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Too Hexed To Handle

Not yet published
Expected 10 Sep 26
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FALLING IN LOVE SHOULDN'T BE FATAL - UNLESS YOU'RE HEXED, HEARTLESS OR HIDING A DEADLY SECRET . . .

Daisy has a secret: she's a Souleater, an outlawed magical being who feeds on emotions. She's also hexed: her kiss cursed to kill. So she's built a quiet life running a crumbling inn on the edge of town, matchmaking guests while keeping her own heart firmly off-limits.

But when a mysterious contest promises a cure for Souleater magic and a reward big enough to save her inn, Daisy sets off on a perilous quest with Astin, her emotionally unavailable (and infuriatingly attractive) gardener. There's just one problem: Astin hunts Souleaters. And he doesn't know Daisy is one of them.

As secrets unravel and feelings get far too complicated, Daisy must choose: the cure, the truth . . . or the one man she might love enough to kiss.

A spellbinding mix of fantasy, romance and comedy combines for a sexy and sharp new adult read. For fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon and the Emily Wilde series.

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 10, 2026

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About the author

Charlotte Ingham

2 books65 followers
Charlotte is a romance and fantasy writer from South Wales. When she's not dreaming up her latest plot twist, she can be found attempting to befriend every animal she meets (past accomplishments include hugging an alligator).

You can find her on socials @writesalotte.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Fátima Silva.
57 reviews29 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 9, 2026
If she kisses him, he dies… literally.

4,5⭐

A book that shows how to masterfully use fantasy, romance, and humor. I love how fantasy books manage to embrace romantic comedy in such a sensational way. My favorite genre after fantasy is romantic comedy, so I'm always looking for opportunities to see the two together. And "Too Hexed To Handle" delivered exactly that. From the first page I was engrossed, and it didn't take long to start laughing at the lines.

"Too Hexed to Handle" is a book with a very witty character who, despite everything that happens in her life, chooses to see the good side of things and people. I liked that about Daisy.

She's trying to keep her inn running, but she's seriously in debt (I identified with that too). Her gardener, Astin (yes, Astin and not Austin), is her opposite and a bit grumpy (but he has his reasons). And what I can say is that, although you clearly know from the beginning that the two have great chemistry, the book already lets you know that Daisy has been cursed and therefore cannot kiss anyone; anyone she kisses will die. I think you can already imagine the level of drama... But, as I said before, it's a very fun book and I had a great time reading it.

Sometimes, the best quality of a book is how much it manages to entertain you, and that was exactly the case with "Too Hexed To Handle." A book that is light, fun, and reflective at the same time. I didn't expect that while I was laughing I would also end up getting emotional about more sensitive issues that few books address with such lightness.

I fell in love with Astin and Daisy, and I also found the secondary characters very interesting. I think the book's greatest strength, besides the beautiful romance and the lessons we can learn from it, is the magic and how it has a unique way of existing. Without giving spoilers, what I can say is that the final plot twist was very satisfying and left me super happy with the whole book. I highly recommend reading it and I will certainly read other books by the author in the future.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/EBS2OH_aOXE?si=MpXgt...
Review: https://youtu.be/q-FuH9kz70I?si=yLkxm...
Profile Image for Sarah.
253 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, and once I let myself fully fall into the story, I devoured it pretty quickly.

We have our main character, Daisy, who is trying to keep her inn running but is in serious debt. Her gardener, Astin, is always trying to bring a dose of reality when all she wants is to give couples one bed and let the magic happen. She does this because she can't kiss anyone; a Souleater hexed her two years ago, so that anyone she kisses will die. Astin is also hexed from that same incident and lost his sister, which explains his hatred towards Souleaters and makes it not that surprising when she finds out he's been killing Souleaters. Given they're universally feared for feeding off emotions and creating magic/leaving hexmarks, that's not a shock. But it is to Daisy, who's a Souleater who very much doesn't want to be one.

In an effort to save her failing inn and turn herself into a normal human, she enters a competition that will grant a cure for Souleaters and riches. Astin comes with, completely unaware of the true nature of his travel companion.

