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blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was cute and chaotic. I think fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna would enjoy this, and I actually preferred this one. It has the same concept of a hidden magical house with a quirky found family living there. I can't remember if we got the male love interest's POV in The Very Secret Society, but here we do have a dual POV where Essie is a witch who has grown up in the magic house and Josh is just a regular guy who doesn't know why he can't find this one property he supposedly owns. I did like both Essie and Josh; they were not perfect, but they were sincere, and I think the love story was paced well enough. As I said, the book is chaotic and characters kind of pop in and out to thrust the plot in different directions. A lot of the humor is the juxtaposition of crazy stuff happening and characters reacting nonchalantly. The narrator was alright, but her American accent slipped now and then and sometimes she spoke with a quiet mumble that made it hard to make out specific words.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Alcohol
kiala's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Interesting house.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Toxic relationship
Minor: Religious bigotry and Murder
caseymac's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is chaos and the blub does it absolutely no justice. It sounds like a run of the mill rom com with a little magic thrown in, but it is not.
This story is why the word "romp" was coined. I was taken for an absurd ride with absurd characters (ie glass parrots, evil bees?, and man-eating plants) that somehow felt like a warm hug. It is like no other book I have read so lets call it... a romcom on mushrooms in the best possible way.
This story is why the word "romp" was coined. I was taken for an absurd ride with absurd characters (ie glass parrots, evil bees?, and man-eating plants) that somehow felt like a warm hug. It is like no other book I have read so lets call it... a romcom on mushrooms in the best possible way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
heather_harrison's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A mix of fantasy and witchy rom-com.
Felt like there was too much crammed into the story, would have preferred something longer and better paced.
A bit of a letdown.
Felt like there was too much crammed into the story, would have preferred something longer and better paced.
A bit of a letdown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Hex Appeal was a fun, whimsically witchy and entertaining read that serves up cosy, autumnal Encanto meets Hocus Pocus vibes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Essie Winterscale lives in a huge, ever changing magic house in the village of Good Winter. A house who’s inhabitants are as magical and eccentric as their constantly shifting home.
Every year it’s Essie’s job to bring in the winter, so that the village can have a white Christmas. And though she may not be the strongest of witches, snow is where she thrives. Unfortunately her love life isn’t nearly as uncomplicated—with the house caught up in a perception spell all of Essie boyfriends’s (and everyone in the village) tends to forget Beldam House and it’s inhabitants exist, that is until Josh (the new landlord) moves to town…
After things didn’t work out in his native Seattle, Josh Henderson had relocated to Essex after inheriting a home from his extremely wealthy late father. But things definitely aren’t going to plan. Despite finding out her owns half the village, most of his properties are caught up in tenancy contracts that leave Josh with no income. The only real property of value is Beldam House who owe thousands in back rent. The only problem is no one seems to have heard of it, nor can he find it—until he stumbles into Essie, that is…
This was such an enjoyably quirky read that really brought the cosy & chaotic, Autumn/ spooky season vibes that definitely lived up to my witchy rom-com loving expectations.
I really loved the expansive cast of witchy characters and all the magical mishaps that unfold in the magic mood controlled house they all call home. I really liked resident ghost and former witch Prudence whose random appearances at the most inconvenient times were genuinely entertaining. Blessing and Avery were super fun and I’d love to see more of them both in a sequel.
I loved that the setting was a rural British village and definitely served as a bit of a palate cleanser to all the small town, US based witchy books I’ve been reading lately. The history aspect was really interesting and, given the house’s magic (and Essie’s mum, Lilith’s abilities) I do hope Johnson utilises both in future books.
I absolutely loved the romance between Essie and Josh-their flirty banter was top tier though a little Insta- lovey but I did really enjoy every scene they shared. I can’t say much else without spoiling any of the plot but it was a fast paced and wildly entertaining read.
Overall, a witty, magical and utterly compelling rom-com that fans of The Ex Hex or Payback’s A Witch should definitely check out.
And a huge thank you to HarperCollins/One More Chapter and Netgalley for the arc.
Essie Winterscale lives in a huge, ever changing magic house in the village of Good Winter. A house who’s inhabitants are as magical and eccentric as their constantly shifting home.
Every year it’s Essie’s job to bring in the winter, so that the village can have a white Christmas. And though she may not be the strongest of witches, snow is where she thrives. Unfortunately her love life isn’t nearly as uncomplicated—with the house caught up in a perception spell all of Essie boyfriends’s (and everyone in the village) tends to forget Beldam House and it’s inhabitants exist, that is until Josh (the new landlord) moves to town…
After things didn’t work out in his native Seattle, Josh Henderson had relocated to Essex after inheriting a home from his extremely wealthy late father. But things definitely aren’t going to plan. Despite finding out her owns half the village, most of his properties are caught up in tenancy contracts that leave Josh with no income. The only real property of value is Beldam House who owe thousands in back rent. The only problem is no one seems to have heard of it, nor can he find it—until he stumbles into Essie, that is…
This was such an enjoyably quirky read that really brought the cosy & chaotic, Autumn/ spooky season vibes that definitely lived up to my witchy rom-com loving expectations.
I really loved the expansive cast of witchy characters and all the magical mishaps that unfold in the magic mood controlled house they all call home. I really liked resident ghost and former witch Prudence whose random appearances at the most inconvenient times were genuinely entertaining. Blessing and Avery were super fun and I’d love to see more of them both in a sequel.
I loved that the setting was a rural British village and definitely served as a bit of a palate cleanser to all the small town, US based witchy books I’ve been reading lately. The history aspect was really interesting and, given the house’s magic (and Essie’s mum, Lilith’s abilities) I do hope Johnson utilises both in future books.
I absolutely loved the romance between Essie and Josh-their flirty banter was top tier though a little Insta- lovey but I did really enjoy every scene they shared. I can’t say much else without spoiling any of the plot but it was a fast paced and wildly entertaining read.
Overall, a witty, magical and utterly compelling rom-com that fans of The Ex Hex or Payback’s A Witch should definitely check out.
And a huge thank you to HarperCollins/One More Chapter and Netgalley for the arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death