Vengefully Matched: A Novel

by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

From the author of Hopelessly Teavoted comes a witchy, sapphic rom-com about a mischievous runaway bride and her prim-and-proper Witchery Council rival that must fake-date in order to catch a would-be murderer—and accidentally fall in love. Priscilla Hart does not do regret—except maybe for the small matter of fleeing her own wedding in a cloud of magical fireworks. Now the town’s most infamous runaway witch, she’s determined to rebuild her reputation on the Witchery Council and prove she’s more than a scandal in heels. Agatha Vanderbilt Voisin, the newly elected council president, is everything Priscilla can’t composed, proper, and infuriatingly perfect. But when a string of dangerous magical explosions points to Priscilla as the culprit, Agatha makes an impulsive move—announcing that they’re dating—to save her from exile. Faking a relationship in public should be simple…until late-night arguments turn into slow-burn attraction, and the two discover that something wicked is brewing in Hallowcross. To survive the magic—and their feelings—they’ll have to stop pretending and risk falling for real.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Fantasy, Rom Com, Paranormal Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Audrey Goldberg writes contemporary and speculative romance and fantasy. She previously also wrote under the name Audrey Goldberg Ruoff. She lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her family, a scrappy but loyal little dog, and a whimsical and witchy cat.

Reviews

[Dallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very cute! Fake dating, sapphic, an attempted murder and kidnapping plot along with a cute witchy town count me in. I loved the dynamic of Agatha and Priscilla right from the beginning they had such fun banter and chemistry and I always love a good witch story. The middle of the book is where it lost me a little bit, the relationship stopped progressing as much as I thought it should have and I didn’t like the changed dynamic. The plot also was fairly easy for me to guess. That being said I still enjoyed this book and this world. I am hoping that there is going to be a Lex book 👀 it felt like that was getting teased in the last half of the book and I loved his character so that would be interesting to see.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria publishing for this ARC!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧙‍♀️✨ Vengefully Matched ✨🧙‍♀️

A witchy sapphic rom com with fake dating, rivals, and a magical mystery? YES, PLEASE!

This was such a fun paranormal romance, filled with magical community and cozy worldbuilding. I loved book one and was just as happy with book two in this series.

Honestly, I am just a sucker for fake dating!

🔮 What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Fake Dating
• Rivals to Lovers
• Small Town Magic
• Murder Mystery
• Runaway Bride
_ _ _ _

⭐ Final Score: 4.5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and author Audrey Goldberg Ruoff for this ARC. I am happy to leave an honest review.

I think I have officially joined the paranormal sapphic romance bandwagon. Fall time is my favorite and I was craving a book that gave off some delightful fall time/Halloweenish vibes to give me a reprieve from the current summer heat. I was so glad to get my hands on this ARC! While I have typically read mostly contemporary sapphic romance, there have been so many intriguing offerings within the paranormal genre. Vengefully Matched just captured my attention immediately and I was delighted to jump right into this fun and magical world full of funny and incredible spells and charming witches. This book was so much fun to read & I just couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with the humorous antics and magical mysteries of this book but the delicious rivals to lovers (with a fake dating kicker) sapphic romance is what kept me happily entertained.

I think I quickly settled into the small magical town of Hallowcross even without having read the first book in the series. This book worked well as a standalone for me and I didn't feel like I was in the dark about anything. I loved the whimsy and charm of this town and its magical inhabitants. I was able to jump right in and fully immerse myself in everything and that is a testament to the writing of Audrey Goldberg Ruoff!

We meet Priscilla, a witty and stylish witch with a bit of a propensity to flirt her ass off. The book opens with her leaving her girlfriend and the altar and her sort of dealing with the fallout of that. People judge her a bit too harshly if you ask me. She was able to escape a relationship where she felt invisible and just wasn't right…albeit at the worst possible time. She was brave to leave and I respected her decision to choose the scary option of walking away instead of the safe option. She’s funny, charming, charismatic and warm hearted…I really liked her a lot. She loses her chance at President of the Witchery Council to Agatha Vanderbilt, a member of the town's most respectable family. Agatha is highly respected, follows the rules (as far as everyone knows) and is seemingly the opposite of the more unpredictable Prissy. The attraction between the two is obvious and immediate but there's no instant love here. They kind of bug the shit out of each other but in a cute and endearing way. They go so far as to constantly prank one another magically and that definitely made me chuckle. Some crazy magical explosions start happening and people quickly blame their scapegoat, Priscialla. In an unexpected effort to save her, Agatha announces that they are together…er…romatincally. Yep! Ha! And that's the beginning of our delightful fake dating shenanigans!

