2.5 rounded up!

This was really fun to read! I absolutely sped through it and enjoyed the general atmosphere and aesthetic of the story.

There was a lot of showing and not telling that made the writing feel kind of juvenile, and the dialogue felt a little awkward at times

Ultimately my biggest problem with this book is the fact that Dina and Scott don’t actually have much chemistry. Sexual chemistry? Yes, without a doubt, but it felt like too much of their story was dedicated to that as opposed to them getting to know each other as people. I wish we had more time dedicated to the development of their actual relationship - especially as they quite literally meet thrice before the wedding, and it doesn’t feel like enough to be throwing around words like ‘love’, as Scott did.

I didn't really give this book that much of a chance, so I don't really think it's fair to rate it below a 3 stars. But if I'm being honest, I just don't see myself enjoying this... I'm barely into it and the characters just keep talking about how hot they find each other, and I can tell that this is gonna be wayyy spicier that what I tend to enjoy, so I'm just gonna save myself the headache. The autumns vibes were pretty good though, and If you like witchy stuff I would recommend, because I found myself really enjoying that aspect!

This novel is a cozy and easy read, progressing at a pleasant and engaging pace. I particularly enjoyed the rich details about Dina's heritage and magical abilities, which added depth and intrigue to the story. The portrayal of her lineage and its connection to her powers was both captivating and well-crafted.

However, I did find that the focus on the relationships among the supporting cast was somewhat overdone and, at times, felt obsessive. This element detracted from the overall narrative for me. The insta-love trope, which features prominently in the story, is not usually to my taste. Nonetheless, I recognize that this is a matter of personal preference, and those who enjoy this trope will likely appreciate the witchy twist on it.

On a more positive note, the setting of the bakery is utterly charming. Its quaint and cozy atmosphere added a delightful backdrop to the story, making the scenes set there particularly enjoyable.

In summary, while the emphasis on relationships and the insta-love trope may not appeal to everyone, the novel's enchanting details about Dina's magic and the endearing bakery setting make it a worthwhile read for fans of light, witch-themed romance.

A cosy and easy to read novel which goes along at a nice pace. I enjoyed all the details about Dina's heritage and magic but like other reviewers, I found the focus on the relationship by the supporting cast a bit overdone and obsessive. Insta-love isn't a trope I normally like, but that's just a personal preference, and anyone who does enjoy it will love this witchy take on it. And the bakery is so cute!

Prepare to get very sick of me talking about this book!

Best Hex Ever was like a very warm witchy hug on a cold autumn day. I loved every second!

If you loved books like The Ex Hex, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Legends & Lattes this book is going to be your next obsession.

Cosy, romantic, steamy and hilarious. Absolutely brilliant!

I was so excited for this book but quickly realised it was not going to live up to the hype. The opening chapters had too much backstory which really slowed the pacing, and I found the writing throughout to be very tell-y (something which I don't usually notice which says a lot about how much there is here). The two leads fall for each instantly which means there is no romantic tension or build-up, and I found the spicy scenes quite cringy, possibly because I was wholly uninvested in them as a couple.

This is a cosy, spicy, fantasy romance about a witch cursed to hurt anyone who falls for her. This certainly gave me all the autumn, witchy vibes. Dina & Scott meet in her café, and dont realise they are both friends of friends that are due to get married, so they meet again at their friends wedding at Honeywell House, and the cottage they stay in sounds magical and cottagecore, on halloween and a full moon. But Dina is slow to let her guard down because of the hex curse. They return home, Scott is a museum curator and Dina back to the café, where the coffee, teas and pastries sound divine, ft her cat Heebie, a lovely autumn/halloween read. Thank you for this arc

