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Best Hex Ever Collection #2
Hex and the City
Something wickedly sexy this way comes…
A laugh out loud witchy romcom for fans of Lana Harper and Erin Sterling !
Things you should know about
1. She’s a witch
2. She has magical hair like Rapunzel from Tangled
3. She lives with Iris, the head of her coven, in a beautiful, ramshackle house next to Highgate cemetery
4. She works at Hubble Bubble, a magic shop in Covent Garden. Though none of it is real magic as that would be highly irresponsible. Until…
…Poppy accidentally sells gorgeous celebrity magician Axl Storm, all six-foot-four of him, a cursed pendant.
When all hell breaks loose can the guy with fake magic and the girl with real magic fix the chaos they’ve caused? Or will sparks fly both in and out of the cauldron?
A laugh out loud witchy romcom for fans of Lana Harper and Erin Sterling !
Things you should know about
1. She’s a witch
2. She has magical hair like Rapunzel from Tangled
3. She lives with Iris, the head of her coven, in a beautiful, ramshackle house next to Highgate cemetery
4. She works at Hubble Bubble, a magic shop in Covent Garden. Though none of it is real magic as that would be highly irresponsible. Until…
…Poppy accidentally sells gorgeous celebrity magician Axl Storm, all six-foot-four of him, a cursed pendant.
When all hell breaks loose can the guy with fake magic and the girl with real magic fix the chaos they’ve caused? Or will sparks fly both in and out of the cauldron?
Audible Audio
First published September 3, 2023
760 people are currently reading
12544 people want to read
About the author
Kate Johnson
52 books553 followersKate Johnson lives in rural Essex where she belongs to a pride of cats and puts up with a demon puppy. She did actually do most of her homework, but quickly so as to have more time to stare out of the window thinking about heroes. Stay in school, kids. Kate has done a variety of not-particularly great jobs, ranging from airport check-in to lab assistant, but much prefers writing for a living. For one thing, the hours are better, and no one ever tells her off for not ironing her shirt. In fact, the lack of ironing might be the single greatest advantage to being an author. Kate loves going off at mad tangents, which you’d surely never have guessed, but also enjoys reading romance and fantasy, watching funny stuff on TV, drinking coffee by the gallon and occasionally leaving the house. The Untied Kingdom is her first novel to be published in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 800 reviews
October 22, 2023
no way in hell i’m taking a blonde man with a man bun seriously
May 7, 2023
Oh boy! Can you imagine a book combining Sex and the City with four witches from Great Britain, Ghostbusters, and Hocus Pocus?
Quirky, chaotic, and big-hearted Poppy, who has gorgeous waves like Carrie Bradshaw, finds herself enchanted by a flirty illusionist who actually has more groupies than rock stars (I was expecting someone between Mr. Big or Aiden, but I found myself affected by the irresistible charms of Axl Storm!)
I have to admit, I loved both of these quirky characters who deal with their own vulnerabilities. Poppy nurses her heartbreaks after getting dumped by each person she sets eyes on. You also shouldn't be fooled by the glamorous looks of Axl, who was once a chubby, shy, rejected boy, but recreated himself by spending the longest hours at the gym, counting calories as if he's solving the most complicated equations in his head.
Their paths cross when Poppy sees her ex with another woman, gets extra drunk, and heads to the magic shop where she works, accidentally cursing a pendant. The very next day, Axl stops by the magic shop to buy a gift for his coworker and one-night stand to compensate for his rudeness. As you may guess, he chooses to buy the accidentally cursed pendant.
Poppy requests the help of her three roommates, who are also witches like her, to capture the pendant without harming anyone. Unfortunately, Axl's sold-out illusion show ends with a tragedy. Axl and Poppy find themselves teaming up to find the pendant and break the curse, but instead of that, they turn into Ghostbusters, chasing bizarre creatures lurking around Great Britain!
