The Ex Hex

Erin Sterling

4 stars

Format: Audiobook

If you are in the mood for Spooky Lite with a dash of spice and lovable characters, pick up The Ex Hex now. What a delight.

Vivienne Jones is a 19-year-old witch who just had her heart broken by Rhys Penhallow, a descendant of their town’s founder. While vodka-soaked and wallowing, she and her cousin Gwyn curse him. Or, they light a Bath & Body Works candle, say some targeted gibberish, and go on with their lives. No harm done, right? Years go by and Vivi has a home and community in Graves Glen. Life is normal until Rhys comes back to the town on official business. Rather quickly, both Rhys and Vivi realize he is cursed and both realize rather quickly how attractive the other one still is. Together, they must reverse the curse and fix the magic that has sent Graves Glen into a tizzy, and perhaps, try very hard, to keep their hands off each other.

The Ex Hex is a delectable choice for the season. It is one delicious morsel after another and I wanted to continue snacking until the very end. The story is clever, original, and well–crafted and the spicy scenes were burning hot! The Ex Hex is the type of story that you read when you want to be entertained.

This book will not win a Pulitzer, but it will tickle the reader and bring some light into your life.Vivi is a charming character who knows who she is. She never pretends to be anyone else. Rhys was absolutely written by a woman, and we are all thankful. Gwyn was a bit cringey at times, but overall a decent secondary character.

The performance for the audiobook was a little distracting. Ninety percent of it was fine; however, Caitlin Davies enunciated so precisely that it was noticeable. For example, the phrase “last night” was repeated frequently throughout the book and I know this because the “t” in last and night was emphasized. Strongly. Every letter in a word was pronounced. I also think the audiobook would have benefited from two performers, one for Vivi (and the other female characters) and one for Rhys (and the other Penhallow gents). Rhys is Welsh and a Welsh accent would have enhanced the visualization.

My final thoughts are this: The Ex Hex is tasty and perfect for a long car ride or run. As Sir Percival would say enthusiastically, it is a TREAT.