For five years, Holly Harkness has missed the smell of honeysuckle on the drive into Haven’s Hill. She’s missed her friends and family, and most of all, she’s missed the magic that permeates the whole community--even if coming home means contending with her legacy as the heir to one of the most powerful families in town.
There’s one person she hasn’t missed, though: her high school rival, Christine “Cricket” Long, the part-siren owner of local bar The Brew House. But when a hex puts all the magic in Haven’s Hill on the fritz, she finds herself teaming up with Cricket to crack the case.
Soon, however, their partnership takes a turn for the steamy, and Holly’s starting to wonder why she ever hated Cricket in the first place. Will their growing attraction to each other prove to be a distraction, or will it unlock the secrets and legacies lying beneath Havens Hill?
Readers who love cozy, witchy paranormal romance like Payback’s a Witch or The Ex Hex will love this Sapphic love story, featuring rivals-to-lovers, electric chemistry, scene-stealing side characters, and themes of family legacy and cycle-breaking.
Caroline Laine is a paranormal romance author who loves all things witchy, cozy, and magical. She lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Zac, her two stepdaughters, one velcro dog, and a very sweet but extremely dumb kitty. When she isn't creating whimsical small towns for witches and supernatural creatures to find love in, she can usually be found outside hiking, camping, or backpacking.
A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane by Caroline Laine is a magical fantasy whodunnit romance.
I love the world building, I love Haven’s Hill and Honeysuckle Lane (I wanna live there.) I love the characters especially Ellen the grandmother. The only thing that marred the story for me was the absolute attraction between the characters. I think it was written so outright that there was no challenge left to their romance. But still, it was a nice, safe read.
I absolutely adored A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane! Holly and Cricket are two different but also very similar characters that you can't help loving and rooting for.
Focusing on their mission to uncover the hex that's decended on their town, their close proximity and tension leads to a heart warming discovery of love, self discovery and to "New beginnings!"
All of the characters were loveable. The representation of anxiety was done brilliantly, really making me feel connected to the characters. The cosy, picturesque small town was fully brought to life through Caroline's vivid writing, which made a nice change to other witchy sapphic romances. The magical, sentient house added a layer of humour into the story and I've never before adored a character so much, that's technically not even a person but somehow Caroline made it happen!
The storyline itself was so interesting and fully fleshed out, so you got to enjoy the romance AND and a little mystery and adventure too.
I'm actually really sad it's over, as I'd love to know what happened next to certain characters, and I didn't want to say goodbye to Holly and Cricket!
Thank you Caroline for letting me read this, I enjoyed every second!
Reading A Hex On Honeysuckle Laine was like coming up for a breath of fresh air and Caroline Lane did an absolute fabulous job capturing my attention from the very beginning. This mystery/fantasy romance introduces you to the small magical town of Honeysuckle and told in duel POV takes you on a thrilling adventure through the eyes of Holly and Cricket. Past experiences dictate that they should be enemies for life, but when Holly comes back to town after 6 years and runs into Cricket, there’s no denying the spark between them. They both must learn to forgive, let go of the past, and embrace their future if they have any hope of saving their beloved town from the hex that has been cast upon it.
The thing that stuck with me the most after finishing this book is that it’s not your usual romance novel. You can tell the author used her own life experiences to write and shape this story and that made it easy for me, as a reader to connect to on a whole different level. This is a story of love, pain, desire, and forgiveness. It’s about overcoming all odds that are stacked against you to achieve something great. I promise you won’t be disappointed in this book. And if mystery or romance aren’t what you usually read, well why not step out of your comfort zone and try something new?
"A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" by Caroline Lane is a charming escape into the magical world of Haven’s Hill. Holly Harkness returns home after five years and ends up teaming up with her high school rival, Cricket Long, to solve a mysterious hex affecting their, town. What starts as a reluctant partnership quickly turns into a steamy romance, and you can’t help but root for them as their chemistry sparks off the page. Lane’s writing vividly brings this enchanting town to life, making you wish you could visit Haven’s Hill yourself.
What I loved most about this book is the delightful mix of magic, romance, and a touch of mystery. Holly and Cricket’s journey from rivals to lovers is heartwarming and filled with fun twists. Lane does a fantastic job of balancing the romance and the mystery, creating a cozy read. "A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is the one to pick up if you're looking for something quick, cozy, sapphic, and witchy.
