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To Vex & To Hex: A Novel
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The Pumpkin Spice Café meets A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping in this cozy, high spice rom com featuring a bookseller witch and her aggravating but attractive new colleague.
Lucy Ansari’s life revolves around Crawley Books. As a witch, Lucy finds that Charles, the magical old man who owns it, feels more like family than her actual family. And like Lucy, her magic seems to adore books–but she definitely doesn’t adore Charles’ useless grandson, Grayson, who suddenly arrived from Ireland to “help” when Charles breaks his hip.
Grayson has never shown any interest in his lonely grandfather or the store Charles (and Lucy!) have dedicated their lives to. Suspicious of Grayson’s motives, there’s no way Lucy will let him disappoint Charles yet again–she’ll just have to hex him into leaving. But the arrogant, prickly Grayson seems determined to stay, and to finally mend his relationship with Charles before it’s too late. Except, much to his chagrin (and Lucy’s delight), Lucy refuses to part with his grandfather or the store. So, nonmagical Grayson decides to use his own version of vexing Lucy until she gives up her self-anointed role as Charles’ one and only protector.
As shenanigans ensue and sparks fly, Lucy and Grayson realize they share more than just responsibilities at the bookstore–like budding feelings for one another they’re desperate to suppress. But if they can only stop vexing and hexing, it might just be time to take a chance on each other.
Neena Noon’s To Vex & To Hex is a funny, emotional romance about finding home in the places and people you love.
Lucy Ansari’s life revolves around Crawley Books. As a witch, Lucy finds that Charles, the magical old man who owns it, feels more like family than her actual family. And like Lucy, her magic seems to adore books–but she definitely doesn’t adore Charles’ useless grandson, Grayson, who suddenly arrived from Ireland to “help” when Charles breaks his hip.
Grayson has never shown any interest in his lonely grandfather or the store Charles (and Lucy!) have dedicated their lives to. Suspicious of Grayson’s motives, there’s no way Lucy will let him disappoint Charles yet again–she’ll just have to hex him into leaving. But the arrogant, prickly Grayson seems determined to stay, and to finally mend his relationship with Charles before it’s too late. Except, much to his chagrin (and Lucy’s delight), Lucy refuses to part with his grandfather or the store. So, nonmagical Grayson decides to use his own version of vexing Lucy until she gives up her self-anointed role as Charles’ one and only protector.
As shenanigans ensue and sparks fly, Lucy and Grayson realize they share more than just responsibilities at the bookstore–like budding feelings for one another they’re desperate to suppress. But if they can only stop vexing and hexing, it might just be time to take a chance on each other.
Neena Noon’s To Vex & To Hex is a funny, emotional romance about finding home in the places and people you love.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 12, 2026Loved the bookstore setup, hated the childish characters.
DNF 45%. The idea of rivals hexing and vexing each other was cute, but the way it all came together felt so disjointed and superficial. Whoever compared this book to A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping needs jail time. That book has heart. This just felt cringe.
The first chapter was so good and set up such a great start, but everything after that was a struggle to get through. If you’re going to give me the lowest of low stakes, I need the characters to pull me in completely. And yet, this is lacking in everything: well developed characters, chemistry, and good dialogue. The tension was being force fed to me, but the interactions were just too cringey and random to actually work.
Lucy is incredibly childish and unlikable (truly the meanest girl I’ve had the displeasure to read about this year). Grayson goes from hating her to liking her to hating her again, and all I can think is: Why would you like her? This girl is awful to you. The rest of the characters feel just as flat.
The idea was good, but it needed a better way to bring depth to the characters and to not force the romance.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: When I tell you I was immediately drawn in after reading the first chapter, I’m not exaggerating.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
DNF 45%. The idea of rivals hexing and vexing each other was cute, but the way it all came together felt so disjointed and superficial. Whoever compared this book to A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping needs jail time. That book has heart. This just felt cringe.
The first chapter was so good and set up such a great start, but everything after that was a struggle to get through. If you’re going to give me the lowest of low stakes, I need the characters to pull me in completely. And yet, this is lacking in everything: well developed characters, chemistry, and good dialogue. The tension was being force fed to me, but the interactions were just too cringey and random to actually work.
Lucy is incredibly childish and unlikable (truly the meanest girl I’ve had the displeasure to read about this year). Grayson goes from hating her to liking her to hating her again, and all I can think is: Why would you like her? This girl is awful to you. The rest of the characters feel just as flat.
The idea was good, but it needed a better way to bring depth to the characters and to not force the romance.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: When I tell you I was immediately drawn in after reading the first chapter, I’m not exaggerating.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
April 19, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to read this sweet arc St. Martin’s Griffin! It truly is a cozy fantasy with lots of romance and spice. The magic is used as a beautiful love letter to readers and adds to the romance story line.
May 3, 2026
Lucy a bookseller witch whose whole world is tied up in her beloved bookstore and its owner who feels more like family than her actual relatives. Then his grandson Grayson shows up out of nowhere annoying, attractive, and very much unwanted and Lucy is immediately suspicious of his intentions. She’s ready to hex him right out the door but he’s just as determined to stay and fix things with his grandfather. Then we have a lot of petty magic, bickering, with the opposites attract trope lol i love.the vibe is immaculate if you like enemies to lovers with a cozy bookstore setting. Lucy and Grayson’s dynamic is all sbanter and stubbornness but underneath that there’s a softer emotional layer about family, belonging, and letting people in. The magical elements feel fun and the romance definitely leans on the spicier side without losing that warm, small town feel.It’s one of those reads that’s easy to love .perfect if you want something witchy, and romantic.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Grumpy x grumpy plus witches? YES, PLEASE!
