Never Have I Ever

by W. Winters, Amelia Wilde

From USA Today Bestselling Authors W. Winters & Amelia Wilde, comes a dark, spicy retelling of a twisted tale...

Everyone knows the tale of Hansel & Gretel.

The innocence that was taken from them and the torture the witch put them through.
But what happened after they burned the witch in the oven?

With scars and memories of horror, their lives were forever changed, until one day the trail leads back to that cottage in the woods...

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2025

About the author

Willow Winters is so happy to be a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and #1 Contemporary Best Selling Author!

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Willow started writing after having her little girl, Evie, December 2015. All during her pregnancy with Evie she continued to read and she only wanted to read romance. She was reading a book a day — sometimes two.

In January 2016 Willow was staying up late with Evie and just thinking of all these stories. They came to her constantly so she finally sat down and just started writing. She always wanted to do it so she figured, why not? Today Willow cannot be happier for making that decision!


Merciless World

A Kiss to Tell

Possessive
Seductive

Merciless
Heartless
Breathless
Endless

All He’ll Ever Be

A Kiss To Keep

A Single Glance
A Single Kiss
A Single Touch

Hard to Love
Desperate to Touch
Tempted to Kiss
Easy to Fall

Merciless World Spin Off

It’s Our Secret

Standalone Novels:
Broken
Forget Me Not

Sins and Secrets Duets:
Imperfect (Imperfect Duet book 1)
Unforgiven (Imperfect Duet book 2)

Damaged (Damaged Duet book 1)
Scarred (Damaged Duet book 2)


Standalone Novels:
All I Want is a Kiss
Tell Me To Stay
Second Chance
Knocking Boots
Promise Me
Burned Promises
Forsaken, cowritten with B. B. Hamel

Collections
Don’t Let Go
Deepen The Kiss
Kisses and Wishes

Valetti Crime Family Series:
Dirty Dom
His Hostage
Rough Touch
Cuffed Kiss
Bad Boy 

Highest Bidder Series,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Bought
Sold 
Owned 
Given

Bad Boy Standalones,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Inked
Tempted
Mr. CEO

Happy reading and best wishes,
Willow xx

Reviews

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super short but H 0 T Hansel and Gretal Retelling about what happened after the infamous witch was defeated...or was she? Told in first person and dual POV.

[Nicole “Diva” Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short semi spicy retelling of Hansel & Gretel but they are lovers instead of siblings

[Amber Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into Never Have I Ever really intrigued by the premise of a dark, spicy retelling of Hansel and Gretel with a twist on what happens after the witch is gone. And while the concept had a lot of potential, this one ultimately landed in the “just okay” category for me.

The writing itself has that signature Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde style. It was moody, atmospheric, and undeniably steamy. There were moments where the eerie return to the cottage and the lingering trauma from their past created a compelling backdrop. I appreciated the attempt to explore what “happily ever after” might actually look like for characters shaped by something so horrific.

That said, this isn’t their strongest work. The biggest hurdle for me was the shift from siblings to lovers. I understand this is a retelling meant to reimagine the story, but that core change made it difficult to fully connect.

The story had some intriguing elements and a few standout moments, but overall it didn’t quite come together in a way that felt as powerful or memorable as it could have been. Not bad by any means, just not one I’ll be thinking about long after finishing.

If you’re a fan of dark retellings with a spicy edge, it might still be worth checking out, but go in knowing it takes some bold liberties.

[Ambers Book Nest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking back on it, I don’t think I’ve actually ever read a Hansel and Gretel-inspired book before. I absolutely love a good retelling, so I was quite excited to get started on this one. I really enjoyed that this wasn’t just a straight-up retelling but more of a look into the characters’ future. Plus, making them childhood friends instead of siblings was definitely the right choice; I think it added a whole new layer to the story. It was obvious that you could see the bond that these two shared and how much they wanted to be with each other.