There is a lot to like in this book! I was smiling wide throughout the entire book. Priscilla and Agatha definitely stole the show for me and I very much enjoyed the romance above all. The story navigates a mystery that is sort of woven throughout and is fun to dunnit kind of thing. While the mystery was a fun and entertaining aspect of the story, I just revelled in the growing romance between Prissy and Agatha. They are very cute together and their chemistry just continues to build. I enjoyed watching them let down their defenses and let each other in. The emotional intimacy develops at a believable pace and I must admit these steamy bits were fantastic and made me blush! Very good!

I enjoyed the writing a great deal. Ruoff does a wonderful job of worldbuild and I felt that the town of Hallowcross and its inhabitants was done to perfection. The magic is carefully curated and feels so real! I appreciate the laugh out loud humor that was ever present as it just helped the book feel so special and light hearted. The characters were all quite charming but I was particularly smitten with Priscilla and Agatha. Their banter was addictive and I just found myself becoming more and more enamored with them both. The dialogue just helped me become better invested in their sweet love story and I loved it!

Vengefully Matched was a fun read! I really liked all of the different elements from the magical mystery to the comedy and of course the sweet and genuine romance. If you enjoy a fake dating sapphic romance full of humor, sincerity, witchy goodness and delightful magic then this is for you. Wonderfully sweet and delightfully spicy, I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough!

[adrie rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

i received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

ew, a man. 3.7/5 stars

potential triggers: kidnapping, biphobia, runaway bride, off-page abortion, deeply irritating FMC

was it entertaining?

i want to give an unequivocal yes, but i think it gets a little lost in the telling.

agatha vanderbilt voisin is the newly elected president of the north american council of witches. she won the election, fair and square, despite what priscilla hart believes. and she doesn’t care what hart believes. she does not. at 37 years old, she’s too old for the childish back and forth, constant sniping, and being undermined by a sore loser in her own council meetings. however, none of this stops her from engaging in a little, collegial mutual pranking to maintain dominance. it’s only sporting. but when the pranks start becoming lethal, agatha makes the rash decision to lie to the international council of witches about a relationship with hart — but only to protect hart from being hauled off to interrogation. that’s it. there’s definitely no ulterior motives or secret longing happening here.

priscilla hart should have won that election. it doesn’t matter that she’s only 25, has no real leadership experience, and still thinks hexing the office fridge to smell like tuna is a reasonable response to being annoyed by her boss. she’s a hart and that job should be hers. thwarted from her rightful climb to power, priscilla resorts to an arena she can comfortably compete in — pranks. harmless things, for sure. until offices start exploding, kettles start spitting out knives, and apartments start going up in flames. forced to hold hands with her annoyingly hot nemesis to stay out of ICoW custody, the clock is running down on proving her innocence. 4/5 stars

was it enjoyable?

it wasn’t… not enjoyable? i think there was just a little too much going on for it to be a totally smooth ride.

the first ~third of the book is constant lust, and i do mean constant. every other line is one of the MCs fantasising about the other, getting distracted by the other, or trying to deny their attraction to the other. it’s interminable. i have no problem with WLW/sapphic romance or 2 MCs who are hot for each other, but it made it kind of a slog to get into the actual story. oddly enough, the story became much more enjoyable after the fake dating aspect was introduced, because they actually started spending time together and having conversations. i understand that there wasn’t much to go own, because they are functionally rivals, but surely they have some kind of personalities beyond “i hate her” and “i want in her pants.”