This book is full of all the cozyness the fall months ask for. Or any season you want a cozy time.
Lucy works in a bookstore that’s more like home than her actual home. Much of the reason is Charles, the elderly bookkeeper and his late wife. Then Charles gets hurt and his non-magical, very stodgy, very estranged Professor grandson Grayson shows up.
Grayson immediately has a problem with literally everything, especially Lucy’s presence and even Charles. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder (it’s a boulder) and wants nothing to do with Lucy. He thinks his showing up means Lucy should go away. Because we get his POV (yay dual POV!) about his complicated feelings about his grandparents. If we didn’t have that he’d be a total douche but we get to understand him and the lifelong hurt he’s carried. Lucy has her own hurt for parents who provided well but have spent their entire lives wrapped up in one another and moderately interested in her.
Back to the love story! What we have are two hurt people actually hurting and throwing physical and emotional barbs at one another. Grayson’s are mostly verbal while Lucy uses her magic for mischief. She turns Grayson into a baby vomit target, makes sure his tea of lukewarm, and a few dozen other hex-y pranks. Which he deserves because he’s not nice to her.
But then the feelings start. I mean, they are always fairly obvious but it’s so fun to watch the will they, won’t they, they did, they did not, and they did again. Their relationship journey is as rocky as a shallow creek bed. They can’t get their feelings out of their heads and into words so they end up hurting each other. I couldn’t wait for them to “grow up” and get it together so they could just be IN LOVE. But I had so much fun seeing them fight and flirt and f— their way into a happily ever after.
I love the uniqueness of the magic system here. Lucy uses her magic to make other people feel better (and find their perfect books!). Charles uses it for joy but also for his everyday tasks. Yay to no personal gain (shout out to my Charmed OGs)! And Lucy’s parents use it for … science and being in love with each other more than they care for their child.
This is a cozy story of a couple individually working through their grief and refusing to let their inner demons dictate their future.
Thank you to St. Martin’s for this gifted copy.
This book is full of all the cozyness the fall months ask for. Or any season you want a cozy time.
Lucy works in a bookstore that’s more like home than her actual home. Much of the reason is Charles, the elderly bookkeeper and his late wife. Then Charles gets hurt and his non-magical, very stodgy, very estranged Professor grandson Grayson shows up.
Grayson immediately has a problem with literally everything, especially Lucy’s presence and even Charles. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder (it’s a boulder) and wants nothing to do with Lucy. He thinks his showing up means Lucy should go away. Because we get his POV (yay dual POV!) about his complicated feelings about his grandparents. If we didn’t have that he’d be a total douche but we get to understand him and the lifelong hurt he’s carried. Lucy has her own hurt for parents who provided well but have spent their entire lives wrapped up in one another and moderately interested in her.
Back to the love story! What we have are two hurt people actually hurting and throwing physical and emotional barbs at one another. Grayson’s are mostly verbal while Lucy uses her magic for mischief. She turns Grayson into a baby vomit target, makes sure his tea of lukewarm, and a few dozen other hex-y pranks. Which he deserves because he’s not nice to her.
But then the feelings start. I mean, they are always fairly obvious but it’s so fun to watch the will they, won’t they, they did, they did not, and they did again. Their relationship journey is as rocky as a shallow creek bed. They can’t get their feelings out of their heads and into words so they end up hurting each other. I couldn’t wait for them to “grow up” and get it together so they could just be IN LOVE. But I had so much fun seeing them fight and flirt and f— their way into a happily ever after.
I love the uniqueness of the magic system here. Lucy uses her magic to make other people feel better (and find their perfect books!). Charles uses it for joy but also for his everyday tasks. Yay to no personal gain (shout out to my Charmed OGs)! And Lucy’s parents use it for … science and being in love with each other more than they care for their child.
This is a cozy story of a couple individually working through their grief and refusing to let their inner demons dictate their future.
Thank you to St. Martin’s for this gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dear Reader,
I read some advice once that said you should write the book you most want to read, and To Vex and to Hex is exactly that. It’s infused with so many of my favorite things: romance, magic, banter, a small town, and plenty of spice, all set against the backdrop of a bookstore-cafe that I sorely, sorely wish was real. But it’s also about two people who are terribly lonely and lost, not realizing the very thing they’ve been searching for is each other.
Some books are difficult to write—you have to wrestle with the plot, squeeze out the emotions, push the characters—but writing To Vex and to Hex was pure joy. Every chapter is full of elements that I adore, whether it’s sparks flying between a grumpy professor and a sunshine bookseller; the particular magic our main character, Lucy, has which helps her to connect readers with their next favorite story; the cozy and slightly chaotic bookstore, filled with freshly baked goods and flavorful coffees; the small town with a variety of characters; or the plentiful romance tropes used, from jealousy to being-stuck-together-in-a-storm to only-one-bed. Writing this book has been its own kind of magic: a welcome escape from life’s worries.
I’ve always been an avid reader, and one of my favorite things about reading has been losing myself to a book: forgetting time and place as I’m transported into the story. As I read, I forget about all the things upsetting me and am instead enraptured by the journey the characters are on. With them, I laugh, I cry—I experience all the emotions. There’s nothing better than the pure full-hearted feeling of finishing a good book: both wishing it wasn’t over while being satisfied by the conclusion and happy ending.
As a writer, my aim is to recreate that feeling for my readers. I know what it is to be lonely and afraid and sad; all I hope is that, with this story, those feelings can go away for a little while, or at least become a little bit more bearable. I hope my cozy, witchy rom-com is as enjoyable for you to read as it was for me to write it.