As you might expect, there's drama here with Daisy having feelings for Astin but completely unable to act on them; not only because she's a Souleater, but also because she'll kill him if she kisses him. The two of them have to navigate their feelings alongside everyone else in the competition, rogue Souleaters and mysterious 'kings'.

Daisy was a sweetheart about this, and I loved that she wanted to see the good in everyone. As a Souleater, the stereotype is to be dangerous and creepy, but she just wants people to fall in love and be happy. Her growth as a person and a Souleater was believable and fulfilling, and I found Astin to be a perfect love interest for her. The world itself was well written and enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind reading more books set in this world (Nuri)!
Profile Image for Jordy.
57 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 28, 2026
I received an ARC for Too hexed to handle and want to leave an honest review.

really enjoyed Too Hexed to Handle! It had such an interesting premise, and I thought the whole concept of hexes was really interesting and fun, although not the way they get them. The plot kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I loved discovering that souleaters (witches) weren't necessarily evil and they had good magic, it made for such a satisfying conclusion when Daisy realised this.

Daisy and Astin were such a cute couple, and their slow romance and understanding of each other was one of my favourite parts of the book. The fact that Astin didn't have a heart, making him immune to Daisy's hex, was absolutely adorable. After two years of quiet yearning between them, seeing everything finally come together was incredibly rewarding. The inn was a lovely idea and setting for the start of the book and to see it all work out in the end, knowing they didn’t give up was great.

While the supporting cast didn't stand out quite as much for me, they still fit the story well enough, even if they weren't my favourite characters. I did like Nuri.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with a strong plot, a sweet romance, and a creative magical system that I personally haven’t read about before. If you're looking for a cosy fantasy romance with plenty of heart (even if one of the characters technically doesn't have one!), I'd definitely recommend picking this up.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jade.
102 reviews14 followers
August 27, 2026
4🌟 / 5

Thank you to Netgalley, Charlotte Ingham and Bonnier Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A fresh, kinda wholesome, fantastical romance novel which was fun, daring and full of banter.

This book really gripped me in from the synopsis - a woman hexed to kill with only a kiss and yet she’s a hopeless romantic who loves love despite her own heartache. She’s ditsy as she is bold and I loved getting to know Daisy.

As the story progresses, the pacing ramps up although during some of the battle scenes, they feel a little rushed. I feel like I needed to read more and more of this book, there was just not enough pages! The quests and tasks were really fun to read. Also the resolution of the third act breakup occurred slightly too quickly (i needed a little more grovelling) 😂

A moment for the MMC, Astin, who was a mysterious, brooding gardener with an interesting side job and an obsession to protect Daisy at all costs. I loved his inability to say no to Daisy. They had such great chemistry throughout and yet both characters could stand on their own.

Overall:
🌟🌟🌟🌟 (loved the vibes)
Spicy: 🌶️ 🌶️
Tropes 💌 : work colleagues/roommates/allies? to lovers, yearning, slow burn, he fell first, one bed at the inn, self-love and discovery
Profile Image for Yolanda.
180 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 17, 2026
I went into Too Hexed to Handle by Charlotte Ingham expecting something light, fun, and a little chaotic, and while it definitely delivered on those elements at times, it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression on me.

Daisy was an easy protagonist to connect with. I really appreciated the quiet depth to her character and the way her emotions were explored with subtlety. Astin, on the other hand, brought a more unpredictable and slightly chaotic energy, which created a compelling contrast. Their dynamic added a layer of tension that kept things engaging, even when the plot itself felt a bit slow.

The pacing leaned more on the gradual side, which I didn’t necessarily mind. In some ways, it allowed the story and character relationships to develop naturally. However, there were moments where it struggled to fully hold my attention, and I found myself wishing for a bit more momentum.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with strong character moments and a nice touch of emotional depth. While it didn’t completely stick with me, there was still a lot to like, making it a solid three-star read.
Profile Image for Lorna Hee.
42 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 28, 2026
Running an inn when you're trying to play matchmaker is a financial issue for Daisy even when her gardened Astin steps in. But hexmarked/cursed with a deadly kiss, Daisy can't help but try and push others into making that leap into love. So what if there are actually two beds...