on the subject of personality, priscilla is obnoxious. and not in a fun way. this is a fully grown adult, with a job and familial reputation, who takes pride in wearing crop tops and thigh-high slits to work, while pranking her boss. i don’t know if this an appeal to a gen z audience, but it’s very difficult to buy a relationship between an almost-40 year old MC with national power falling for someone who treats work like a hobby. i don’t mind rivals to lovers, i don’t mind age gaps, and i don’t mind opposites attract, but it honestly strains credulity that these 2 would actually be able to sustain a relationship.

the dialogue and professions of love got a little absurd towards the end, but this is purely a personal issue. there were also several side plots and characters introduced that felt superfluous, and added to the length, without really adding much to the story. overall, it was fine, but i wouldn’t consider it a standout. 2/5 stars

was it well-written?

i read an ARC with the understanding that any errors will be corrected before final publication. 5/5 stars

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers and fake dating and witches and a mystery? I joked to my friend that this was the holy grail. And while I did enjoy the book for the most part, I do think it had some problems, and it unfortunately didn't quite live up to my hopes.

First off, I loved both Priscilla and Agatha, though I think I slightly preferred the former. They’re interesting in different ways and enjoyable together. I liked seeing them growing as people, and their chemistry was perfect in the beginning, but I did think that petered out a bit along the way as they lost some of the tension that made their chemistry so good. I also enjoyed many of the side characters and the world as a whole, and there were some things and lines that truly made me laugh out loud.

On the downside, I sometimes felt like I was missing something while reading this. At times, I had to reread a page just to figure out what I had missed, only to find out that I hadn’t actually missed anything. It just didn’t particularly make sense. I don’t know if there were just weird segues or if something was actually skipped in the writing or what. I also felt like there was a bit too much going on at times. The romance, the main plot, the side plots. Sometimes, I felt like I was getting whiplash from all the things that were happening. The pranks also didn’t help anything; they were too plentiful and childish for these adults to be doing, and I felt like it bogged things down even more when those pages could have been used for something a little more interesting. Like the things that were randomly skipped over when they would be going to go do something and then suddenly the thing is done. Or better segues.

I also love a good mystery, but it was completely obvious to me from the very beginning who was behind things, so that was a little disappointing. Even then, it could have been fine, but I also thought everything with the mystery was wrapped up far too quickly and easily for it to be a satisfying end to it.

I didn’t hate it, but sadly, I don’t think this lived up to its potential, which is a shame because it had so many of the things I love in one book and it easily could have become a favorite.

Vengefully Matched is a solid 3.5 for me, but since I couldn’t give it that, I rounded up, although it really could have gone either way. I primarily rounded up for the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Allix · Rating 3 out of 5]

VENGEFULLY MATCHED is a little bit all over the place, but it manages to weave together a believable sapphic romance and cozy small-town vibes with witchcraft, office drama, and actual murder attempts pretty well.

I liked Agatha and Priscilla, and the side characters were interesting without outshining either of the two FMCs. Agatha and Priscilla are both incredibly relatable in different ways, and while I’m not buying that they ever hated each other, opposites definitely attract here. I wasn’t a fan of the nicknames, but I did enjoy the rom-com vibes and the back and forth between Agatha and Priscilla. I predicted the ending around 30% in, but that didn’t take a way from my enjoyment of the story. I have not read the first book in this series, but thankfully I did not feel as though I was missing a ton of context, and I was able to enjoy this story as a standalone.

I thought some of the dialogue was a bit awkward, and that made parts of the book feel a little bit corny. The best example that comes to mind is when two characters are discussing an abortion one of them had in their past, and that character says something about being very glad that they live in a time where abortion is accessible and only between a person and their doctor. That’s a fantastic thing for the character to have experienced, and I loved the very normal representation of abortion, but it did not read like a thing this character would naturally say out loud, and that made the whole section feel just a bit awkward. I don’t think the awkward dialogue makes the book unreadable by any means, but it did detract from my enjoyment a little bit. I also thought the book could have been about fifty pages shorter; the book took a couple of detours on its way to the resolution of the main conflict that I thought were unnecessary, and because it took so long to get there, that resolution fell sort of flat for me. I did think this book was extremely “unputdownable” though – I read probably 80% of it in a single three-hour reading session.