With love and light,
Neena Noon
I read some advice once that said you should write the book you most want to read, and To Vex and to Hex is exactly that. It’s infused with so many of my favorite things: romance, magic, banter, a small town, and plenty of spice, all set against the backdrop of a bookstore-cafe that I sorely, sorely wish was real. But it’s also about two people who are terribly lonely and lost, not realizing the very thing they’ve been searching for is each other.
Some books are difficult to write—you have to wrestle with the plot, squeeze out the emotions, push the characters—but writing To Vex and to Hex was pure joy. Every chapter is full of elements that I adore, whether it’s sparks flying between a grumpy professor and a sunshine bookseller; the particular magic our main character, Lucy, has which helps her to connect readers with their next favorite story; the cozy and slightly chaotic bookstore, filled with freshly baked goods and flavorful coffees; the small town with a variety of characters; or the plentiful romance tropes used, from jealousy to being-stuck-together-in-a-storm to only-one-bed. Writing this book has been its own kind of magic: a welcome escape from life’s worries.
I’ve always been an avid reader, and one of my favorite things about reading has been losing myself to a book: forgetting time and place as I’m transported into the story. As I read, I forget about all the things upsetting me and am instead enraptured by the journey the characters are on. With them, I laugh, I cry—I experience all the emotions. There’s nothing better than the pure full-hearted feeling of finishing a good book: both wishing it wasn’t over while being satisfied by the conclusion and happy ending.
As a writer, my aim is to recreate that feeling for my readers. I know what it is to be lonely and afraid and sad; all I hope is that, with this story, those feelings can go away for a little while, or at least become a little bit more bearable. I hope my cozy, witchy rom-com is as enjoyable for you to read as it was for me to write it.
With love and light,
Neena Noon
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: To Vex and Hex by Neena Noon
This book had all the ingredients to be a fun win for me: witty banter, magical chaos, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a British MMC who at times gave off very specific nerdy-adventurer energy. And to be fair, the banter is the strongest part of the whole package. The dialogue is sharp, playful, and often more convincing than the romance itself. There were several moments where I thought the book was about to fully click into place.
Unfortunately, the character work never quite gets there. The MMC is given a tragic orphan backstory and an emotionally distant persona, but instead of reading layered or guarded, he often just comes off cold (this is even mentioned by the FMC). The FMC is similarly uneven, confident and decisive when the plot needs her to be, then strangely passive or underdeveloped when it does not. Rather than feeling like two complicated people, they often feel like two trope containers being rotated into position scene by scene.
The romance also suffers from wanting to do everything at once. Sunshine and storm cloud, enemies-to-lovers, intense longing, dramatic misunderstandings, bold sexual confidence, fade-to-black restraint, explicit scenes, grand declarations, this book tries every lane available and somehow commits to none of them. After a truly impressive amount of teasing, some payoff moments land with all the grace of a last minute script rewrite.
That said, it is readable, occasionally funny, and the banter does a lot of heavy lifting. If you enjoy magical rom-com energy and do not need airtight characterization or emotional logic, there is still entertainment to be found here. For me, it felt like a book with several appealing ideas that never fully learned how to coexist, but at least everyone gets their happily ever after and some suspiciously well-timed orgasms.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ATC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This book had all the ingredients to be a fun win for me: witty banter, magical chaos, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a British MMC who at times gave off very specific nerdy-adventurer energy. And to be fair, the banter is the strongest part of the whole package. The dialogue is sharp, playful, and often more convincing than the romance itself. There were several moments where I thought the book was about to fully click into place.
Unfortunately, the character work never quite gets there. The MMC is given a tragic orphan backstory and an emotionally distant persona, but instead of reading layered or guarded, he often just comes off cold (this is even mentioned by the FMC). The FMC is similarly uneven, confident and decisive when the plot needs her to be, then strangely passive or underdeveloped when it does not. Rather than feeling like two complicated people, they often feel like two trope containers being rotated into position scene by scene.
The romance also suffers from wanting to do everything at once. Sunshine and storm cloud, enemies-to-lovers, intense longing, dramatic misunderstandings, bold sexual confidence, fade-to-black restraint, explicit scenes, grand declarations, this book tries every lane available and somehow commits to none of them. After a truly impressive amount of teasing, some payoff moments land with all the grace of a last minute script rewrite.
That said, it is readable, occasionally funny, and the banter does a lot of heavy lifting. If you enjoy magical rom-com energy and do not need airtight characterization or emotional logic, there is still entertainment to be found here. For me, it felt like a book with several appealing ideas that never fully learned how to coexist, but at least everyone gets their happily ever after and some suspiciously well-timed orgasms.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ATC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Full disclosure: I won a free ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Lucy is a witch who works in a bookstore. She's like a daughter to Charles, the store's owner. When he's scheduled for a hip replacement, his long-absent grandson, Grayson, travels from Ireland to help with the shop and, he hopes, to rebuild his relationship with his grandfather. Lucy resents the intrusion into their lives, and hijinks ensue. And, this being a Romance, you'll never guess who she's attracted to …
I really liked this book. Lucy and Grayson are a fine pair of protagonists, and it's a delight to watch them dance around each other. The settings are appropriately cozy, and the supporting cast are wonderful. Yes, there are steamy sex scenes, and I definitely felt the heat.
Obviously, it's going to take an entire book to get our couple together and to have them stay that way. So there are the usual moments of self-sacrifice and leaping to conclusions. But Noon puts in the work to make sure that everyone's motivations for doing the things that they do ring true. It's a Romance, so a bit of contrivance is par for the course, but nothing feels forced. I admire the skill with which she sets up … hmmmm … let's call it Chekov's Ikea Project. That phrase seems like the best combination of literary allusion and spoiler-free hinting …
Lucy doesn't really need to be a witch. The whole book would still work with no supernatural elements whatsoever. Yes, some scenes would happen a little differently, but they could still happen. I don't think that's a problem or anything, just an interesting point. And you could argue that it just makes the Romance that much more special and cozy and magical.
