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Cover of The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex

308 pages

A cozy, pumpkin-spiced romp full of crackling chemistry and spooky-cute magical mishaps.

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into the ultimate cozy autumn fantasy, complete with crisp air, spiked cider, and crackling romantic tension. It is a brisk, delightful romp that leans heavily into the spooky-cute aesthetics of a beloved 90s Halloween movie, but with a decidedly grown-up, swoony edge. The narrative is driven by snappy banter and the chaotic, hilarious consequences of unresolved heartbreak, keeping the tone lighthearted even when magical mishaps threaten the town. The prose is conversational and immersive, wrapping the reader in a warm, festive atmosphere. It is the perfect escape for anyone who wants a low-stakes, high-chemistry second-chance romance that perfectly captures the playful, mischievous spirit of the spooky season.

Mood
  • autumnal
  • cozy
  • festive
  • spooky-cute
Tone
  • playful
  • wry
  • swoony
  • lighthearted
Pace
brisk
Themes
second chances · unresolved tension · hometown nostalgia · the chaos of heartbreak
The writing
Snappy and conversational, driven by witty banter and rich with sensory, pumpkin-spiced details.
The arc
Moves from lingering resentment and chaotic magical mishaps to a warm, passionate reconciliation.
Who it's for
Anyone looking for a cozy, low-stakes Halloween rom-com that feels like watching a beloved 90s witch movie with a glass of spiked cider.
Content notes
  • mild peril
  • alcohol consumption

About the book

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.

Description from Open Library.

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