Recent Reads: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling 

Publisher: Avon
Publication Date:  September 28th 2021

 

Format: Hardback
Source: October BOTM

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late. 

Review: 

I understand that this book is everywhere right now and for good reason - it is wonderful. If you are looking for a sexy adult read with a witchy, Halloween focus - this one is it.

The book begins with Vivi and her cousin casting a curse on a guy named Rhys because he sent all the wrong messages and Vivi felt forced to break up with him. Now nine years later, Rhys is back in her town and finds himself cursed and causing issues in Graves Glen, not only for himself but for everyone that lives there. Vivi realizes her mistake and the terror it is causing, they must now work together to reverse the curse and set things right in her home. 

I really enjoyed this book but was very surprise by a few things. First, the story is told from alternating point of view and so we read from Vivi's side as well as Rhys'. Being that the book is about him, I am not sure why I was surprised by this but it was fun to get both sides of this romance. Another surprise was how sexy this romance was, I generally don't read a lot of romance, especailly ones that I have heard are super sexy, but this was done well and in spirts and I think that it fit in well with the story. I loved Vivi and Rhys' chemistry and how everything unfolded. 

Other things that I loved - witches! I love them, I love books about them and this was another that I have loved. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the humans and the witches in this town and the college that teaches both, it was very interesting and I would love to deep dive into this world more. I also really enjoyed other characters, Vivi's aunt and cousin are fun and funny and they help her and make her stronger in so mnay ways - I loved seeing this familial support. Rhys