Dina practiced her magic and felt so in touch with nature. Scott and Dina were so sweet together, the man was smitten and so in love. The way they opened up to each other right away was just adorable, I couldn't get enough of their relationship. Not to mention, the smut was smutting, Scott had such a dirty mouth and the way he was controlling and possessive contrasted so well with his sweet and gentle personality. This is the perfect autumn witchy read full of magic, steam, found family, insta-lust, ambiance, and so much love. I can't recommend it enough!
This was such a fun and horny read! Nadia El-Fassi did an amazing job in her debut, the story is just completely whimsical and flowed wonderfully. The magic was so cozy and fun, I loved how Dina practiced her magic and felt so in touch with nature. Scott and Dina were so sweet together, the man was smitten and so in love. The way they opened up to each other right away was just adorable, I couldn't get enough of their relationship. Not to mention, the smut was smutting, Scott had such a dirty mouth and the way he was controlling and possessive contrasted so well with his sweet and gentle personality. This is the perfect autumn witchy read full of magic, steam, found family, insta-lust, ambiance, and so much love. I can't recommend it enough!
September 24, 2024
dina is hexed. all the partners she gets close to have cosmic near death experiences. one chance encounter with scott turns into three, and the two of them can’t deny their unbelievable chemistry and connection. but dina has walls around her (for valid reasons I mean hexes are no small thing!) but scott is sooooo down bad he’s ready to take on the universe for her.
this book is the epitome of fall vibes. nadia’s writing is so beautifully descriptive I could see and smell and taste all the wonderful pastries dina cooks up. the witchy vibes were perfection.
speaking of perfection, scott!!!! I love the boy obsessed set up, and wow was he. he was also incredibly kind and loving and just what dina needed.
her self-love journey and sisterly bond with her friends literally brought me to tears and I cannot wait for the rest of this series.
what to expect
⟢ cozy fantasy
⟢ maid of honor x best man
⟢ witchy magic
⟢ forced proximity
⟢ sisterly friendship
thank you dell romance for the gifted copy!
this book is the epitome of fall vibes. nadia’s writing is so beautifully descriptive I could see and smell and taste all the wonderful pastries dina cooks up. the witchy vibes were perfection.
speaking of perfection, scott!!!! I love the boy obsessed set up, and wow was he. he was also incredibly kind and loving and just what dina needed.
her self-love journey and sisterly bond with her friends literally brought me to tears and I cannot wait for the rest of this series.
what to expect
⟢ cozy fantasy
⟢ maid of honor x best man
⟢ witchy magic
⟢ forced proximity
⟢ sisterly friendship
thank you dell romance for the gifted copy!
October 20, 2024
The insta-lust was not for me 😖 the writing needed to "show, not tell", and the character language felt like a cringey imitation of Bridget Jones. Should have dnf'd, unfortunately! :(
November 5, 2024
girl when i say fuck the british museum i never meant fuck IN the british museum
okay so here’s my question and I’ll never shut up about this -
1. they go to his place of work (the british museum) and because this is a romance novel they get it on in his office
2. during this dalliance he tears open her leggings instead of just taking them off
3. this woman now has torn open leggings, in a public place, and now is bare assed to the world - how does she get home
4. we do not know how she gets home with torn up leggings and no underwear because that is the end of the chapter
5. maybe she magics the leggings back together bc it says she would need to and since she is a witch she probably can, but even so, i need that to be explicitly said to me that she DOES or else i will not stop thinking about it
also imagine dating for two weeks and having that person as your emergency contact omg insane behavior scott !!!
thank you for coming to my TED talk
okay so here’s my question and I’ll never shut up about this -
1. they go to his place of work (the british museum) and because this is a romance novel they get it on in his office
2. during this dalliance he tears open her leggings instead of just taking them off
3. this woman now has torn open leggings, in a public place, and now is bare assed to the world - how does she get home
4. we do not know how she gets home with torn up leggings and no underwear because that is the end of the chapter
5. maybe she magics the leggings back together bc it says she would need to and since she is a witch she probably can, but even so, i need that to be explicitly said to me that she DOES or else i will not stop thinking about it
also imagine dating for two weeks and having that person as your emergency contact omg insane behavior scott !!!
thank you for coming to my TED talk
May 20, 2024
Possibly the best hex I've ever had. This book air lifted me out of my reading slump and had me giggling and kicking my feet in the air.
A cosy (very) spicy fantasy with witches and baked goods and a man that falls first and falls HARD. Dina and Scott were so much fun to get to know and their chemistry was undeniable from their first run in.
