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A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love

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In this slightly spooky paranormal romance, will two women finally break their curse and get the happily ever after they’ve fought for?

Each year, when no one is paying attention, The Dead of Night Halloween store appears in a new location with its giant sign and great low prices. No one sees them setting up or tearing down—one day it’s just there and then, two days after Halloween, it’s gone.

Pepper White knows exactly how this works. For five years, ever since the last Keeper of the Store tricked her, she has been cursed—appearing when the store does, and disappearing when it goes away. People will remember The Dead of Night, but they’ll completely forget Pepper. That is, until Christina Loring walks in the door. Their chemistry is instantaneous and, for the first time in five years, Pepper finds herself wishing for more time.

But how do you tell the girl you’re falling for that you’re cursed and that you only have ten weeks together before Christina forgets . . . everything? To have a chance at happily ever after, Pepper has to do the one thing she swore she wouldn’t—find the right treat to trick someone else into taking on the curse. But all’s fair in love and spells, and this spooky season, Pepper and Christina are ready to stir up trouble in the name of love.

Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

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Ann Rose

22 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
Profile Image for Juniper L.H..
913 reviews33 followers
October 8, 2025
“Hold on, I can’t write a review yet, I’m busy trying to figure out how to rate this thing 6-stars. Yessss, I realize there is a max of 5, but this one deserves six doesn’t it?? Of course I know what "maximum" means! Five-out-of-five simply doesn’t feel right for such a masterpiece! No, you're being difficult.”

Reader, I hope that this is the first review of this novel that you have seen because that means that you can STOP browsing reviews right this second and go read this novel without accidentally finding any spoilers. I definitely believe that this is best enjoyed spoiler-free. I’m not normally one to care for spoilers too much, but in this case, I think it will matter to the reading experience.

As you can probably tell, I think this novel was incredible. Every now and then I read something that’s just a certain kind of special, and this is one of those times. I don’t want to leave a normal review because I don’t want to give anything away. This novel was incredibly clever, a lot of fun, heartwarming, but also very sad. It was an absolute page-turner and I think 400 pages wasn't enough.

It's got some awesome Halloween vibes if you like that kind of thing, but it also somehow wasn't too focused on Halloween if it's not.

Context-free highlights:
-Its clever. If you like that kind of thing
-Replacing swears with Halloween-themed-puns
-The classic “only one hearse” trope
-Christina's anxiety-laced internal monologue
-Pro-teacher platform
-“I got you”…ahhhhhhhhh!!!! Sobbing.
-Genius writing/plot structure
-The cat remembers
-“I can’t lose my keys”
-Zero plot holes or continuity errors (tee hee)



Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Profile Image for CarlysGrowingTBR.
663 reviews74 followers
September 11, 2025
Unfortunately, this one's gonna be a DNF at 58%

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 10 hours 31 minutes
🎤: Sarah Beth Goer, Imani Jade Powers
Publisher: PRH Audio
Format: Single POV/Timeline
There was absolutely nothing wrong with this narrator. She was doing a good job and I enjoyed her voice tempo and overall dictation. She made the book very easy to listen to and I never had to adjust my speed.

Representation:
🪄: Sapphic Romance

Tropes:
💗: Cursed FMC

🥵: Spice:
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.

General Thoughts:
Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me for a plethora of reasons. I would like to stress very highly that there is nothing inherently "wrong" with this book. It just was not a book that I was enjoying.

I did not enjoy the premise of a cursed store that disappears for the majority of the year. The fact that the store continuously pops up in the cursed FMC's hometown every year yet no one notices she's missing. And this is just fixed by stating that nobody remembers her seemed too convenient and simplistic for me. The other FMC being a theater teacher who doesn't seem very thrilled about her job and isn't a fan of Halloween was also just not my cup of tea.

The instant infatuation/attraction also did not work for me. It felt very cringe and forced as I read. It seemed like the FMC's were both just finding reasons to like the other person, regardless of any downsides simply cause they were attracted physically.

These all might be things that other people would absolutely love. And I highly encourage you if anything I said sounds like it could be a positive for you to pick this up. Because again there's nothing really wrong with it. It just was not for me.

Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and PRH Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Profile Image for Dani (Daniiireads).
1,967 reviews325 followers
July 20, 2025
First off, huge thank you to Berkley Pub for the arc!

Secondly, A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love was unlike anything I've ever read before. I loved the concept of a cursed Halloween store that just randomly pops up, and the cozy vibes. Unfortunately though, this just didn't hit the mark for me. I never really felt invested in Pepper and Christina's story, despite how likeable I found their characters. It just felt like there was more telling than showing, and I just never clicked.
Profile Image for Ash.
436 reviews28 followers
September 8, 2025
The premise for this book was so much fun. A Halloween store appears randomly every year, bringing with it a cursed soul who is only allowed to live in the town for 70 days before the store closes and everyone forgets her.😍 I love it! I wanted fall vibes and this book delivered. There’s lots of cozy Halloween vibes. Both main characters were lovable. I also appreciated the little twist near the end. This was a perfect book to start my fall reads 🥰

Tropes to Expect:
🎃 Paranormal romance
❤️ Friends to lovers
⚰️ Only one hearse (one bed)
❤️ Love at first sight
🎃 Halloween vibes
Profile Image for Jessa Layne • readwithjessa.
307 reviews18 followers
September 3, 2025
Thank you, partners @bookedwiththeemilys, @totally_anntastic and @berkleyromance for the gifted copy!

Each year, when no one is watching, The Dead of Night Halloween store mysteriously appears in a new location with its flashing sign and unbeatable deals, only to vanish two days after Halloween without a trace. For Pepper White, though, this is more than a seasonal quirk—she’s been cursed for the past five years, bound to appear when the store does and disappear when it closes, forgotten by everyone around her. That is, until Christina Loring steps inside, sparking instant chemistry and giving Pepper a reason to wish for more time. But as their connection deepens, Pepper faces an impossible choice…break her vow and pass the curse on, or lose the first person who has truly seen her in years.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was the perfect way to kick off the ‘ber months and Halloween season. The mix of paranormal magic with romance was so refreshing and felt unlike anything I have read before. I especially loved how the story was told with the countdown structure in the chapters, building anticipation as time slipped away. Pepper and Christina were such lovable characters, and their bond made me root for them from the very start. Definitely add this to your TBR!

Pub day: September 9
Profile Image for thevinedbookshelf.
90 reviews
September 13, 2025
Happy release week to A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love! Fall-themed books are just such a vibe this September, and this one is no exception. I was so excited to read this book when I saw that one of the main characters had been cursed to work at a Halloween store for two months out of the year, and then they and the store vanish at midnight on November 2nd. I thought it was such a fun fall spin on magical curses, and it created such a festive atmosphere.

This book was a bit slow-going for me. It took me some time to really become invested in our two main characters’ relationship. There was a particular plot twist I wished had occurred earlier in the story, because once I got to that point, the pacing really picked up.

That being said, I was obsessed with the unique spin on the one-bed trope. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but it was spooky-season perfection. The friends-to-lovers dynamic between Pepper and Christina was adorable. I loved how supportive Pepper was, and all the antics between the two of them at the Halloween store and haunted house.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and would give it a solid 3.5 stars.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Aunt Missa.
301 reviews29 followers
October 2, 2025
This was a super clever, rom-com, spookyish sapphic book. Pepper works at the Halloween store that pops up every year and then she disappears after Halloween. Christina is the local high school theatre teacher who is required to run a big haunted house with the theatre kids. Christina is a little lost, feels unappreciated by her family, but finds an instant connection with Pepper.

The town is adorable, the store and shop names are creative and fun. The story line is a very nice surprise and so smart. I won’t give spoilers, but it’s really interesting how the story weaves itself together. I had a great time.

4 stars because I didn’t get a good feel for any of the secondary characters and I needed Christina to have an ally. She had her younger sister, but not enough for my taste. I also wish that the theatre kids could have been a bigger part of the story. The romance becomes more intense the longer the book goes on, and that’s important, but the spice level is 🌶️. I absolutely would have been happier with more smut, but that’s me.
Profile Image for LeeAnn.
1,817 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2025
Incredibly clever.

