Although it took me quite a while to get through (because of a massive bookslump I am in) I did like the book. The both MC's where interesting, I liked the banter between the friends and the way the relationship developed.

For me the intimate scenes were a bit much so I must admit I skimmed a lot there. Interesting info about the demon world and the harvesting of souls. The situation with the forest and how Mariel's magic worked was sometimes a bit confusing. Good ending though.

Well this was a treat!

Mariel is a witch, a bit of a rubbish witch really but has an infinity with plants. In an attempt to bake she unwittingly summons a demon......

But not just any demon......Ozroth The Ruthless, now disgraced over a tiny mix up with a soul!

He wants her soul, she doesnt want to give it and a Mum moment sets up the fake dating trope.......

This was such a fun read! It was also humorous, beautiful, entertaining, spicy and unique.

'Lots of things get old fast, I’m learning. Like the emotional yo‑yo of fake dating a demon who couldn’t seem to decide whether he wanted to kiss her or rip out her eternal soul.'

I know I shouldn't but I loved Mariel's Mum! Yes, she is so self-absorbed and actually cruel but her level of inappropriate was off the scale and I loved that!!!

I see that Calladia is next up in A Demons Guide to Wooing a Witch and I need it! She is hard as nails and will be a tough nut to crack - delish!!

This is such a perfect autumn read. Fun and sweet with lots of witchy goodness.

The romance felt a bit insta-lovey in the beginning but I started enjoying their relationship dynamic and growth as the story progressed. I really liked the individual growth of the characters, especially, the female lead - I loved her journey of personal self- discovery and the way she started to realise her self worth. I truly enjoyed that.

Tropes such as forced proximity, fake dating and female friendships were done quite well. I enjoyed reading this a lot!

In a Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon we follow Mariel Spark, a witch prophesised to become one of the most powerful witches in history. However, the prophecy doesn't seem to be happening any time soon and Mariel accidentally summons a demon, Ozroth, who offers whatever she likes in return for her soul.

This is a cute and quirky witchy rom-com, I flew through it and especially loved the fake dating element.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon.

This was a cute and enjoyable read. The two leads Oz and Mariel had good chemistry and it was fun watching how things played out between them after their accidental start. Mariel trying to live up to her destiny/ family’s legacy was very relatable. Though she was frustrating at times, lashing out at the wrong people, it was satisfying to see her journey to accepting her own power and standing up for her herself. Oz and his struggles were fascinating and the author did a good job showing the overwhelming effect his bargain gone astray had on him. A colourful cast of side characters and an enjoyable romance between the two leads 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up)

What happens when a witch who is prophesied to be the greatest witch of her age, but hasn’t mastered her magic yet, accidentally summons a demon, who now can’t leave until she bargains away her soul - fake date him of course! 

‘A Witches Guide to Fake Dating A Demon’ is a funny and cute rom-con. It features Mariel Sparks, a young witch who excels more in gardening and hedge-craft than the more glamorous magic her family demands that she learns, and Ozroth The Ruthless, a bargaining demon who accidentally acquired a soul 6 months ago and is now feeling a little bit too human for his liking.  

Unable to leave until he has her soul, and unable to banish him without making a deal, they’re forced to coexist while hiding the truth from Mariel’s friends, her less-than-supportive family, and Oz’s master.

The overall story is fairly enjoyable, with interesting characters who you feel empathy toward with each of their respective backstories. I liked Mariel and Oz’s character development as time went on and they started to stand up for themselves. Sadly there wasn’t much in the way of plot twists or surprising revelations in the story; it was all fairly predictable, over the top at points, and a bit cliche. To be honest, I could have done without the occult world versions of things; Pixtagram, Bumbelina, Ghoultube and My Alchemical Bromance. The world felt less Charmed (where the magic world is present but hidden) and more Halloween Town.

3-3.5 stars - an easy and fun read if your looking for something light and fluffy (and smutty in places). Would recommend it if you enjoyed ‘The Hex Ex’ and other similar books.

[This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.]

Cute, funny, entertaining, paranormal romance. What more could you want.
What would you do if you accidently summoned a demon after a spell gone wrong - find his motives and fake date him. Of course.
We have fake dating, forced proximity, enemies to lovers. All rolled into one clever witty book.
It's great - the characters feel really well written. And the banter between them - perfect
The characters got together a tad too soon for me, id have liked more buildup, and something different from the usual third act drama that always occurs.
But definitely adorable and heart warming

This book was SO FREAKING GOOD. Honestly I could barely put it down and did not expect any of how it wrapped up. This was such a fun, emotional and interesting ride. The characters, the world and the plot were so fun to see unwind and come together. I’m very much excited to buy the physical copy of this and to read this again asap!

I loved this book! It was super fun and romantic and I will definitely read more by this author. Highly recommend to romance fans.