I will most likely go back and read the first book in this series, as well as any future books written in this series! I think the magic is really fun, and the blend of magic and mundane is one that I really enjoy. I would recommend this to goth x pastel edit enjoyers, those who were very into Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and anyone who is instantly suspicious of “pretty” men.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

[Amber (whatsamberreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Atria books for my physical ARC in exchange of an honest review. I fell in love with the town of Hallowcross and it's cast of characters in Hopelessly Teavoted, so I immediately requested a copy of this novel when I saw it was publishing soon. This was an easy, five star read for me and felt like coming home.

Vengefully Matched is a sapphic, enemies to lovers, workplace romance - with witchy spice, everything nice about a small town, and a murderous plot to keep the townfolk on their toes. I loved Priscilla from meeting her in Hopelessly Teavoted, so seeing her get her moment to shine in Vengefully Matched was exciting. I fell in love with Prissy and Agatha's story because of who these characters are - both have backstories with serious topics, that add a layer to not just their romance, but who they are as people. By supporting each other's past decisions, we as readers get to see a strong bond develop between them, and get to witness a relationship that forms on a foundation of mutual respect. It's so nice to see that written out on the page - sometimes romance novels handle tougher topics without care, but that was not the case here. These two have this sexy banter that is electric, and I was yearning for them to finally cross from enemies to lovers - and I was so excited when they did.

I also greatly identified with Agatha and her bisexual exploration. I think her story is very important to have out there in the world, as someone who also is bisexual but is with a man, it was so nice to see a more inexperienced woman get to explore this other side of who she was. The spicy scenes were handled with such care, and were incredibly hot. A library scene - swoooooon. I also loved that Agatha was in her mid thirties while Prissy was still in her twenties. I loved the age gap and how each woman's life experience complimented and changed the other until they were equally tethered together.

Overall this is such a phenomenal read. I finished this in less than 24 hours, jumping the line of the other books I was reading because this story stole my attention and my heart. I could read 100 more books about this town and it's characters and still be completely in love. This novel is great for spooky season, but don't feel like you have to wait for Halloween to dive in - it's just that good.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for this gifted ARC!

I ARC read Hopelessly Teavoted last year and absolutely fell in love with the Addams Family vibes and the overall atmosphere of the world. And this book really delivered on the vibes I was expecting and the shenanigans and romance I was anticipating based off of how Hopelessly Teavoted was.

This book has amazing bisexual, gay and pansexual representation. Especially for a later in life character that has feelings of being "too late" to be their authentic self. I loved the aspect of one of the main characters being in their 30's, I thought it was so relatable and added another element to Agatha and Priscilla which I loved.

Their romance was so well done, it was tension filled, prank filled, and also really intimate. They grew together in many ways, and healed a bit too from previous relationship trauma. The shenanigans in this one are so fun, the pranky nature of Priscilla really carries through and we get elements of that from Agatha in retaliation as well. I did guess the "villain" character pretty early on, but I don't think it detracted at all, there was pretty heavy foreshadowing so I think you're honestly supposed to guess who it is.

If you enjoy a queer romance with Addams Family vibes, really cute and interesting magic, and some fantastic characters, absolutely pick this up. I do recommend reading Hopelessly Teavoted first though, there are so many nods to it and character appearances from it that I think it would be so much more enjoyable having that book under your belt first. This releases October 6th!

*This ARC was given by Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.*

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff
Publication Date: October 6, 2026
Publisher: Atria Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A witchy sapphic rom-com with fake dating, rivals-to-lovers tension, magical shenanigans, and a murder mystery? Yes, please!

After absolutely loving Hopelessly Teavoted, I was so excited to return to this magical world, and Vengefully Matched did not disappoint. It delivers all the cozy, spooky, Addams Family-esque vibes I loved in the first book, along with a delightful romance that had me hooked from the start.

🔮 What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Fake Dating
• Rivals to Lovers
• Small-Town Magic
• Murder Mystery
• Runaway Bride

Agatha and Priscilla's relationship was filled with chemistry, tension, pranks, and genuinely sweet moments. As a fake dating enthusiast, this romance checked all the boxes for me. I also loved the bisexual, gay, and pansexual representation, especially the exploration of finding your authentic self later in life.

