Review: The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)

The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)
By Erin Stirling

Published By: Headline
Publication Date: September 28, 2021
Date Read: April 14, 2022
Genre: Adult – Paranormal Romance
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 308

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”

The Ex Hex is a book that I discovered only a couple of months ago. It was around October/Halloween time, I saw this book all over bookstagram. People were absolutely raving about this cute and funny witchy story. I went out and bought it, but I’ll be honest I was originally apprehensive about reading it. In the past, witch books have just not been my thing. I would say in regards to paranormal books, they’re my least favourite paranormal creature. But after having read a couple of recent witch books and having liked them I finally decided I would give this one a go.

The Ex Hex is such a cute and fun read. It’s funny and sexy, and with it being just over 300 pages, it’s a pretty quick read. I actually really liked the vibe of this book. To me, it felt very hocus pocus-eske. And Hocus Pocus is one of my all time favourite movies so that’s definitely a good thing for me. I really enjoyed Erin Stirling’s writing style. It was really easy to read and you just fall straight into this witchy town and get lost in it. I love books like this as I don’t have to think overly hard. And as reading is my way of relaxing… that’s usually what I want. Erin’s writing style felt really familiar for me and I wasn’t sure why. I have since discovered that she is the same person who wrote Hex Hall, a YA series I read about 8/9 years ago. I love that she has delved into some more adult fiction.

I instantly fell head over heels in love with Vivi and Rhys. This was a total surprise for me as this one is definitely a second-chance romance, which is a trope I tend to have trouble with. Sometimes with this trope, I find I can’t connect with the characters as their romance and connection was already there from their previous relationship. I am pleased to say I did not feel this way with The Ex Hex. The chemistry between these two sizzles both on and off the page. You are instantly in love with them and want them to just give up and admit they’re in love already. It was such a sweet, gorgeous and sexy story. And yes, for you spicy fans… there is a couple of spicy scenes in there for you. Not too much, but there is some there.

I listened to this one on audio, and for the most part, I really enjoyed the audio narration. The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life, and they really showed the emotion of this story really well. I do have a very small gripe which is to do with the narration and not the book. Rhys is from Wales… yet apart from a few moments where Vivi notices his accent is ‘thicker than usual’ the narrators (both of them) read Rhys parts with a very broad American accent. I know for some people, this won’t be a big deal but for me it really took away a little bit of the magic of the story. I’d have loved to hear an authentic accent for him. Especially when there was some very good British slang included in the story, and it just lost it’s effect and hilarity being read in an American accent.

If you’re looking for a quick, fun, cute and sexy romance to read with a little paranormal twist, this is the book for you. It was truthfully, an absolute delight and I recommend it to everyone. I am so happy that Erin Stirling is writing a sequel. I can’t wait to see what more spells go awry and what witchy shenanigans will go down with these characters next. I will most definitely be preordering. I am officially no longer going to be apprehensive over a witchy book as I really, really enjoyed this one.

“I was mad about you, Vivienne. Utterly mad.”

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