Imagine a retelling of Brigadoon - only instead of a quaint Scottish village reappearing every 100 years, it's a Halloween spirit store. (with a little Alice in Wonderland for flavor)

Absolutely beautiful relationship between two vastly different people who deeply belong to each other.

And the struggle it takes to be together time... and time... and time again.

(Ooo, and there's a lovely little nod to the author's debut novel 😉)

"I'm sure. Because this is the kind of thing you fight for - a person who's willing to watch you fade away and keeps coming back no matter how hard it is."
Profile Image for Sapphic Bookshelf.
286 reviews165 followers
Read
August 16, 2025
Sapphic spooky season is here!! I’m ready for fall and this is a great book to get you in the mood for it. I liked our main characters and their love story. I enjoyed the small cozy town. I was invested in the haunted house being a success. And I always love a dash of paranormal in my romance.

I read the ARC and the ALC. I don’t think I’ve listened to anything by either narrator before, but I definitely will in the future! I liked both and thought the production of the audiobook was excellent.

With fall approaching, make sure you add this one to your tbr!

Release date: September 9th, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this eARC. Thank you to PRH Audio for a copy of the ALC.
Profile Image for Courtney sharpe.
316 reviews22 followers
August 17, 2025
Yes I did this 11 hour audio in a day. I could not turn this off. If you read one book this fall, please make it this one.

Each year, when no one is paying attention, The Dead of Night Halloween store appears in a new location with its giant sign and great low prices. No one sees them setting up or tearing down—one day it’s just there and then, two days after Halloween, it’s gone.
Pepper White knows exactly how this works. For five years, ever since the last Keeper of the Store tricked her, she has been cursed—appearing when the store does, and disappearing when it goes away. People will remember The Dead of Night, but they’ll completely forget Pepper. That is, until Christina Loring walks in the door. Their chemistry is instantaneous and, for the first time in five years, Pepper finds herself wishing for more time.

This has everything I love in a book and I have absolutely no criticism!

Read if you like
🍂LGBTQ representation
🍂no spice romance
🍂 magical realism
🍂 Halloween
Profile Image for Stacee.
3,031 reviews758 followers
September 5, 2025
3.5 stars

I loved the premise and cover for this one, so I was eager to get to it.

I really liked Pepper and Christina. Pepper know what
she likes and wants nothing more than to enjoy the time she has. Christina is a little unsure, so it was enjoyable reading her come into some certainty. Together these two meet cute into a sweet friendship that organically turns to more.

Plot wise, it's mostly good. Without spoiling anything, around the 75% mark, I got really confused about what was happening and it took a couple of chapters for the explanation to show up. It did make for an interesting turn, but I spent a good amount of time expecting something else and trying to figure out wtf.

Overall, this was a book that was easy to fall into and root for the MCs.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
Profile Image for Renée (FatedBookReviews).
169 reviews9 followers
June 22, 2025
I adored this book. This was a unique take on magic systems. What happens when every single year, the town you knew and loved forgets about you because of a curse?

A relationship blossoms between Poppy and Christina, two very different, yet equally fascinating women. Their relationship is a fast burn but not at the same time.

Christina is a school teacher with budding responsibilities that don't align with her family. Poppy is a former teacher with a past that makes her feel unseen.

Their relationship felt authentic and cozy, and genuinely was a great read.

If you loved Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeist, I think you're going to love A HEXCELLENT CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE. While the storylines aren't the same, the cozy vibes are.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the ARC!
Profile Image for Bbecca_marie.
1,552 reviews53 followers
September 11, 2025
Book Review 📖✨🍂❤️‍🔥
thank you so much partner @bookedwiththeemilys @totally_anntastic @berkleyromance for the gifted copy!

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love
by Ann Rose

About the book 👇🏽

Each year, when no one is paying attention, The Dead of NightHalloween store appears in a new location with its giant sign and great low prices. No one sees them setting up or tearing down—one day it’s just there and then, two days after Halloween, it’s gone.

Pepper White knows exactly how this works. For five years, ever since the last Keeper of the Store tricked her, she has been cursed—appearing when the store does, and disappearing when it goes away. People will remember The Dead of Night, but they’ll completely forget Pepper. That is, until Christina Loring walks in the door. Their chemistry is instantaneous and, for the first time in five years, Pepper finds herself wishing for more time.

