Julie's Review: The Ex Hex

Author: Erin Sterling
Series: Ex Hex #1
Publication Date:  September 28, 2021
Publisher: Avon Publishing
Pages: 320
Obtained: purchased by Book of the Month
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Fall witchy fun
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

Summary: 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.

Review: This one sat on my shelf for a whole year; what a mistake that was because this was a delight. Usually I love to read Alice Hoffman this time of year but alas she has no new book out right now. I have never read Rachel Hawkins/Erin Sterling but I've already added The Kiss Curse to my add-ons for November through BOTM. 

What happens when two young witches put a curse on a young man due to a broken heart? Well 9 years later, it reeks havoc on their hometown of Graves Glen. Rhys is picked to be the one Penhallow to go home and charge their ancestorial lines. Of course, it's a small town and there is no way Vivi and Rhys won't see each other. Of course as much as Vivi has tried to get Rhys out of her system, it all comes rushing back to her. It's the same for Rhys when he sees her but he's had an easier time with letting it all go because his life was so far away from that pertinent summer. 

As Vivi and Rhys spend more and more time together to undo this curse, their attraction to each other heats up. Of course they are both 9 years older and know that their physical attraction can't be the only thing that will keep them together. 

The Ex Hex is a fun read with lots of heart, laughs and romps around town. I loved Aunt Elaine & Gwyn but not as much as I enjoyed Sir Purrcival. 😁I'm excited to read the next one in this series and hope we get a few more.