My thanks to the author and publisher for my digital review copy, provided through Netgalley.
Dina is a kitchen witch who runs a London café serving magic-infused pastries to her loyal customers. Only a few close friends know about her magic and the hex that plagues her partners with life-threatening bad luck. Scott has just returned to London after travelling the world to get over a devastating breakup. After starting his new job as a curator at the British Museum, he realised how much he’d missed in his 2-year absence. Thrown together by their best friends’ wedding, it’s undeniable Scott and Dina have amazing chemistry. Will Dina’s hex get in the way of their feelings for one another, or is it too late?
Best Hex Ever is a bit of a step outside of my comfort zone. I don’t read much spicy romance. I also don’t read tons of books that are just romance, but I like magic so I thought I’d give this one a try. Best Hex Ever is a romance with a fantasy element with Dina and her family’s magic. It was a fun and easy read!
I did have a few issues with the book though. The main characters seem to have insta-love or insta-lust at first sight of one another. Which ended up just being a little annoying to read. Equally everybody else in the book seemed to be obsessed with whether Dina and Scott would get together – even Immy on her wedding day. As a result, the side characters felt a little underdeveloped and seemed only to exist to support Dina and Scott. Scott’s mothers both had the same job, and so did two of Dina’s friends, which felt a little lazy to me.
I wanted Dina’s magic or the hex to add more jeopardy to the plot, but the lust and physical attraction aspects definitely had the reigns. While I have no problem with the book being a romance, the hex needed a better resolution as it was a little underwhelming.
This is a great spicy romance if you’re looking for a casual fun read. Just don’t take it too seriously on the magic & fantasy elements! I did enjoy reading this, it was a nice break from the more intense fantasy I've been reading lately. Solo genre romance just isn't my usual type of book! If you like romance I hope you give Best Hex Ever a chance, it would make a fab cosy spooky season read.
n.b. The book has a list of trigger warnings at the start but doesn’t mention Dina’s internalised homophobia about her bisexuality which is brought up a lot over the course of the book.

Nadia El-Fassi's The Best Hex Ever is an engaging urban fantasy that blends magic with modern life. The story follows Kira, a young witch who discovers an ancient spellbook containing a legendary hex. This discovery thrusts her into a conflict between powerful magical factions.

Kira is a relatable protagonist, and the supporting characters, like her friend Serena and the mysterious Max, add depth to the story. Themes of power, responsibility, and identity are explored thoughtfully, making the narrative more than just a magical adventure.

El-Fassi's descriptive prose vividly brings the urban magical world to life, and the dialogue feels natural and compelling. The plot is well-paced, balancing action and introspection.

The Best Hex Ever is a fresh and exciting addition to urban fantasy, perfect for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. It's an easy, fun, light-hearted read which will have you giggling and get you out of your reading slump!

The perfect book to read this autumn! It's packed with cosy, comforting and feel-good vibes and is set across various wholesome places that are sure to keep you immersed: an enchanted bakery cafe, a museum and an idyllic cottage. The plot is pretty predictable (although this is often common with romance novels) and although the romance definitely leans more into the instant-love trajectory, I think it worked fine here as the main character's own personal struggles (primarily the issue of the hex!) drove the tension throughout the book. Even the side characters are also well developed, and I loved the inclusion of Moroccan cultural elements throughout the novel. Anyone who loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Enchanted to Meet You or the Pumpkin Spice Cafe will absolutely love this! I also hope we get a novel on Rosemary's implied romantic adventure...

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED

Best Hex Ever is the debut novel of ex-Waterstones employee Nadia El-Fassi. This novel revived me from my month long reading slump, which I didn't think was possible for this bisexual witch cafe owner x museum curator romance.

I don't often read contemporary novels - or romance novels, in general - but this book is making me start. I didn't feel like the magic elements were out of place (yes, there are only 4 characters with magic) in this novel: a balanced blend of witchy magic and the usual chaos of dating/relationships with the business of life in London.

However, I have seen criticism of this novel and its use of tropes, in particular the insta-love trope. Whilst yes, the characters are attracted to each other from their meet cute, neither of them act upon these feelings until much later in the novel. In fact, Dina (our witchy protagonist) spends a large chunk of the novel scared of these feelings and what they mean (in regards to a spoiler which I will not mention).

