Delightful, warm, and such a warm cup of sweetness in the autumn chill. A beautiful slowburn that kept me on my toes. When I finished I wanted to jump right back into the book, and into the Merriweather family. I can only hope there's as sequel and that I can learn more about the mysterious world of curses and magic.

A Bewitching Rom Com Full of Magic, Chaos, and Heart!

If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud romance with a dash of magic and a quirky cast of characters, Hot Hex Boyfriendby Carly Bloom will cast a spell on you from page one.

This charming rom com weaves together family shenanigans, unexpected powers, and a brooding (but oh-so-sexy) next-door neighbour for a delightfully fun read. I absolutely adored it!

Delia Merriweather doesn’t believe in magic, despite what her kooky family of “hexed” witches might claim. But when she accidentally breaks a century-old curse, all magical hell breaks loose. Suddenly, Delia’s the centre of the witching world’s attention, and that includes Max Halifax, the grumpy hunk next door with some serious magical baggage of his own.

Max is supposed to be keeping an eye on Delia’s family to make sure they don’t accidentally tap into some world dominating witchy powers. But of course, fate has other plans. The more time Max spends around Delia, the more he worries his heart might be the first thing she accidentally enchants. Their chemistry? Electric. Their banter? Absolutely sizzling. And when magic starts flying—literally—it’s clear these two are in for a whirlwind romance.

What made this story so much fun was its blend of hilarious family drama, magical mayhem, and swoon-worthy romance. The Merriweather women are a riot, and their wild antics (and firm belief in Delia’s witchy destiny) bring so much heart and humour to the story. Delia’s journey from skeptic to accidental witch is just the right mix of chaotic fun and self-discovery, while Max’s gruff, protective nature hides a heart that’s practically waiting to be stolen.

Delia and Max’s slow burn attraction crackles with tension, and watching Max fall for the one woman he’s supposed to be wary of is pure rom-com gold. There’s something irresistible about a reluctant hero getting swept up in the charm of a lovable mess like Delia.

So, if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted, magical romance with plenty of laughs and an adorably bumbling coven, Hot Hex Boyfriend is your next must-read. Add this to your autumn witchy TBR now!

Thank you to the publisher Headline | Headline Eternal , the author Carly Bloom, and Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

‘Hot Hex Boyfriend’ by Carly Bloom is a really fun romance set in the somewhat magical town of Willow Root that explores family loyalty, love vs. logic and friendship. Adorable main character Delia is part of a family of women who all believe that they are witches whose power was cursed away generations ago, but as she approaches 30, she finds them mildly embarrassing (despite loving them to pieces). When powerful witch Max arrives to prepare the grand house he inherited from his estranged uncle for sale and is given a mission to stop a certain Cordelia Merriweather from lifting a hex she doesn’t really believe in, it seems like the easiest job in the world… but will his his heart start to rule his head?

I really enjoyed:
- Max’s inherited familiar Nikki - who took on his impish form and shared sage advice
- Delia’s warm and hilarious family and friends who brought so much joy to every page
- The character development for Max’s brother Luc and his parents
- The well thought-out and intriguing magical lore which really drove the last third of the plot
- Themes of the beauty community and the power of collaboration

The pacing of this book was a little uneven in my opinion - with the first half of the novel feeling quite slow, and the culmination coming very swiftly, but that did mean I deeply cared about the characters and was incredibly gripped by the end!

This gets 4.5 stars from me - I really enjoyed the world-building and fell in love with both Max and Delia. This is the perfect spooky-season read and I’m eager to explore more from this author (who has also released a cowboy romance series).

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Headline Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.