🍂 My thoughts:

"I'm sure. Because this is the kind of thing you fight for- a person who's willing to watch you fade away and keeps coming back no matter how hard it is."

I absolutely LOVE a story with holiday magic, especially when it’s Halloween magic. This was a fast read and a good one to get anyone in the autumnal mood! I actually really liked that in this story it was a disappearing halloween store much like the beloved Spirit Halloween in real life except this one has a cursed someone too. I found the romance between Pepper and Christina to be sweet and loved them together especially because how much it took for it to happen. Plus who doesn’t love a little graveyard rendezvous?! If you love magic, curses, and romance this is one to pick up this fall. A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love is out now!

"She is my person, and no matter what happens, we will find our way back to each other."

Happy reading 📖✨🍂❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for Stephanie Rondeau.
72 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
I was fortunate to read an ARC of this book and LOVED it! A super fun and unique love story with amazing characters and a setting that just makes you want to move there. Pepper and Christina were both so relatable and fun to get to know, and I was rooting for their love story the entire time. And of course you can’t go wrong with Halloween and a bit of magic. 10/10 recommend!
Profile Image for Gemma.
535 reviews23 followers
September 8, 2025
Actual rating 4.5*

I absolutely love Halloween and everything that comes with it and this book is the perfect read for anyone who loves a sapphic romance set in autumn and all the cosy spooky vibes that it brings. There isn't too much focus on Halloween and it definitely isn't scary for those who are worried! Pepper is trapped working in a Halloween costume shop that only appears for 2 months of the year and Christina is a teacher who is working on creating the best Haunted House for the town with her students. It is a book that focuses on the romance and the curse and is full of cute moments.

I loved how fast paced and easy to read this book is and it definitely doesn't feel like it is 400 pages as it flies by so quickly! The chapters alternate between both Pepper’s and Christina’s POVs which is great as you get to see how they both feel about the other as their friendship / relationship gradually develops over the 2 months. I also loved the inclusion of flashbacks of old memories with their families from both characters which added depth to their personality and shows the reader why they are the way they are.

I did get a little confused at the timeline at one point but it all makes sense later on for a brilliant plot twist that I did not see coming at all! I loved how their relationship felt so natural and Pepper continuously uses the phrase ‘I got you’ which was cute, even though it did start to get a little irritating in every single chapter until it is revealed near the end why she says this and it made me love the book even more.

Throughout the whole book, the curse that Pepper has is hanging over her head and I was always wondering how or if she was going to get out of it. I loved the ending and it took some turns that I really wasn’t expecting which made this book all the more fun to read. I really loved the humour in the book too such as the company car being a hearse for The Dead of Night and the flirting was really sweet! I would have loved a bit more lore behind the curse such as how it started and why but overall their romance was perfect from beginning to end and I want more!

This is a surprisingly complex book with an intriguing plot and loveable characters which ensured I never wanted to put the book down. It is full of Halloween and autumnal vibes and it is the perfect book to add to your sapphic spooky season TBR!
Profile Image for Zahra (Bookish_Platypus).
227 reviews15 followers
September 6, 2025
Spirit Halloween - the sapphic paranormal romance

This book hooked me from the very first page. By the genre alone, this book interested me, but I was totally sucked in by the premise. This book is essentially about a Halloween pop-up store that's tethered to a human soul. We meet our human, Pepper, in the first chapter and her perspective on everything is incredibly intriguing.

Christina being annoyed that her family always asks why she doesn't have a boyfriend when she's bi is so valid. Like why is that the question? How hard is it to say "partner" or "significant other"? That being said, I loved how accepting her family was about her dating a woman. While Christina's family was a little rough, there are definitely some relatable moments with them.

Pepper and Christina were wonderful. My heart melted more and more with each "I've got you". They were excellent partners to each other and I really do like a double femme wlw romance when it's done well (which this one clearly is). I enjoyed them shoe shopping together and sharing makeup recommendations. They were both total girls girls and also downbad for each other.