The softer parts of this book also really won my heart. I loved the time that was used to explore Dina's relationship with her parents, especially her mum, as well as her Moroccan heritage. The author perfectly captured that feeling of missing a homeland that you feel like you'll never truly know, but nonetheless the connection is there.
I also really enjoyed the healthy portrayal of female friendships, open conversations around not having children (?!?!? never see this in romance books), as well as men showing full range of emotions and leaning into softer sides.
You see the third act conflict coming from miles away but I honestly didn't mind. It's the same romance recipe you get in books like Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, but ultimately the characters get a happy ending and the conflict is quickly wrapped up.
I cannot wait to reread this and pick up on all the really lovely subtleties and warm feelings this gave me the first time round.
A cosy (very) spicy fantasy with witches and baked goods and a man that falls first and falls HARD. Dina and Scott were so much fun to get to know and their chemistry was undeniable from their first run in.
The softer parts of this book also really won my heart. I loved the time that was used to explore Dina's relationship with her parents, especially her mum, as well as her Moroccan heritage. The author perfectly captured that feeling of missing a homeland that you feel like you'll never truly know, but nonetheless the connection is there.
I also really enjoyed the healthy portrayal of female friendships, open conversations around not having children (?!?!? never see this in romance books), as well as men showing full range of emotions and leaning into softer sides.
You see the third act conflict coming from miles away but I honestly didn't mind. It's the same romance recipe you get in books like Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, but ultimately the characters get a happy ending and the conflict is quickly wrapped up.
I cannot wait to reread this and pick up on all the really lovely subtleties and warm feelings this gave me the first time round.
October 24, 2024
The book literally did nothing for me. The narrators were absolutely fabulous but the book was literally so boring. The sex scenes SOUNDED great but I was sitting there like 😐 absolutely unfazed.
Dual first-person POV instalove where both are equally in instalove is absolutely suffocating. Where’s the tension? Where’s the mystery? Why am I reading???
Truthfully, I could’ve DNFed and never wondered what happened next, but it wasn’t ~bad just boring and I was kinda hoping he would be a werewolf or something (wishful thinking based on a few sentences lol)??? But no, just a (boring) human. The curse was simply eye roll.
If I’d hated this book it would’ve been easier to finish.
⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (Is it really three peppers if the sex scenes did nothing for me???? He fingered her ass in the first scene and I was STILL yawning.)
I received an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
Dual first-person POV instalove where both are equally in instalove is absolutely suffocating. Where’s the tension? Where’s the mystery? Why am I reading???
Truthfully, I could’ve DNFed and never wondered what happened next, but it wasn’t ~bad just boring and I was kinda hoping he would be a werewolf or something (wishful thinking based on a few sentences lol)??? But no, just a (boring) human. The curse was simply eye roll.
If I’d hated this book it would’ve been easier to finish.
⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (Is it really three peppers if the sex scenes did nothing for me???? He fingered her ass in the first scene and I was STILL yawning.)
I received an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
October 9, 2024
a very witchy yet spicy urban fantasy romance
rating: 3.5
what i liked: all the kitchen magic was sooo creative and fun, major cozy vibes for sure. i also really liked how dina's moroccan background and magic was present in spellwork. her relationship w her mom was sweet too, esp w her struggle with whether to come out or not (yay bi rep!). even her friends and her mom sharing magical moments was super cute.
what didn't work for me: the romance was super instalusty, which i wasn't expecting. they would go 0 to 100 in their heads about wanting to bang lol sometimes it was a bit much for me. also if my friends roomed me with a random guy i never met for a weekend i would not be chill about it lol.
i would've liked more build up in that respect and a little more exploration with scott; it was cool to hear about his work as a museum curator, but he felt a bit two dimensional when it came to the relationship dynamics with dina.
overall a sweet lighthearted romantasy with lots of magic.
an honest arc review ♡
rating: 3.5
what i liked: all the kitchen magic was sooo creative and fun, major cozy vibes for sure. i also really liked how dina's moroccan background and magic was present in spellwork. her relationship w her mom was sweet too, esp w her struggle with whether to come out or not (yay bi rep!). even her friends and her mom sharing magical moments was super cute.
what didn't work for me: the romance was super instalusty, which i wasn't expecting. they would go 0 to 100 in their heads about wanting to bang lol sometimes it was a bit much for me. also if my friends roomed me with a random guy i never met for a weekend i would not be chill about it lol.
i would've liked more build up in that respect and a little more exploration with scott; it was cool to hear about his work as a museum curator, but he felt a bit two dimensional when it came to the relationship dynamics with dina.
overall a sweet lighthearted romantasy with lots of magic.