Firstly, I loved the lore around magic and Souleaters, the hexmarks and the genuine negative affects of magic that were played with. It was a fun book in all, with a heroes journey, a low-stakes fantasy task to find a cure for Daisy and secrets slowly revealed, all with a simmering "will they, won't they" between Astin and Daisy.

Tropes:
📖 Low stakes fantasy
💌 And they were room mates (and colleagues)
🛏️ One bed
💡 Hidden/secret powers
🥺 Yearning
🔥 Slow burn
🫶 Self-love
🌶️ Mild Spice

"Fun action romp"
Profile Image for ASK.
31 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 21, 2026
Yes!! Great pacing, fully fleshed out characters. No one was overlooked. I loved the breadcrumbs, we weren't told everything outright. I think this is a good time, but it's also well written. I had a blast.At times this felt like a modern rom-com, and other times a fantasy with past and present intertwining and us trying to understand how they affect each other. Great banter and chemistry between the characters. Not obvious plot twists, which was great and kept you locked in. I truly had a lovely time.
Just finished tearing up at the epilogue.
Heartwarming story.
Profile Image for Ally.
199 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
July 27, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the story was fun and interesting and it was well-paced. I really enjoyed learning about Souleaters along with Daisy and thought the magic system was quite unique.

My issue with it was Astin was just a bit bland, without giving spoilers, I feel this may be intentional so it didn't affect my enjoyment as much as I think it usually would. I also found the twists on the predictable side. Daisy's personality made up for it and I enjoyed reading the story from her pov.
Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].
963 reviews1,043 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
August 7, 2026
Daisy is the innkeeper of an inn, sadly not a very successful inn.
And it’s not her attempts at trying to bring people together by giving them only one room and - oh no - only one bed 👀.
Certainly not, even though Astin, her gardener, would disagree.
So, when the numbers are so red, it’s not possible to ignore (especially when it gets a bit bloody), they need to find a solution for their money problems.
And finding a cure for a king sounds like the perfect plan.

For anyone who loves a good old sunshine x grump trope, this book is for you.
I loved Daisy and her happy, kind and sweet personality. Astin next to her was… well moody and not so nice.
But he was protective of her, which I loved.

The magic system - gaining magic by feeding on emotions - was so fascinating, I loved the whole concept of it.

My favorite thing after Daisy joyful nature, the interesting magic system and the catchy writing, was definitely the way the author created a really great villain.

I had so much fun reading this book and can definitely recommend it for all who need a little distraction and fun.
Profile Image for Beth Knight.
394 reviews32 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
August 22, 2026
Perfect for fans of Sangu Mandanna. This is a cosy magical fantasy with spice that will make you gleeful as you root for Astin and Daisy. Daisy goes through a lot, as she tries to figure first how to hide being a "soulstealer" and then slowly learning the truth about her magic and what it can do whilst also struggling with being very in love with a man she knows she would kill with a single kiss.

It's so much fun and still makes a point about exploitation, othering, and being made to fear a lie.

Tore through this.
Profile Image for Bubs Reads Books.
127 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 12, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for the ARC!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book - I thought the summary looked interesting enough to request an ARC but when I actually started reading it I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would!
I loved seeing Daisy and Astin together - even if there was a moment where I felt that it was almost like a switch had been flipped with Astin and his character felt that it changed really quickly instead of slowly through the book.
It's 100% on me but I didn't expect there to be so much lore in the book with the length of it and it being a whole new world you can get away with stating facts without giving more information to back it up so I really enjoyed that.

I did feel that Daisy's characters cheerfulness at times (and I know it's part of her character to smile no matter what) took me out of the story a little with how fake it felt.

Overall I felt that it was a cute wee magical romance with decent worldbuilding and nice relationships - both romantic and platonic.