There are some fun twists that you'll find. Some big ups and downs - all the emotions. When the twists start to reveal, I was a little confused but you just have to keep going and it makes more sense after a bit. I am still left with some questions, but I enjoyed the ride. The paranormal aspects and the underlying plot with the cursed store were all incredibly fascinating to me. I felt like I got a good understanding of how the "magic" worked and while I was curious about how it came to be, I didn't think that was necessary to the story.

Overall, the romance was super sweet and the story made me emotional. I found this to be a cute and interesting spin on a small-town love story.


Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy :)
Profile Image for Allie Churchill.
1,141 reviews30 followers
September 11, 2025
This one was a hexcellent, heartwarming, sapphic romance with all the cozy fall vibes! This was such a fun book- I ate this one up faster than a kid with a bag full of Halloween candy!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Paranormal romance📚

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
All the cozy fall vibes
Magical Halloween stores
Friends to lovers
Love at first sight
Only one hearse
Small town setting
Opposites attract
Haunted houses
Completed family dynamics
Halloween focused
Fade to black
Funny meet cutes

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The surprise twist was a fun addition
Countdown style chapters
Dual POV
‘Angry water’ had me giggling
Teacher rep

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I was confused at one point but it all made sense eventually

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Halloween and horror movies are scary- even bone-chilling sometimes- but it hit me while stringing up spiders in a tree outside the haunted house that there’s nothing quite as terrifying as being in love.”
★ “There are moments in life when the stars align and the universe provides exactly what you need, and for me that moment is now-here-on this couch with this beautiful woman.”
★ “I got you.”
70 reviews
June 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this story and definitely was not expecting that twist at the end!

Ann delivered a story that blends Halloween magic and bittersweet longing. In the story, we follow Pepper, who is tied to a mysterious Halloween store that appears each year in fall and then disappears after Halloween. Once the store vanishes, so does the memory of Pepper. It reminds me of the Magic Shop in the Tales from the Tarot series that randomly pops up! And just the Magic Shop, the Halloween story leaves its patrons unaware of its magic. But, in walks Christina.

The chemistry between Pepper and Christina is genuine and electric. It never felt forced. They were so fun and flirty together! Yet, watching Pepper wrestle with her past and longing for a future with Christina was a delicate balance that Ann got just right. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I completely devoured this book in one sitting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for this ARC.
Profile Image for Melissa.
242 reviews38 followers
December 15, 2025
This book was MAGICAL in every sense of the world. So charming. So halloweeny. The absolute picture-perfect romantic pick of the spooky season! I adored Pepper and Christina individually as protagonists and even more-so as a couple. Both the mystery and the romance kept me on my toes and I was truly guessing how everything would work out up until the very last moment. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time and certainly every time a Spirit Halloween pops up in town! SWOONS ALL AROUND!
Profile Image for Andrea (looselfeftlesbian).
374 reviews15 followers
June 14, 2025
I had a hard time getting into it. I think if it was around Halloween, I would’ve been able to get into it more. But once I did, the chemistry between Christina and Pepper was well written and oozing off the page. I do feel like the solution was kind of obvious or at least predictable in a way. I liked the premise of the curse and I wished that there was more on the after of it all.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
Profile Image for emily.
897 reviews164 followers
November 28, 2025
this was overall cute and a fun fall romance. i liked both pepper and christina and when i realized WHY "i got you" was said so many times, i forgave its constant use by pepepr bc ohhhh BOY. however, i do have a bone to pick with the curse. logically... it just like, makes no sense? i get that that is NOT the point, it's just the conflict, but like... being the keeper means nothing? pepper has no duties? she doesn't have to work at the store. she has no affect on it, so like... WHAT IS THE CURSE EVEN FOR? it's self sustaining??? idk. i feel like just giving her some duty or thing she HAS to do as the keeper would have solved this, but it was a little frusturating when i was constantly just thinking like, what is even the point of this if it means nothing? but, if you don't bother with that at all, and just go with it (which i did eventually) it's a fun and sweet romance and worth a read. both narrators did a pretty good job. they're not among my favs, but they're decent and i liked their performances.
Profile Image for Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary.
157 reviews40 followers
August 29, 2025
This is a fun, cozy, Halloween romance that can get you in the mood for Halloween and fall.