an honest arc review ♡
August 7, 2024
Debut author Nadia El-Fassi brews up a delightful blend of magic, wedding shenanigans, pesky hexes, and sizzling romance in one bewitching debut. In a magical cafe in London, a kitchen witch fends off a love hex by guarding her heart from potential love interests and focusing on perfecting magical bakes for her clientele. Too bad her handsome new customer is the best man at her friend's wedding and avoiding him is impossible as they'll be stuck together for the entire weekend. Best Hex Ever promises a twist on that classic witch story imbued with coziness and served piping hot with a side of chai. Dina and Scott have the kind of instantaneous connection that had me hooked on their every interaction. Best Hex Ever is a wonderfully magical romance with sparks that ignite into an inferno (seriously this book is so hot). Nadia El-Fassi proves that romance and magic are often intertwined and some connections are their own kind of magic. I’m certain many readers will find themselves in this miraculous romance novel about charting your path and opening yourself up to love again. Nadia El-Fassi brings together a one-of-a-kind witchy debut that needs to be at the top of your list this fall.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
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Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Follow me on Instagram
November 18, 2024
I was hoping for some cozy autumn vibes with this one, but I was left with the same desire. I don’t love insta-love but the instant attraction in this one worked, what didn’t work so well is the instant love (who puts a week or two partner down as an emergency contact??). The spicy scenes didn’t do much for me. I found the dialogue repetitive and even though it felt like I should be liking it I didn’t. I was especially disappointed by the scene at the museum. The overall story about the hex was sweet and fun (if predictable). This is the kind of book I found myself putting down and skipping over and over again, and I had to force myself to sit down and just finish it. If a was a person a little more comfortable dnf-ing I would have probably done that with this one. Overall I gave it 2.5 stars rounded down for star selection.
September 8, 2024
Review to come. I'm pre-filming a video to release on publication day so I'll come back to review then. c
Shelved as 'dnfs'
May 8, 2024dnf at 42%
instalove + all telling and no showing = not a good combo
instalove + all telling and no showing = not a good combo
November 30, 2024
Let me just say I was so excited to actually read a fall book DURING fall! It also helped that it did not disappoint. Like helllllloooo witchy kitchen girl meet studly nerdy museum bro. Like I’m already making my way into a green witch, so lead me to the museum! So cute. You know it’s a happy ending which I adore soooooo if you don’t like happiness just move along🧹
October 22, 2024
Αυτό το βιβλίο ΔΕΝ είναι cosy fantasy, μη βλέπεις το παιχνιδιάρικο εξώφυλλο και τον υποσχόμενο τίτλο, είναι ένα βρώμικο smut. Ένα κακό βρώμικο smut. Ούτε cosy, ούτε και ιδιαίτερα fantasy.
October 22, 2024
A very special, heartfelt, steamy and spooky read. This was adorable!!!
December 13, 2024
I swear this is not the cover that I own 😅
this is the one I have 9781804949894
because I do NOT like Cantoon Covers
ok, the review
I wanted this book to hit for me so bad
a debut novel for a half-Moroccan female author? Yes, please
but reading through, I was getting more uncomfortable and frustrated
The feeling this book gave is "trying so hard to fit in 😒"
Imagine a new POC student in an All-white woke school, they'd stand out like a sore thumb. So the student tries their best to fit in by imitating the others and squeezing their culture to also fit the others'!!!!
A Bi half-Moroccon witch falls for a Tall-dark haired huge very fit "museum curator" (probably from lifting all those boxes) who has TWO MOMS! what are the odds!!!😒😒😒
now before you twist your panties, I have no problem with LGBTQ books. In fact 2 of my top five stars this year is from and about the community.
but as I said, TRYING TOO HARD.
Let's talk about the other uncomfortable "issue"
My sister-in-Law is Moroccan and one of the things we discuss is how stereotypical Moroccan people get for being "witches". Unfortunately, most of this comes from people going there to seek dark magic witches to "make other fall for them" or "separate couples" or " cause harm".
This book will not help the cause at all. But it is not my place to defend a culture I am not part of.
However, reading a scene where Dina, the main lead, her mother and two of her friends take off their clothes and dance butt naked under the moonlight as a "cultural ritual" was very very very uncomfortable.
Then, seeing her love interest in the forest and casually coming up behind him...butt naked!!!... to ask "what are you doing?"🙄😁🤪😒
every other romantic situations and sex scenes in the book was very cliched and hit every trope and phrases....so nothing new here
the Conflict of the book was resolved in a non-climatic way
other things I did not like:
1- I hate medling-friends trope 😒
2- the "I bet I know how this will go": Ch13: i bet one of them will propose a " wedding fling" ....
Ch:16 and her it is 🤣😒
3- Hmmmm a museum curator who is claustrophobic...how does that work???