3.75 Stars
Profile Image for Sarah.
64 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
May 29, 2026
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal romance with sharp banter, witchy chaos, and a sprinkle of emotional depth beneath the fun, this book absolutely delivers. This book felt like curling up with a cinnamon latte during spooky season — warm, funny, magical, and just dramatic enough to keep the pages turning.

The biggest strength here is definitely the chemistry between the leads. The dialogue crackles in that effortless rom-com way where even the arguments are entertaining, and I loved how the relationship developed naturally instead of rushing straight into insta-love territory. The magical setting was also charming without becoming overly complicated, which made the story easy to sink into.

I also appreciated that the heroine was messy in a believable way. She makes mistakes, overreacts occasionally, and gets herself into situations that are half hilarious and half disastrous — but that’s exactly what made her feel human. The supporting cast added a lot of personality too, especially the small-town magical community vibes.

The reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that the pacing dipped a little in the middle, and a couple of plot twists felt fairly predictable once the mystery started unfolding. I also would have loved just a bit more depth from the love interest’s perspective because he had serious potential to steal the entire book.

Still, this was such a fun read overall. If you enjoy cozy witch romances, magical small towns, found family energy, and romances that balance humor with heartfelt moments, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Profile Image for Lola.
32 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for a review
--
The characters and the writing were easy to get into, and I flew through the book at an extraordinary pace. The humour and fantasy was perfectly balanced.

I really enjoyed the lore too.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 21, 2026
A fantasy book with banter is always a win for me, thank you netgalley for this.
Daisy is a witty character that chooses the good path in life no mattered what happened in her past.

Aistin is a grumpy mmc but has his reasons and when they combine we have great story with banter.

All in all 4 star read and definitely a great one to add to your tbr. I will definitely get it on my audiobook tbr too because I did love charlottes other book on audio.

So I’ll be adding this to it too for a relisten

Thanks again netgalley
Profile Image for B.
201 reviews4 followers
Read
August 28, 2026
Gosh this was cute and fun and kept me reading constantly, ignoring the fact that I was supposed to take notes for my review.
Profile Image for Bekah.
392 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 29, 2026
Thank you Scarlett Press for this ARC it was such a pleasure to read this one!

I had such a good time reading about Daisy and Astin. Daisy is a souleater and one who doesn’t want to be who she is and she is hexed, which honestly is the worst place to be in. Daisy finds out there is a way to cure herself and do get there she ropes her friend Astin in on the adventure to try and help her. Of course it’s full of twists and turns and being unsure if they will be able to save her. The tension and yearning between Daisy and Astin was fantastic. I was definitely rooting for them the entire time I was reading. Overall this is a quick fun read full of twists and turns, tension, yearning, grumpy/sunshine banter and so much more!
Profile Image for Nostradamus_in_pyjamas.
42 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
July 23, 2026
✨️ One bed trope for the win!!! ❤️ 🛏 4.5⭐️

"I'd follow you anywhere, if it meant you were safe."  

I absolutely flew through this book! An easy, fun read with lovable characters and a charming plot! 

The magic system in this book was really cool, I loved that everything had a sense of balance to it. The pacing of the story was smooth and the plot twists were done brilliantly. I would absolutely adore more books set in this world! 

I really enjoyed the connection and banter between Daisy and Astin. The way these two seem to balance each other with an almost ying/yang dynamic was absolutely adorable! 

Daisy was such an incredibly relatable character! She is messy, flawed and undeniably human. Hiding the parts of herself she believes make her unlovable or less than. Her reaction to burying her head in the sand when things mount up is such a real thing for some people to do.
 The quote "I stroke the petals and force myself to smile. No matter how false the expression is, it's enough to trick my body into believing everything is ok." hit me like a brick! 

Astin is a lot more reserved with an air of mystery. He keeps a lot of himself quite close to his chest, however I did really enjoy his moments of unpredictability. 

If you're looking for a standalone story packed full of adventure, friendship, awesome magic, and a very pleasantly surprising amount of world building/lore then this is the book for you! 

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews