The Ex Hex

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones cast a drunken curse on her ex-boyfriend Rhys Penhallow in a moment of heartbreak and anger. She assumed the amateur hex would have no real effect since she was a young, inexperienced witch at the time. When Rhys returns to Graves Glen, Georgia to recharge the town's magical ley lines for the fall festival, strange things begin happening around town. The two must work together to break the curse before it destroys both Rhys and the entire town's magical foundation. The story combines witchy romance with small-town charm as Vivienne and Rhys navigate their past relationship while trying to solve their supernatural predicament. Their attempts to fix the situation are complicated by lingering feelings, family tensions, and escalating magical chaos in Graves Glen. The Ex Hex explores themes of first love, second chances, and the sometimes messy intersection of magic and emotions in modern life. At its core, the novel examines how past choices continue to ripple through our present, and whether old wounds can truly be healed.

Readers found The Ex Hex to be a light, predictable romantic comedy with supernatural elements. Many described it as "Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Hallmark movies." Readers appreciated: - Quick, easy reading pace - Humor and witty banter - Small-town autumn atmosphere - Chemistry between main characters Common criticisms: - Underdeveloped magic system - Rushed ending - Limited world-building - Characters lacking depth - Too much focus on physical attraction Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (85,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (5,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (900+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit but don't expect anything groundbreaking" - Goodreads "The romance feels forced and the stakes are never high enough" - Amazon "Fun but forgettable" appears in multiple reviews Most readers positioned it as an entertaining beach read rather than a substantial fantasy novel.

The Love Witch by Lana Harper A witch returns to her magical hometown and must work with her former flame to break a curse threatening their coven.

Not The Witch You Wed by April Asher A supernatural matchmaking system forces a magic-less witch and a werewolf pack leader to fake a relationship.

Payback's A Witch by Lana Harper Three witches form an alliance to take revenge on a mutual ex-boyfriend through a spellcasting tournament.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling Two rival witches running competing shops in a magical tourist town must unite against a threat to their community.

Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin A witch casts a confidence spell that backfires, leading to an unexpected romance with her high school crush who returned to their magical seaside town.

🌙 Author Rachel Hawkins initially wrote young adult fiction under her own name and adult romance under the pen name Erin Sterling - The Ex Hex was her first adult paranormal romance using her real name. ⚡ The book's setting, Graves Glen, Georgia, is fictional but was inspired by real small southern college towns like Athens, GA, and Chapel Hill, NC. 🔮 The story's premise plays on the "second chance romance" trope while incorporating elements of practical magic and Celtic folklore, particularly around Samhain (Halloween) traditions. 🎃 The novel sparked such strong reader interest that it launched a series, with the follow-up book "The Kiss Curse" featuring Vivi's cousin Gwyn as the protagonist. 💫 Many of the magical elements in the book, including the use of crystals and intention-setting, are based on actual modern witchcraft practices, though dramatically enhanced for storytelling purposes.