4 ⭐
0 🌶️
tropes: enemies to lovers, fated mates, billionaire, he falls first, closed door, protective MMC


Trixie Gardens is a paranormal uber driver and a powerful witch who has been repressing her magic for almost 15 years. She lives in a rent controlled apartment passed down through her maternal line with her bestie roommate, Emmy. On her way back from a questionable fare, she runs into Dominic West, the vampire billionaire owner of the building she lives in.


The next day there is a scheduled meeting of The Circle, the governing council for paranormal creatures to learn who are the candidates to be voted on for the open council seat. Trixie has been trying to avoid going, but Emmy sent in their rsvp anyway. Dominic is also attending, with his head of security, Vix.


Candidates are chosen by the fates and then they have 4 weeks to campaign and debate before voting takes place, bringing in a political subplot. Both Dominic and Trixie end up being chosen along with two other candidates, but obviously neither one is interested in anything but each other even though they don’t *couldn’t possibly * understand how they have the hots for each other.


The pacing is ok for the most part, although I was a little thrown when they finally clear the air about their feelings- it was expected of course but I guess just not right at that moment. I really enjoyed learning the backstory of both characters, although I wish Dom had been as fleshed out as Trixie. Dominic played the protective cinnamon roll perfectly too.


Hate Hex is a cute, quick read perfect for binging during a quiet afternoon. It had me laughing right from the start with the snark, banter, and “hex war”, and I especially loved Grandma Betty and her happy hexes.

I really enjoyed this read! Hate Hex is a magical mixture of all things wonderful - suspense, romance, comedy, magic. Hate Hex follows Dom and Trixie along their journey of love, hate, and all things in between as they navigate their feelings for each other and their magical world around them. Dom, the charming and protective vampire, was instantly a swoon worthy character. Trixie, the funny and powerful witch was very relatable, being a bad driver and extreme lover of caffeine. Hate Hex kept me on the edge the entire read, wondering what was going to happen next. The settings were well described, I felt like I had visited before! The characters had well written personalities, I felt like I had met them before! Hate Hex had me laughing throughout the book at the shenanigans that happened between Dom and Trixie. If you like witches and vampires, enemies to lovers, and billionaire tropes, this is the read for you! I look forward to reading more of Gina LaManna's work!

Hmm where should I begin? This wasn’t exactly a bad read but it really isn’t one I’ll actively promote unless you’re looking for a quick read to hit your reading goal.

The initial 30% got me hooked with the simple writing and predictable–not complaining!–plot. As expected of a book with 250ish pages, everything evolves quickly and the MCs have an instalove. And, I’m all for fated mates but the kissing scenes are too out of the blue. Feels like forced chemistry. Even though this is a short book, the middle actually feels draggy. Yet the ending was so rushed (bc the antagonist was conveniently defeated oh so easily).

What irked me the most is if this is a paranormal romantic comedy, why isn’t it funny?? There’s no witty banter, no swoon-worthy declarations, no kick-my-feet-in-the-air moments!

This review will be posted on 22 July 2024 on Goodreads and TikTok.

Thank you LaManna Books and NetGalley for this arc!

Had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of this book, and could not be more happy about it.

Hate Hex follows Trixie Gardens through the Hollow as she tries to navigate all the huge challenges she’s beginning to face. Her character development is amazing.

I love the dynamic between Trixie and Dominic. It’s full of banter, wit and tense moments.

If you enjoy a paranormal world with magical characters, you will enjoy this book. It’s fast paced, full of interesting plot developments and there wasn’t a dull moment.

4.75 rating for this one! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for sending me the e-ARC for this book!

Gina LaManna’s "Hate Hex" is a fun and light-hearted read that gives off Hallmark vibes with a hate-to-love story, but with a magic-repressing witch and billionaire vampire as the main characters. It is an engaging and super quick read that combines lovable characters, plenty of humour, and immersive world-building.

The characters in "Hate Hex" draw you in with their quirks and chemistry, making it easy to root for them. The humour is well-placed throughout the book, keeping the story light and entertaining. The world LaManna builds is vivid and pulls readers into a magical setting that feels both whimsical and real.

I liked how each chapter switches between the main characters' point of view. This gives a clear picture of their thoughts and feelings. I enjoyed reading their cute banter, but I felt irritated by him saying 'sweetheart' and 'darling' when they were barely friends (that could have waited until they were already a couple).