I received an ARC for an honest review. I was predisposed to like this as rivals to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. The paranormal setting is a lot of fun, I like hidden magical small towns, and magical creatures like sirens. The development of their relationship when Holly returned to town was believable. It felt a little rushed to me when I realized at the end that only a week had passed and so much had happened, but I also feel that a short timeline is a staple of a lot of cozy fiction, and it did make the mystery seen more urgent. The mystery was enjoyable to watch them work through, though the culprit was obvious to me, the readers get information that the characters failed to share. I will definitely reread this, so no qualms about recommending it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is a refreshing departure from many of the usual fantasy romance tropes offering a cozy, witchy tale set in the charming backdrop of North Georgia's Haven's Hill. The narrative follows Holly, a relatable protagonist in her late 20s, who navigates the complexities of small-town life, romance, and her own magical heritage.
One of the book's strengths lies in its diverse and well-developed cast of characters. Holly, a bisexual witch returning to her hometown after setbacks in her personal and professional life, brings a much-needed maturity and depth to the story. Her relationship with her grandmother Ellen, a delightful mix of love potions and tarot readings, adds warmth and authenticity to the magical elements woven throughout the plot.
The dynamic between Holly and her high school rival, Cricket, adds layers of tension and collaboration as they join forces to confront a mysterious force threatening their town's magic. The multiple points of view offer a rich tapestry of perspectives, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the intricacies of Haven's Hill and its inhabitants.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Honeysuckle Lane, the novel captures the essence of small-town life while infusing it with a touch of enchantment. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to a world where magic and romance intertwine seamlessly, making it a delightful read for fans of cozy fantasies and witchy romances alike.
In conclusion, "A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is a captivating tale filled with charm, mystery, and a sprinkle of magic, sure to enchant readers from beginning to end.
Holly is returning to her hometown Haven’s Hill after many years working in the big city in an advertising job. Haven’s Hill is in a hidden, remote location, because all its inhabitants are magical in some way. Holly is a witch, but has been away from that for so long. Cricket runs the local bar in the town, and until Holly left, they were each other’s nemesis, always against one another. This was partly influenced by the family history going back three generations. As the two women find themselves saddled with their respective families’ problems and prejudices, they find themselves working together and growing closer. Usually when I read a contemporary romance, I get very invested in the plights of the main characters; even though it’s fictional, it is so true to life that I feel a connection, as though I am watching a series of real events. With this type of story, where we read about a fictional world that is one step further away from reality, where something different (in this case magic) is under the noses of ‘normal’ people without them knowing, I find it harder to empathise with the characters. This is very true in this story; it’s more difficult to believe in the seriousness of their plight. This is a fun story, well written with good relatable characters. Worth reading.
This book follows Holly, a witch, who moves back to her magical small town and has to team up with her high school rival Cricket, a siren, to figure out why the magic in Haven's Hill is malfunctioning.
I really enjoyed reading this sapphic, witchy romance! I loved the magic system, learning about Haven's Hill and all those who call it home. Holly and Cricket had great chemistry and I loved seeing them put in the work on themselves to heal. Their relationship arc from rivals to reluctant allies to lovers was excellent.I really enjoyed the mystery element of this book and trying to guess what happened to hex the magic in the town.
Check out this book if you're a fan of: ✨ Small town romance ✨ Rivals to lovers ✨ Paranormal romance ✨ Queer representation
I was #blessed to be both a beta and an ARC reader for this book and I continue to love it and continue to say everyone should read it. A Rivals to lovers, paranormal romance, between a witch and a part-siren in a town that is literally Stars Hollow but with magic. What more could you ask for??? A perfect balance of romance and a bit of mystery is what you will find in this wonderful book. I love that we get two main characters who are actually adult women but who are still figuring things out and growing. There are also great side characters (more books coming???), a sentient house, and just overall wonderful vibes.
I got lucky enough to be able to get an ARC for this book , and let me tell you it was so fun ! I couldn’t stop reading it , these characters hate each other and you can feel it ! Such a fun and easy read ( the tension 🤌)
Supercute cozy mystery with sapphic romance. Perfect stakes. I loved the personality of the house. The book switches between Holly and Cricket's pov, and I wish they were more distinct. 3,5 stars
I absolutely adored this book- it’s a cozy, spicy, detective saving the world romp and really checks all the boxes. The characters are so warm- the best being the house itself. And I think this would be the first time I would ever describe an enemies to lovers plot as cute and cozy- there is very little daggers to the throat and much more pining and forgiveness.