“The witch’s words repeat in my mind. I’ve never been able to forget them. The most powerful of magic will claim you both, you’ll see. You cannot escape what is destined, so mote it be.”

[sarah_is_booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Christmas came early with this surprise new release by @willowwintersshouldbewriting. I love a good retelling, and this is the first time I’ve seen a Hansel and Gretel retelling. This story follows what happens after they put the witch in the oven. After everything they endured as children, they still have unresolved fears when it comes to the witch and the cottage. Fate reunited them, and they decided to return to the cottage to put their fears to rest. Their journey was emotional and gripping, and I loved the connection between Hansel and Gretel. Things heat up at the cottage as Hansel wants to create new memories for Gretel. I enjoyed the bit of suspense there was, and love the way the story wrapped up where Hansel and Gretel finally get their HEA. Check this one out if you enjoy dark, retellings with spice.

“Never have I ever f***ed anyone in this house,” he says, stealing my breath. “But I want to. I want to claim every inch of you. I want to change what this place means to me. I want you. I want this house to know the sounds you make under me. I want you to know what pleasure is.”

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this dark retelling of Hansel & Gretel, the title characters are childhood friends and not siblings. They were imprisoned and tortured by the witch, but before she perished, she cursed the small village where Hansel & Gretel lived. Fast forwarding several years and Gretel has returned to the village because she believes the witch isn't really dead. Knocking on his door, a resentment-filled Hansel answers but his disdain that she was able to escape the curse is clearly evident. He finally agrees to accompany her back to the witch's house so they hopefully destroy the memories of all the trauma that occured there.
This story reads like a long, dark epilogue to the story that started with Hansel & Gretel as childhood friends, and finishing with a different happily ever after for the adult version of this couple.

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully dark and spicy short retelling of Hansel and Gretal!
Willow Winters delivers another tantalizing and amazing story with co-writer Amelia Wilde.

This book picks up after the wicked witch was unalived…or so we thought😉
Escaping the witch should had been the end of her torment, but for Gretal the place that held her captive is calling to her and it’s powerful.
With Hansel’s help they embark on the journey back into the woods to the cottage.
Filled with unresolved fears and memories their journey is emotional and very spicy.
The connection between these characters is heart-gripping and mystical.

Lose yourself in this entertaining and suspenseful fantasy with characters that will take you and a fascinating and interesting twist, on one of our favourite fairytales.

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hansel and Gretel are grown up and have almost no interaction with each but that was different when they were younger , they were close but life changed when they killed the witch , they lost their innocence

Their village has had a hard time , famine , insect plagues , wildfire and now Gretel believes the witch is coming back and she needs to talk to Hansel , not sure of how she’ll be received she goes to his house . Hansel is determined to show her the witch isn’t coming back and they head out …..

Things heat up in the witches house as Hansel wants to change the memories that he has of the house 🔥it would seem Gretel was right a witch is back but this time round she wants heal and not harm ….

Hansel and Gretel finally have that HEA

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 🎧 Audiobook: Dual
🌶️🌶️

Somewhat Spicy Fairytale Retelling / Hansel & Gretel

Argh. Based on the reviews, I was readying myself for a spicy dark horror short story.

The beginning started off well but the end was very meh and extremely cheesy. Spoiler below:
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Basically, The Good Witch Of The North comes and waves a magic wand and makes everything better. Of course after years of blight and Gretel’s Father dying because “she felt” that Hansel and Gretel needed to come back to the house of nightmares to “heal”.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The past is referenced with almost zero explanations, and I’m not talking about the parts we know from the classic. It’s inconsistent, makes no sense, and has little resolution. I also don’t like how we’re only told that the FMC is inexperienced but the MMC never clarifies, even though this is revealed during a game of Never Have I Ever. We also are never told how much time has passed, why they haven’t been able to get in touch for so long, whether or not there is really a curse or if anyone actually blames Gretel for it, and why a random good witch decides to intervene.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the wicked witch was burned in the oven!