This was a delightful book! I enjoyed it a great deal, and I recommend it highly!
Lucy is a witch who works in a bookstore. She's like a daughter to Charles, the store's owner. When he's scheduled for a hip replacement, his long-absent grandson, Grayson, travels from Ireland to help with the shop and, he hopes, to rebuild his relationship with his grandfather. Lucy resents the intrusion into their lives, and hijinks ensue. And, this being a Romance, you'll never guess who she's attracted to …
I really liked this book. Lucy and Grayson are a fine pair of protagonists, and it's a delight to watch them dance around each other. The settings are appropriately cozy, and the supporting cast are wonderful. Yes, there are steamy sex scenes, and I definitely felt the heat.
Obviously, it's going to take an entire book to get our couple together and to have them stay that way. So there are the usual moments of self-sacrifice and leaping to conclusions. But Noon puts in the work to make sure that everyone's motivations for doing the things that they do ring true. It's a Romance, so a bit of contrivance is par for the course, but nothing feels forced. I admire the skill with which she sets up … hmmmm … let's call it Chekov's Ikea Project. That phrase seems like the best combination of literary allusion and spoiler-free hinting …
Lucy doesn't really need to be a witch. The whole book would still work with no supernatural elements whatsoever. Yes, some scenes would happen a little differently, but they could still happen. I don't think that's a problem or anything, just an interesting point. And you could argue that it just makes the Romance that much more special and cozy and magical.
This was a delightful book! I enjoyed it a great deal, and I recommend it highly!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley at no charge. This is my honest voluntary review
- Cozy fantasy romcom
- MAGIC & witches
- English lit professor MMC
- Bookish FMC
- Cozy bookstore setting (A DREAM)
- Dual pov
- BAKED GOODIES GALORE
- Spice 🌶️🌶️
I absolutely adored reading this cozy fantasy. It was so easy to read. I finished it in a single sitting.
Desi rep and a girl with desi problems too lol the dialogue between Lucy and her parents is very reminiscent to those I have with mine still.
This adorable piece of convo between Grayson and Lucy though:
Lucy - “You’re desecrating my books!”
Grayson - “First of all, this is my book, as in I brought it with me from Dublin. Second of all, it is not desecration to take notes, it is scholarly. I am a professor, you know. I am aware of these things.”
Lucy - “Stop MURDERING that poor book!”
Grayson - “If you can’t bear it, stop looking. Direct your judgy little eyes elsewhere.”
Lucy - “When you read the book again, you look at the annotations and are forced to think about those things, rather than the thoughts coming organically.”
Grayson - “Annotations are so I can remember my favorite parts. When I revisit those notes, it adds an extra layer to the book.”
Lucy - “Yeah, it’s called cheating.”
Grayson - “No, it’s not cheating. It’s . . .It’s as if I’m interacting with the version of myself I was when I last read this passage, remembering the things that I thought were special or important. Like a time capsule.”
Anyways can’t wait to forget about this book so I can reread it again.
- Cozy fantasy romcom
- MAGIC & witches
- English lit professor MMC
- Bookish FMC
- Cozy bookstore setting (A DREAM)
- Dual pov
- BAKED GOODIES GALORE
- Spice 🌶️🌶️
I absolutely adored reading this cozy fantasy. It was so easy to read. I finished it in a single sitting.
Desi rep and a girl with desi problems too lol the dialogue between Lucy and her parents is very reminiscent to those I have with mine still.
This adorable piece of convo between Grayson and Lucy though:
Lucy - “You’re desecrating my books!”
Grayson - “First of all, this is my book, as in I brought it with me from Dublin. Second of all, it is not desecration to take notes, it is scholarly. I am a professor, you know. I am aware of these things.”
Lucy - “Stop MURDERING that poor book!”
Grayson - “If you can’t bear it, stop looking. Direct your judgy little eyes elsewhere.”
Lucy - “When you read the book again, you look at the annotations and are forced to think about those things, rather than the thoughts coming organically.”
Grayson - “Annotations are so I can remember my favorite parts. When I revisit those notes, it adds an extra layer to the book.”
Lucy - “Yeah, it’s called cheating.”
Grayson - “No, it’s not cheating. It’s . . .It’s as if I’m interacting with the version of myself I was when I last read this passage, remembering the things that I thought were special or important. Like a time capsule.”
Anyways can’t wait to forget about this book so I can reread it again.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of To Vex and to Hex by Neena Noon. I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it just did not work for me. The constant back and forth between Lucy and Grayson became frustrating after a while. The repeated “does he like me or hate me?” dynamic started to feel overly whiny and repetitive by the third time around.
I kept reading because I love a good romance, and I hoped the story would come together more strongly toward the end, but a lot of the major plotlines felt rushed. The resolution with Charles and Lucy’s parents especially felt unrealistic. Lucy carried years of hurt and resentment toward her parents, and then suddenly one conversation fixes everything and they are instantly close again? Even in a fantasy story involving witches, the emotional development still needs to feel believable.
There were also several loose ends that never felt fully addressed. Grayson not having magic seemed important at first, but then it was barely discussed again. The same goes for Charles, he played such a major role throughout the story, only for his ending to basically amount to “he retired,” which felt incomplete and unsatisfying.
This book had a lot of potential, and the premise itself was interesting, but the story needed more development, stronger emotional payoff, and clearer resolutions to make the relationships and character arcs feel earned.
