Prophesied to be the most powerful witch, Mariel Spark feels far from such a glorious title, especially as a descendant of the famed Spark family. She prefers the comfort of her kitchen and greenhouse over the magic in her veins. When a summon goes wrong, and instead of flour to bake, Mariel accidentally called a demon, and to make matters worse, unknowingly enters a soul bargain with him.

I love randomly requesting books on Netgalley because I find gems like this. A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was an utter delight. Never thought I would find myself so heavily invested in the life of a witch and demon fake dating to hide the fact that she summoned a demon onto Earth from her overbearing mother.

Mariel is a charming woman with a whole lot of love to go around, but to her family, it means nothing if she can’t wield the magic within her to a more respectable use than tending to her garden. Her mother is a textbook narcissist who is convinced that Mariel simply isn’t trying hard enough and threatens to cut off financial support for her education if Mariel doesn’t improve soon. And as she is in the middle of baking, Mariel tries her luck to summon flour but summons a demon instead. In comes, Ozroth (or Oz), who is in a similar situation where he must regain the respect of the demon elders, which means taking Mariel’s soul back with him. A witch’s soul is their magic, so Mariel isn’t planning on parting with it so quickly. So he’s stuck on Earth until he can figure out a way to get it from her. But that also means he can’t leave her side, which is becomes a problem explaining his presence to her mother. Rather than admit her spellcasting failure, Mariel blurts out that Oz is actually her boyfriend. As Mariel struggles to combat an ongoing development that will threaten the wildlife in her town, Oz has a limited time to make a deal, and as the two struggle to maintain their fake relationship, a real one happens between them.

I always adore an excellent reluctant friends-to-lovers story, and Mariel and Oz’s chemistry was hilarious and heart-warming. Who wouldn’t want a fake demon boyfriend who defends you against your shitty family? Although it falls victim to the typical third-act miscommunication trope, which definitely could’ve been done better, Mariel and Oz are hilarious. I found myself laughing through all their interactions. Considering Mariel summoned one of the worst demons you could call upon, she keeps her head straight despite Oz’s cheeky attempts to take her soul; both are equally loveable.

A Witch’s Guide is Hawley’s debut, and I was immensely impressed at her ability to craft hilarious and relatable inner monologues for both Mariel and Oz. An entertaining paranormal romance which makes me super excited to read its sequel, which surprisingly follows a secondary character I had not expected.

This book!! Holy fucking shit. It was funny as hell. I loved the relationship between Oz and Mariel and the journey they take. Especially the way that Oz helps Mariel stand up for herself even though he can't stand her.

I can't wait for book 2!

This was A LOT of fun and I read it in almost one sitting. A witch and a demon find themselves stuck together after a spell goes wrong and they soon find themselves attracted to each other. It's got fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, only one bed and so many other tropes.

There's also an exploration of toxic family relationships, especially the relationship between Mariel and her mother. I loved the friendship group Mariel has and have my fingers crossed that the next book features Calladia. The magical setting was wonderfully whimsical and I really found myself engrossed in the story.

(The only off-putting thing was I kept saying Muriel Spark - the author - instead of Mariel Spark but that's just me 😂).

A sweet and charming supernatural romance with forced proximity, grumpy vs sunshine, enemies to lovers, and fake dating (obviously)! Basically, all my favourite tropes mixed up in my favourite genres - romance and supernatural/fantasy. This was a really fun read and I loved seeing bamboozled-by-the-human-world demon Ozreth the Ruthless navigate small town life, his recent change in circumstances and his growing feelings for the chaotic, talented, downtrodden, sunshine of a person, Mariel, who summoned him into her kitchen. These two aren’t afraid to share their vulnerabilities with each other and boost each other up when they need it. I’m all about strong, independent women but I do love to see a man ferociously fighting his woman’s corner (with words, of course) when others try to walk all over her. This was a pair with chemistry, having some deep and meaningful conversations, though they did miss out on some traditional dating.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was such a fun, cosy and laugh out loud read! I really enjoyed the world that the author created and loved Oz and Mariel so much. I adore them and this book. Definitely picking up a physical copy once its released so I can annotate!!!!!

Brilliantly engaging, witty and well crafted debut!

Mariel is in the running for worst witch ever. Unless it's to do with nature or Kitchen Magic, her magic goes haywire and she's not exactly living up to the prophecy her mother insists she was given about her being a super powerful witch, Her latest disaster transports a Demon into her kitchen. A demon who seems to defy her stereotypes and somehow helps her magic smooth out.

Oz is supposed to be a ruthless deal maker, bargainer of souls. But since he managed to zap a soul into himself he's been having...feelings! Now saddled with a witch who won't make a bargain he's stuck on the Earth plane until he either gets her to make a deal or his mentor catches wind of his failings and takes matter into his own hands!

Oh poor Mariel! With a mother like hers my magic would be all clogged up too! Her family, with the exception of one ancient warlock, all leave a lot to be desired. Thankfully her wonderfully eclectic collection of friends get her through life. You do not want to mess to Callidia - she takes bada%%ery to a new level!