I absolutely had a great time reading this and laughed out loud! Even though I found the first book better executed, I still couldn't put this down and finished it in one sitting. The magical world-building, the likable characters, and the palpable chemistry between Poppy and Axl make your reading experience extra delightful.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for sharing this very entertaining digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Quirky, chaotic, and big-hearted Poppy, who has gorgeous waves like Carrie Bradshaw, finds herself enchanted by a flirty illusionist who actually has more groupies than rock stars (I was expecting someone between Mr. Big or Aiden, but I found myself affected by the irresistible charms of Axl Storm!)
I have to admit, I loved both of these quirky characters who deal with their own vulnerabilities. Poppy nurses her heartbreaks after getting dumped by each person she sets eyes on. You also shouldn't be fooled by the glamorous looks of Axl, who was once a chubby, shy, rejected boy, but recreated himself by spending the longest hours at the gym, counting calories as if he's solving the most complicated equations in his head.
Their paths cross when Poppy sees her ex with another woman, gets extra drunk, and heads to the magic shop where she works, accidentally cursing a pendant. The very next day, Axl stops by the magic shop to buy a gift for his coworker and one-night stand to compensate for his rudeness. As you may guess, he chooses to buy the accidentally cursed pendant.
Poppy requests the help of her three roommates, who are also witches like her, to capture the pendant without harming anyone. Unfortunately, Axl's sold-out illusion show ends with a tragedy. Axl and Poppy find themselves teaming up to find the pendant and break the curse, but instead of that, they turn into Ghostbusters, chasing bizarre creatures lurking around Great Britain!
I absolutely had a great time reading this and laughed out loud! Even though I found the first book better executed, I still couldn't put this down and finished it in one sitting. The magical world-building, the likable characters, and the palpable chemistry between Poppy and Axl make your reading experience extra delightful.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for sharing this very entertaining digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
August 22, 2023
Oh I was SO excited by this description - witches, Highgate Cemetery, London, a magic shop... this is my dream context. Unfortunately this was a disappointment. The main character is not quirky - she's just random and chaotic and pretentious and exhausting. The writing was immature and girlish - quotes like "Impatient, she grabbed his hand and shoved it inside her knickers, and he found exactly what he wanted" do not belong to a real life professional author. I would classify this as witchy chick lit perhaps?
August 16, 2023
Another cute, witchy fall read! The best part of Hex and the city is the different kinds of witches. All while reading, I had to think to myself, 'What kind of witch would I be?' (Anyone who knows me in real life would say - One with a talent for medicinal/healing arts, obviously! 😂)
So many fun elements in Hex and The City, from time travel to a head of magical hair with a mind of its own. You'll never be bored!
**Parts of this story were a little more dense for a quick, lighthearted fall read - so I would consider this one that you actually have to read either in its physical or digital form. (An audiobook of this one might get confusing!)
**Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
So many fun elements in Hex and The City, from time travel to a head of magical hair with a mind of its own. You'll never be bored!
**Parts of this story were a little more dense for a quick, lighthearted fall read - so I would consider this one that you actually have to read either in its physical or digital form. (An audiobook of this one might get confusing!)
**Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
July 21, 2023
This is a fun paranormal romance involving a witch, Poppy, with magical hair like Rapunzel. Chaos follows Poppy wherever she goes and she's new to magic, so she has a lot to learn about control. Axl is a hot, celebrity magician. Poppy's co-worker "accidentally" sells a cursed pendant to Axl and Poppy has to try to get it back before it causes trouble. Adventure follows!
This was a fun witchy romance with a sprinkling of time travel and trouble. It was fun seeing all the chaotic trouble surrounding Poppy. I liked how the coven comes together.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book is expected to be published on September 3, 2023.
This was a fun witchy romance with a sprinkling of time travel and trouble. It was fun seeing all the chaotic trouble surrounding Poppy. I liked how the coven comes together.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book is expected to be published on September 3, 2023.
June 25, 2023
This book was such a great refresher with all the heavy books I’ve been reading lately. I think as much as I love reading thrillers and fantasy it’s always nice to pick up a silly romance book to cleanse.
