Josh has ancestors were witch hunters.Essie is a witch, living with a coven in a house invisible to the outside world. They shouldn’t really have met at all, let alone felt that spark between them. There a million different obstacles in their way, including amnesia and family secrets. Can they overcome their shared history?

I have read a stack of witchy reads recently and I was looking forward to starting Hex Appeal. It started off well enough and I enjoyed the quirky house Essie lived in, but where it was supposed to be funny, it just felt a bit silly - case in point that greenhouse that makes you horny. Though I did laugh at the mimicking parrots who sqwark “f*^%%king men!”. I did skip ahead and I didn’t feel like I had missed a great deal. I did think the chapter at the end explaining that point in history was a good addition.
I can’t say I would recommend it because there are other, much better books for you to read in spooky season.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The synopsis to Hex Appeal sounded like a fun, wholesome, witchy read for this time of the year, so I eagerly signed up to read it.

However, the author's attempts at writing something whimsy and delightfully nonsensical fell over the border into pretentiously ridiculous, and I found myself skimming from an early stage in the book as it wasn't enjoyable at all. I would have DNF'd this if it wasn't an eARC copy.

The characters and the happenings within this book were chaotic at best, and whilst I attempted to see the charms and whimsy flair of Beldam House, I simply found myself exasperated by how nonsensical and implausible it felt to read. Many of the conflicts in this book rose from miscommunication or hasty assumptions and were often resolved with far too much convenience - such as how Essie's gift hurt others in the past and how Josh conveniently had the ability to counteract it. It didn't make me want to root for the characters or follow deeply along with their journey.

A shame, as I really was looking forward to this book.

American Josh travels to Good Winter, Essex to take care of a house left to him after his father and grandmother passed away. What he finds there is a witch- Essie- who is living in a house, which he owns, that hasn’t been paid for in hundreds of years and has an enchantment to make people forget it once they leave. Essie is a winter witch whose job is to welcome winter ever year. When Josh doesn’t seem to fully forget Essie or Bedlam house after he leaves and premonitions start foretelling disaster, Essie has to figure out what is going on and realizes the secrets that have been kept from her for her entire life.

Wow wow wow!!! this book had everything a fan of spooky season and/or witchy reads could possibly want. There is a love story, awesome magic, real calamity that lasts hundreds of years, time travel, a baby, home renovation, ghosts, Witchfinders, houses owing billions of dollars in back rent, LGBTQIA+ representation, etc. Truly, it is amazing. One would think with all of these aspects some would be done better than others- let me tell you, that is not the case. This book was expertly written. I cannot imagine how long it took to plan, write, and edit such a complete, comprehensive, and cohesive witchy rom-com. I am so glad this book comes out soon because I cannot wait for others to read it. I think it is everything one could want and the perfect spooky season read for all- from people who like cozy familiar witchy reads to people who are in it for the dark vibes. Seriously, I am so pleased with this story. I want more. I want a show/movie so I can see Bedlam house. I want to learn about the other characters. I completely lost myself in the story and did not want to find my way out.

Thank you to @netgalley and One More Chapter for the advance copy of this book. As soon as I read the description “Encanto meets Hocus Pocus” I knew this was a novel I had to check out.

Essie is a winter witch who lives with her found family (coven) of other witches in a rambling magical house full of surprises because it is constantly changing. Her usual winter ritual is thrown off course when newcomer Josh and his sister come to town.

I loved this fresh and festive book! The characters are well developed and feel like real people, and the plot is fun and fast paced. At times it got a bit convoluted, but every time I thought it would go off course, Johnson was able to draw me back in. I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a great October read around Halloween. I would love for this to become a movie one day!

Hex Appeal has all the ingredients of the perfect Fall read. A bit of family drama. A bit of witchiness. A bit of love. A bit of saving the world from Evil.

Although I enjoyed reading it, I felt that I wasn't able to fully immerse myself in Essie and Josh's world. Essie was a wonderful female lead and it was fun to read about her journey. The side characters were UH-MAAAZZZIINGGG! I found myself yearning to read more about them instead of the main characters.

The story begins in a small English town where Josh has just arrived. He has inherited a large chunk of estates in the small town. However, he is astonished to know that a few estates that he now owns haven't given rent in hundreds of years. Essie is a witch living in one of the mysterious estates owned by Josh. They come across each other and love starts brewing. However, love isn't the only thing that connects them. They both have a past that can alter their relationship and possibly destroy the world!