The mystery was fun, the magical community was charming, and the characters were impossible not to root for. While I guessed the villain fairly early, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.

If you love queer romance, cozy magic, playful rivalries, and Addams Family vibes, definitely add this one to your TBR. I do recommend reading Hopelessly Teavoted first to fully appreciate the returning characters and references.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call Ginger, Posh, and Sporty ‘cause we’re going to Spiceworld. The characters waste no time psychically flirting with each other. You kind of get whiplash from the first chapter with Priscilla leaving someone at the altar and then next chapter, on to the next. You don’t have to wait too long for it to get real. The book is definitely too spicy for me, but I know this is someone’s jam.

Yes, there is a witchy/magical theme to the book, but honestly it’s just the flavor. This book is straight up romance. Not my typical thing, and I was hoping for more of the plot to emerge, but honestly, this is great for what it is. I know this is someone’s thing. I do appreciate the fun the author has with the setting though - a little hexing here, a little precognition there, throw in a witchy council. Summed up with a quote from the book, “kooky, strange, and wonderful.”

This one knocked me for a loop, but you’ll likely beef up your vocabulary a bit over the course of the story. There are some $10 words garnished throughout, so this onion has some layers!

Overall, I’d recommend this to someone looking for an enemies to lovers romance and appreciates some urban fantasy in the mix. 4/5 stars.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.

[April Haas · Rating 3 out of 5]

🪄 I received an advanced copy of this ebook on Netgalley 🪄

This is a Sapphic paranormal romance for the cozy mystery crowd. It's kind of soft and fluffy, even with an attempted murder mystery plot simmering in the background.

Agatha and Priscilla are rival witches who campaigned against one another for the Presidency of the Witches Council, and have since taken to pranking one another with their magic—setting charms to alter the other's appearance, making the office fridge smell like tuna fish, and the like. If they had been vying for their high school class presidency, these pranks might make sense, but with Priscilla being in her mid-twenties and Agatha being thirty-seven it feels a bit ridiculous. But it is a magical, fluffy, alternate-but-modern universe, so if you can roll with that you'll be fine.

The tension between Prissy and Agatha is pretty light. They're rivals, but they're both in denial about the fact that they're lusting after each other from the get-go.

I figured out who was behind the attempts on Agatha's life pretty easily, too.

Overall, this was fun but not quite tense enough, either in terms of the romantic relationship or the murder mystery plot, for me personally. But this would be a perfect palate cleanser kind of read, for when you want something low stakes and just...soft.

[anna ♡]

DNF around 20%.

I’m so sad to not have enjoyed this more! I love sapphic romance, fake dating, and witchy books, so I thought this would be perfect for me. Unfortunately, I could not connect with the story or characters by the 20% mark. It felt a bit choppy and all over the place, making it difficult for me to get into.

For me, this could be because of the inconsistency of the POV order. I do not love when POV switches do not follow a set pattern, as I feel I cannot connect with one of the MCs as much as the other. In this book, instead of alternating between POVs or having a different specific pattern (ie. 2 of MC 1, then 1 of MC 2, repeat), the POV order appeared to be more random and inconsistent, taking me out of the story. Although, from looking at the table of contents, it seems to even out towards the middle. Since I was having so much trouble getting into the book and connecting with the characters, I did not make it that far.

While this book was not for me, I might still recommend this to someone who wants a witchy sapphic romance if POV inconsistency is not something that bothers them when getting into a book.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jazz’s Reads and Rants · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review | Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

I wanted to like this one soooooo badly, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.

From start to finish, I found the story confusing and a little all over the place, which made it difficult for me to really settle into the plot. I also struggled with Priscilla as a character. Even once her character softened, I still couldn’t quite connect with her or find myself rooting for her.

And then there was the romance… I’m sorry, but the chemistry between Priscilla and Agatha just didn’t click for me. I never really felt like they matched, and even as their relationship developed, I couldn’t fully get behind them as a couple.