Gleeful Goblin Review: So first off, I LOVE a romance where the author gives me a playlist which is what this author does. I love discovering new songs and it gives me such fun insights to the characters that I wouldn't have had any other way. So I'm already more invested and excited than I would be without context from the jump. Right away we dive into Holly's story and she's coming home to her small town after being away for a long period and the author hits me with this amazingness: "I set my bags down, stepped back, and grinned at her. “We’ll figure out the bath bombs. Maybe more bath less bomb on the next try?” “Well of course, dear,” Ellen said with a sparkle in her eye that made me think she might still be fixated on making actual bombs for bathtubs. “But before we start talking products or marketing or ‘branding’ as you call it, why don’t you go on up to your room and get settled? The house will take care of your bags, won’t you, house?” The handle of my bag disappeared from my hand. How had I ever lived without a sentient house in the city? The house was like a living organism, in tune with its occupants' wants and needs, albeit not always in tune with the way we might want those things to materialize. The house and Ellen bickered in their own way, and I had certainly had my disagreements with it throughout my life. One very embarrassing incident where the house hid my hairbrush on school picture day in retaliation for me throwing it at the wall when I couldn’t get my hair to flip right was permanently seared into my memory. But for the most part, the house gave the Harkness family everything we needed."
And it only gets better from that already awesome point. Cricket and Holly were enemies/rivals in high school, which is 10 years in the rear view mirror by the time this book takes place. The story between these two characters is about love certainly, but also about knowing who you are now, accepting who you were then, and making peace between the two so you can move forwards. This book is an instant fave for me and I can't recommend it highly enough. 5/5 Stars
I received an ARC of this book, and here are some of my thoughts!!
Overall, the vibes of this book were great. It had small town, childhood rivals to lovers, found family, and many other aspects that I enjoy in a book. I enjoyed the magic system, and appreciated that it was both complex and easy to understand.
Unfortunately, I did have a hard time believing that these two main characters were madly, deeply in love after a literal week passed. They had the chemistry, and I do think they had feelings for each other. I just don’t know that I can believe that they were so in love or that they actually lasted after the end of the book.
My only other comment for this book is that the third act conflict was interesting? We see Cricket wake up after being taken by her mother and basically tortured and abused for her plan. We watch her mother decide to give Cricket (and the other two hostages) all the information she has simply because she doesn’t think Cricket will be there to recall any of it or stop her. Mind you, while all this is going on, Holly is just having this major character building heart to heart with her grandmother that lasts a whole chapter.
It felt like a strange place to have that conversation, since the stakes had been set up to be so high from the previous chapter. I had a difficult time actually reading that chapter. I wanted to badly to skip it, just because I knew that Cricket and the others were in extreme danger. The pacing and placing of that part of the plot made me pause for sure.
I did enjoy this book, though. The set up for a series was great, and I definitely plant to read more by this author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is a delightful and enchanting sapphic fantasy novel that is sure to captivate readers from start to finish. The story follows Holly, a witch who leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams in the big city, only to find herself returning six years later, jobless and without a lover.
As Holly settles back into her hometown, she quickly realizes that not everything is as it seems in the magical cozy town of Havens Hill. The magic in the town begins to go haywire, and Holly finds herself teaming up with her high school nemesis to unravel the mystery.
What follows is a tale of rivals turned lovers, best friends navigating the complexities of one of them dating the other's ex, and a whole lot of magical mishaps along the way. The dual point of view adds depth to the story, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of Honeysuckle Lane.
With a perfect blend of spice, magic, and betrayal, "A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is a feel-good read that is sure to leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Perfect for June vibes of rainbow month, celebrating all things LGBTQIA+, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance alike. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a charming and heartwarming story that will leave you spellbound.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" by Caroline Laine is an absolute delight! This spicy, sapphic, rivals-to-lovers paranormal romance had me swinging my feet, cackling with delight and gripping the page. Cricket Long, the sexy siren, and Holly Harkness, the curvy witch, are captivating characters whose chemistry sizzles. The tension between them evolves beautifully into a passionate romance that's as enchanting as it is fiery.
The intriguing mystery woven through the plot keeps you guessing and adds an extra layer of excitement to the story. Laine masterfully balances suspense with romance, creating a narrative that's impossible to put down.
A charming bonus is the love story between the cat companions, which adds a heartwarming and adorable subplot. It’s a delightful touch that brings extra magic to the story.
Add in the cozy atmosphere of Haven’s Hill, a sentient house, The three dimensional side characters, and Holly’s amazing grandmother who steals the show, you have a book you can’t put down.
Overall, "A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane" is a spellbinding read filled with romance, mystery, and a touch of whimsy. Highly recommended for fans of cozy, paranormal romance!