I kept reading because I love a good romance, and I hoped the story would come together more strongly toward the end, but a lot of the major plotlines felt rushed. The resolution with Charles and Lucy’s parents especially felt unrealistic. Lucy carried years of hurt and resentment toward her parents, and then suddenly one conversation fixes everything and they are instantly close again? Even in a fantasy story involving witches, the emotional development still needs to feel believable.
There were also several loose ends that never felt fully addressed. Grayson not having magic seemed important at first, but then it was barely discussed again. The same goes for Charles, he played such a major role throughout the story, only for his ending to basically amount to “he retired,” which felt incomplete and unsatisfying.
This book had a lot of potential, and the premise itself was interesting, but the story needed more development, stronger emotional payoff, and clearer resolutions to make the relationships and character arcs feel earned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy is a witch who works in a bookstore - Charles bookstore. Charles had unfortunately slipped down the stairs and was in the hospital recovering. While he was recovering his grandson Grayson who is a professor decided to take a sabbatical to run the bookstore and take care of him. Lucy crashes into Grayson when they meet outside the bookstore and she uses her magic so her coffee doesn't spill or her books. Grayson is in shock at how blatantly obvious she is about using her magic in public. Lucy starts using magic to help customers in the book shop to find their perfect book. Grayson catches her using her magic once again. Grayson and Lucy spend their time working together bickering and Lucy likes to hex Grayson whenever she can.
*Enemies to lovers
*Small town
*Witches and magic
*Grumpy/sunshine
*Workplace romance
*Found family
This book was a warm hug on a cold day. It was so cozy and made me want to drink a nice, warm chai latte and eat yummy baked goods. I loved the characters in this book and the yearning was just so good. This was a beautifully written book and it's the perfect book to get you in the fall mood. After reading this book I want to make Witch Wine in my bathtub and have a birthday party.
*Enemies to lovers
*Small town
*Witches and magic
*Grumpy/sunshine
*Workplace romance
*Found family
This book was a warm hug on a cold day. It was so cozy and made me want to drink a nice, warm chai latte and eat yummy baked goods. I loved the characters in this book and the yearning was just so good. This was a beautifully written book and it's the perfect book to get you in the fall mood. After reading this book I want to make Witch Wine in my bathtub and have a birthday party.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was such a cozy paranormal romance, especially if you love bookstores, witches, and found family. The bookstore setting felt really charming, and honestly, who wouldn’t want to be able to do all their chores with magic?
I thought the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lucy and Grayson was really fun, especially when Lucy used her magic to mess with him, like making his glasses slide down or moving books around just to annoy him. Their rivalry felt playful and entertaining throughout the story.
This book definitely leans heavily into miscommunication, which was a little frustrating for me at times because both Lucy and Grayson seemed to expect the other person to magically (pun intended) know how they felt without actually having a conversation. That said, I did appreciate the personal growth from both characters by the end of the story, especially Grayson with his grandfather and Lucy learning to stand up to her parents and communicate her own needs more clearly.
Tropes / What to Expect:
Snowed in at the bookstore & only one bed
Enemies to lovers
Workplace rivalry
Professor x bookseller
Witch x human
Open-door spice
This was such a cozy paranormal romance, especially if you love bookstores, witches, and found family. The bookstore setting felt really charming, and honestly, who wouldn’t want to be able to do all their chores with magic?
I thought the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lucy and Grayson was really fun, especially when Lucy used her magic to mess with him, like making his glasses slide down or moving books around just to annoy him. Their rivalry felt playful and entertaining throughout the story.
This book definitely leans heavily into miscommunication, which was a little frustrating for me at times because both Lucy and Grayson seemed to expect the other person to magically (pun intended) know how they felt without actually having a conversation. That said, I did appreciate the personal growth from both characters by the end of the story, especially Grayson with his grandfather and Lucy learning to stand up to her parents and communicate her own needs more clearly.
Tropes / What to Expect:
Snowed in at the bookstore & only one bed
Enemies to lovers
Workplace rivalry
Professor x bookseller
Witch x human
Open-door spice
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s press for this ARC! Okay but this book? Witchy rom-com vibes + cozy bookstore setting + spice that actually shows up?? Say less. ✨📚🔮
First off, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—this was such a fun, quick little escape. The kind of read you pick up “just for a few chapters” and suddenly you’re done because it flies.
The vibes? Immaculate.
A magical bookstore I would 100% move into? Yes please. The small-town energy, the tight-knit community, the sweet grandpa character?? I was eating that up. And the banter? Genuinely fun, flirty, and kept things light even when the tension kicked in.
BUT… let’s talk about the real main character of this book: ✨miscommunication✨
And listen—I can tolerate a little miscommunication. As a treat.
At some point I was practically begging these two to sit down for a FIVE MINUTE CONVERSATION. Just five. Minutes. Because the way 90% of their problems could’ve been solved immediately?? Painful. And unfortunately, it made both the FMC and MMC feel less emotionally intelligent than they should have been.
And the third act breakup… 😩
Not my trope, and especially not when it’s—again—based on a misunderstanding that could’ve been cleared up instantly. It felt more frustrating than angsty. But how connected I felt to these characters, I felt like I was going through it as well.
That said, I did enjoy where the characters ended up emotionally. Their personal growth was there, even if the journey getting there felt a little underdeveloped at times. I just wish we had more depth earlier on so the enemies-to-lovers tension (and those spicy moments 👀) hit harder.
What you’ll get:
• 🔮Witchy, paranormal rom-com vibes
• 🔮Cozy bookstore setting (honestly a dream)
• 🔮Small-town charm + found family feels
• 🔮Playful banter
• 🔮Decent spice 🌶️
Overall? Cute, cozy, and fun—with a premise I absolutely loved. I just wanted a little less confusion and a little more communication to really make it magical. ✨
First off, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—this was such a fun, quick little escape. The kind of read you pick up “just for a few chapters” and suddenly you’re done because it flies.