Mariel Spark was prophesied to be the most powerful witch in centuries, but all she seems to do is let her family down. They dont see her 'nature' magic as living up to the family name, and her inability to do anything remotely showy means they are constantly on her back. So when a spell to summon flour accidentally summons a demon instead, Mariel isn't as surprised as she should be, but there is a problem. she's summoned a demon, and the only way to get him to leave is to make a deal, and in doing so, give up her soul, something Mariel is not willing to do. Ozroth the Ruthless is used to striking fear into people, not having them, not so politely, tell him to leave after summoning him. He doesn't know what to make of Mariel, nor she of him, but when she accidentally blurts out to her mother that they are dating, she sets the pair off on a tangent that could change both of their lives, for better or worse.

There was a lot about this book I enjoyed, but a large part was the characters. We get alternating POV's from both Mariel and Ozroth, which give us a vivid and deep insight into them as people/demons, and that allows us to learn more about their backstory, who they were before they met, whilst also see the changes they are making on each other for the better. Mariel is someone who has been constantly looked down on, not just by her family, but by other members of the magical community, all because she hasn't lived up to some big prophecy that came when she was born. Her affinity for nature magic is incredibly unique and strong, but not seen as flashy enough for the sparks, who prefer their magic to be a little more explosive. She struggles to stand up for herself and lives in the shadow of her mother, who she has no chance to living up to, but Mariel loves her magic and simply wants to be accepted as she is.

Ozroth was once one of the most feared soul collecting Demons, until a bargain went awry and now he is the laughing stock of the demon world. Desperate to earn back his former glory, he is pleased when he sees just how much power the witch that summoned him contains, but there is just one, teeny tiny issue... she doesn't want to sell her soul. Not for fame, fortune, love nor money, in fact she summoned him accidentally and would be extremely happy if he simply pissed off back to Hell. He is snarky, grumpy and amazed by this witch who talks back to him as if she doesn't even fear him a little, and the more time he spends with her, the more he doesn't want to make a bargain himself.

As well as our two main POV's we get introduced to a multitude of side characters from Mariels best buddys Calladia and Themmie who are both protective and absolutely kick ass, Asteroth, Ozroths trainer and the closest thing he has to family in the demon world... also a huge dick, and Mariels family who I really, really wanted to punch at multiple times throughout the book, seriously her mother just needed a good smack. They all have their own personalities and stories, and they all help propel Mariel and Ozroth on their journey.

The world Hawley built was fun, and definitely one I would like to return to. It's filled with a multitude of magical creatures, and I especially loved her take on the demon realm, making it incredibly different from the hell we all expect. But one of the things I loved exploring was Mariel's magic, and this also played a large part in the side plot of the book. While this is a romance at heart, Hawley keeps us intrigued by adding in a whole other mystery we need to solve and I definitely enjoyed this side to the plot. She throws in plenty of twists as well as emotional and hilarious scenes that ensure we fly through the story at a speedy pace.

If you're a lover of the grump/sunshine trope, like a good mild enemies to lovers & a slow burn romance then this is definitely the book for you. The steam these two created had me fanning myself in parts and there is plenty of smut for those who like their romances more on the adult side. I adored how Mariel took none of Ozroth's shit, whether it be him trying to make a bargain with her, or going all alpha male protective when it wasn't needed, she brings him down from his demonic high horse and allows him to see things from another POV. But what I really loved about was that Ozroth allowed Mariel to get out from under the hand of her family, finally allowing her to realise that it was the weight of their expectations that hindered her powers, and making her realise her true strength.

Overall this was a fun, definitely smutty and steamy romantasy set in a unique fantasy world that I would love to return to. There are characters you will love and others you will hate... I'm looking at you mamma spark, but these all add to the drama and tension and hilarity that this book brings in spades.

Omg this book! I was hooked with the first chapter. The constant twists and turns keep you reading and wanting to know more. The main character has very bad self esteem after being constantly put down by her family, finds herself being really bad at magic even though it was prophesied that she would be a great force. She accidentally summons a demon who can't leave until she makes a deal to trade her soul. Safe to say this is the furthest thing she wants. Her beloved forest is also dying and she must find the reason why. She learns that it is demon related but is it her demon causing it? I would absolutely love to hear a happily ever after chapter at the end to find out what happened buy even better, the author has written another book. I will be first on the list for this book when it comes out!!

An amazing book. I was hooked from the very first page. A demon bargaining for souls and a witch who didn't want to bargain? Now that wasn't going to cause a problem was it. Brilliant characters and a storyline that pulls you along so fast that time dissapears.

I will not pretend A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating is revolutionary. It is full of tropes and stereotypes however it is an entertaining read. While I was not a fan of Mariel at the beginning due her doormat-ish nature, it was nice to see her grow a spine over the course of the book. I liked Ozroth and his horror of being in possession of a soul at the beginning of the novel.