I loved the messages of environmentalism woven through the story. Oz and Mariel are actually two sides of the same coin. Both failing at what should be easy for them, given their pedigrees. However, they are both more than the sum of their parts. Oz is protective, well meaning and downright gentle. Mariel fails to see her true worth, much in part due to Mommy Dearest.

The witty repartee is on point and I loved all the weird bargains Oz tried to get Mariel to fall for. I loved all the secondary characters too - especially a certain grumpy Werewolf.

I really enjoyed reading this story, it was the right mix of romance, magic and intrigue.
It wasn't hard going, it didn't try to make itself out to be some hard-hitting fantasy novel and the characters were fun and vividly imagined.

I would read more by this author

Received this copy as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review so here we go!

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️

I really love the idea behind this story and I found the mix between fantasy and romcom to be very appealing!

I liked that the FMC wasn’t aware of how powerful she was and it was such a pity her family would only value her if she accomplished “superior” spells and it kind of reminded me how we as a society work too: certain areas of education are seen as better than others; there’s always that lingering judgment.

The MMC is also a special demon - A demon with human emotions as he says - and I feel that their relationship only works because of it!

There was a big pet peeve of mine in this book and that’s why I’ve only rated 3.75⭐️… I’m usually good at ignoring it but the story itself wouldn’t let me forget it: the whole book is set in one week. After 3 days, both the FMC and MMC are ready to die for each other (almost). I feel that it would have benefited from a more prolonged time exposure…! And although the pace of the events was just right for me, the end felt a bit rushed - how come her family for years and years have mistreated her and seen her as a failure to suddenly change their minds in a week? I would have liked to have seen this in a more phased manner.

Regardless, this is a quick and nice witchy romcom book and I recommend it if you want to read a romcom that has a sparkle of magic to it!

This was soo good people. 

I requested this book on a whim in NetGalley, because, well just look at that title!! 

This was so cute, funny, smart and literally stirred all the feels for me. I laughed out loud multiple times and went to tears in a couple of instances, too. With fake dating and force proximity as main tropes and a few spicy scenes, I recommend this to all my paranormal romance lovers 

The banter between our main characters is great, and their chemistry is amazing. Loved to see how they fall in love, supporting each other and becoming great friends in addition to lovers.  

Our MMC is a demon that, from a bargain gone... in a different way than expected, has gained a soul, and this soul makes him experience feelings as humans do. It is so fun and interesting seeing Oz experimenting feeling in a way he had never before. And discovering how sentimental and sincere he is. 

Mariel, (who, for some reason I've been struggling to read her name correctly, and I've been calling Mirabel and imaging her as the main character of Disney Encanto 🤣 I have literally been fighting my own mind every time to read her name properly and imagine her as described! I managed by the end) our FMC is a witch very powerful but that struggles to perform most spells. She is so kind, quirky, and unsure of herself. Her family is not the most supportive, but despite everything, she is an amazing person and I share her love for nature and plants. She has a random train of thought that I loved to read, because my mind works the same way. I would make weird questions in the middle of a conversation that would look random for most people, but they are not for me. So it wasn't difficult for me to follow her. It was actually easier and more relatable. And everything she ask was already going through my mind. 

They live in a very magical and quirky town that was very fun to read about and picture in my mind. There is a great plot about saving the forest and bargains with demons plus, of course, the romance.

I don't want to go into more detail because I would end up making spoilers and I don't want that, so I am just gonna say. 

You all need to read this. 




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So much fun! This was a romantic romp that hit all the right notes. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the way the main couple worked so well together and also the family dynamic was really quite something.
It was also interesting discovering how the author dealt with magic, demons and different realms. I’m really hoping that there’s a series of three or four books with a big reveal arcing across them all, it’s definitely a world I’d like to read more about.

This was a really sweet and charming read, the title instantly gained my attention, being a lover of fake dating and all things magic I was drawn in but was surprised to find that I wasn't hooked on the story and I cant quite put a finger on why.
The characters were lovable and both go through a great character arc, particularly Mariel who learns and quite literally blossoms throughout the story, I think there was little action to keep me really interested and I found the story very predictable throughout making the pacing a little slow for me.
Although there is a fake dating element, for me, its not for the main part of the story, they move through their enemies to fake dating to lovers quickly, I would have loved a little more awkwardness around the fake dating or a longer period of resistance.

I love the connection to nature and the strong emphasis on embracing yourself and your own skills, I also loved the almost reverse 'chosen one' trope which was the only part of the story I wasn't expecting and really helped with a strong message of being yourself, great for YA readers.

Some great side characters and I believe a spin off coming, if it has a little more action and a bit more tension I would go for it but for this book I would say it defiantly suits a casual romance readers, light hearted and nothing to deep or serious.

Thank you for providing me with an advanced copy.

Such a wonderful romance! I had the best time. It was cozy, it had a cast of wonderful characters and it was hooking.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is a cute and steamy romance. I really think this will be a popular romance, it's very readable and the characters have interesting personalities. If you like books like The Ex Hex and Payback's a Witch, you'll probably enjoy this!

