A Witch in Notting Hill

by Alexandra Paige

Perfect for fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this cozy and whimsical romance follows an accident-prone witch and a hot grumpy occult bookstore owner who doesn’t believe in magic as they travel across London to undo a spell gone awry. 

When rising Hollywood actress and secret witch Willow James accidentally turns her manager into a cat while trying to escape her contract, she’s sure she’s hit her magical low point. Determined to fix her mistake, she journeys to London in search of a rare spell hidden within the famed occult bookstore, Coven & Codex. The last thing she expects? The shop’s brooding, handsome owner, Oliver Hadley, who’d rather avoid magic altogether.

Together—with a ragtag group of friends (both human and feline)—Willow and Oliver must scour every corner of the city, from museums to festivals to bustling street markets, to find the missing pieces of the spell. Along the way, Willow’s unpredictable magic and Oliver’s skeptical heart will face the one thing they can't escape… love.

Filled with enchanting adventures, sparkling romance, and a dash of mischief, A Witch in Notting Hill is a sweet and spirited tale of discovering magic where you least expect it.

Genres: Romance, Autumn, Fantasy, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Witches, Audiobook

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

ALEXANDRA PAIGE is a writer and educator. She is enthusiastic about all things romance, and her work often serves as a love letter to European travel and the chaos of being twenty-something. She currently writes in an apartment she shares with her boyfriend above a pizzeria downtown, though her stories are always taking her elsewhere. She has an MFA from Lindenwood University and lives in New Jersey. Weekends with You is her first novel.

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon a

[Katie Shaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I’ve known magic is real since the first time I saw you.” ✨📚

Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Notting Hill. 🤝 * but add a little spice 🌶️

When Willow, a famous actress and decidedly mediocre witch accidentally turns her manager into a cat, she flees Los Angeles for England in search of a reversal spell. Her grandmother has always said that when you’re in a bind, bookshops are ALWAYS answer, and that advice leads Willow to an occult bookshop in Notting Hill.

There, she meets Oliver, the charming but highly skeptical shop owner. With the help of Oliver and his two star-struck friends, Willow sets out to find the spell she needs to turn her manager back into a human. As she works to gain control over her magic, she also finds herself falling for Oliver, despite his disbelief in everything she represents.

This was such a fun, whimsical, and cozy read with great banter and a magical setting. Perfect for readers who enjoy light fantasy blended with romance. 🪄

Thank you to Alexandra Paige and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah Stob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this was such a surprise! I went into this with low expectations, it sounded like a cute premise and it definitely delivered!

I enjoyed the characters, both Oliver and Willow were pleasant and not annoying (which is hard to do in romances these days) and actually communicated for the most part! A couple of moments they could have done better but I’ll take it!

And the side characters were fun - I loved that Min and Lola were supportive of Oliver and therefore supportive of Willow. And Vera was a cute little addition too!

I didn’t love the spice, I think it could have been better being fade to black but it is what it is.

Overall a cutie little romance that would be a perfect fall read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

[Katie May · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasnt inherently anything g wrong with this book, it was short and sweet but ended up being just fine. Me in my 20s would’ve ate this up for the nostalgia but as an adult rom com this was kind of boring.

This follows pretty much the same beats from the movie it’s based on but with a witchy twist. I was disappointed that not much of anything was actually British? And I didn’t feel as much chemistry between the couple. Couple of side characters but they were also kind of just fine and only there to serve the romance. Pretty quick read and overall enjoyable, just didn’t do anything mind blowing for me.

This would make a really cute audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of A Witch In Notting Hill through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Witch In Notting Hill is the cutest paranormal romance. Notting Hill is one of my favorite movies and Paige did it justice by adding a fun, witchy spin. Willow and Oliver made the perfect opposites attract couple and I loved their slow burn romance.

The quest around London to reverse an accidental spell of as so fun, and brought great character growth for Willow and Oliver. I also really enjoyed Lola and Minho as side characters.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Witch & Bookstore Owner
* Wonky Magic
* Spell Quest
* Slow Burn

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️.5

I definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR if you are a fan of cute, cozy, and spicy paranormal romance.