Hex and the City was a great book to do that. It was witty and filled with all the great chaos that you want when you pick up a book like this. I couldn’t help but get a smile on my face on multiple occasions.
My only issue was that I felt that the ending was quite rushed and I would’ve loved more moments between Poppy and Axl so I could’ve enjoyed their connection more.
Overall, this was a fun read and I enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Hex and the City was a great book to do that. It was witty and filled with all the great chaos that you want when you pick up a book like this. I couldn’t help but get a smile on my face on multiple occasions.
My only issue was that I felt that the ending was quite rushed and I would’ve loved more moments between Poppy and Axl so I could’ve enjoyed their connection more.
Overall, this was a fun read and I enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2023
A super fun paranormal romance with surprising depth!! Poppy is a chaotic witch who has always felt like she's never quite 'good enough' (both at life and her craft) and when she accidentally sells a cursed pendant to Axl Storm, a travelling illusionist, all hell breaks loose (literally).
Forced to track Axl down and work with him to help break the curse leads to all sorts of steamy hijinks! Along the way family secrets are uncovered and Poppy discovers there's more to Axl than just his charming good looks and playboy ways.
I thought this book was such a delight!! From Poppy's Rapunzel/Tangled hair, to the man-bun, Viking hunk she has to team up with and quickly falls for. The banter between Poppy and Axl was fantastic and the final scene had me cheering for Poppy the whole way through!
Great on audio narrated by Catrin Walker-Booth and recommended for fans of authors like Erin Sterling, Lana Harper or Ann Aguirre. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Forced to track Axl down and work with him to help break the curse leads to all sorts of steamy hijinks! Along the way family secrets are uncovered and Poppy discovers there's more to Axl than just his charming good looks and playboy ways.
I thought this book was such a delight!! From Poppy's Rapunzel/Tangled hair, to the man-bun, Viking hunk she has to team up with and quickly falls for. The banter between Poppy and Axl was fantastic and the final scene had me cheering for Poppy the whole way through!
Great on audio narrated by Catrin Walker-Booth and recommended for fans of authors like Erin Sterling, Lana Harper or Ann Aguirre. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 1, 2023
Rapunzel meets Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
If you haven't checked out Kate Johnson's Hex Appeal yet I'm not sure what you're waiting for. The follow up, Hex and the City, is the absolute perfect fall romance.
Poppy is a witch where chaos follows her at every step. Alex is an illusionist who is a bit lost and trying to hide a painful past. But then one night Poppy has a few too many, possibly curses a pendant that Alex perhaps is sold the next day and his show comes crashing down around him. Chaos. Ensues.
I think one of the many things I love about Kate Johnson's books are just how FUNNY they are. I tore through this book and you will too. I'd recommend reading Hex Appeal first but it won't affect your enjoyment of Hex and the City if you don't. Plus another beautiful cover to boot.
If you haven't checked out Kate Johnson's Hex Appeal yet I'm not sure what you're waiting for. The follow up, Hex and the City, is the absolute perfect fall romance.
Poppy is a witch where chaos follows her at every step. Alex is an illusionist who is a bit lost and trying to hide a painful past. But then one night Poppy has a few too many, possibly curses a pendant that Alex perhaps is sold the next day and his show comes crashing down around him. Chaos. Ensues.
I think one of the many things I love about Kate Johnson's books are just how FUNNY they are. I tore through this book and you will too. I'd recommend reading Hex Appeal first but it won't affect your enjoyment of Hex and the City if you don't. Plus another beautiful cover to boot.
April 29, 2024
“Words were just words. Crystals were just stones. But if they represented something to Poppy, they sharpened her intent.”
4.25 stars. I’ve been missing the Stay a Spell series, for when I want a magical, heartwarming romance with a touch of smut. Like if Pumpkin Spice was a genre y’know? So this was the cute and cozy paranormal romance moment I needed, that did its job when I wanted light fluffy contemporary romantasy.