What an awesome story!
I was totally enthralled with what happens to Hansel and Gretel after they escaped the witches torture!

Life has not been easy.
But something is calling Gretel back.
Can she ask for Hansel's help?
Or is he too bitter that Gretel led him to that cottage in the woods!

Such a satisfying and entertaining read!

[Anakalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

O.M.G.! I'm absolutely thrilled with this retelling of Hansel and Gretel by Amelia Wilde and Willow Winters—the first retelling of their story that I have ever come across. It’s dark and passionate, emotional and thrilling, and full of angst, and it's so spellbinding that you simply can't put it down, and I literally HAD to devour it in one go. You absolutely shouldn't miss this spicy, intense, and enthralling short story!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting suspenseful read! This is the authors' imagining of what happened to a grown up Hansel and Gretel many years after the witch. It feels almost like a horror movie, with slowly building tension and uneasiness throughout, before an unexpected ending. And then there’s that hot hot love scene. Oh Hansel, who knew! 💥 The only thing wrong with this story is that it ended too soon.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a fairytale takes a dark turn and instead of the main characters getting their happily ever after, they end up estranged, down on their luck and oh so sad??....

Obviously Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde get involved, force them back together and throw in some spice 😏....

I really enjoyed it

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good novella, retelling of Hansel & Gretel. I thought this was a great reimagining. They are childhood best friends in this version. They thought the witch had perished years ago but Gretel has an inkling she may still be out there somewhere. So they go on a witch hunt together. I liked the dark vibes of this story and also the good spice. Definitely worth a read.

[kimiwheelielovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Well, Hansel and Gretel grew up lol

Time to find out what happened after the trauma Hansel and Gretel experienced from the witch. I enjoyed this spicy adult version of Hansel and Gretel and I'm always in the mood for a good fantasy retelling!!

Tropes:
- Retelling
- Soul Mates
- He Falls First
- Forced Proximity

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A telling of Hansel and Gretel after they killed the witch. It was a telling of how it was to live after the witch was gone. I loved how it turned out that they finally were able to tell each other that they love each other. That another witch thought that they deserved to have a happily ever after. Short story well told with a spicy scene. I loved it!!

[Pretty_Poisons_Dark_Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spicy retelling of Hansel & Gretal. I loved how Willow took a fairytale but turned it darker. This retelling is about Hansel & Gretel after they thought they killed the witch. It is written in udal POV, which I love! Its short, spicy and everything we love about a dark fantasy retelling!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling story

This story is short and only 8 chapters long but is written well. I could feel for the characters in the story. I won't say too much and spoil the story for you. You will enjoy reading the book. Wonderful just wonderful.

[Brittney Traudt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of Hexes & Hearts but wanted to review individually as well. This was a very quick retelling of Hansel & Gretel but as lovers. What happened as kids is still haunting them as adults and they set off to correct it. Very short and could’ve been longer but good read

[Trisha Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this short story ❣️

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exceptional "what if" retelling of the Hansel and Gretel fairytale. I found this fast-paced story very intriguing and l loved the darkness and steam that this tale was imbued with.

[Olga Amerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so in love with this telling of Hansel and Gretel about what happens after they burn the witch.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short but spicy retelling of Hansel & Gretel, but grown up and after the events with the witches cottage

[Maghen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read interesting ending

[Mimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this retelling of Handsel and Grethel!!

[วօɦηηα · Rating 1 out of 5]

This shit was awful.

[Kesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
I really enjoyed the story and read it quite quickly. Wilde and willows' books are very easy to read and the plot flows nicely. A darker spicy version of Hansel and Gretel. I do think it getting a tad repetitive in the storyline.

[C Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

See what happens in this fantasy retelling of Hansel and Gretel.

[Savannah Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute Hansel and Gretel story aftermath style. Never Have I Ever is a short, easy read and I absolutely loved hearing the after story of them all grown up. Great Quick Read if you only have a couple hours.