This book ticked so many boxes for me. It was a great balance of heartwarming, funny, mysterious, and a little spice.
I immediately fell in love with all the characters (although the house and its sassiness is in my top 3). If Haven’s Hill was an actual place, I would absolutely be planning a visit asap.
I will admit that I don’t always go for a pnr that is less than 300 pages, because I tend to feel like the story gets rushed. I’m very happy to say that AHOHL doesn’t fall into that category for me. It’s told in such a way that I was fully invested after just a couple chapters and it kept a nice pace, but I never felt overwhelmed by everything going on. There’s a full story with appropriate background context, a sweet and satisfying HEA, and just enough little hints dropped at the end to get you excited for more.
I also really loved all the conversations and bits regarding both panic attacks and learning to be okay with yourself the way you are. They were done in such sweet, relatable ways that had me smiling at the end of each interaction.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and would happily recommend it.
A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane is Caroline Laine's debut book. It is an adorable, cozy, witchy sapphic romance. I loved the magic systems she created in this world and the character development! I also loved the supportive side characters, which made this book so heartwarming and lovable.
While Holly and Cricket initially thought they were completely different, which caused their rivalry, it quickly became apparent they had more in common than they thought. After their high school rivalry (and Holley accusing Cricket), they decided to team up to figure out what was happening with the magic. I enjoyed the mystery of this book. It is great to have these two spend all day, every day, with one another and realize their feelings.
While reading A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane captured my attention and my heart, and I fell in love with these characters and the hidden paranormal town. It had a great mix of cozy, witch, sapphic romance, mystery, and intrigue. I would highly recommend reading it!
Holly is a witch from Haven's Hill. She tried to leave and start a new life somewhere else. She inevitably gets drawn back home, but now something is wrong. A hex gets put on Haven Hill. She must figure out how to break it before it's too late. In searching for an answer, it forces her to work with her rival, Cricket.
I don't normally read this type of book, but it was refreshing and light-hearted. There is some spice in this book, but it is not over the top. It is an easy and fun read. I like the mystery and plot twist. I also like how the house is a character and adds some humor to the book. I would recommend this to friends.
A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane by Caroline Laine is such a cute feel-good story. The pacing is perfect, the mystery is interesting, and the characters are lovely. It's a small-town paranormal cozy mystery with a rivals-to-lovers romance and a family grudge reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. Lots of wisdom on love, honesty, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and an emphasis on self-love. It's fun and spicy, with a likable cast of quirky folks, including a spunky grandmother, and supportive found family. The villain was predictable, but it was still a fun journey. It wraps up with a sweet HEA. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by the author. I wouldn't mind more sapphic stories in this universe. I recommend! I was gifted a free ARC by the author. This is my honest opinion.
I received this book as an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was so cozy and cute! It gave me adult halloweetown vibes in the sense of a hidden away town with magical beings. There are witches, fae, sirens, ghosts etc. It mainly follows Holly who is a witch, moving back to Havens Hill after having moved away. She’s forced to work with her old high school rival Cricket when strange things start happening..
I felt like the story flowing nicely and Holly and Cricket were so cute! I LOVED Ellen’s house, and her relationship with Holly. I thought its personality brought a nice feel to it. The mystery and character development were great. I loved the twists and turns. I do still have questions about Rowena 😂😂
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a cozy FF witchy paranormal romance! Overall a great debut novel! Thank you Caroline for the ARC🖤
Thank you Caroline Laine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I don't even know where to begin to express my love of this book. Holly Harkness has missed her small magical hometown while she's been away, however, she has not missed Cricket Long, her high school rival. However, when a hex puts magic on the fritz, she ends up teaming up with Cricket to crack the case. They find they work well together, and soon their partnership takes a steamy turn and Holly wonders why she ever hated Cricket. This book is full of rivals to lovers, best friend's ex, magic, mystery, mental health rep, open-door spice and dual POV. Plus, a magical house who I must say is a big star of this book. If you love sapphic paranormal romances, this is the book for you. The love story between Holly and Cricket is amazing and I found myself rooting for them the whole time!
This cottagecore sapphic mystery romance was everything I wanted and more! When I read the blurb I was like okay, this sounds good. No. It was amazing. It was nice to read something that wasn’t real heavy in spice but still had great spice and had a good thick plot.
I fell in love with the characters and this authors writing is very detailed. I felt the story was complete and I didn’t question my life after reading it. There’s plot twists, secrets, magic, cute cats, and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes LGBTQ+ books, plus size rep., cozy romances, comedy, fantasy, suspense, mystery, small town, and happily ever afters.