Nadia El-Fassi's debut novel is like coming home to the kettle already boiling. I will definitely be reading her next book.

You can find Nadia El-Fassi on Twitter @chronicles_of_n.

3.5 stars - A witchy romcom is ALWAYS a good idea, and Best Hex Ever is such an easy and charming read.

At first I was worried this was going to be a predictable and basic book as there is not much character or world building, plus it has a very simple style at the start which feels rushed and exposition heavy. The relationship is lust at first sight which makes it feel a bit cliché, but luckily the story quickly picks up and grows on you.

Dina and Scott are so lovely - they're kind hearted and driven, and both have struggled with past experiences of love which adds a bit of tension to the dynamic. The romance starts purely steamy but quickly develops into something more. That being said, I thoroughly despise the phrase "good girl" and it made me cringe every single time.

I particularly adored the great friendships presented in this story. Immy and Rosemary are hilarious and wonderful, and you can really tell how much these women support one another. Eric was less drawn out, but his bond with Scott is clear. Some of my favourite moments were when it was just the friends having a chat - it was super cozy and sweet.

The magic was more atmospheric than a plot driving force, and I'd have loved to see this be even more developed. I loved how Dina uses tea, cocoa, and baked goods to create emotional memories for customers - it really added to the cozy elements.

The ending feels melodramatic, but it was an interesting twist and worked thematically. Overall this is a cute book with lots of spice, some cute café moments, and pinches of magic. Oh, and of course a magic house, anxieties around sexuality, a cat familiar, and even potential forest spirits! A perfect weekend read for autumn.

Cute witchy vibes straight off the bat which gave me high hopes for this ARC. I loved the magical bakery vibes, loved the representation in all the characters and by far my favourite thing was her magical house and Hemmie the cat! I’m not a huge fan of insta love and this really is love at first sight. I liked the characters overall, especially the side relationship of Immy and Eric. I feel like i would have rather read their story than Dina’s. Scott was okay, though again the whole instant falling in love kinda ruined it for me, I liked his back story though i do think it could have gone into more detail to give him some more depth. The whole ‘hex’ plot for me was a little watery, i feel like it was a bit wispy washy and i ended up skipping quite a few ages where Dina’s inner monologue was just ‘how do i break this curse’. The ending wasn’t surprising but that wasnt a bad thing. Overall this was a nice read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes instalove, witchy vibes and some spice.

Dina loves everything about her life as a witch, and has even made her peace with the hex that has plagued her love life. But then Scott comes along, and Dina knows that unless she can break the spell, they both risk getting their hearts broken...

Best Hex Ever is a page-turning, feel-good, witchy romance with plenty of spice. I would quite happily have read this book in one sitting, if time had allowed. There is enough tension to drive the plot, first as Dina tries to stay away from Scott, and then as she tries to break the hex, but this is one for people who like happily-ever-afters, and don't like their characters to suffer too much in the process. Both Dina and Scott are incredibly wholesome characters, with wonderful support networks, and I particularly loved the way Scott embodies some stereotypically masculine traits while breaking down others. I also loved the way that Dina's magic is depicted, as she is confident in her powers from the start of the book, and is able to use them in creative and consistent ways. Best Hex Ever tackles its characters' low self-esteem, grief, claustrophobia, and fears of queer, racial, and national acceptance in subtle but affirming ways, offering some much-needed escapism while also creating a world that the reader can relate to, and maybe even derive comfort from.

British romcom
3rd person
Slow burn
HEA
Sexy consent
Inclusion & diversity

The cover & title intrigued me immediately & I was really excited to see what sort of witchy things these characters would be getting up to.
I struggled to get into the story for the first third of the book but then began to enjoy it (maybe the character development/scene setting dragged on a bit too long, or felt a little flat? Or maybe it took a hot min to realise best not to take too seriously since it is a romcom).
The witchy magic element was fun & mentioned some interesting items/ideas but didn’t seem to have specific rules within the world & was used quite willy-nilly which made it feel almost as if used a plot thickener rather than it's own element of the story.
Despite this, it was an enjoyable read once I got into it, I really appreciated the self-acceptance piece at the end & brownie points for some spicy scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nadia El-Fassi for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had a really good time reading this and it was spicyyyyy. It’s definitely a book about self acceptance and love, letting down your guard to allow someone special in at the right time of your life. People come along when you least expect it and our MC’s definitely felt this way. So much love and magic in this book, it was wholesome and I enjoyed it.

This book grabbed my attention with the title and the cover, witchy romances are one of my favourite genres to enjoy.

Dina and Scott’s relationship is sizzling once they get together, I loved the slow burn to their romance.

This is a fun read enjoyable read, I liked the world this book explored.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while now, since following the author on twitter. And I was not disappointed!
The romance was so cute, as was the use of magic (who wouldn’t want a cinnamon bun that could bring you joy or comfort?!).
Hoping there will be more books for the other characters in the story :)

What I enjoyed:

- details about Dina's heritage and her mother's past. Descriptions of the sights, smells and sounds of Morocco really sparkled and made these details feel fresh.
- likewise, there were lovely descriptions of the Thames and the forest around the wedding venue that felt very grounded and evocative.

What I was neutral about:

- the supporting characters were fun, but felt overshadowed by the main couple. The fact that 70% of the book takes place at their BFFs' wedding and yet the main topics of conversation are Dina, Scott, and whether Dina and Scott will get together felt odd. And the fact that there were several duplicated professions (both Dina's friends were horror writers, and Scott's moms were both morticians??) made it seem like they didn't get a lot of thought put into making them distinct.
- the sex. There was a lot of it, and while it didn't do a huge amount for me I can see lots of readers digging it. The way sexual health/consent was handled was nice to see.
- the twist/resolution of the hex. I liked the twist (won't spoil it here) but didn't feel the resolution was entirely earned. Dina did not change much over the course of the book, which I would've wanted to see in order to fully buy into the way the hex was resolved

What I struggled with:

- the magic system was all over the place. It didn't seem grounded in any particular mythos and had no consistency; spells could be cast just by thinking about them, by using ingredients and incantations, by using hand gestures, etc. It would have been so great to see the magic reflect Dina's specific knowledge (either through her heritage or training) and tell us more about the world we're in, but instead it's a mish-mash of ideas that tells us very little and seems quite generic.
- Dina using her magic on everyone around her, including unsuspecting customers/passers-by. I get it, having magic would be cool. I'd probably use it a lot too if I had it. But there's something very dubious about casting spells on people who are completely unaware that you're doing so, even if they're nice spells. But Dina doesn't limit herself there - she also does some pretty janky things to people she doesn't like, which it seems like we as readers are supposed to support. Given the heart of the novel (which I will not spoil here) you would think Dina would understand the dangers/implications of using magic willy-nilly on people around her, but that's one lesson she absolutely does not absorb.
- the completely arbitrary reasons Dina has for not telling Scott about the hex. It actively puts him in danger and yet she finds spurious reason after reason not to confess to him. That's not cool behaviour for a friend to exhibit, let alone a romantic partner.
- the fact that implied homophobia was such a huge part of this seemingly 'cosy' tale. It drives the main conflict of the story and is brought up many times, but doesn't even get a call-out in the author's note at the beginning about potentially triggering content. It's strange to me how many cosies use homophobia to drive conflict, given it's an extremely non-cosy thing to encounter in real life, but here we are.
- the title. As above, the hex was actively harmful to many people in the course of the story - so WHY is it 'the best hex ever'?? Surely there's a better pun to be had - Let's Talk About Hex, maybe?!

Thank you NetGalley.

3.5/5 ⭐️

This was such a cosy, witchy read and will make a perfect autumn book. I loved Dina and her baking witch craft! The characters were well thought out and the friendships were great.

It was a bit too insta-love for me but overall it was a lovely fluffy (with some spice) romance!