[Kristin Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witch in Notting Hill completely charmed me. The personalities and banter between the main characters are so funny — I found myself smiling the entire time I was reading. It’s one of those books where the dialogue alone makes you want to linger a little longer.

I’m loving this modern-day treasure hunt setup, especially with all the little side quests woven in. And the fact that the fans are hunting too? Obsessed. #wiwj

I was rooting for Willow the whole way through — like fully chanting with fists in the air “Wil-low! Wil-low! Wil-low!” You just want her to get it right.

And once again, the humor absolutely delivers. Light, clever, and genuinely laugh-out-loud in places. This is EASILY going on my favorites list. Cozy magic + sharp wit = my happy place.

[♡~Demi P. Sewell~♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is pure, cozy perfection! When secret witch (and Hollywood star) Willow accidentally turns her manager into a cat, she bolts to London to undo the spell—only to find herself teaming up with Oliver, a brooding, skeptical bookstore owner who wants nothing to do with magic.

​Why I loved it:

✨️​The Banter & Slow-Burn: Willow’s chaotic sunshine energy vs. Oliver’s grumpy, guarded heart made for the best back-and-forth. Their forced-proximity setup delivered so much witty banter, but it was those soft, vulnerable moments that really made the romance land. 💕

✨️​London Vibes & Scavenger Hunt: The Notting Hill setting felt so vivid and charming. Plus, the scavenger hunt across the city gave the plot great momentum while serving up some super fun magical lore. 🇬🇧

✨️​The Cat as a Side Hustle: Instead of just being there for cute points or taking over the scene, keeping track of the manager-turned-cat felt like a full-on, high-stakes side gig. 🐈‍⬛

​Light, funny, and total cozy comfort reading—this story completely swept me away!

​Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sophie O'Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for my advanced reader copy!

A Witch in Notting Hill was a perfect reprieve from the world’s events lately. This was so cute and so silly. I wasn’t sure what I was anticipating more: Oliver and Willow’s inevitable romance or Vera turning back into a human! I loved the depiction of London through the seasons through Willow’s eyes, especially as someone traveling there soon. The quest element made it fun and suspenseful in more ways than just the romantic suspense! Overall this was so cozy and a perfect February read.

[Whitney Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I want to be a witch and I want it to be fall lmao🎃

[Cristiana Marques · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Witch in Notting Hill": ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars)

"Oliver Hadley unchecked was its own kind of magic."

Title: A Witch In Notting Hill
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Alexandra Paige
Pages: 343

Thoughts:

This is my first ever Alexandra Paige book. I'm not disappointed in the least bit. For the fans of Notting Hill with Julia Roberts, this book is perfect. Hollywood actress comes to London, falls in love with a guy who owns a bookstore and decides to stay? SLAY 💅🏻

Now add in a little bit of magic ✨ and you get this book.

We have Willow and Oliver as our main characters, Vera is Willow's manager and she's turned into a CAT 😺 by accident (spoilers) and the whole plot of the book is Willow following a quest her grandmother left her to solve this problem. You know who shinned here? MINHO AND LOLA! BOOM! Such good friends and supporters.

I loved the romance, I loved the setting and I loved the happy ending. It's slow-burn romance, a bit of instant attraction, push & pull kind of situation and two chapters with open door spice ❤️‍🔥

This book is a MUST for any seasonal readers, such as myself. Thank you for the e-arc to the publisher, Net galley and, of course, the author.

[Kerris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5*

This was… interesting. A sweet little romance with a touch of the supernatural, plenty of humor, and a “mysterious” twist.

The heroine is a clumsy witch and a movie star who accidentally turns her agent into a cat. That sets off her mission to undo the spell – with the reluctant help of a grumpy bookstore owner who doesn’t believe in magic. Cue a string of funny moments, talking-cat banter (only she can hear it, of course), and an overall cozy, chaotic vibe.

The male lead is your classic skeptic-turned-believer type, and their chemistry builds slowly.

The whole thing gave me “adult Sabrina the Teenage Witch” vibes — charming, silly, and lighthearted. It was an easy, pleasant read, even if it didn’t completely blow me away.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Staring of February with a witchy spin on one of my favourite romance movies, Nottinghill. It's a cosy sweet romance, with the main character Willow being a famous movie star, and the male lead being the grumpy bookstore owner.