The sentient and hungry wild rapunzel hair was silly and cute. I’ve listened to both of this series as audiobooks, this one was through my local library, and the narrator does a great job switching between English and Australian for this one. I like her accent and tone, it’s very relaxing and adds to the coziness. I’m not sure this counts as cozy fantasy, as much as it’s my comfort genre if that makes sense.
I thought this was a sequel to Hex Appeal by the same author, following the couple as they move to the city. Just as a heads up if you thought the same, it absolutely was not that. It was a standalone within the same universe, with very little crossover. Two characters from the first book made a mini cameo, which I loved, though it was very short and sweet.
4.25 stars. I’ve been missing the Stay a Spell series, for when I want a magical, heartwarming romance with a touch of smut. Like if Pumpkin Spice was a genre y’know? So this was the cute and cozy paranormal romance moment I needed, that did its job when I wanted light fluffy contemporary romantasy.
The sentient and hungry wild rapunzel hair was silly and cute. I’ve listened to both of this series as audiobooks, this one was through my local library, and the narrator does a great job switching between English and Australian for this one. I like her accent and tone, it’s very relaxing and adds to the coziness. I’m not sure this counts as cozy fantasy, as much as it’s my comfort genre if that makes sense.
I thought this was a sequel to Hex Appeal by the same author, following the couple as they move to the city. Just as a heads up if you thought the same, it absolutely was not that. It was a standalone within the same universe, with very little crossover. Two characters from the first book made a mini cameo, which I loved, though it was very short and sweet.
September 2, 2023
I loved everything about this book. It was magical and completely unique.
Poppy is a witch that's learning to control her magic. Everything about her is a little chaotic, including her Rapunzel hair that truly has a mind of its own. When she accidentally hexes an amulet, things get crazy and she meets Alex.
Alex is a famous magician. Right from the start, his and Poppy's relationship is scorching hot.
There are so many twists and turns in this book. It was a magically wild ride that I couldn't get enough of.
Hex and the City is a perfect witchy read to enjoy during the upcoming fall season.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Poppy is a witch that's learning to control her magic. Everything about her is a little chaotic, including her Rapunzel hair that truly has a mind of its own. When she accidentally hexes an amulet, things get crazy and she meets Alex.
Alex is a famous magician. Right from the start, his and Poppy's relationship is scorching hot.
There are so many twists and turns in this book. It was a magically wild ride that I couldn't get enough of.
Hex and the City is a perfect witchy read to enjoy during the upcoming fall season.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 16, 2023
Quirky, chaotic and a whole heap of fun, Hex and the City was a marvellously witchy read - think Hocus Pocus x Tangled but with a touch of adult spice! 👻 There was cursed jewellery and ghosts, magical hair and flying broomsticks, time travel and a meddling mother, basically everything and anything you might need for a lighthearted spooky season read. What a scream! ✨🧹🍃
August 6, 2023
2⭐️ 2🌶
Big thanks to Harper Collins UK, Kate Johnson, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
This is usually a genre I LOVE - rom-coms with a witchy side... but unfortunately this one majorly let me down. It started out strong for me because I loved the idea of a magician and a real witch coming together for a rom-com. Then about 25% of the way through it started getting off-the-wall crazy. There were so many times I legit had NO IDEA what was going on. It was just too much going on at once between the romance, Poppy's witchy side, the disasters, and then Alex's whole identity thing.
Add in quotes like: "Impatient, she grabbed his hand and shoved it inside her knickers, and he found exactly what he wanted." This added a cringy vibe that was just not it. First off this man already has like an eating disorder and put WAY too much into his appearance and Poppy's over here completely objectifying him like a man would. There was ultimately too much talk about how big he was in one scene. The spicy scenes to me always had an element that made my face look like David from Schitt's Creek looking just confused and off-put. Don't even get me started on the fact Poppy's mother was out here banging her bf, everyone around her and hit on HER.
Overall, this was a 2-star read for me. It does have potential if HALF of all the chaos that went on happened and was focused more on the magician/real witch romance. But ultimately it fell apart for me when all the action was added in. I wanted a cute, easy and witchy romance.
