Publication: 3rd October 2024 – Del Rey UK
Dina is a skilled kitchen witch and café owner, serving magic-infused pastries to her loyal customers. But it’s hard not to feel something is missing when you’re cursed to hurt anyone who falls for you.
Scott is a museum curator, recently back in London after a brutal breakup 2 years ago, and looking to make up for all the time he missed. He’s determined to be perfect best man at his best friend’s upcoming wedding, but his plans take an expected turn when he meets the bewitching maid of honour.
After a weekend in the countryside full of peculiar hedge mazes, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. But there’s just one problem: the hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger.
Can Dina break the spell before it breaks both their hearts?
Best Hex Ever is the perfect read to enjoy during these early autumnal days, preferably while relaxing with a good cup of tea – or hot chocolate. There is magic, romance, spice, and mouthwatering baked goods.
Even though I am not a fan of insta love, I think that the immediate chemistry between the two protagonists, Dina and Scott, works very well here. A quick first meeting in her coffee shop and, then, a few more casual meetings until they are forced into proximity while attending the same wedding and sharing a cottage. And, of course, it didn’t help that their friends enjoyed match-making them.
The story is well-written and it develops very well. With a hex cursing one of the love interests into getting hurt as long as they are together, you know that things won’t go smoothly, but every good love story has its bumps. The love story is also a journey of self-discovery for the two protagonists, especially for Dina, who is convinced that she will never find love.
The main focus of the story may be the magic and the romance, but I also really enjoyed the friendship between Dina and her two best friends, Immy and Rosemary, how close and loyal they are and always there for each other.
Best Hex Ever is a fun, sexy, and intriguing read and, if this is enough to convince you to read it, there is also a stubborn and yet adorable talking cat!
A huge thank you to Del Rey UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.
Nadia El-Fassi is the pseudonym of Nadia Saward, who is a Commissioning Editor at Orbit Books UK. Before working in publishing, they completed an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, receiving a distinction. She lives in London with her husband and perfectly round cat and can be found impulse-buying new dice sets for D&D or watching horror movies.
Book After Book 
I heard the author talking about this book at the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival at the weekend and it sounded really good. Glad you enjoyed it.
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