FMC Pepper has been cursed to run The Dead of Night store, while there are some nice perks, the downside is her limited time with the outside world each year, and the fact that nobody can remember her from year to year except for the time the store is open. One day, FMC Christina walks into the store, and they are instantly drawn to each other. Pepper helps Christina find items for the haunted house she is working on, and offers to assist her as much as she needs. Christina does not realize that Pepper used to be in charge of the haunted house herself prior to the curse. It is also a perfect excuse to spend more time with Christina.

The more time they spend together, the more the two of them fall for each other. But, with the dwindling time until the store closes, will they find a way to break the curse?

I love how Pepper and Christina complement each other. While Christina prefers to wear clothes that blend in with a crowd, Pepper prefers to wear vibrant, stand out clothes and shoes. Pepper is also a lot more whimsical, while Christina is practical. As they get to know each other, these opposite qualities work perfectly together and help bring Christina out of her bubble more. I also find Christina's wandering trains of thought amusing, because I do the exact same thing myself!

The names of the stores are also super cute there is Patty's Pancake Parlor, Deja Brew, The Book Burrow. And don't forget that Pepper drives around a hearse as her regular car!

Complaints: While I thought this story was cute and cozy and great for Halloween, the timeline in the story was extremely confusing, and is what ultimately brought down the rating. Near the end of the story, you learn that half of the chapters you read where Christina and Pepper did things together, were actually things that happened in years past. But nowhere does the story explain that this is the case. I started to have a hard time understanding what was happening currently in the story, and what was happening in the past. There are also things that Pepper doesn't understand, references to movies, use of smart phones, but she was only in this curse for 5 years, so that does not make sense. She would have known how to use a smart phone. Once you find out that Christina and Pepper have met and then re-met, 3 times, more of the story doesn't make sense. Supposedly this was Christina's first year working on the haunted house, yet she pulled out a receipt from 3 years ago with Pepper's flowers doodled on it. I don't understand what Christina was doing in the town for 3 years, because it seemed like this was her first year working there. So again, the timelines are pretty confusing.

Beyond the timeline, the story was cute. It would have been better if the timelines weren't so confusing, but it is still a cute read for Halloween.

Some fave Quotes:
"One of the best things about having my soul eternally tethered to a seasonal holiday store was that I could eat anything I wanted."

"This really pretty girl is asking if she can hang out with me more, isn't she?"

"Christina was like a beautifully layered crepe cake, and I couldn't break through each layer fast enough-always wanting more."

""I could totally kiss you right now." Pepper's eyebrows shoot up, and my face heats to the temperature of a thousand suns. What in the heckity heck would make me say such a thing?"

"Why was it when you liked someone, it turned your brain into mashed potatoes?"

""Everything you wear is bold and exciting, and, well, I'm-" "Beautiful without even trying," she says, and immediately my cheeks heat up again."

"She is my person, and when you find someone who truly gets you-like Pepper gets me-you hold on to them with everything you've got. I won't let her go."

Thank you to Booked with The Emily's, the author, and Berkeley Romance for a copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marissa | Readswith_marissa.
244 reviews14 followers
September 2, 2025
Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys @totally_anntastic @berkleyromance for the #gifted book and @prhaudio for the #gifted ALC!
🫶🏻

I absolutely loved the concept of a cursed Halloween store! It was the perfect vibe to get me into the autumn/spooky season mood!

Pepper and Christina were two totally opposite characters. It was so fun watching them develop and grow together. They were so fun and flirty and the chemistry between them was electric from their first meet.

The plot was so different and unlike anything I’ve ever read. Even the little twists and turns thinking that everything was going to work out and something abruptly going wrong had me on the edge of my seat! I finished this so quickly and absolutely loved the ending! It was the perfect way to wrap up an amazing autumn/halloween romance!

I’d highly recommend to all my book besties who are ready for spooky season vibes with a fun, magical romance!
Profile Image for Jasmine Shouse.
Author 6 books87 followers
September 2, 2025
This was absolutely everything I wanted in a Halloween romance! Pepper is cursed to be tethered to a Halloween store that appears and disappears magically (think Spirit Halloween style). Christina is a drama teacher in charge of the Haunted house fundraiser. Reading about them falling in love was so sweet and heartwarming as Pepper tries to find a way to break her curse to stay with Christina. I loved every step of their journey and was always happy to return to reading it.