4- The white-dude knows more about the Moroccan culture than the half-Moroccan!!!
this is the one I have 9781804949894
because I do NOT like Cantoon Covers
ok, the review
I wanted this book to hit for me so bad
a debut novel for a half-Moroccan female author? Yes, please
but reading through, I was getting more uncomfortable and frustrated
The feeling this book gave is "trying so hard to fit in 😒"
Imagine a new POC student in an All-white woke school, they'd stand out like a sore thumb. So the student tries their best to fit in by imitating the others and squeezing their culture to also fit the others'!!!!
A Bi half-Moroccon witch falls for a Tall-dark haired huge very fit "museum curator" (probably from lifting all those boxes) who has TWO MOMS! what are the odds!!!😒😒😒
now before you twist your panties, I have no problem with LGBTQ books. In fact 2 of my top five stars this year is from and about the community.
but as I said, TRYING TOO HARD.
Let's talk about the other uncomfortable "issue"
My sister-in-Law is Moroccan and one of the things we discuss is how stereotypical Moroccan people get for being "witches". Unfortunately, most of this comes from people going there to seek dark magic witches to "make other fall for them" or "separate couples" or " cause harm".
This book will not help the cause at all. But it is not my place to defend a culture I am not part of.
However, reading a scene where Dina, the main lead, her mother and two of her friends take off their clothes and dance butt naked under the moonlight as a "cultural ritual" was very very very uncomfortable.
Then, seeing her love interest in the forest and casually coming up behind him...butt naked!!!... to ask "what are you doing?"🙄😁🤪😒
every other romantic situations and sex scenes in the book was very cliched and hit every trope and phrases....so nothing new here
the Conflict of the book was resolved in a non-climatic way
other things I did not like:
1- I hate medling-friends trope 😒
2- the "I bet I know how this will go": Ch13: i bet one of them will propose a " wedding fling" ....
Ch:16 and her it is 🤣😒
3- Hmmmm a museum curator who is claustrophobic...how does that work???
4- The white-dude knows more about the Moroccan culture than the half-Moroccan!!!
October 20, 2024
dnf @ 60%
Oh man, I'm really on a DNF streak right now. It's DNF season, you might say. This one hurts the most though, because I really really loved the start of it, and talked to people about how much I was enjoying it, and now I literally can't get myself to listen to more of it, even just to write a better and more complete review. I've listened to very very few audiobooks, and I thought I'd finally try it out. I got this for free on the Audible free trial, and I really really genuinely enjoyed it. The narrators are great, it helped me sleep much better, and the cute and cosy vibes had me goofy smiling on my walk to uni. Our main character Dina is a kitchen witch, and she bakes all sort of wonderful magical baked goods for her café she runs in London. At the beginning, there's lots of lovely descriptions of her baked goods, her baking them with her friends, the charms she weaves into them, etc. Plus, she meets Scott, who's a curator at the British Museum; they have a shared interest in amulets of protection, it's very cute!
Unfortunately, about 1/4 of the way through, this slowly morphed into Heteronormativity: The Book to me. I enjoyed the unique vibes, the way that Dina shares her Moroccan heritage, the emphasis that Scott and Dina are not completely stereotypical model-looking people, etc, and I hoped that attitude to writing would transfer to the romance elements too, but alas. There's a lot of emphasis early on that Dina is bisexual - she ended up cursed from a relationship she had with a girl in college (and that's also why she won't tell her family about the curse, she worries about her parents reaction (which I'm not sure is well-explained but oh well)). She talks/thinks a lot about how she doesn't normally date men really, how she finds relationships with women so much easier and finds them so much hotter. Rather than making her seem #woke or whatever, it has the opposite effect - it means that her relationship with Scott is proving the saying that, "you just haven't found the right man." Because she seems so secure in her sexuality until she meets him, and then it's all, "but Scott is so different and special when it's him"... give me a break. But, don't worry, it gets worse. As the relationship develops we get increasing amounts of my least favourite romance novel trope - "look how tiny this girl is". Scott shakes her hand and his hands completely envelope hers. He holds a coffee mug and. well. completely envelopes it. He can pick her up with ease. He's extremely ripped but in a chill way, I guess. And then he starts getting all weird and possessive and talks about how he'll protect her and she gets excited!! Because she's happy she can just turn her brain off around him and he'll make the decisions!! WHAT THE FUCK!! She's an independent woman with her own café and friends and cat and all of a sudden this man waltzes in and it feels like it all goes out the window. Like literally, I just tried listening to the bit where I left off and it's him picking her up and plopping her across the room. I don't know, maybe my complaints sound crazy. And if this book existed in a vacuum, maybe they would be. But it's a trend that pisses me off. I don't understand why so many, I'm assuming women, are desperate to read about boring-ass traditional heteronormative relationships where they have no power. I just can't take it seriously. And all of this is ignoring the gratuitous sex, which I didn't enjoy, and worse the way that sex just starts to take over the whole book. Can we please stop putting cute covers on the front of erotica I just want to see a naked man chest and know what I'm getting myself into. I guess it's my own fault, I'm the sucker who keeps reading these things, but the first few chapters always trick me! They're cute and sweet and I hope the whole book will be like that, and then I'm 12 chapters in, and the guy