I really enjoyed the romance, Mariel and Ozroth are both great. I loved the exploration of mortality and what it really means to be human, there are some really sweet moments! The general story is quite predictable but so are most romances, I think the stand-out part of this book is the character interactions, the banter between Mariel and Ozroth as they get to know each other was great.

I loved Mariel and Ozroth as characters but everything just needs a little more subtlety. The characterisations are quite extreme, Mariel's mother is a total stereotype of 'evil mother' and it just isn't realistic. I get that the town is a magical place and there are lots of different creatures and types of magic but it shouldn't stop humans from acting like humans.

One thing that didn't work for me was the commentary about the American healthcare and education systems, now I have no issue with this sort of thing in books and I think it's important that people learn and grow. The main issue was how it was actually presented to the reader, there's no subtlety or room for the reader to think for themselves, there's literally a sentence that says "Trust literal demons to be kinder to their children than the American education system". It would've worked a lot better if the situation was explored in the book and the reader was given on-page scenarios to come to that conclusion themselves, rather than just having an opinion in black and white and then moving on. It felt out of place for a cutesy romance book.

I want to start of by thanking, Sarah Hawley, Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group, Gollancz. For giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC read.

This story starts with a young witch (Mariel) who is extremely powerful! So powerful she accidentally summons a demon (Ozroth) and accidentally makes a bargin for her soul with said demon.

Mariel is a plant girly and is one with nature it is her natural calling. At the start both Ozroth and Mariel hate each other! Mariel didn’t mean to summon a demon and Ozroth just wants her soul 😂

Now at this point Mariels mom enters, wondering who this guy in Mariel home is?! Mariel quickly admits he is her boyfriend. To Ozroth disgust, mom is excited for this and organises a party for everyone to meet him, which Mariel and Ozroth are both ecstatic about (not)

Everyone seems to be very suspicious of Ozroth, who wouldn’t be? Her family come off as very demanding and expect a LOT from Mariel, which is extremely relatable.

Mariel and Ozroth soon develop a friendship and she shows him her pride and joy! The forest, while in the forest amongst a very interesting scene Mariel realised there is something wrong with the forest and this becomes a secondary plot to this book.

This story has misunderstandings, fake dating, and some spicy scenes. And that’s as much as I will talk about it! To find out the rest give it a read! Really easy read, flowing writing style. I really enjoyed the banter, humour and Ozroth is HOT. Mariel is a curvy lady and I love that is how she was portrayed.

I cannot wait to read the second book in the series and am eagerly awaiting that to be published.

This was a lot of fun. Mariel is so bad at summoning that she accidentally summons a demon instead of flour - and Ozroth can't leave until he has her soul, which she has no intention of giving him. in an attempt to get her over-bearing mother to give her some space, Mariel explains the presence of an attractive man in her house by saying he's her boyfriend, and it all spirals from there. Terrible local officials, including Mariel's mother, are intent on destroying the local forest to create a spa, which Mariel, her friends and Oz are determined to stop. Mariel is also a very gifted plant witch, aiming for the prizes at the local show, despite her family looking down on her kind of magic and belittling her constantly.

There's a fair bit going on, but it's a lot of fun and I was rooting for Mariel and Oz. It could have been a little faster moving, but it was no less enjoyable for that and it was a nice, fun read.

"A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon" by Sarah Hawley is a charming and lighthearted romantic comedy that will appeal to fans of the fantasy and paranormal genres. The story follows a young witch who finds herself in a precarious situation and must enter into a fake dating arrangement with a demon in order to save her own skin. The chemistry between the two main characters is electric, and their witty banter and flirtatious interactions will have readers swooning. Hawley's writing is engaging and fast-paced, with a vivid and imaginative world that is full of magic and adventure. The characters are well-developed and likable, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Overall, "A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon" is a delightful and entertaining read that will leave readers with a smile on their face.

This funny, quirky, trope-filled book was so much fun to read. I loved the magical small-town world building, the cast of eccentric characters and the swoony romance at the heart of it all. A proper cosy, comfort read and I was delighted to see that two of my favourite side characters get their own story next - I can’t wait to read it!

There's nothing particularly new here, but this is a well done, good fun rewrite of these tropes - fake dating, grumpy/sunshine - all with magic and pixies and demons oh my!

I really liked Muriel (boo hiss to her mother and rest of the family!) and Oz was fun, especially as he fell in love! Loved the supporting cast too and glad Muriel's friends will star in their own books soon. A good read!

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was such a delightful read! I really enjoyed the world that the author created and thought the banter and chemistry between Mariel and Oz was so fun. I loved how easily they connected, despite being from such different lives. If you enjoy rom-coms with a sprinkle of the paranormal, you'll love this one.

Light hearted fantasy of a "clumsy" witch who accidentally summons a demon and binds him to her.
Queue forced proximity romance.

This was a delight to read. I enjoyed reading how their relationship grew and very much liked the spicy scenes. We all want a possessive, overprotective demon in our lives. It was also good to see that the MC was given time to grow into herself too, becoming more confident and self assured through encouragement from said demon.

Overall definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the sequel!