I would definitely recommend this for fans of witchy small town romance similar to the works of Juliette Cross and Erin Sterling

A humorous novel and well drawn characters, especially Mariel. Altogether a good read, and one that I would recommend. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

3.5 rounded up.
Thank you for my eARC! I enjoyed this fantasy romance and thought it was an easy, lighthearted read with enjoyable steam. It felt a little unpolished at times and there were a few things I’d change about it but it was enjoyable!

I was expecting this book to be a cute little cozy fantasy novel that I would have a great time with like with for example The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. It was definitely a cute little read, but unfortunately, I felt like I was not the target audience of this book. Although the worldbuilding was really interesting and I would have liked to know more about it, it felt like the book focused less on the worldbuilding and plot development and more on the characters’ love story and spicy scenes. By the first chapter, I kind of guessed that it was headed towards that when the main character said something about the love interest‘s sensitive horns.

I think the book had some really good elements. Like I said, the worldbuilding was really good and therefore the whole world it was set in felt very real. Also, the characters were well developed and the plot was actually a nice idea. I really liked the main character and think a lot of people will be able to relate to her. Basically, I think a lot of people will love it and will love it exactly for the reasons why it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. But I personally would have preferred for the book to focus more on the plot and the characters without such a heavy focus on spiciness since I felt like that distracted me from the parts I actually liked.

This book was the perfect mix of fantasy and Tom com, enjoyed the plot and the characters, would recommend to anyone looking for something abit more funky than a contemporary rom com

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Gilmore Girls and it is joyous. It comes at a perfect time for the rise in popularity of ‘cosy, low stakes’ fantasy which is exactly what this book is.

The romance was swoon-worthy, and the chemistry between the two leads was Sparkling (if you know, you know.) There were some laugh-out-loud funny moments, and it was really gratifying to watch Mariel go on her own emotional journey and grow in confidence. The book was brilliantly written, and it was just a really fun reading experience overall.

The only drawbacks for me personally were Mariel’s friends. One - a pixie - was a ‘Pixtagram Influencer’ who was obsessed with taking selfies and live-streaming all the time which felt a little too on the nose, and the other was - in my opinion - unnecessarily violent. I wasn’t sure what the aim of this was and it made me slightly uncomfortable as I found myself never routing for her when I was supposed to. The ending hinted at a spin off that I’m sad to say I’m much less interested in as it focuses on two of the worst characters. That being said, I’m excited to come back to Sarah Hawley’s work in the future.

Thank you to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Mariel Spark was foretold to be a great witch but her particular brand of nature magic is not impressive enough for her famous mother who ridicules her at every turn. Believing herself to be a failure Mariel thinks she can't sink any lower when she accidentally summons a demon who is unable to leave until she gives him her soul.
But with her beloved forest home at risk from greedy developers and the demon having his own issues, Mariel finds herself in danger of losing her heart as well as her soul.

I think we need a new genre label- Cozy Paranormal Romantic Comedy. Soft and sweet books with shifters, witches, vampires and the rest of the paranormal pantheon that just make you sigh.
I adored this book, it was like a warm jumper that you just want to wrap around you and snuggle in for the evening. No graphic violence or swearing, no underlying metaphor- just great storytelling, wonderful characters and a whole lot of romance.
Oz was the perfect brooding hero with a heart of gold who is secretly a cinnamon roll and Mariel is the happy ball of sunshine with self-esteem issues. The way that they bring the best out of each other was well written and so sweet to watch develop. It wasn't rushed, nor was there insta-love which was nice.
I really liked her friends who were supportive without being suffocating and Mariel's ability with plants was just plain fantastic.
I was cheering on Mariel with every interaction and urging her to step out of her mother's shadow.
An excellent story and one I totally enjoyed.

This is like the novel version of one of those lofi youtube videos of a witch girl in her studio apartment full of plants and cats. Before you think it's too cutesy, the novel does begin with exploding poultry and has multiple descriptive sex scenes and probably one too many mentions of the concept of, uh, 'knotting'. Don't google that at work.

It's pretty cute and fun, but nothing too deep. There's some conflict in the form of serious emotional abuse from the protagonist's family, and this is played with the subtlety of a sledgehammer with the villains coming across as complex as pantomime villains. And the demon boyfriend is never at any point approaching anything I'd call edgy - he's a nice guy from page 1. Neither of these things are necessarily bad. Not every novel needs to be depressing with love interests who, in real life, would be on some kind of FBI watch list. If you want a light-hearted romance between a witch and a demon where their relationship is pretty wholesome and healthy, this is the one for you.

Definitely a worthy addition to this new trend of giving raunchy romance novels cute illustrated covers that are more commonly associated with teenage novels.