can't even look at the girl drinking coffee or doing a hedge maze without talking about her magnificent ass and the way he wants to fuck her. I'm just so so tired of this type of book and honestly kind of disappointed by it. Normally I make excuses and I talk about how this is surely the right kind of book for someone, but I hope this isn't the right book for anyone. I'm sure it is though. Maybe that's the kind of relationship some people want. I think it's sad though. If you want to read about dom/sub relationships or something just read a book that's actually about that and acknowledges that it's a dynamic they're choosing at least, rather than this rather disgusting insinuation I came away with that this is just the natural way they fit together. I bet if this book was about Dina getting together with a woman they wouldn't have written it this way, and therefore I sentence El-Fassi to going away and reading some feminist theory and queer theory and also probably my favourite book Daughters of Darkness which has groundbreaking BDSM stories in it and also, vampires. Which is always worth something. Boo, hiss, tomatoes, etc.
Oh man, I'm really on a DNF streak right now. It's DNF season, you might say. This one hurts the most though, because I really really loved the start of it, and talked to people about how much I was enjoying it, and now I literally can't get myself to listen to more of it, even just to write a better and more complete review. I've listened to very very few audiobooks, and I thought I'd finally try it out. I got this for free on the Audible free trial, and I really really genuinely enjoyed it. The narrators are great, it helped me sleep much better, and the cute and cosy vibes had me goofy smiling on my walk to uni. Our main character Dina is a kitchen witch, and she bakes all sort of wonderful magical baked goods for her café she runs in London. At the beginning, there's lots of lovely descriptions of her baked goods, her baking them with her friends, the charms she weaves into them, etc. Plus, she meets Scott, who's a curator at the British Museum; they have a shared interest in amulets of protection, it's very cute!
Unfortunately, about 1/4 of the way through, this slowly morphed into Heteronormativity: The Book to me. I enjoyed the unique vibes, the way that Dina shares her Moroccan heritage, the emphasis that Scott and Dina are not completely stereotypical model-looking people, etc, and I hoped that attitude to writing would transfer to the romance elements too, but alas. There's a lot of emphasis early on that Dina is bisexual - she ended up cursed from a relationship she had with a girl in college (and that's also why she won't tell her family about the curse, she worries about her parents reaction (which I'm not sure is well-explained but oh well)). She talks/thinks a lot about how she doesn't normally date men really, how she finds relationships with women so much easier and finds them so much hotter. Rather than making her seem #woke or whatever, it has the opposite effect - it means that her relationship with Scott is proving the saying that, "you just haven't found the right man." Because she seems so secure in her sexuality until she meets him, and then it's all, "but Scott is so different and special when it's him"... give me a break. But, don't worry, it gets worse. As the relationship develops we get increasing amounts of my least favourite romance novel trope - "look how tiny this girl is". Scott shakes her hand and his hands completely envelope hers. He holds a coffee mug and. well. completely envelopes it. He can pick her up with ease. He's extremely ripped but in a chill way, I guess. And then he starts getting all weird and possessive and talks about how he'll protect her and she gets excited!! Because she's happy she can just turn her brain off around him and he'll make the decisions!! WHAT THE FUCK!! She's an independent woman with her own café and friends and cat and all of a sudden this man waltzes in and it feels like it all goes out the window. Like literally, I just tried listening to the bit where I left off and it's him picking her up and plopping her across the room. I don't know, maybe my complaints sound crazy. And if this book existed in a vacuum, maybe they would be. But it's a trend that pisses me off. I don't understand why so many, I'm assuming women, are desperate to read about boring-ass traditional heteronormative relationships where they have no power. I just can't take it seriously. And all of this is ignoring the gratuitous sex, which I didn't enjoy, and worse the way that sex just starts to take over the whole book. Can we please stop putting cute covers on the front of erotica I just want to see a naked man chest and know what I'm getting myself into. I guess it's my own fault, I'm the sucker who keeps reading these things, but the first few chapters always trick me! They're cute and sweet and I hope the whole book will be like that, and then I'm 12 chapters in, and the guy can't even look at the girl drinking coffee or doing a hedge maze without talking about her magnificent ass and the way he wants to fuck her. I'm just so so tired of this type of book and honestly kind of disappointed by it. Normally I make excuses and I talk about how this is surely the right kind of book for someone, but I hope this isn't the right book for anyone. I'm sure it is though. Maybe that's the kind of relationship some people want. I think it's sad though. If you want to read about dom/sub relationships or something just read a book that's actually about that and acknowledges that it's a dynamic they're choosing at least, rather than this rather disgusting insinuation I came away with that this is just the natural way they fit together. I bet if this book was about Dina getting together with a woman they wouldn't have written it this way, and therefore I sentence El-Fassi to going away and reading some feminist theory and queer theory and also probably my favourite book Daughters of Darkness which has groundbreaking BDSM stories in it and also, vampires. Which is always worth something. Boo, hiss, tomatoes, etc.