Truthfully, the only part that really grabbed my attention was the wedding chapters—and even those felt a little rushed. I found myself wishing there had been more time spent developing that part of the story.

I really wish I had more positive things to say about this one, but sometimes a book just doesn’t click, and unfortunately, this was one of those reads for me.

That said, I’m incredibly grateful to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! Thank you for the ARC.

[Genny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky fake-dating sapphic? SAY LESS! Our FMCs are witchy opposites and rivals. We have multiple dichotomies going on: millennial/Gen Z, prankster/grump, whimsical/orderly, goth/barbie, etc etc. Their chemistry felt stilted at times but their mutual their horniness levels were off the charts— hello, solo sesh!

I enjoyed the bisexual representation and the conversations validating her bisexuality despite her inexperience with women. But overall: the dialogue was a bit weird for me. Even older (parental) characters spoke with Gen Z-sounding-flair. Some of the conversations gravitated toward unnatural, in that I felt like people having a casual conversation wouldn’t randomly trauma dump. But if I suspend belief for the sake of plot in a moderate amount of pages, it does work.

Overall: the concept worked and kept me engaged, and the multiple mentions of the plot of the first book in the series (that I have not had the opportunity to read because these work as standalones) made me want to go read it as well.

3.75 stars

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on October 6, 2026!

Thank you to Audrey Goldberg Ruoff and Atria Books for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Julia Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vengefully Matched, y Audrey Goldberg Ruoff, was definitely a good time. This fun, witchy rpm-com had a great blend of tropes. rivals to lovers, fake dating, magical chaos, and a murder mystery thrown in for good measure. The story was a fabulously enertaining read. Priscilla Hart is a witch who is determined to repair the damage toher reputation.
Her biggest rival Agatha Vanderbilt Voisin , is the current The same kind of president of The Witchery Council. When a series of magical explosions make Priscilla look like she's the murderer, Agatha announces that the two of them are dating to protect her. They never expected that their fake relationship would turn into a real attraction as they work together to uncover who's behind the attacks.
For me the romance was the strongest part The cozy small town witchy atmosphere, humor, pranks, and a touch of spice, made this feel like the perfect fall / Halloween cozy read .
It can be red as a standalone altough reading Hopelessly Tevoted first will give you even more appreciation for the returning characters and the references. Vibes*** Witc Absolutely hy Sapphic, fake dating ,rivals- to- lovers, cozy magic, murder mystery, spicy 4 out of 5 Stars I received this ARC from netgalley in exchange from my opinion

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted eARC and the author for a copy to kickoff the traveling ARC! What a blast!

📖 Book Review 📖 How does the “mistress of darkness, frankness extraordinaire” recover from her dramatic runaway bride moment? If it’s not with an even more sensational journey that involves fake-dating the Witchcraft Council’s newly elected president who could not be more of her complete opposite, then it’s not another gem by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff.

While Vengefully Matched is the second installment in the Hallowcross series, it truly can be read as a standalone (I indulged in a reread of Hopelessly Teavoted right before this and was happy with that decision). Once again, Audrey Goldberg Ruoff’s witty and sharp banter pops off the page as the chemistry of the character sizzles. And while this magically laced novel is rife with humor, it is also beautifully layered with themes of healing after loss and finding yourself in this crazy world (charmed or not).

Buckle up for one enchanting and spicy jaunt back to Hallowcross with Vengeful Matched, as Audrey Goldberg Ruoff showcases her talent once again in this sophomore stunner.