The vibes? Immaculate.
A magical bookstore I would 100% move into? Yes please. The small-town energy, the tight-knit community, the sweet grandpa character?? I was eating that up. And the banter? Genuinely fun, flirty, and kept things light even when the tension kicked in.
BUT… let’s talk about the real main character of this book: ✨miscommunication✨
And listen—I can tolerate a little miscommunication. As a treat.
At some point I was practically begging these two to sit down for a FIVE MINUTE CONVERSATION. Just five. Minutes. Because the way 90% of their problems could’ve been solved immediately?? Painful. And unfortunately, it made both the FMC and MMC feel less emotionally intelligent than they should have been.
And the third act breakup… 😩
Not my trope, and especially not when it’s—again—based on a misunderstanding that could’ve been cleared up instantly. It felt more frustrating than angsty. But how connected I felt to these characters, I felt like I was going through it as well.
That said, I did enjoy where the characters ended up emotionally. Their personal growth was there, even if the journey getting there felt a little underdeveloped at times. I just wish we had more depth earlier on so the enemies-to-lovers tension (and those spicy moments 👀) hit harder.
What you’ll get:
• 🔮Witchy, paranormal rom-com vibes
• 🔮Cozy bookstore setting (honestly a dream)
• 🔮Small-town charm + found family feels
• 🔮Playful banter
• 🔮Decent spice 🌶️
Overall? Cute, cozy, and fun—with a premise I absolutely loved. I just wanted a little less confusion and a little more communication to really make it magical. ✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To Vex and to Hex was such a fun romance. I love a good enemies/rivals to lovers or a grumpy/sunshine book, and this one delivers. When Charles, the owner of Crawley Books, has a medical emergency and must be hospitalized, his estranged grandson Grayson returns for the first time since Grayson’s childhood. Grayson encounters Lucy at his grandfather’s bookstore. Neither Grayson nor Lucy are expecting to see each other and their initial encounter makes both of them feel on edge.
Both Grayson and Lucy feel misunderstood, unseen, and unappreciated in certain familial relationships, and those sore spots at times help and hurt them in understanding one another. While they push each other, their pull toward one another is also magnetic.
I loved the chemistry and contentiousness between Lucy and Grayson, the way magic is incorporated into their contemporary world, and what they bring out in each other that they each need to overcome. I very much enjoyed this magical realism romance and will recommend it to friends.
Both Grayson and Lucy feel misunderstood, unseen, and unappreciated in certain familial relationships, and those sore spots at times help and hurt them in understanding one another. While they push each other, their pull toward one another is also magnetic.
I loved the chemistry and contentiousness between Lucy and Grayson, the way magic is incorporated into their contemporary world, and what they bring out in each other that they each need to overcome. I very much enjoyed this magical realism romance and will recommend it to friends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a Netgalley ARC of this book. I am happy to give my honest review of To Vex & To Hex.
This is a witchy romance (slightly paranormal because there are witches).The featured characters are Lucy and Grayson, who just so happen to sort of dislike one another while having Charles in common. Charles is Grayson’s Grandfather, and Lucy’s boss and found family - they are both trying to care for Charles after an accident that has him laid up.
The story has a slow start, but quite the punch of ire and banter. I am happy that I continued through reading this book. Most of the story takes place in a book store, which sounds completely charming.
I enjoyed the mingling of Lucy and Grayson, with their baggage, and missteps, and their open hearts. I especially liked the shaving scene - read this book and you will understand!!
I loved Lucy’s best friend, Bia - she is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
This book has a few spicy scenes…all the more to draw you into the story of these characters.
Ending is satisfying, and fun, and touching!
A book I recommend!
This is a witchy romance (slightly paranormal because there are witches).The featured characters are Lucy and Grayson, who just so happen to sort of dislike one another while having Charles in common. Charles is Grayson’s Grandfather, and Lucy’s boss and found family - they are both trying to care for Charles after an accident that has him laid up.
The story has a slow start, but quite the punch of ire and banter. I am happy that I continued through reading this book. Most of the story takes place in a book store, which sounds completely charming.
I enjoyed the mingling of Lucy and Grayson, with their baggage, and missteps, and their open hearts. I especially liked the shaving scene - read this book and you will understand!!
I loved Lucy’s best friend, Bia - she is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
This book has a few spicy scenes…all the more to draw you into the story of these characters.
Ending is satisfying, and fun, and touching!
A book I recommend!
April 24, 2026
I received this book as an electronic ARC. All thoughts in the following review are my honest feelings about the book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, sweet read with some truly steamy moments to add to the overall enjoyment.
The main characters both deal with their own issues of loneliness, rejection, and neglect; and their communication suffers greatly for it. If you were the lonely child who defaulted to people pleasing as an adult, this book will hit you right where it hurts most (in a good way).
Parts of the story are very emotional and I really enjoyed that aspect of the exploration of the human condition.
The magical aspects are there but aren’t a main focus of the book. This story is more about personal growth than the fantasy aspect, but the witchy aspects add a lightness to an otherwise difficult topic.
I do think this book could have used more extensive editing. There are parts of the book that don’t flow as well as others and some of the dialogue is clunky, but for a first novel, this is an incredibly fun and enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, sweet read with some truly steamy moments to add to the overall enjoyment.
The main characters both deal with their own issues of loneliness, rejection, and neglect; and their communication suffers greatly for it. If you were the lonely child who defaulted to people pleasing as an adult, this book will hit you right where it hurts most (in a good way).
Parts of the story are very emotional and I really enjoyed that aspect of the exploration of the human condition.