I gave this book 3 stars, it was an enjoyable, easy read. I would give it 4 stars but I couldn't get past the very stereotypical "English-ness" of the book. The English characters felt very American, yet used English words. It just felt very odd to me. I'm not sure if maybe the author is from the United Kingdom, or just visits.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

[Lexi Fiolka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read for the Fall! Plus Grumpy x Sunshine trope!

I really liked Willow, the FMC. She was fun to follow and easy to like.

I found it a little harder to like Oliver, the FMC. His pov chapters were not always my favorite. And found the story to be a bit slow at times. But also felt like the ending wrapped up super fast.

Not my absolute favorite, but a fun, cute, and easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon a, and Alexandra Paige for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Abby Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Thank you to Avon through NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! All opinions are my own.

I know it’s technically still summer, but I am slowly getting into the mood for fall reads! This story was the perfect mix of adventurous, magical, and romantic. I loved the London setting, especially going from summer, to fall, to winter and seeing Willow explore each season.

I absolutely loved Willow as an FMC! She was such a relatable character, even though she’s a witch and a famous actress LOL. She already grew up being afraid to let people in because of her magic, but as her fame grew, it made it that much harder to live her life and make lasting bonds with people, especially on the romantic side. Even though she had to spend so much time making sure she wasn’t recognized in London, it was wonderful seeing her be able to explore the way she wanted to.

I also really loved Oliver! He’s the perfect tall, broody, but secretly sweet bookstore owner. Like Willow, he hasn’t been super successful in the romance department, and a lot of his time is spent focusing on his bookstore. He was so protective over his friends and Willow, and I loved seeing how his feelings for her grew as they spent more time together. It took him a while to open up to her and her magic, but their chemistry and connection was magical on its own.

If you’re looking for a magical and cozy read for the fall, A Witch in Notting Hill is perfect!

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Witch in Notting Hill is such a charming story. It follows a witch who’s also an actress, someone who struggles with confidence in her magic, often leading to accidental mishaps, especially when her nerves take over. Also particularly true when it comes to anything involving romance.

After accidentally turning her manager into a cat, she’s forced to set out on a journey to fix her mistake. What starts as a simple mission quickly becomes something much bigger. As she travels to London in search of a spell to reverse the magic, her world is turned upside down. Along the way, she’s pushed to confront her fears, face her emotions, and reevaluate what she truly wants out of life. Through unexpected adventures, she begins to build confidence, form genuine friendships, and maybe even open her heart to a romance she never thought she’d be ready for.

This story is full of heartfelt moments and meaningful lessons about self-discovery, embracing who you are, and learning to believe in yourself.

Overall, it’s an adorable and uplifting read! 4.5 stars.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I received this from NetGalley and saw that it was a witchy read involving a cat I was sold. 🤣 This was a slow cozy read.
*Fav quotes:
~“Are all Englishmen this perceptive? Or just the bookish kind?”
~“Just the bookish kind.”—“We’re a rare breed.”
~“It was this kind of variety, this kind of bottomless well of knowledge, that made me want to work in a bookshop in the first place. The very idea that I could spend my days in a place people came to learn, to be entertained, to escape, to discover themselves. Bookshops saved me more times than I could count over the past thirty-two years of my life, and I’d always thought it would be a privilege to own one that could save someone else. That could bring someone back to themselves—or far away from themselves—or that could bring someone comfort or answers or questions or a sense of belonging.”
~“The full moon festival waits for no one.”

[Marie Girulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @alexandrapaigewrites and @avonbooks for the #gifted e-book.

This charming witchy romance is a slow burn that warmly unfolds.

Willow, a Hollywood actress and a mediocre witch, escapes to London in search of a spell reversal. There, she encounters Oliver, a grumpy occult bookstore owner. Together with his friends, they embark on an adventurous quest through London to gather the objects needed to break the spell.

The budding relationship between Willow and Oliver develops gradually, with undeniable attraction simmering beneath cautious actions. Oliver’s initial skepticism about magic shifts predictably as he helps Willow. I adored Oliver’s friends, Lola and Minho, whose support was invaluable in their journey.