If you're in the mood of a cozy Hallmark witchy book, pick it up this spooky season!

I'll give it 4/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

* Received a copy for review.*
I love a quirky book. The beginning of this book was exactly what I wanted. A hapless man, in a situation way out of his comfort zone meets a woman who seems to have impossible things going on around her. The female MC is quirky and not exactly memorable. As a matter of fact, the male MC can’t really remember much about her or her home.
The quirkiness went beyond the pale snd stopped being fun. There is definitely an awesome die fe for this book but it’s not me.

Can a decendant of a witch hunter and a witch fall in love?

This book has a cozy witch romance type vibe, but it gets a little more complex after some time travel happens. I like the fact that Essie and the other witches at Bedlam have the luxury of having others forget things that have happened or even that their house exists. Of course that is one of the driving forces of the plot.

I liked Josh's character from the sense that he was really trying to find something new for himself and wasn't afraid of a little adventure. His half sister came off a bit as a spoiled brat, but I think that was intentional.

Once the book got going around halfway I really started to enjoy it, but the first half was soooo slow. I get introducing the characters and background, but I wanted more action.

What I got out of it was a cozy witch book that got me into the upcoming Halloween spirt.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy for my honest review.

Cute witchy romance. Essie was a mess and fun to follow for the ride. I liked the side characters almost more than the main ones.

Oh my goodness. I don’t know where to start. This book gave me all the feels, in a very good way. It brought me back to my witch loving days when I spent all my free time watching Sabrina the teenage witch, Charmed etc. And of course reading all the witchy books I could get my hands on! It hade such a good story and plotline, never wanted to put it down. The story wrapped up really nicely but also gave an opening for more books to come (which I’m really hoping for!) Perfect read for fall and for Halloween. Curl up in your favourite reading spot with a cup of tea and this amazing book, and you will have a lovely and entertaining time! Thank you for this!

🐈‍⬛ Hex Appeal ARC Review 🐈‍⬛

Hex Appeal follows Josh as he moves into a rundown house in the English countryside. While there, he runs into Essie and he quickly discovers things aren’t quite as they seem.

This book was super cute and fluffy. Not a lot of angst between the characters and the story flowed smoothly. Essie and Josh worked really well together and I enjoyed their story - but it definitely had that Hallmark vibe that things worked out perfectly. The side characters were intriguing and I feel like the author has set up the opportunity for more books in the future.

Overall, I feel like this book was a solid 3 stars. I felt like there were some things that were not addressed or felt unfinished, but I’m thinking this will potentially be addressed in future books. Only one flame as there was only one smexy scene and a few kisses throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a cute witchy book this spooky season, definitely check this one out!! Hex Appeal releases on October 1st - just in time for Halloween!!!

Please note: review will be posted on Amazon upon release - so no link is available at this time!

Josh Henderson needs a fresh start. His dad left him a house in Britain, so he escapes Seattle and settles into his newly inherited estate. He meets Essie, a local witch, while searching for a house that owes his estate rent. Neither of them expect what comes next!

This is a cute Hallmark-ish witchy story! I like that there was a slow burn element throughout the book. Josh and Essie are so adorable together, and even though their timeline was fast, it still felt like a natural progression of their relationship. I really enjoyed the mystery and historical aspects of the plot as well. The supporting characters are all diverse, and I appreciate that Avery is so comfortable with their gender-fluidity.

Hex Appeal is a light spooky season read that gives Halloweentown vibes. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a romantic Fall/Winter read that isn't heavy on horror.

I really liked this one! I was in the mood for a witchy romance & this was the perfect book for that. The characters were fun & quirky. At times it felt a little slow, but overall really enjoyed!

| About |

Essie Winterscale lives in a huge and ever-changing house in the village of Good Winter, in deepest, darkest Essex. She lives with various witches of various ages, one of whom is still a bit salty about having been burned at the stake in 1635, one who keeps accidentally casting fertility spells, and one who knits things that create the future.
All Essie ever wanted was to have a normal life but in the end she found herself drawn back to Beldam House because she just can’t stop her witchiness (although the ability to instantly chill wine is pretty awesome, even she has to admit).
Into this coven of chaos stumbles gorgeous, clueless Josh, their new landlord – and he’s just discovered his tenants haven’t paid rent since the 1700s! As Josh is drawn further into the lives of the inhabitants of Beldam House, Essie is determined to keep him at broomstick’s length. That is, until a family secret, lying hidden for centuries, puts Josh firmly under her spell…


| Thoughts |

Quick read, very imaginative. Loved the characters and the fact that one was based loosely on some history. Filled with laughs, love and interesting tidbits of history and witchcraft. A must read for lovers of fall, witches and romance!

Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson is a clever witchy romcom, perfect reading as we head into spooky season, especially if you like your spook with a little more steam than scream.
Essie Winterscale is a witch who lives in the magical and mysterious Beldam House in Essex with a group of other witches, including one who knits the future and another who specialises in fertility ,oh and of course one who was burned at the stake in 1635. Essie's gift is the ability to freeze, though she mostly uses it to chill wine. She never expected to fall for their new landlord , Josh but there's just something about him, and its not just his handsome face but more the fact that he seems to be immune to the protective spells that the witches use to make others forget about them and their abilities. He's keen to collect the rent, something that hasn't been done since the 1700s, but soon finds himself drawn to Essie and her bunch of unlikely comrades. and as the book unfolds it becomes clear that their relationship may be down to fate, and a family secret.
This was a really fun and light hearted read with a host of charming and engaging characters. I loved all the residents of Beldam house, and thought their abilities were exceptionally cleverly thought out and used in the story. The house is almost a character in its own right, which might be where some of the Encanto comparisons are coming from. The chemistry is there between Essie and Josh, and I liked the pacing of the development of their relationship The paranormal storyline added a nice extra dimension and it was well worked into the overall plot. I really enjoyed this book a lot and will definitely be recommending it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this read!

I was excited to read this book because I felt like it would be perfect to start of fall/spooky season. I read The Ex Hex around this time last year & expected this to be similar! The romance & quirky witch vibes were definitely the same, but I didn’t find the plot to be as good.

I really did love all of the characters in this book. Essie was a badass who did whatever she had to do to protect those she loves. Avery was my favorite of the other witches. I thought their style & whole vibe was great. Siena really grew on me as the story went on & her sibling relationship with Josh, who was a sweetie, was so cute.

Picturing the witches’ house & all of the animals & magic that went on was so fun for me! I feel like the descriptions were detailed enough to make it clear but also vague enough for there to be some creative liberty in my mind.

I will say, I didn’t totally love the plot of this book! The romance was pretty cute & the characters were lovable, but the obstacles the witches had to face were very confusing to me. I get the big picture of what happened, but some of the hows & whys were never made very clear. I feel like the conflict could have been more enjoyable had it been clearer & less detailed.

This definitely wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, but it wasn’t my favorite either. This is only the second witchy rom com I’ve ever read, but I would recommend The Ex Hex before I would recommend this! That being said, you enjoyed The Ex Hex & like fantasy rom coms, you may enjoy this. It comes out on October 1, just in time for the Halloween month

3.75 stars rounded up

The Hex Appeal is perfect if you are looking for a book you can grab on a fall day, curl up in a blanket with hot chocolate {or coffee} and lose yourself in a rom com that contains witches, a quirky home and animals that talk. Is it going to blow your mind? Probably not. Are you going to get excited for all things fall + Halloween after reading it? Absolutely.

Thanks, @Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

The Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson left me confused. Honestly I think I spent this entire book confused. Somewhere in the quirkiness of the characters there was a plot but at no point was I entirely sure what I was reading. I really wanted to love this book. I was expecting it to get me into the fall/Halloween mood but instead I was confused. I love the title, the cover, and the writing was charming but that doesn’t make up for the lack of cohesiveness.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun read, the story of Essie and Josh. I liked how it was told from both points of view and look forward to more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts are my own.

I wanted to like this like really really wanted too but I just didn’t. It was boring in my opinion. It took me forever to read it because I literally had to make myself finish it. I feel like the potential is there but it just needs more work.

I love a good romcom book and I love books about witches even more so I was excited for this book but it just wasn’t it for me. The sex scene was awkward, the back and forth about him not remembering her was tedious especially in the end when he reminded her of her promise (so he got his memory back) but then the next day after doing his own spell, he remembered other stuff that he should’ve already remembered since he got his memory back the day prior. It just didn’t make sense to me and I feel like that whole scene was just a more filler words for the book.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

Cozy little witchy book for Fall. The central mystery was a little odd and I'd have preferred to spend more time in Beldam House than with the romancy sections but overall those who like their pumpkin spiced lattes sprinkled with cinnamon should like this one.