[Carol Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you worried that Audrey Goldberg Ruoff would run out of witchy pop culture references after the first Hallowcross book, you will be glad to know THAT WAS THE WARM-UP, BABY. We are ready to Glinda-fy the Shiz out of some new witches. My review of Hopelessly Teavoted was essentially "this could have been written by Enid Sinclair," and for Vengefully Matched I'd say "Aubrey Plaza for days". There is a heavier emphasis on comedy than romedy, but with lots of internal/later external lusting. The scene that causes the girls to "fake date" happens quickly, off-screen, so the murder mystery can take precedence, which some hornier readers might argue against. I like that we kept a solid A plot going and didn't just let the romance swallow the book whole. Also, it's always satisfying when the baddie is EXACTLY who you want it to be. There is a new cursed name, like Karen or Chad, that every author has secretly agreed on despising, and I admire the communal ribbing. Enjoy if you like queer witches, leftist politics, and lots of pun-adjacent humor.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked for me defintely the sexual tension between the two female leads -Priscilla aka Prissy is from the founding family of this town - of witches and humans - and she is a lesbian - in fact in the beginning of the book she is about to get married - but decides that her girlfriend didn't share similar life goals. (the girlfriend is also the head of the witches organization) -
Agatha - is at the wedding with her beau, and he makes fun of the whole situation. They break up (and Agatha) blames Prissy for it -she then becomes the head of the witches organization.

now we have a magical city, with a bottle of water, that will make one immortal and then we get to the blowing ups and attempted murder -the bad guy I figured him out really quickly -

I think at some points the pranks went to far- but I think it is because they cared so much about each other- and they were trying to throw each other off.

I was rooting for Prissy and Agatha and totally loved this book

[Bella and the Bookstack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for sending me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always here for a sapphic romance. Add in some magic and count me in!!!

This one was honestly so fun. It definitely embraced silliness with all of the pranks, but it was exactly what I was looking for.

There was a bit of mystery in this one. It wasn’t very hard for me to guess who was out to get Priscilla and Agatha. I’m a little surprised they didn’t put it together sooner haha, but it was still fun watching them uncover everything.

Even though the two main characters are 26+, I did feel like they both acted a lot younger than their age. Maybe it was because of all their back and forth banter in addition to the pranks? Their relationship fit so well, but I did think that some of the shenanigans might have made more sense if they were younger.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was a fast-paced book that had lots going on throughout!

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

Spoilers


Vengefully Matched was a cute enemies to lovers book. I appreciated the lighthearted moments and humorous characters. I believe with a little more editing, this would be a 5 star book. I rate it 3.5 stars as it is today. There were a few holes in the story where the characters would be in one place but in the next scene they were done with the action they had been headed towards previously. A little heavy on analogies instead of straightforward writing but the characters were loveable and the reading pace was fast with lots of storylines woven throughout. (Love Lex and hope to get the full story on him soon!)

If you're a fan of Hopefully Teavoted, you'll love this book!

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Atria publishing for this ARC.

This book had a lot of potential, but ultimately fell flat. It was all over the place, and several mini plots happening alongside the main mystery element plot, which were left unresolved. I found the fact that it was mentioned a few times of current and past political events as well as the COVID situation was just irrelevant and not necessary, in a book around witches and magic, and a cozy element. While books can be political, as many readers know, having it mentioned several times that doesn’t add to the book was unnecessary. Also the characters felt so very immature and juvenile, sometimes I wondered if I was reading about two middle school girls. Pranking? Not something 30+ year olds are doing, especially at work and often. This book was not great.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Audrey Ruoff and Atria Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vengefully Matched was a fun witchy romance with plenty of banter, fake dating, and pining between Priscilla and Agatha. I especially enjoyed their dynamic and the harmless prank war that hid how much they truly cared about each other. Their chemistry kept me invested throughout the story.

While I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the plot, I found myself wishing for a little more tension as the story progressed. The romance remained the strongest part of the book for me, and I loved watching Priscilla and Agatha grow closer while working together. The ending wrapped things up nicely, though I was expecting a slightly bigger impact from the final reveal. Overall, this was an enjoyable and charming read that blends romance, magic, and mystery!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars. A delightfully witchy fall read, "Vengefully Matched" is the cozy follow up to "Hopelessly Teavoted." Priscilla and Agatha, Witchery Council rivals, find themselves in a fake dating situation that ultimately leads to true love. Along the way, they work together to reveal the person trying to murder Agatha.

"Vengefully Matched" is spicy (very spicy!), along with solid character and relationship development. While it can certainly be read as a stand-alone book, I found myself wishing I had read "Hopelessly Teavoted" first - there were references to the first book sprinkled throughout.