Big thanks to Harper Collins UK, Kate Johnson, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
This is usually a genre I LOVE - rom-coms with a witchy side... but unfortunately this one majorly let me down. It started out strong for me because I loved the idea of a magician and a real witch coming together for a rom-com. Then about 25% of the way through it started getting off-the-wall crazy. There were so many times I legit had NO IDEA what was going on. It was just too much going on at once between the romance, Poppy's witchy side, the disasters, and then Alex's whole identity thing.
Add in quotes like: "Impatient, she grabbed his hand and shoved it inside her knickers, and he found exactly what he wanted." This added a cringy vibe that was just not it. First off this man already has like an eating disorder and put WAY too much into his appearance and Poppy's over here completely objectifying him like a man would. There was ultimately too much talk about how big he was in one scene. The spicy scenes to me always had an element that made my face look like David from Schitt's Creek looking just confused and off-put. Don't even get me started on the fact Poppy's mother was out here banging her bf, everyone around her and hit on HER.
Overall, this was a 2-star read for me. It does have potential if HALF of all the chaos that went on happened and was focused more on the magician/real witch romance. But ultimately it fell apart for me when all the action was added in. I wanted a cute, easy and witchy romance.
September 29, 2024
2.5 stars⭐️
There were themes of witches, magic, and time travel which I did enjoy!
But I just found the story quite boring, confusing and difficult to follow at times. Certain things just seemed to be forced and the ending seemed very rushed.
Not to say others won’t enjoy this! This just wasn’t a book for me unfortunately!
There were themes of witches, magic, and time travel which I did enjoy!
But I just found the story quite boring, confusing and difficult to follow at times. Certain things just seemed to be forced and the ending seemed very rushed.
Not to say others won’t enjoy this! This just wasn’t a book for me unfortunately!
February 1, 2024
Could have been cute, but went off the deep end the second half. I had only 5 mins left in the book the past 5 days and didn’t rush to finish if that tells you much.
April 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a delightful and enchanting adventure full of chaos, magic, witches, mystery, romance and Poppy's magical Rapunzel like hair! Hex and the City is the second installment in the series. I have not read book one and I had no struggles reading this one first. This is my first read by Kate Johnson and it will not be my last! I absolutely loved this book so much!!♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Poppy Thistlefoot is a witch that designs jewelry and works at the Hubble Bubble Magic Shop. Chaos seems to follow Poppy everywhere! She accidentally sells a cursed pendant to Alex (Axl). Alex is a popular illusionist who is so swoon-worthy. Poppy and Alex must work together to reverse the curse. What could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!!
Overall, it is a fun and lighthearted read that deserves all the MAGICAL stars!!🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a delightful and enchanting adventure full of chaos, magic, witches, mystery, romance and Poppy's magical Rapunzel like hair! Hex and the City is the second installment in the series. I have not read book one and I had no struggles reading this one first. This is my first read by Kate Johnson and it will not be my last! I absolutely loved this book so much!!♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Poppy Thistlefoot is a witch that designs jewelry and works at the Hubble Bubble Magic Shop. Chaos seems to follow Poppy everywhere! She accidentally sells a cursed pendant to Alex (Axl). Alex is a popular illusionist who is so swoon-worthy. Poppy and Alex must work together to reverse the curse. What could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!!
Overall, it is a fun and lighthearted read that deserves all the MAGICAL stars!!🌟🌟🌟🌟
April 3, 2024
Fun, quick, really engaging and quirky witchy read. I laughed and was touched equally whilst reading it. Poppy and Axl are such great duo and I loved reading their story.
June 6, 2024
My first audiobook! Selected it because of the title, but it was nothing like SATC.
September 8, 2023
I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it was not quite the witchy read I was hoping for.
Poppy is a somewhat chaotic witch, with sentient Rapunzel-like hair. Recently heartbroken, she places an accidental curse on a pendant in the magic shop she works in. Cue Alex Raine, a ladies' man and a celebrity illusionist by the name of Axl Storm, who purchases said cursed pendant as a gift to his co-performer Yelena. When Poppy tries retrieving the pendant and Axl's next show goes disastrously wrong--and the pendant is then stolen--they're forced to work together to fix the chaos.
Honestly, the book started off very strong for me, but I didn't really like Johnson's writing. Much like Poppy's chaotic vibes and hair, the pacing felt a bit frantic at times and perhaps just a tad too quirky for my tastes. I also really don't like instant-love or instant-attraction in romances, at least without some sort of grounding or banter to support it, so the immediate making out between Poppy and Alex--after a colossal nightmare of a magic show, with at least two performers badly injured, no less--felt a bit cringey and rushed to me.
Anyways, I DNF'd this around 30%. While I can certainly see the appeal and charm many readers have no found in this novel, I don't think I'll be picking up another of Johnson's books anytime soon.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advance copy.
Poppy is a somewhat chaotic witch, with sentient Rapunzel-like hair. Recently heartbroken, she places an accidental curse on a pendant in the magic shop she works in. Cue Alex Raine, a ladies' man and a celebrity illusionist by the name of Axl Storm, who purchases said cursed pendant as a gift to his co-performer Yelena. When Poppy tries retrieving the pendant and Axl's next show goes disastrously wrong--and the pendant is then stolen--they're forced to work together to fix the chaos.
Honestly, the book started off very strong for me, but I didn't really like Johnson's writing. Much like Poppy's chaotic vibes and hair, the pacing felt a bit frantic at times and perhaps just a tad too quirky for my tastes. I also really don't like instant-love or instant-attraction in romances, at least without some sort of grounding or banter to support it, so the immediate making out between Poppy and Alex--after a colossal nightmare of a magic show, with at least two performers badly injured, no less--felt a bit cringey and rushed to me.
Anyways, I DNF'd this around 30%. While I can certainly see the appeal and charm many readers have no found in this novel, I don't think I'll be picking up another of Johnson's books anytime soon.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advance copy.
October 29, 2023
I thought this was going to be a witchy Romance. It was more spicy chick-lit, though. With a dash of time travel (to the Great Fire of London) and witch politics.
The FMC, Poppy, was supposed to be quirky but felt random to me.
The man-bun wearing MMC, Alex, seemed to pile on backstory the further we got into this.
The saving grace, in my opinion, was Iris, Poppy's landlady, who managed to bury several husbands.
I finished the ARC but I'm not keen on picking up another book by the author - unless it's the well-edited story of Iris and her husbands.
The FMC, Poppy, was supposed to be quirky but felt random to me.
The man-bun wearing MMC, Alex, seemed to pile on backstory the further we got into this.
The saving grace, in my opinion, was Iris, Poppy's landlady, who managed to bury several husbands.
I finished the ARC but I'm not keen on picking up another book by the author - unless it's the well-edited story of Iris and her husbands.
April 25, 2024
I absolutely love this series and I am so beyond excited for the next book! Each book I have read has made me laugh, cry and fallen in love with all the characters! I will definitely be re reading this series 🤍
June 20, 2023
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for sharing this arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶
Third person
Dual POV
Witchy romance
When Poppy (Rapunzel) accidentally sells Alex (Manbun) a pendant that she may or may not have drunkenly cursed, a whole host of mayhem ensues. Can they work together to control the chaos?
This book was so fun! Magic, witches, romance, time travel, Kings Of Leon (iykyk) and sentient hair. What more could anyone want or need in a story! I was so immersed in this story and need some fan art immediately! There was a few twists and turns that I absolutely would not have been able to guess, which was very refreshing. Whilst this is a romance, and there are a few open door scenes, there is also a great plot that was super exciting, and a dose of humour throughout.
This is my first book by Kate Johnson and I will absolutely be reading more!
5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶
Third person
Dual POV
Witchy romance
When Poppy (Rapunzel) accidentally sells Alex (Manbun) a pendant that she may or may not have drunkenly cursed, a whole host of mayhem ensues. Can they work together to control the chaos?
This book was so fun! Magic, witches, romance, time travel, Kings Of Leon (iykyk) and sentient hair. What more could anyone want or need in a story! I was so immersed in this story and need some fan art immediately! There was a few twists and turns that I absolutely would not have been able to guess, which was very refreshing. Whilst this is a romance, and there are a few open door scenes, there is also a great plot that was super exciting, and a dose of humour throughout.
This is my first book by Kate Johnson and I will absolutely be reading more!
August 10, 2023
Storyline:
When the traits of a Witch and Rapunzel are spun together, it will precisely result in something like... Poppy. Poppy spends most of her time creating jewellery, living with the head of her coven next to a cemetery. And though she never truly felt she had any magical powers, hell breaks loose when she sells a cursed pendant to a very hot Magician (Alex). Oh, what a time to be chaotic!
My take:
It's a witchy romance book that features a chaotic protagonist and a too-sexy-for-his-own-good love interest. While the magical elements in the book are spread across different timelines (from mummies to Victorian London), it is safe to say it's all very easy on the eyes and brain. The vibe is definitely light and magical. You will find yourself swooning over quite a handful of romance scenes. A quick disclaimer though, there are detailed descriptions of love-making activities (literally - no curtains). So keep in mind what you are signing for - witchy adult romance in a modern world setup.
When the traits of a Witch and Rapunzel are spun together, it will precisely result in something like... Poppy. Poppy spends most of her time creating jewellery, living with the head of her coven next to a cemetery. And though she never truly felt she had any magical powers, hell breaks loose when she sells a cursed pendant to a very hot Magician (Alex). Oh, what a time to be chaotic!
My take:
It's a witchy romance book that features a chaotic protagonist and a too-sexy-for-his-own-good love interest. While the magical elements in the book are spread across different timelines (from mummies to Victorian London), it is safe to say it's all very easy on the eyes and brain. The vibe is definitely light and magical. You will find yourself swooning over quite a handful of romance scenes. A quick disclaimer though, there are detailed descriptions of love-making activities (literally - no curtains). So keep in mind what you are signing for - witchy adult romance in a modern world setup.
October 13, 2024
"‘Do you mean to tell me,’ she said, ‘that I’ve been paying through the nose for my Oyster card, and hiring bikes by the mile, and all this time I could have been flying?’"
" There is nothing wrong with being chaotic. Iris had said that to her shortly after Poppy moved in. Chaos is necessary and healthy for growth, it brings creativity and breathes new life into stale order."
" It was a truth universally acknowledged that if Poppy had anything exciting, important or embarrassing going on in her life, the Coven would be there to witness it."
This was such a fun read!!!! Witches, London and lots of humor. Its a cozy, witchy book, perfect for a weekend, to just relax and enjoy. Off to book 3 😍🕸️🔮🩷🧹🖤🐈⬛✨☕
" There is nothing wrong with being chaotic. Iris had said that to her shortly after Poppy moved in. Chaos is necessary and healthy for growth, it brings creativity and breathes new life into stale order."
" It was a truth universally acknowledged that if Poppy had anything exciting, important or embarrassing going on in her life, the Coven would be there to witness it."
This was such a fun read!!!! Witches, London and lots of humor. Its a cozy, witchy book, perfect for a weekend, to just relax and enjoy. Off to book 3 😍🕸️🔮🩷🧹🖤🐈⬛✨☕
April 30, 2023
I loved Hex Appeal by this author and reading this one has made me want to go back and read it all over again!
Magic, hunky vikings, time travel, chaos, romance and sentient hair, I mean, what more could you want?!
This book was so easy to launch into and I devoured it in a few days. Poppy was a great character as she’s all mess and chaos which greatly adds to her appeal. And Alex also wasn’t such a bad edition…I mean, the imagery I have in my head of him now… not such a bad thing I assure you.
There were plenty of twists and turns (some that I definitely wasn’t expecting) and I can’t believe how quickly the book seemed to end. I can’t wait to read more from this author as everything I’ve read so far has been more than enjoyable.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Magic, hunky vikings, time travel, chaos, romance and sentient hair, I mean, what more could you want?!
This book was so easy to launch into and I devoured it in a few days. Poppy was a great character as she’s all mess and chaos which greatly adds to her appeal. And Alex also wasn’t such a bad edition…I mean, the imagery I have in my head of him now… not such a bad thing I assure you.
There were plenty of twists and turns (some that I definitely wasn’t expecting) and I can’t believe how quickly the book seemed to end. I can’t wait to read more from this author as everything I’ve read so far has been more than enjoyable.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
October 5, 2024
1.5/5
This is where I stop with the series. Again, the writing lacked depth and likeable characters. Poppy was less quirky and more random and chaotic. I could not follow her train of thought and it got exhausting reading her POV. Alex I could not take seriously and stopped caring about him shortly after starting the book. The only posting was Iris and the many husbands she buried. She was hilarious and should have her own book.
This is where I stop with the series. Again, the writing lacked depth and likeable characters. Poppy was less quirky and more random and chaotic. I could not follow her train of thought and it got exhausting reading her POV. Alex I could not take seriously and stopped caring about him shortly after starting the book. The only posting was Iris and the many husbands she buried. She was hilarious and should have her own book.
August 30, 2023
Chaos, in all the best ways. It started off super strong and held through the entire story! It was fun, magical and endearing ride. Poppy and Alex were fun to get to know and their romance was hot. The plot was wonderful. 5/5. The spice was good 2/5. I absolutely do not like one aspect of this book but it isn’t my favorite trope to begin with so I won’t hold it against it. I’m keeping this vague because I want it spoiler free. This was overall a perfect fall read. I adore the Easter eggs from the previous book. I would say they are interconnected standalones but they are both worth it so check them out! This was an arc and I’m voluntarily leaving this review!
May 6, 2025
At first, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy the book, but by the 2nd chapter, I was hooked. I don't know why people have given it such poor ratings. One of the twists was a little predictable, but I was happy with that as I never normally can guess the twists.
I will 100% be heading out to get Hex Appeal, and I hope it's just as fun at this book!
I will 100% be heading out to get Hex Appeal, and I hope it's just as fun at this book!
April 30, 2023
Hex and the City was a fun witchy adventure! It’s a romance for sure, but I also had so much fun learning about all the chaos that Poppy has follow her around London. The ways magic showed up in this book were so original and it was super enjoyable to be getting the perspective of Alex, a mortal who was brought along on the adventure.
The connection between Alex and Poppy is super sweet and though it all happens quickly over the course of a week if still sweeps you up and makes you believe their feelings for each other.
The only thing I struggled with this book was it was told from the third person but swings back and forth from Poppy’s and Alex’s perspectives intermittently. It took a little bit of getting used to at first but once I did I really enjoyed the writing!
I will definitely be going and reading Hex Appeal the other book!
Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and the author Kate Johnson for providing me the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The connection between Alex and Poppy is super sweet and though it all happens quickly over the course of a week if still sweeps you up and makes you believe their feelings for each other.
The only thing I struggled with this book was it was told from the third person but swings back and forth from Poppy’s and Alex’s perspectives intermittently. It took a little bit of getting used to at first but once I did I really enjoyed the writing!
I will definitely be going and reading Hex Appeal the other book!
Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and the author Kate Johnson for providing me the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 15, 2023
Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
The beginning had a lot of info dump and felt chaotic but overall it was a cute rom com with witches, romance and humor.
October 10, 2023
3.5 upped to 4
I had fun and enjoyed the story. It's well plotted, there's humour and I liked the characters.
Perfect if you want to relax and have fun
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I had fun and enjoyed the story. It's well plotted, there's humour and I liked the characters.
Perfect if you want to relax and have fun
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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