I loved this book! It’s an easy read that you won’t want to miss out on!
🍯 Curvy FMC 🍯 Sentient House 🍯 Ex’s Best Friend 🍯 Witchy PNR 🍯 Rivals to Lovers 🍯 Skinny Dipping 🍯 Magic Goes Haywire
A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane is a cozy sapphic paranormal romance and I'm obsessed with it! I'm so thankful to have gotten an arc of this book thank you so much Caroline Laine. This book is everything and more. I've never dipped my feet into paranormal books before but I knew as I read the synopsis of this book I had to read it and let me tell you it did not disappoint! Cricket and Holly's chemistry is off the charts, they are rivals to lovers who team up to figure out what's happening to the magic in their small town Haven Hill. The mystery part of this book is incredible I was hooked from start to finish. Also the side characters are so fun and amazing. The house was definitely one of my favorites haha. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend reading it and I am so excited to read more from Caroline Laine!
After l got the chance to be a Beta-Reader, I now returned to Honeysuckle Lane, getting to be an ARC reader.
I loved Holly's and Cricket's story from day one. The small town setting, the books and the places, as well as the characters. It just made me feel so comfortable in Haven's Hill.
I got to read AHOHL and see the progress and it's still such a comfort read. It's spicy, it's paranormal, it's funny and adorable and just lots of emotions. It's everything the blurb promised and I just absolutely fell in love with Holly and Cricket (and the cats and the house and Ellen and- ugh just everything). It's been a 5 star read last year and it's a 5 star read this year. And it'll be available on Kindle Unlimited, so go get yourself this delicious treat!
PS: skinny-dipping enemies?... Isn't that reason enough?
Coming back to your hometown is never easy, but for Holly Harkness major problems arise. Forced to work with her high school rival, Cricket, can Holly find a way to break the hex that is plaguing Haven’s Hill in time?
This book checked several boxes off of my must read list! The cozy, relatable small town atmosphere combined with growing up as part of the LGBT community made this book one that was difficult for me to dive right into. If you’re looking for a simple, light-hearted, and fun book with a twist, then this is definitely the one for you!
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Ending ⭐️⭐️ Spice 🌶️ Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This review is based on an ARC; however, this is an honest review. Thank you, Caroline for providing me the opportunity to serve on your ARC reading team!
Oh, how I wish I were a witch of Haven's Hill. A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane is a cozy sapphic story set in a small town filled with magic and mystery, and I was charmed from the first chapter. The two female main characters—Holly and Cricket—struggle with self-perception, due to legacy and family, but they learn to fight back and establish themselves as individuals. The humor of the sentient house was incredibly lighthearted, adding a subtle layer of magic to the mundane, and the characters were likeable and diverse in their personalities. To me, this is a perfect palate cleanser, and I plan to reread it again. Oh, and I'd sell a kidney to have had a grandmother like Ellen! She is so supportive and sweet, and has all the wisdom of a Keeper.
✨ I appreciate being chosen to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So glad I stumbled upon this book at the lavender bookshop in Marietta Ga! I found it hard to put this book down and wound up reading it within 2 days! (Definitely going to check out the next book in the series!) - This story gives you cozy paranormal vibes along with a mystery and sapphic romance! Slow burn, (sort of) enemies to lovers, a sentient house!, cute kitties, witchy spells gone awry, hexes (obviously), ghosts, and towards the end when they finally find the culprit that’s hexing everything… it gets kinda scary and a little dark. It had my heart pumping and my brain screaming no no no! Edge of your seat moments there towards the end! - Spice didn’t hit until about halfway through the book, so slow build up which I enjoyed. Spice level: 2/5. - A few content warnings for the sensitive readers: parent abandoning a child at young age; panic attacks; drugging/knocking someone out.
Shut the front door - this was magically adorable! Hex on Honeysuckle Lane is a brand new paranormal romance by Caroline Laine and it is absolutely fantastic! It’s a mixture of cozy, mysterious, emotional & steamy…all rolled into one fantastical adventure!
🔍 Mystery ✨ Magic 💖 Paranormal Romance 🏡 Small Magical Town ❤️🩹 Complicated Past ⚔️ Rivals to Lovers 🍻 Bar Owner 🫖 Cozy ⏳Time is Running Out
This book is so much fun! I loved how seamlessly the story weaved timelines, balanced slice of life with nail biting adventure, showcased the unique magical system and crafted a swoon worthy romance! 10/10 recommend Hex on Honeysuckle Lane and I can’t wait to see what magical adventures Caroline Laine has in store for us next!