While the story moves at a slow pace and becomes predictable, I still found myself captivated by the blossoming romance. This enchanting book is set to be released on August 11, 2026.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a SUPER fun, low-stakes, witchy romance. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Every major premise of the book: kooky magic, wise granny, celebrity FMC, British MMC, turning your boss into a cat and needing to un-do it, contributed to the overall plot in some way. Though the story is magical and fantastical, none of it feels superfluous.

Vera, Minho, and Lola make for lovely side characters and they're a diverse cast (e.g., Lola is gay) when they didn't necessarily have to be to make the story work. I always appreciate when rep like that is thrown into books.

The story takes place over six months from the summer solstice to the winter one, so there's nothing particularly fall-ish or halloween-y about the book. It's a great read no matter the season. Lastly, two quick and well-written spicy scenes are icing on the proverbial cake.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may not be Fall yet, and I’m certainly not ready for it, but I’m all about this witchy cozy story, A Witch in Notting Hill. It was a fun one, and I liked Willow's character. A wee bit chaotic and not the best witch when it came to spells—she accidentally turned her manager into a cat and couldn’t quite get the spell right to reverse the wrong. She finds out there is a reversal spell at an occult shop in London—so off she goes! Her efforts were hilarious as she tried to make her way through the airport with a cat in tow! And to make matters more interesting, the guy, Oliver, who owns the shop, doesn’t even believe in magic. This makes for an interesting romance between the two, which develops as they team up to find this reversal spell. The banter is fun—Oliver has that grumpy/broodiness down.

The romance is a slow burn, but it builds to spice. A Witch in Notting Hill makes for a sweet, fun, and cozy read.

Thank you to Avon Books and Author Alexandra Paige for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


A Witch in Notting Hill is the perfect cozy book to kick off autumn! Willow is an actress and a not so great witch. However, no one knows she's a witch until one day a spell goes wrong and she turns her manager into a cat. Willow tries everything but doesn't know how to fix it, so she goes to London to search for a spell. She meets Oliver the over of magic bookstore, who doesn't believe in actually magic. He reluctantly agrees to help Willow find the missing pieces of the spell. However, the true magic they can't escape is the feelings they have for each other. A Witch in Notting Hill was a perfect rainy day cozy read! I really enjoyed it!

[Elizabeth Ann Hurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a lifelong lover of Notting Hill, when I saw this come across Net Galley, I knew I had to read it! Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for the advanced readers copy! It took a little bit for me to get hooked, but once I was I thoroughly enjoyed. It was short and sweet, and is the perfect book for all of my bookish besties out there who are yearning for fall! Overall, a cute, cozy, charming parnormal/witchy mood romance with a little bit of spice.

[Lili Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is not just one particular thing I liked about this story, it has such a great series of events across the overarching "quest" that it just all works together in adventure and a cozy vibe with some perfectly sprinkled lust and spice. I really loved how Willow was written, and Oliver was a perfect compliment. I did really adore that this whole messy adventure was started by Willow turning her manager into a cat, whoops!
Thank-you, Avon and Harper Voyager and Alexandra Paige, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Nena Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is was such a fun, cozy sweet romance book. I didnt know if I would like a British style book, but I really liked it. I guess its true from tv to books that all the little old British men really are grumpy lol
I also lived how quirky Mo, Lola, and Oliver are. They all fit together with Willow perfect lol

[Mande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 3.5 rounded up. It took me a bit to find the rhythm for this book. There are alternating POV chapters which was enjoyable but always jarring to me (it’s a spicy brain thing for me). The atmospheric setting could have been a bit MORE, but the supporting characters were great fun!

[Heather Houghtaling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect light hearted cozy witchy romance read, I wanted. Willow & Oliver were the sweetest. I adored all the side characters, especially Lola. The slow burn between willow & Oliver was so fun and flirty and perfect. I hope we get more books in the Notting Hall universe :)

Thank you Avon & author for this ARC!