October 18, 2024
Question; why did I allow myself suffer through this??
Also, long text ahead.
This was by far the worst book I have ever read in my entire life, no kidding. It started out nicely and it gave some coziness at the very beginning, but suddenly, out of literally nowhere, the two main protagonists meet and everything goes downhill from there.
The only thing that you would see them say about each other, it’s how h-rny they are. I was literally disgusted by the thousands of times I read about their… genitalia. I am not joking.
50 shades of Grey was 50 times better than that; at least you could say there was some chemistry between the two main characters. But these two? The so - called - witch Dina and the hairy - sexy Scott (omg, how many times can someone talk about their lover’s body hair?)
The author repeats the same words and phrases in every.single.page. This story lacks imagination and sentiment — and it has such a limited vocabulary. It’s just soulless words.
The spice is not spicing- it’s cringe and it made me want to throw my book out of the window. No chemistry whatsoever, no loving times between them. Just animal instincts, which is good in some cases, but in this book, it was THE ONLY CASE.
Oh and the witch is cursed in this book, and there’s a supposed twist about it, which didn’t even make me bat my eyes. It didn’t change anything at all.
So in conclusion, I’m literally mourning the money I’ve spent- and I have never EVER regretted buying a book before, no matter how much I loved it or not . I’m only keeping my copy because of the book club I am in, as a let’s say “memory.”
It’s a mess, and if you want to hear me, don’t bother grab a copy. If you want to read it, don’t buy it, better find someone to borrow it from. Trust me.
Bad bad bad. If I could give it 0 stars, I would. The publishing house didn’t protect the “author.” They shouldn’t let her fall on her face like that. I’m sorry but this book was a bloodbath.
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of the cozy book cover or the way it’s promoted. It’s not like that AT ALL
Also, long text ahead.
This was by far the worst book I have ever read in my entire life, no kidding. It started out nicely and it gave some coziness at the very beginning, but suddenly, out of literally nowhere, the two main protagonists meet and everything goes downhill from there.
The only thing that you would see them say about each other, it’s how h-rny they are. I was literally disgusted by the thousands of times I read about their… genitalia. I am not joking.
50 shades of Grey was 50 times better than that; at least you could say there was some chemistry between the two main characters. But these two? The so - called - witch Dina and the hairy - sexy Scott (omg, how many times can someone talk about their lover’s body hair?)
The author repeats the same words and phrases in every.single.page. This story lacks imagination and sentiment — and it has such a limited vocabulary. It’s just soulless words.
The spice is not spicing- it’s cringe and it made me want to throw my book out of the window. No chemistry whatsoever, no loving times between them. Just animal instincts, which is good in some cases, but in this book, it was THE ONLY CASE.
Oh and the witch is cursed in this book, and there’s a supposed twist about it, which didn’t even make me bat my eyes. It didn’t change anything at all.
So in conclusion, I’m literally mourning the money I’ve spent- and I have never EVER regretted buying a book before, no matter how much I loved it or not . I’m only keeping my copy because of the book club I am in, as a let’s say “memory.”
It’s a mess, and if you want to hear me, don’t bother grab a copy. If you want to read it, don’t buy it, better find someone to borrow it from. Trust me.
Bad bad bad. If I could give it 0 stars, I would. The publishing house didn’t protect the “author.” They shouldn’t let her fall on her face like that. I’m sorry but this book was a bloodbath.
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of the cozy book cover or the way it’s promoted. It’s not like that AT ALL
October 6, 2024
This was a super fun and enjoyable book perfect for autumn! The story was super cosy as it was set in London and the countryside and I loved the magical elements to it but I didn’t realise the spice elements of the book would happen so quick!