The magical aspects are there but aren’t a main focus of the book. This story is more about personal growth than the fantasy aspect, but the witchy aspects add a lightness to an otherwise difficult topic.
I do think this book could have used more extensive editing. There are parts of the book that don’t flow as well as others and some of the dialogue is clunky, but for a first novel, this is an incredibly fun and enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What to expect:
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Cozy magical bookstore setting
- Small-town charm
- Found family
- Slow burn romance
- Banter
- Low angst.
To Vex & To Hex is the kind of book you curl up with when you want something soft, magical, and quietly addictive.
Lucy is a witch who would do anything to protect her beloved bookstore, and Grayson is the last person she wants anywhere near it. He’s grumpy, skeptical, and completely disruptive to her carefully built world. Naturally… chaos (and chemistry) follows.
I love a very good banter which you truly enjoys and this book has it. It is a very well written ROMCOM with perfect balance of humor and chemistry between characters.
The found family aspect is also very good. I am a fan of ENEMIES TO LOVER and Neena did it amazingly.
Overall, this book feels like a warm hug with a little sparkle of magic. It’s charming, easy to read, and perfect when you’re in the mood for something light, romantic, and cozy.
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Cozy magical bookstore setting
- Small-town charm
- Found family
- Slow burn romance
- Banter
- Low angst.
To Vex & To Hex is the kind of book you curl up with when you want something soft, magical, and quietly addictive.
Lucy is a witch who would do anything to protect her beloved bookstore, and Grayson is the last person she wants anywhere near it. He’s grumpy, skeptical, and completely disruptive to her carefully built world. Naturally… chaos (and chemistry) follows.
I love a very good banter which you truly enjoys and this book has it. It is a very well written ROMCOM with perfect balance of humor and chemistry between characters.
The found family aspect is also very good. I am a fan of ENEMIES TO LOVER and Neena did it amazingly.
Overall, this book feels like a warm hug with a little sparkle of magic. It’s charming, easy to read, and perfect when you’re in the mood for something light, romantic, and cozy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a sucker for a witchy romance so this immediately called out to me. Big thank you to NetGalley & St Martin Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I must admit this book was fun and super quick read. The best part of this entire story was the banter between Lucy & Grayson. The antics they pulled on each other was absolutely hilarious and made the story an absolute joy to read. Watching the journey these characters go through with grief, loneliness and disappointment is relatable but not overly heavy.
My main blaring issue with the book was the massive amounts of miscommunication. Leading to the third act breakup. The conflict felt unnecessary and silly. Like come on Lucy & Grayson are supposed to be adults and yet all they had to do was have a 5 minute conversation. If they would’ve done that all their issues could’ve been solved.
Overall, this is a quick easy read, maybe not my favorite but still fun.
I must admit this book was fun and super quick read. The best part of this entire story was the banter between Lucy & Grayson. The antics they pulled on each other was absolutely hilarious and made the story an absolute joy to read. Watching the journey these characters go through with grief, loneliness and disappointment is relatable but not overly heavy.
My main blaring issue with the book was the massive amounts of miscommunication. Leading to the third act breakup. The conflict felt unnecessary and silly. Like come on Lucy & Grayson are supposed to be adults and yet all they had to do was have a 5 minute conversation. If they would’ve done that all their issues could’ve been solved.
Overall, this is a quick easy read, maybe not my favorite but still fun.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Our story starts by following Lucy, a witch who works at a cozy bookstore she considers home and often feels misunderstood by her parents. When the owner is injured, his somewhat estranged grandson shows up, completely disrupting her life. She doesn’t trust him and is determined to push him out, while he has his own reasons for staying. As they clash, their tension slowly turns into something more.
I love a cute, cozy, witchy read, and this was a quick read. It was easy to follow, but overall felt a bit lacking. The writing leaned young, which made the spicier scenes feel out of place, and the main character came across younger than she was supposed to be. The miscommunication trope also didn’t work for me.
Overall, it was a light, cozy read with fun vibes, but it didn’t fully hit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I love a cute, cozy, witchy read, and this was a quick read. It was easy to follow, but overall felt a bit lacking. The writing leaned young, which made the spicier scenes feel out of place, and the main character came across younger than she was supposed to be. The miscommunication trope also didn’t work for me.
Overall, it was a light, cozy read with fun vibes, but it didn’t fully hit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much Netgalley for allowing me to read this book!
This is my own opinions, ratings and thoughts!
I loved this book, our main character is a witch, as well as her family - she works at the bookstore of another witch that she wishes was her parents - and his wife and daughter have passed. He is estranged from his grandson - who comes to the bookstore when the grandpa is hurt.
We have two deeply hurt, and hurting main characters - one from parents that support her but really have nothing to do with her emotionally and a grandson who has been grieving and family less for over a decade.
We have moments of humor, spicy scenes, found family in this book - and at times I wanted to bash the two characters heads in because I knew they both belonged together.
Great book - I am going to add it to my list of books to physically purchase :)
This is my own opinions, ratings and thoughts!
I loved this book, our main character is a witch, as well as her family - she works at the bookstore of another witch that she wishes was her parents - and his wife and daughter have passed. He is estranged from his grandson - who comes to the bookstore when the grandpa is hurt.
We have two deeply hurt, and hurting main characters - one from parents that support her but really have nothing to do with her emotionally and a grandson who has been grieving and family less for over a decade.
We have moments of humor, spicy scenes, found family in this book - and at times I wanted to bash the two characters heads in because I knew they both belonged together.