If you're looking for a sapphic witchy rom-com, "Vengefully Matched" checks all the boxes! Would pair perfectly with a cup of pumpkin tea and a cozy blanket.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a bewitching good time this book was! Very much enjoyed the world of the supernatural and the witches! Priscilla’s love of pranks and darkness while also being someone who when they love someone they’d do anything for them was my favorite! She did have some growing up to do and I think she did by the end! I also really loved bright and optimistic Agatha! How she used fun facts that she had memorized to help her calm down! I might have to borrow that one from her! I always love a good fake dating troupe along with enemies to lovers and this delivered! I did see who the one trying to take down Agatha from a mile away but it was still entertaining! A fun read and is perfect for the October release

Thankful to have received an eARC from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Sarah S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witches, opposites attract, and good natured hexes? Sign me up. This book follows two strong women who start off as work rivals and end up falling in love. We have a budding out of control psychic, a devil who falls in love with everyone, a himbo, and a murder plot. I really enjoyed the idea of this book. It fell a little flat with me in some slower spots. At times I felt like we were packing in a lot of current event topics in a way that didn’t feel natural. The chemistry between Agatha and Priscilla was so good and had me rooting for them and waiting for the tension to break each time. I loved this little town it was giving me small town, cozy vibes.

Open Door Romance

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

[fanboyriot · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off this cover is stunning and it fit the atmosphere of the book well. Second off, the actual review. I really liked some things and other things fell flat. I liked the banter and the author did a good job with the enemies to lovers trope. Some moments just felt off with the pacing of the book and appeared slower-paced than I thought it would have been.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)

POV: First Person
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Agatha
Emojis Based on Vibes: 📚🕯️🌈

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.

Agatha and Priscilla were great together. I enjoyed their chemistry and their banter was so fun, especially when it started to turn flirty.

The suspense built throughout the book and had me nervous about how everything was going to turn out. I was able to correctly guess who was behind everything and I think they definitely got what they deserved.

I'm definitely going to go back and read the first book!

I received the book from the author as part of a traveling ARC. I was the sixth person to receive the book and really enjoyed reading everyone's reactions and notes as I was reading and getting to add my own. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy annotating books.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vengefully Matched was a chaotic little witchy delight. Fake dating, a runaway bride, and just enough magical drama to keep things interesting? I was in.
I didn't read the first book, but I had zero trouble jumping in and didn't feel like I missed anything critical. Priscilla and Agatha carry this story with sharp banter, slow-burn tension and a dynamic that's equal parts frustrating and fun to watch unfold.
There are a few slightly clunky transitions and moments where the writing leans a bit heavy on description, but the chemistry and humor more than make up for it.
Overall, a charming, sassy, magic filled romance that absolutely worked for me.

[Savannah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is a delightful blend of cozy fantasy, romance, and mystery. The magical setting of Hallowcross creates the perfect backdrop for a fun enemies-to-lovers story filled with witty banter, fake dating, and plenty of heart. I enjoyed how the characters balanced humor with personal growth, making their relationship feel authentic as the story unfolded. The combination of witchy charm, suspense, and romance kept the plot engaging from beginning to end. Overall, this is an entertaining and feel-good read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys lighthearted fantasy romances with memorable characters and a touch of magic.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priscilla and Agatha are complete opposites and rivals who end up fake dating, and their chemistry is HOT. The yearning they both do as they get to know one another better had me rooting for them to finally get together. Agatha is certainly more mature than Priscilla (10+ years older), but I enjoyed seeing Priscilla’s personal growth. Add in a sentient house and I’m in.

With that said, the pacing and story kind of felt like they were all over the place. I’d find myself dropped in a chapter and wonder how we got from there to here. There are a couple of mystery threads to follow and while I figured out who did it, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. It was a low-stakes, cozy romance that would be a nice palate cleanser.

Overall, I give this one 3.5⭐

What you’ll find:
💖 sapphic romance (lesbian x bisexual)
💖 age gap
💖 forbidden love
💖 fake dating
💖 prank war
💖 opposites attract (goth x bubble gum)

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for an advance copy of this book! All opinions are mine.