[Raven Lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to kick off Fall! It has all the cozy, witchy vibes. Willow believes she doesn't have control over her magic and it starts interfering with her acting career. After a spell goes wrong she must visit a witchy bookshop in London to find answers and along the way she finds herself and discovers she is capable of falling in love and controlling her magic.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a blast this one was! I picked it up after being offered an ARC for an honest review based on some of my previous reviews from the publisher, and I’m SO glad I did because I genuinely had such a fun time with it. Also… I haven’t read many witchy books before and now I’m sitting here wondering if I’ve seriously been missing out.

Actress Willow James is doing everything she can to keep her head down, her magic under control, and herself far away from romance. Unfortunately for her, romance tends to make her magic completely malfunction. And after an argument with her manager accidentally turns said manager into a cat… yeah, things spiral quickly.

Following advice from her grandmother, Willow heads to London and finds herself at Coven & Codex, an occult bookstore that may hold the answers she needs to turn her manager human again. What she wasn’t expecting was Oliver, handsome, broody, pessimistic Oliver, who immediately has her magic acting up in all the worst (best) ways.

Together, along with a lovable group of new friends, they go on a hunt for the missing pieces of the spell while slowly opening their hearts to each other along the way. The banter between Willow and Oliver was SO good and their chemistry felt effortless. I honestly couldn’t put this down and loved how smoothly the story flowed from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher!

[niko · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an arc I had received from netgalley.

Sadly dnfing at 41%. The overall idea of the book was definitely interesting, but sadly this book is just too slow for me. I did have high hopes for this one, but I just don’t think this book was for me, and that’s ok. I would definitely try this book again in the future.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Witch in Notting Hill starts by kicking your drink out of your hand in the best way: Willow James, rising Hollywood actress and secret witch, panic-casts her way into turning her manager, Vera, into a cat. Not a metaphorical cat. Not “she’s being catty.” An actual, four-legged, whiskered lawsuit waiting to happen. And Willow’s like, cool cool cool, I’ll just hop a plane to London and fix my life with bookstore magic, as one does when you’re rich, stressed, and one emotional spiral away from turning your publicist into a hamster.

London, specifically Notting Hill, is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and honestly, it’s very good at its job. The vibe is cozy-romcom postcard, the kind where you can practically smell rain on pavement and overpriced pastries. Willow’s quest leads her to Coven & Codex, an occult bookstore with the exact energy of “I would like to live here and also be gently judged by the shelves.” Enter Oliver Hadley, the broody, grumpy owner who is hot in that way that suggests he owns three black coats and at least one devastating opinion about your oat milk choice.

The main dynamic is basically “sunshine chaos witch” meets “skeptical bookstore man who refuses whimsy on principle,” which is a pairing that will always hit for me because I love watching a man try to keep his dignity while the universe pelts him with feelings. Willow’s magic is tied to her emotions, so romance is basically an active threat. Oliver does not believe in magic, which is especially funny because he runs an occult shop, sir that is like managing a Sephora while insisting skincare is fake. Their banter is cute, their chemistry is there, and when it’s working, it’s giving Sabrina the Teenage Witch grown up a little, got hotter, and developed anxiety.

The plot’s engine is a scavenger-hunt style quest across London to undo the spell, and that part is genuinely fun because it keeps tossing them into new settings and weird little tasks. Museums, festivals, markets, the city doing its romcom montage thing, Willow trying not to combust emotionally, Oliver trying not to fall in love out of spite. There’s also a ragtag friend crew energy that keeps the book from feeling like two attractive people doing prolonged eye contact in a hallway. The found-family warmth is real, and it makes Willow’s loneliness and pressure feel less like a tagline and more like a bruise you can actually see.

But, I’m going to be honest with you in the way you deserve, which is to say: the pacing gets a little “we’ve been on this quest for seventeen years and I’m starting to forget what month it is.” There are time jumps, and sometimes it feels like the book fast-forwards through exactly the kind of quiet bonding scenes that would make me feral about them. Like, I wanted more of the little moments that sell “why these two,” not just “they are in proximity and hot and the narrative demands it.” The romance still lands, but it occasionally lands like a cat jumping onto a counter, confident, a little chaotic, and not always where you expected.

