Midlife Exes and Oddball Hexes

by Antara Mann

Starting over at forty. In a small town full of weirdness. And then I’m framed for murder.

When my husband of over fifteen years asks for a divorce and my son leaves for college, my life is shattered. Luckily, my best friend invites me to live with her in a small town in the foothills of Mount Shasta. Having nothing to lose, I accept this chance to start fresh. But things are far from my best friend’s son behaves pretty unconventionally, and the next-door neighbor has a penchant for walking naked in her backyard. But the cherry on top is the town’s bully—a failed entrepreneur from San Francisco who believes my best friend is a wicked witch and, by association, I am, too. I thought life would be easier and calmer, but when the town’s bully is murdered, things go south. To add insult to injury, our fingerprints are found at the crime scene.

It’s time for me to get answers and clear my name. Like, what could go wrong? It’s not like magic is real or that cats can talk, right?

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2025

About the author

Antara Man started writing at the age of seven and continues to this very day. Apart from reading and writing, you can find her practicing yoga, as she has developed a keen interest in self-improvement, spirituality and becoming a better human being. She is currently preparing her second book that is a mixture between contemporary fiction and sci-fi. She also enjoys writing criminal books and suspense stories and believes in unity in diversity. In her opinion, the best books and stories are a crossover between genres. Subscribe to her newsletter http://eepurl.com/SBGFf to be the first one to hear about new releases, giveaways and special offers. You can visit her website at http://www.antaraman.com.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this story, sadly. The concept and setting were very intriguing - a middle age divorcee ends up in a small town filled with supernatural beings to start a new chapter in her life? Yes, sign me up. Unfortunately, for me, the execution fell flat.

The characters were not very developed. The way they were written didn't make me like or care about them. Everything felt a little disjointed and erratic. There was no depth to them throughout, the backstory was tossed about, but there was no emotional context or pull for me. The characters also came off as erratic and left me wondering about their actual personality or motives, I was left with a lot of questions regarding the reactions and behaviors.

The pacing and flow of the story seemed very choppy and compacted. There was a deluge of information dumped, then it went into a more descriptive passage on one specific thing, and then it jumped to another chunk of info. Things just didn't have a natural flow in the story.

Also, calling Virgos boring and pedantic was a bit offensive, personally. I'm just saying.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midlife Exes and Oddball Hexes, the initial peek into Antara Mann's Otherworldly Magic series, is a giant leap into an unexpected, filled with magic, supernatural beings and other unknown wonders. Grace is a mere mortal, yet she is called upon to enter this wondrous world by fate to help save Waterfall Sky from the evil sorcerer.

The storyline is fast-paced and well written, filled with magic, shapeshifters, hexes, fates, attraction, fueds and an evil sorcerer. Grace must join this unusual community if they are to have any chance of winning against the dark magic. The characters are well developed and engaging. I love the variety of beings that reside in Waterfall Sky. They each lend their own unique strength in the fight to save their town. I also appreciate that the characters are more mature, not late teen / early adults with no true life experience. Grace is nearing 40, old enough to make a truly informed decision regarding her supposed destiny.

Overall, I found Midlife Exes and Oddball Hexes to be an enjoyable read. I definitely recommend it.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading from Antara and I have to say I was held captive in Midlife Exes and Oddball Hexes till the very end. I was captivated by the storyline, characters, and adventure that the FMC went through. From Cheating Husband, Divorce and Adventurous Magical changes our FMC is a survivor and a fighter.
The FMC is courageous on how she handled everything that her husband put her through she decides to pick up and move on in her life, and after an invitation from her college bestie she does just that. and her life changes after that. I loved her expression when she was told by her best friend what she was and that the Magical world does actually exist. It was like... Wait! What did you just say? that was the best LOL moment I ever read in a book.
Our FMC goes through a Magical powerful change that she agrees too and accepts so that she can help her friend and her new home from a curse that was set into play by an Evil Sorcerer months before her arrival.
So, if you enjoy the Supernatural, Hexes, New Magical Discoveries, Magical Battles and Strong Female characters then this is the book for you.