November 9, 2024
This is such a cosy witchy romance, perfect for fall and a wonderful comfort read.
September 18, 2024
4.5 magical stars 🌟✨🪄
thank you dell romance for sending me the arc!
This was so so so whimsical, fun, and magical. If you're looking for something perfectly cozy for the fall, this is the book for you. while I knew with the word "hex" and "kitchen witch" in the description that this would be a book with spells and witches, I did not know how much there'd be??? I've never read a witchy romance before, so perhaps they're all this amazing. But spells and magic bled through every single page. It was such a fun read to get me excited for Halloween!
Dina is surrounded by a lovely array of characters. Her friends, Rosemary and Immy, were so much fun and I am SO excited for Rosemary's book!!! I loved how they were all very into the horror/gothic/witch scene. Who doesn't want to get married in a medieval, gothic, maybe haunted castle??? Where there's a meddling, fairy-witch cottage that Dina gets set up in?! Dina's mom and dad are also so sweet. The wedding shenanigans that occurred over the length of the book were addictive. I LOVE WEDDING SHENANIGANS!!!! Her and scott were soooo good together. Scott has such a mouth on him and I loved it!!! he can call me a good girl any day of the week. Plus who doesn't love the maid of honor x best man?!?!? that have already run into each other countless amounts of times?!?!?!
Scott and Dina were so good together. My only qualm was how insta their attraction was, but given how the novel unfolds, I'd say it was pretty necessary. Still, it was under a week that they began to fall in love, but I guess if magic is involved, anything is possible✨✨Scott was head over heels for Dina, was obsessed with her, was literally willing to die for her. Get you a man that does that within five days. And this was wonderfully spicy ;)
Read if you like:
-obsessed MMC's
-meddling houses (and family and friends)
-a talking cat
-MAGIC
-bisexual FMC and a wholesome coming out story
-wedding shenanigans
-forced proximity
-only one cottage!!!!!!!
thank you dell romance for sending me the arc!
This was so so so whimsical, fun, and magical. If you're looking for something perfectly cozy for the fall, this is the book for you. while I knew with the word "hex" and "kitchen witch" in the description that this would be a book with spells and witches, I did not know how much there'd be??? I've never read a witchy romance before, so perhaps they're all this amazing. But spells and magic bled through every single page. It was such a fun read to get me excited for Halloween!
Dina is surrounded by a lovely array of characters. Her friends, Rosemary and Immy, were so much fun and I am SO excited for Rosemary's book!!! I loved how they were all very into the horror/gothic/witch scene. Who doesn't want to get married in a medieval, gothic, maybe haunted castle??? Where there's a meddling, fairy-witch cottage that Dina gets set up in?! Dina's mom and dad are also so sweet. The wedding shenanigans that occurred over the length of the book were addictive. I LOVE WEDDING SHENANIGANS!!!! Her and scott were soooo good together. Scott has such a mouth on him and I loved it!!! he can call me a good girl any day of the week. Plus who doesn't love the maid of honor x best man?!?!? that have already run into each other countless amounts of times?!?!?!
Scott and Dina were so good together. My only qualm was how insta their attraction was, but given how the novel unfolds, I'd say it was pretty necessary. Still, it was under a week that they began to fall in love, but I guess if magic is involved, anything is possible✨✨Scott was head over heels for Dina, was obsessed with her, was literally willing to die for her. Get you a man that does that within five days. And this was wonderfully spicy ;)
Read if you like:
-obsessed MMC's
-meddling houses (and family and friends)
-a talking cat
-MAGIC
-bisexual FMC and a wholesome coming out story
-wedding shenanigans
-forced proximity
-only one cottage!!!!!!!
October 22, 2024
what a delightful surprise of a romance read for me. very off my radar and honestly the cover is v v v cute but i would not have guessed it was that spicy! like lite bum-stuff spicy! also, our main character is a bisexual witch of Moroccan descent who bakes her magic into delicious sounding treats, and she's cursed // hexed after a spate of bad breakups. Anyone who she falls in love with ends up hurt, so when she immediately starts following for the very handsome museum curator who is also attending her best friend's wedding, that's a PROBLEM.
the whole "keep it casual" but let's bang anyways was so not going to work for these two who are absolutely perfect for each other.
I absolutely loved the supporting cast of characters and cannot wait to read more about the other friends!
the whole "keep it casual" but let's bang anyways was so not going to work for these two who are absolutely perfect for each other.
I absolutely loved the supporting cast of characters and cannot wait to read more about the other friends!
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September 22, 2024
What a way to start the Halloween season!
This book was the equivalent of a gorgeous cup of hot chocolate: comforting like a warm hug and completely melting right down to the bone.
I loved Dina. I loved Scott. I loved Heebie and all of the supporting characters.
What I fell in love with, though, was the cozy world El-Fassi created. It was so good. A perfect autumn evening. Everything in this felt like it was written exactly for me (I know it wasn't, but whatever). From the rowing to the magic to the baking to Dina's bisexuality to the sex scenes to literally everything, it was everything I wanted from Practical Magic and then some.
I am SO looking forward to book 2...next year.
I received an ARC from the publisher>
This book was the equivalent of a gorgeous cup of hot chocolate: comforting like a warm hug and completely melting right down to the bone.
I loved Dina. I loved Scott. I loved Heebie and all of the supporting characters.
What I fell in love with, though, was the cozy world El-Fassi created. It was so good. A perfect autumn evening. Everything in this felt like it was written exactly for me (I know it wasn't, but whatever). From the rowing to the magic to the baking to Dina's bisexuality to the sex scenes to literally everything, it was everything I wanted from Practical Magic and then some.
I am SO looking forward to book 2...next year.
I received an ARC from the publisher>
June 11, 2024
3.5/5 rounded up because this book was a lot of fun.
I've never read a cozy witchy paranormal romance but I thought this was a good read. The fmc is Moroccan, lives in London, and owns her her own cafe. She has had a terrible time finding love after a hex was put on her by her ex-girlfriend so anytime she's in a relationship or likes someone they get hurt. She meets the mmc and there's that instant lust between them and she has to figure out what to do about the hex and magic etc. Despite the instant lust, there was a lot of chemistry between the main characters and I found their romance very believable. There's a lot of spice in this book(like a lot) and I was so surprised by it because of the cozy cute cover lol. The fmc is a chaotic bisexual and I liked that, i wish the mmc had been a little more fleshed out but overall I think this is a good fast-paced cozy romance. Thank you Dell for the arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- Paranormal romance
- Bipoc fmc
- Witchy vibes
- Instant lust
- Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Praise kink
I've never read a cozy witchy paranormal romance but I thought this was a good read. The fmc is Moroccan, lives in London, and owns her her own cafe. She has had a terrible time finding love after a hex was put on her by her ex-girlfriend so anytime she's in a relationship or likes someone they get hurt. She meets the mmc and there's that instant lust between them and she has to figure out what to do about the hex and magic etc. Despite the instant lust, there was a lot of chemistry between the main characters and I found their romance very believable. There's a lot of spice in this book(like a lot) and I was so surprised by it because of the cozy cute cover lol. The fmc is a chaotic bisexual and I liked that, i wish the mmc had been a little more fleshed out but overall I think this is a good fast-paced cozy romance. Thank you Dell for the arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- Paranormal romance
- Bipoc fmc
- Witchy vibes
- Instant lust
- Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Praise kink
Shelved as 'dnf-books'
June 10, 2024I didn't really give this book that much of a chance, which is why i'm not rating it/ or counting it towards my reading goal. But if I'm being honest, I just don't see myself enjoying this... I'm barely into it and the characters just keep talking about how hot they find each other, and I can tell that this is gonna be wayyy spicier that what I tend to enjoy, so I'm just gonna save myself the headache. The autumns vibes were pretty good though!
⋆ ❱ ✧˖° ✰ ꒱꒱ ⋆˚.
I don't know why I requested this arc tbh 💀 but I need my feedback ratio to increase sooo...
⋆ ❱ ✧˖° ✰ ꒱꒱ ⋆˚.
I don't know why I requested this arc tbh 💀 but I need my feedback ratio to increase sooo...
October 12, 2024
The main characters really needed a cold shower…
Shelved as 'dnf-did-not-finish'
October 31, 2024DNF @60% idk why I kept reading…. The amount of times this man said he was hard was ridiculous like ok??? Maybe get checked. Way too insta lovely more like insta lust. The author literally just jam packed everything everyone likes about mmcs and called it a day. He’s tall and nerdy, but wait he also has tattoos!! Oh he growls & calls u a good girl. the execution is not there immediately no
October 11, 2024
I thought the reviews were exaggerating at first but my god. If you’re gonna shove a romance in 280 pages it needs to be believable. The insta love/lust really got in the way of the plot and the characters being well fleshed out. Cozy romance can be spicy but this was just beyond. I’m talking literally going from 0 to 100.
I was not convinced these two people were falling in love after knowing each other for a few days. And the whole book has a classic case of telling and not showing.
So disappointed as I was really looking forward to this one!
I was not convinced these two people were falling in love after knowing each other for a few days. And the whole book has a classic case of telling and not showing.
So disappointed as I was really looking forward to this one!
October 23, 2024
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