I felt that the political and antagonist plots needed more detail and development. Some parts of the story felt rushed, though they weren't anticlimactic. If this book is the start of a series, that's great, but if it's a standalone, it could have been more expanded.

Overall, "Hate Hex" remains a fun and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of romantic comedies looking for a bit of escapism into a world of magic and romance.

If you're a fan of rom-coms and looking for a quick, entertaining book, "Hate Hex" is definitely worth picking up!

Title: Hate Hex

Author: Gina LaManna

Rating: ★★★★

Trixie Gardens is an average witch just trying to make a living as a taxi driver in the paranormal section of New York. That is, until one fateful night when she accidentally activates her long-repressed magic by shooting a cork from a cheap cabernet bottle into the face of a devilishly handsome vampire.

Enter Dominic Kent—a grumpy, rough-around-the-edges billionaire who just happens to own Trixie's apartment building. When she learns he's planning to kick her out of her beloved, rent-controlled home, it’s hate at first sight.

Trixie’s response? A teeny, tiny hex. Dominic’s retaliation? Big and bold. The result? A magical battle of wits and enchantments that’s as clever as it is hilarious. But things take a dangerous turn when Dominic’s vengeful brother returns, forcing Trixie and Dom to band together to survive.
As they navigate the perils of curses and vengeance, the crackling electricity between them becomes impossible to ignore. The line between hate and love is thin, and in the magical chaos, Trixie finds herself questioning if it’s vanished entirely.

Gina LaManna’s Hate Hex is a spellbinding blend of humour, magic, and sizzling romance. Trixie is a a great FMC with a knack for getting into magical mischief, and Dominic is the perfect brooding vampire with a heart (eventually) of gold. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is electric, and the magical hijinks will keep you laughing and turning pages.

This book is a magical romp through New York’s paranormal underbelly, filled with wit, charm, and unexpected romance. If you love stories with strong heroines, grumpy vampires, and a healthy dose of magical mayhem, Hate Hex is a must-read. Highly recommend!

Thank you to The Publisher LaManna Books, the author Gina LaManna & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5 Quick cute light hearted paranormal read.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. I enjoyed the first half of this book, where there was a lot of tension, enemies phase and a hilarious hex off, but the second half felt rushed and sudden. Weeks went by of the two leads falling in love in a matter of pages, making it seem almost instantaneous. Still an enjoyable read and an interesting world of witches and vampires.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

This book was rough to start with - but ultimately ended up growing a bit more on me. There was just a lot of random sentences of writing that didn't make sense for me, and were little small need-edits. Like, a sentence about how this FMC connected to Bluetooth in her car. Why...did I need to know that? As the plot begins to unfold, I think it becomes a bit easier - I still got the sensation sometimes that this author was writing in trite adjectives to make sentences sound fancier, but ultimately ended up just landing flat/sounded more fanfiction-ey. Again, some editing might be needed. I really wanted to love this book because I love the premise - a witch and a vampire - and they are political competitors!

It just didn't make sense to me as being sold as enemies-to-lovers. Our MMC repeats over and over, "oh she loathes me", "she sees me as evil" - and like, yes he's sort of an evil capitalist billionaire if you want to take that slant, but that doesn't really give "enemies" to me - it just felt a little unnatural, the amount of times this was told to the reader, as if I was to be convinced that this was enemies to lovers. I think the baseline fated mates attraction feeling at the start was enough to convince me? A case of, let your readers be intelligent. I ended up pushing myself to read to at least the halfway point, and again, the pacing is much improved once we get into the plot a bit more, but I didn't feel particularly compelled to discover why Trixie wasn't using her magic; and there certainly wasn't a lot of mystery around our MMC.

While I had hoped for a more impressive back and forth between the main characters, I still enjoyed the book. It's a quick, easy read, perfect for the beach or cozying up at home.

Light, fluffy and reminiscent of 90's/00's rom-com's.

'Hate Hex' was an engaging, super quick read. Lovable characters, humorous elements and immersive world-building.

I don't hold any strong feelings for the book, but that is not to say I did not enjoy the story! However, I do wish the political and antagonist plots had been explored in more depth, unfortunately, considering these elements played relatively large roles in the overall story line, I found them undeveloped.

I enjoyed the POV switch each chapter, following the two main character's plot with clear understanding of both their intentions added to the experience. I would love the read a sequel or prologue based on Trixie's roomate, Emmy, I think there is an interesting story in her character.