Thank you to Berkley for the opportunity to read and review!
Profile Image for Cheyanne Young.
Author 15 books584 followers
July 24, 2025
I adored this book and am so glad Berkley approved me for an advanced copy! It has a cozy, slightly spooky vibe which is perfect if you love fall & pumpkin season like I do. You know how those Spirit Halloween stores just appear out of nowhere every year? What if someone appeared and disappeared with the holiday store? This story takes that concept and spins it into something whimsical, emotional, and unforgettable.

Pepper is cursed to vanish with The Dead of Night Halloween store each year until she meets Christina, the one woman who might just be able to break the cycle. Their relationship is instant chemistry, fun, playful and supportive, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

This romance is full of flirty banter, tender moments, and just enough spooky magic to make your Halloween heart flutter. It’s also an emotional love story—about being forgotten, about fighting for connection, and about finding that one person who sees you, every version of you, even if the world forgets.

This is the kind of book you want to curl up with under a blanket, candle flickering nearby, pumpkin spice in hand. A Hexellent Chance to Fall in Love is everything I love about romance and Halloween rolled into one.
Profile Image for Roo.
538 reviews16 followers
August 28, 2025
This was such a cute book! This was definitely a book that I read while curled up in bed with a cup of hot cocoa even though it’s like 90 degrees outside! I needed the vibes to match this lovely spooky paranormal romance story!

The fact that there was a cursed Halloween store and a sapphic romance drew me in but I absolutely stayed for the cozy and slightly chaotic vibes of our two main characters! I loved them so much! The small town vibes hit just right in this one and you will fall in love with the story!

If you are looking for books to add to your TBR that are spooky and cozy then this one is perfect!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Sarah Bowe.
2,042 reviews
September 3, 2025
Is it just me or is this what happens with every Spirit Halloween store when they pop in and out of existence?! I mean, that's the vibe here lol

The whole concept is interesting and to watch them struggle to break the curse.. but I saw the way out way far ahead of these two ladies. Pepper is the one cursed and Christina is the one who always finds her. I love that even when they don't remember, their connection is still strong.

The quirkiness had me going 🙌 for the whole ride. The way this was written makes you question the timeline, but hang in... you'll get it! The flower that pops up everywhere as a reminder. This was a great Halloween themed, sapphic romance. I just adore these two opposite characters that work well together.
Profile Image for Serena.
400 reviews153 followers
August 27, 2025

Read This Book If…you want something sweet and sapphic!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love by Ann Rose

Genre: Queer paranormal romance
Setting: small town on West Coast
POV: dual, 1st person, past tense
Spice Level: 2/5🌶, fade to black
Tropes: curse

My Thoughts:
This was a cute Halloween read, leaning more into magical realism territory instead of witchy or actual magic. It had an interesting plot structure, and doesn’t follow the beats in your typical romance.

I did think there were too many flashbacks in the middle of chapters, or even thoughts, that took me out of the story. I never felt emotionally invested in these two!

Spoiler:

But if you’re looking for something sweet and sapphic this Spooky Season, this is a great choice!

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy! Available everywhere September 9!
Profile Image for Nicole.
28 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2025
Next time I pick up a cartoon cover sapphic book just hit me in the head
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,190 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2025
This book was so fun! Set in a small town (with the most delicious sounding food btw) bouncing between a seasonal Halloween store (serious Spirit Halloween vibes) and the staging site of a haunted house; it just had the best fall / Halloween vibe. I loved both FMC and their quirks and flaws. Christina and her social anxiety - wow it was like being in my own HEAD. It perfectly represented the racing thoughts and self doubt even small actions make in my own head and it's so nice to know that it's not just me. She was sweet and brave and ugh I wanted to SCREAM at her family for treating her like crap (and I will just not LET me kids treat each other the way her sister did to her). I loved Pepper and her care with Christina; she broke my heart more and more as the story went along and when the two confronted their biggest hurtle I tried not to weep for them. The writing was full of humor and tenderness and I had such a good time reading this!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and I really loved both narrators and how they brought these characters alive.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy and ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
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