“Her head spinning, but her heart not feeling quite so piece-y, Vivi smiled and leaned over the circle, closer to the candle. “You broke my heart, Rhys Penhallow,” she said. “And we curse you. You and your whole stupid, hot line.”
Witch stories are making a comeback in 2021 and after reading The Ex Hex, I want all of them in my grabby hands, right this second.
Never mix vodka and witchcraft, that is Vivi’s aunt’s rule. But when Vivi unexpectedly gets her heart broken by Rhys Penhallow, a Welsh charmer from one of the most influential lines of witches, Vivi and her cousin Gwyn forego that rule just once and accidentally curse Rhys who has fled town. None the wiser, Vivi only learns that their curse has actually worked when, nine years later, Rhys returns to Graves Glen to recharge the town’s ley lines. What should have been a short trip turns disastrously wrong as one calamity after the other strikes and the town of Graves Glen finds itself wreaked havoc upon by the simple Ex Hex Vivi and Gwyn created. Reluctantly, Vivi and Rhys will have to put aside their differences, and their off-the charts chemistry, to save the town before it’s too late.
The Ex Hex was so much fun. The story very much has the vibe of an episode of Charmed—you have witches in a contemporary setting that find themselves in all kinds of trouble that they have to fix with and without magic, you have a suave and sexy love interest you also want to strangle sometimes, and above all, you have fierce female friendships and familial support that warms your heart from the inside out. Those elements make for an entertaining cocktail and that really is what it all boils down to—you can’t help but smile and laugh while reading The Ex Hex.
Sure, there are some rather sad moments and the fact that Vivi has essentially gotten her heart broken by Rhys isn’t easy to get over—for her or the reader—but beyond that, this is a super light-hearted read that feels like watching a comfort movie while you’re submerged in a soothing bath, sipping on chilled wine.
Speaking of Rhys, what a charmer of a man. Honestly, no wonder Vivi fell in love with this dude—he’s funny, self-deprecating, has a Welsh accent, and doesn’t take anything seriously, which yes, causes a lot of his problems but also means that the chances are high you’ll be laughing when side effects of the curse hit him without warning. Vivi, meanwhile, worries she’s not powerful enough as a witch and that insecurity goes a long way to making her feel inadequate compared to her family and Rhys. Both Rhys and Vivi struggle with expectations and unspoken rules handed down by their family members and not quite measuring up to the standards others have set in terms of magic or success in general. We also have family relationships that are very enticing, on the one hand Rhys and his very punishing, rigid father and Rhys’s hilarious brothers, and on the other Vivi and her Aunt Elaine and cousin Gwyn that imbue the story with lots of comedic relief and tension in turn. However, these elements didn’t overshadow the sweet and cataclysmic relationship between Rhys and Vivi and thus, this really felt like the perfect witchy romcom. Really, whether you read this in summer or around Halloween, whether you come to this book for witchy goodness or good old-fashioned escapism, The Ex Hex is one hell of a good time.
All in all, The Ex Hex is perfect for anyone who needs more witchy content in their lives, loves Hocus Pocus, Charmed and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and above all, anyone who’s in need of a fluffy romcom!
The Ex Hex is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 28th 2021.
Will you be picking up The Ex Hex? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | 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.