I absolutely loved this book!! I think I have a new fave romantasy writer... this knocked it out of the park for me, and I need more from this writer ASAP. I love the characters, the plot, the writing style... no notes.

This book was just light, fluffy, and fun. Paranormal romance set in its own universe. It was a quick read with cute banter and a couple of fun subplots. I would love another book with Trixie’s roommate as the lead!

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

A cute Halloween read to get excited for spooky season. We have Dom the rich vampire and Trixie the Uber driver. Book was very cute. I really liked the main characters. Some parts of the book seemed to go slow for me. Ending seemed a bit rushed. Low spice.

A fun, quick, paranormal, witchy read. The storyline is engaging, with a strong emphasis on magic and romance. The side plot about politics did feel underdeveloped but not hard to follow. However, the FMCs point of view can be somewhat challenging to read from. Her reluctance to embrace magic isn't fully explained until halfway through the book, which might leave readers puzzled for a significant portion of the story. Once her reasoning is revealed, it does add depth to her character, but the wait feels a bit prolonged.

One notable aspect that might divide readers is the off-screen first kiss. For a romance novel, this choice can be a bit jarring, as it skips a critical moment for establishing the chemistry between the main characters. The relationship development feeling seems somewhat rushed overall and they go from acquaintances to being in love without much build-up.

Despite these points, the book remains an enjoyable read. It's perfect for anyone seeking a light, entertaining paranormal story that doesn't require a heavy investment of time. I appreciate NetGalley and Lamanna Books for the ARC!

we love a spooky enemies to lovers read. this is a fun light hearted paranormal romance. the banter back and forth between the mmc and fmc is giving.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

I'll preface this by saying that this book was fine. But that was pretty much my whole thought process around it. It's an easy read if you're looking for a light-hearted paranormal romance, and sometimes you need that, which is why I don't have anything negative to say. Unfortunately, I don't have anything positive either because it was just...fine.

There was instalove, and it's explained half-heartedly, but at least it gave me an explanation. An overarching plot is happening - both Trixie and Dominic have been nominated as candidates for a seat on the Council, which runs The Hollows - a paranormal enclave in New York City. There's pretty much nothing that indicates this place is actually in NYC, which is unfortunate as I feel that would have added more to the world-building. Dominic is also the guy who owns the building that Trixie lives in, and he wants to sell it. He also has an evil brother doing evil things, and Trixie is struggling with her magic that wants to be free and that she doesn't want to use.

Overall, it was fine. Trixie shows some character growth, but Dominic does not. I didn't feel particularly inspired to read anything else in this world, but it was okay as a palette cleanser.

This is the first book I’ve read by Gina LeManna and I absolutely loved it!
Enemies (well a little one sided) to lovers story with the added supernatural element. It follows the story of a strong willed witch (Trixie) who is holding on to her past and a rich vampire (Dominic) who needs a minor reality check.
Really well written with many elements included; comedy, romance, suspense and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the story start to finish and it will definitely be a recommended read from me.

Hate Hex by Gina LaManna is an enchanting blend of romance, mystery, and magic that captivates readers from start to finish. Set in a whimsical world filled with witches, spells, and simmering tension, this novel offers a delightful escape into a fantastical realm.

The protagonist, whose fiery spirit and determination make her instantly likable, navigates a world where magic and emotions intertwine. LaManna's ability to craft witty and engaging dialogue ensures that the interactions between characters are both entertaining and heartfelt. The chemistry between the leads crackles with energy, making their love-hate dynamic both amusing and compelling.

The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of magical intrigue with romantic development. LaManna's vivid descriptions bring the enchanting setting to life, immersing readers in a world where anything is possible. The twists and turns of the story keep readers guessing, adding an element of suspense that enhances the overall narrative.

Hate Hex stands out with its charming blend of humor, romance, and supernatural elements. Gina LaManna has created a spellbinding tale that will enchant readers who enjoy a magical, heartwarming story with a dash of mystery. This book is a must-read for fans of whimsical romance and lighthearted fantasy.

I very much enjoyed this paranormal romance it was a very fun enemies to lovers and with magic witches vampires elves and more .. I enjoyed the main characters relationship as it was full of so much banter and fun times for me to read I would have given this a 5⭐️ without the 3rd act break up

Perfect mix of rom com and a sprinkle of magic , such a cosy nighttime read ! Just my cup of tea ! The characters are inspiring and are what we all want . The happy ending at the end was the cherry on top !

Enemies to lovers trope