Also, for a story about a witch whose magic is the whole problem, there are times the magic feels more like a garnish than the meal. The vibes are witchy, the premise is witchy, the bookstore is witchy, and then sometimes the actual spellwork is like, “Anyway, love is the real magic,” and I’m sitting here like yes, but also, what about the literal magic you used to commit workplace transformation. I wanted a touch more sparkle in the mechanics, a little more “oh wow this is actually a magical world,” not just “London but make it aesthetic.”

That said, I did care about Willow. She’s messy in a way that feels human, not “quirky for TikTok.” She’s under this insane pressure cooker of fame and contracts and expectations, and her magic misfiring reads like anxiety made physical, which is painfully relatable. Oliver, once he stops acting like belief is a personal weakness, has a sweetness under the grump that works, especially when he shows up for her in ways that matter. And Vera, trapped in cat form against her will, is such a good running stress-ball of a character because every time you remember she’s a cat, it’s funny again and also slightly horrifying, which is the perfect flavor.

Overall, this book is warm, whimsical comfort in paperback form, with enough charm to make you smile and enough drag in the middle that you might check your page count like you’re watching someone take the world’s longest Uber. I had a good time, I just wanted it to either commit harder to the magic or give me more uninterrupted Willow-and-Oliver glue scenes to really make the emotional payoff snap. I’m landing at a casual 3.5 stars, like “yes I’d recommend, but I might lovingly bully you to read it in October with a candle going.”

And genuinely, thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC, I appreciate the opportunity to be emotionally invested in a magical catastrophe where the biggest victim is workplace boundaries and one extremely inconvenienced cat-manager.

[sierra ʚɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading an Alexandra Paige book. I enjoyed her writing style and verbiage as well as the font and spacing on the pages. I hate when a book wastes paper with a lot of room in the margins where text could've easily filled up more of the page. I know this is an ARC, but I did want to point out that I noticed a few places where it looks like a space was missed such as on page 270 at the beginning of chapter 30 where it says "ofWillow" and it appears to be missing a space between of and Willow. I'm sure that will get fixed before it gets published, but if not hopefully pointing it out helps get it noticed!

Right off the bat, I struggled to read this novel and actually enjoy it solely because one of the main characters is named Oliver. I've been extremely depressed ever since Oliver Tree's tragic death last month and struggling to come to terms with his passing. I was a fan of his music and was very pained by the horrific accident that led to his death at such a young age, so having to see his name over and over again was making it hard for me to immerse myself in this book. Obviously that is not the author's fault and Oliver is a common popular name, but for me personally it made me struggle to read this novel without thinking of him. I can't fault the author for that at all. I also started to realize after his passing that I have a bit of a crush on Oliver Tree, so thinking of him while reading a romance novel was not doing me any favors. I do think once I am past my grieving and in a more comfortable place, I see this book being an enjoyable cozy read for autumn (even though we don't get a true autumn here in Florida LOL). I'm thinking I will re-read it around Halloween this year and maybe I will enjoy it more when the setting is right for this type of novel.

To me, this book was mostly romance and kind of lacked the witchy magic elements the cover, title, and synopsis eluded to. I was a bit disappointed in that aspect, as I love a novel that bends reality and plays with the super natural. I'm also not a huge romance novel lover, I will read them, but I find that there can be so much more to a story than the romance and I feel this story could've been told in a way where more happened and the romance was just an added benefit to the story. I always get a bit sad when I see stories start to become more smutty rather than a true story and sadly the sex scenes in this book were just a bit too raunchy and smutty for me to really enjoy. I prefer a story to elude to the sex rather than describe everything in gruesome detail. Plus, I think there's better words we could be using to sound romantic instead of "my cock inside her", it sounds like a horny teenage boy wrote that line.

I know this is a retelling of Notting Hill, a rom-com starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, and I will admit that I have not seen it, so I have no clue how much of the story matches up to Notting Hill, but based on other reviews this seems to be a great read for fans of Notting Hill. If you love romance books that border on smut then this is for you, but if you came here looking for a true witchy book then I would go elsewhere! Not sure if I will be reading anything else from Alexandra Paige, this book felt too much like It Ends With Us/It Starts With Us, and I'm really trying to stay away from raunchy romances like those books. I think this one just wasn't meant for me!

Thank you Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for my gifted ARC!

(ARC received for free via a HarperCollins and William Morrow giveaway on Goodreads)