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wardenred 's review for:

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
4.25
emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

You... literally said, ‘I curse you, Rhys Penhallow,’ and now you’re surprised that I, Rhys Penhallow, am cursed?

I was instantly enamored with the author's style. Like, from the very first page, and then I got to the first chapter with Rhys as the POV character and got enamored farther. This was such a fun read with plenty of great banter and humorous lines. I absolutely adored the supporting cast, especially Gwyn. Also, the general Halloween vibe of this small town, the magical mishaps, the witchy adventure, the talking cat that only wanted treats—so much to love here! 

The one thing I found myself more and more underwhelmed with as I read on was the actual romance. I did enjoy Rhys and Vivi's interactions and they definitely have a lot of romantic chemistry! But it felt like they themselves were mostly focused on the sexual chemistry part and the feelings were just a side effect—or they treated them that way, especially Vivi. I wouldn't say that's bad per se, that's just not what I'm after in romance. I'm too ace for that "sexual feelings come first" thing I guess. 😅

I also wasn't really a fan of the ending, because I'm generally not fan of the type of big swooping gestures that amount to making the decision for the other person rather than tackling things as a team. It felt like a let down, especially because these two characters did prove they were good at tackling things as a team multiple times. Why can they practice teamwork when they're hunting ghosts but not within their own relationship?

Despite these gripes, I did thoroughly enjoy my time with the story. I'd love to hang out with these characters more, to get to know Rhys's brothers, and to see what other witchy shenanigans are possible in this fun world!