Great book - I am going to add it to my list of books to physically purchase :)
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Let me preface this by saying I read the whole book. It is well-written, and I appreciate that it was written by, and lead by, a woman of color. But the characters in this book are not likeable. The female lead began working at the bookstore at 16, and while eight years have passed, she still acts like a 16-year-old. The main characters are both emotionally and developmentally stunted and nothing about them is appropriate for their ages. I was actually surprised upon reading that the female lead wasn't a virgin. I imagine that one might like the characters if they also enjoy wearing The Nightmare Before Christmas pajama pants to Walmart. Neena Noon is a talented writer, and I would gladly read another book by her if the characters appeared to have ever interacted with another human being, or learned about empathy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute, cozy, quick read, but I felt it was overall a bit lacking. I loved the setting and the way the FMC uses her magic to help people find the right books for them. A love of books is a deep theme throughout and who doesn’t love books about the power of books?! Also the spice was spicing, though sometimes seemed randomly thrown in.
Miscommunication and third act break ups aren’t typically my favorite tropes and some of the emotional storylines didn’t feel well-rounded- as in they got thrown in there every so often as opposed to truly being woven throughout in a seamless way.
Overall, it was fun and quick and if you’re looking for major spice, you’ll find it here!
This was a cute, cozy, quick read, but I felt it was overall a bit lacking. I loved the setting and the way the FMC uses her magic to help people find the right books for them. A love of books is a deep theme throughout and who doesn’t love books about the power of books?! Also the spice was spicing, though sometimes seemed randomly thrown in.
Miscommunication and third act break ups aren’t typically my favorite tropes and some of the emotional storylines didn’t feel well-rounded- as in they got thrown in there every so often as opposed to truly being woven throughout in a seamless way.
Overall, it was fun and quick and if you’re looking for major spice, you’ll find it here!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to thank Netgalley and Neena Noon for the opportunity to read an eARC of To Vex & To Hex.
Lucy is just a witchy girl working in a book store/coffee shop/flower shop. Her boss, Charles, has an unfortunate accident leaving Lucy on the store by herself until the estranged grandson of Charles shows up. Grayson is stuffy and proper while Lucy is fun and chaotic. This story is a sweet found/rekindled family enemies to lovers witchy romance. I enjoyed the banter between Lucy and Grayson and the encouragement from their community to give each other a chance. This was a much needed feel good book for me.
Lucy is just a witchy girl working in a book store/coffee shop/flower shop. Her boss, Charles, has an unfortunate accident leaving Lucy on the store by herself until the estranged grandson of Charles shows up. Grayson is stuffy and proper while Lucy is fun and chaotic. This story is a sweet found/rekindled family enemies to lovers witchy romance. I enjoyed the banter between Lucy and Grayson and the encouragement from their community to give each other a chance. This was a much needed feel good book for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I struggled to finish this one mainly because of the main female character. The first 35% of the book was Lucy being insufferable; she was mean, judgmental, and presumptuous. It was very hard to care for the romance when she was so unlikeable, the chemistry felt off because she felt like a bully. The couple didn't feel like a good match, and overall felt like it dragged a bit.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This is my own opinion and thoughts on the book!
I enjoyed the premise of the book the fact that the main character and her family are witches already puts in me the fall vibes. Plus the added bonus that she works at a bookstore is such as dream. I think in terms of the two main characters they both had their own personal stuff that they were going through but I just really enjoyed seeing how together they helped each other grow and deal with it. I also liked just the interaction and banter between the two characters. The chemistry and how you can just tell they belonged with one another. A great book and also a good fall read :)
This is my own opinion and thoughts on the book!
I enjoyed the premise of the book the fact that the main character and her family are witches already puts in me the fall vibes. Plus the added bonus that she works at a bookstore is such as dream. I think in terms of the two main characters they both had their own personal stuff that they were going through but I just really enjoyed seeing how together they helped each other grow and deal with it. I also liked just the interaction and banter between the two characters. The chemistry and how you can just tell they belonged with one another. A great book and also a good fall read :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy has devoted years to working in and managing a bookstore. She uses her magic to help customers find the perfect books. When the owner and her mentor, has a health issue and is hospitalized, his grandson comes to help with his care and the bookstore. They butt heads due to annoyance and jealousy but are always attracted to each other. I loved this book and enjoyed the journey the characters struggled on to find their goals. Bookstores are magical to begin with and this book brings fun and joy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked this - it was entertaining enough, and I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere (a bookstore with a little cafe in a small town in New York). However, I'm either not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, or I just didn't like how this one was done. Lucy was downright mean sometimes, and Grayson just laughed it off. I think there's a difference between playing silly pranks on someone and being actually nasty. Unfortunately, she veered into the nasty category more than once.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
May 6, 2026
overall this was a really cute and cozy, and spicy, story. i loved the bookshop and the magic. Lucy and Grayson were something else for sure. I really wanted to love them, but the miscommunication drove me nuts. i feel like that drove there story and it just didn't work for me. I really would've loved to have seen a little more side story as well. Grayson went there to hero his grandfather that he really want close with, but there was really nothing there that elaborated on that. it would've been nice to see.
but overall z this was a fun cozy story
but overall z this was a fun cozy story
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a fun quick read. I truly enjoyed the banter between the characters in which I found myself laughing at the tricks they pulled on each other. While there are sad elements that touch on grief, loneliness, and disappointment it isn’t overly heavy in the book and maintains its fun light feel. There is a lot of miscommunication or lack of communication which can be frustrating, but I took it for what it was a fun light read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review this book. This book has all the pieces for a classic rom/com in book form with a side of magic realism. I like that it is dual POVs throughout the book so you can see both sides of the stories. This is critical(at least to me) because there is some time jumps.This was good book however if you do not like the miscommunication trope, I would take a pass. Not only do the main couple have this issue but everyone surrounding them as well .
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