[Katie Mawby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book but it felt a little rushed at times, though being a novella this isn't that strange. Grace moves to Waterfall Sky to stay with a friend after her divorce and finds herself a suspect in a murder investigation, only to find out everyone living there is a supernatural and she is the key to saving them all from the dark sorcerer. I am interested to find out what happens next and hope to learn more about the characters and see if my theories are correct in future books.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this author before, and I was excited to see she was writing a midlife series; count me in! We are introduced to Grace who decides to visit her friend Elaine after Grace’s husband leaves her for not one, but two women. She’s definitely in for a surprise when she learns there’s more to Elaine’s world than she thought. This is a fun, entertaining series starter, and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Mary S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of this book was intriguing, though it seemed to unfold rather quickly at certain moments. Grace relocates to Waterfall Sky where she moves in with a friend following her divorce, only to discover that she has become a suspect in a murder investigation. As the story progresses, she learns that every resident of Waterfall Sky possesses some type of supernatural abilities, and that she holds the crucial role in rescuing them from a dark sorcerer. There is a curiosity about what will transpire in the next installment.

[Aurora Daun · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grace’s husband leaves her for a polyamorous relationship (he thought he needed two women rather than one), she packs up and moves to her bestie. The town has something weird about it, some of the citizens are acting strange. A rude man turns up dead and someone is framing her and her friend for the murder. She figures out the magic mystery of the town, discovers the killer, and meets a hunky guy.
This is a good first installment in the series.

[Marie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems like it could be a really fun series. There are a lot of paranormal women's fiction tropes (moved to magical town after divorce, immediately crushes on local law enforcement) but the main storyline is pretty interesting and I'm excited to see where this goes in the next book. It does take a bit to really get into it, but once Grace really got what was going on, I couldn't finish the book fast enough.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. Grace is a relatable and captivating protagonist whose life is turned upside down by her ex and the discovery of a magical world far bigger than she ever imagined. The characters are fun, and the story takes you on an exciting and adventurous journey. I’m eager to see what happens next in the series!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, book one in what promises to be a very good series. The odd one or two of you that have read my reviews will know that I love urban fantasy and all things magical. This one certainly did not disappoint. I loved it. I was hooked from the the first chapter right through to the last. Cannot wait for the next one. Highly recommended.

[Sheri Bolinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book in this new series. Full of midlife changes, magic that shouldn't be real but is, and a friendship that remains steady. Grace comes face to face with mystery, magic and maybe something more as her life changes. This was a wonderful fantasy with a touch of romance. I cant wait to see what happens next!

[Valynda Tegge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace!!

This story was fascinating and fun to read. Learning of all things magical as a lowly human was difficult but Grace proved to be strong and resilient. I cant wait to see where she ends up and what she learns. I think as a shifter maybe our wonderful sheriff may have found his match. Time will tell.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and short and more to come.

This is a short, fast-paced read.
There is a murder mystery and all the magic elements you can think of!!

The first half is a bit slow (no action, and it's more of a back story), then the second half is where everything flies by!

It does leave you wanting to know more of what happens next.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I loved how Grace and Elaine and all the others delt with issues. I loved how Grace did not believe in the beginning. I also loved how fate brought Grace to Waterfall Sky, that is a neat town, I would love to be able to move there too.

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent beginning to a great series. Pulls you in and won't let you go till the very end. Leaves you wanting more. It's like a great dessert. The ending of a great meal. Sweet and savory with lots of magical flavor. Can't wait for the next installment. Woohoo I really loved it.

[Lyssa F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midlife exes and oddball here's - fun book

I enjoyed this magical story, with many interesting characters. I think the series will be really good. The ending was good and it wants you to return to see what happens next. Can't wait for book two.

[Diane Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Great life after 40. Grace is in for a wonderful new world. Sebastian is a good sheriff and hopefully a good friend.

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent beginning to a great series. Pulls you in and won't let you go till the very end. Leaves you wanting more. It's like a great dessert. The ending of a great meal. Sweet and savory with lots of magical flavor. Can't wait for the next installment. Woohoo I really loved it.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first I've read by this author and the author did not disappoint me at all
I liked this book because it was an enjoyable experience and read that I could escape in and reading a cozy mystery is a huge change since I usually like books with some heat but I'm a person who tries a book/author at least one time just to see if I am going to like them I like to give each book a chance unless the book cover and excerpt are doing things to a woman that are against her will
This book I highly recommend and hope to read in print format in the future