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The Mead Witch #1
Honey & Hexes: A bee-witching cozy fantasy romance
Autumn Abernathy has spent years caring for her magical bees, cultivating rare flowers, and dreaming of escape.
When her husband vanishes without a trace, Autumn finally has the chance to start over. Armed with a stubborn streak and a cellar full of enchanted honey, she sets out to open the village’s first meadery, crafting magical brews that soothe nightmares, inspire courage, and mend broken hearts.
Before long, Autumn’s quiet life blossoms with shop renovations, temperamental bees, kind new friends, and an unexpected houseguest: Rafe, the charming botany thief cursed to spend most of his time as a Siamese cat. Rafe's determined to help her with the meadery in exchange for her breaking his curse.
And although stealing pastries, knocking tools off shelves, and causing chaos and mayhem don’t qualify as ‘help’, Autumn finds herself falling for the infuriating cat shifter who has made himself at home in her life – and her heart.
But just when things are finally looking sweet for Autumn, her missing husband's secrets come crawling out of the hive…
Honey & Hexes is a cosy romance filled with magical mead, vengeful bees, found family, a chaotic cat shifter with nine lives and zero boundaries, an annoyances-to-lovers romance, village garden rivalries, and bee-witching shenanigans, from the bestselling author of the Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries.
When her husband vanishes without a trace, Autumn finally has the chance to start over. Armed with a stubborn streak and a cellar full of enchanted honey, she sets out to open the village’s first meadery, crafting magical brews that soothe nightmares, inspire courage, and mend broken hearts.
Before long, Autumn’s quiet life blossoms with shop renovations, temperamental bees, kind new friends, and an unexpected houseguest: Rafe, the charming botany thief cursed to spend most of his time as a Siamese cat. Rafe's determined to help her with the meadery in exchange for her breaking his curse.
And although stealing pastries, knocking tools off shelves, and causing chaos and mayhem don’t qualify as ‘help’, Autumn finds herself falling for the infuriating cat shifter who has made himself at home in her life – and her heart.
But just when things are finally looking sweet for Autumn, her missing husband's secrets come crawling out of the hive…
Honey & Hexes is a cosy romance filled with magical mead, vengeful bees, found family, a chaotic cat shifter with nine lives and zero boundaries, an annoyances-to-lovers romance, village garden rivalries, and bee-witching shenanigans, from the bestselling author of the Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2026
About the author
Steffanie Holmes
104 books1,508 followersSteffanie Holmes is the author of steamy historical and paranormal romance. Her books feature clever, witty heroines, wild shifters, cunning witches and alpha males who get what they want.
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
Want to be informed when the next Steffanie Holmes paranormal romance story goes live? Sign up for the mailing list! http://eepurl.com/ZrowD
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
Want to be informed when the next Steffanie Holmes paranormal romance story goes live? Sign up for the mailing list! http://eepurl.com/ZrowD
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc! The cover is sooo cute
3.75✨
Autumn is a honey witch who was stuck in a narcissistic marriage for years. Her husband goes missing one morning and she decides to finally do things he never let her do.
This story was really enchanting and it’s easy to root for the fmc. She defends her abuser all through the novel and you can really see the damage he caused over the years. She doesn’t believe in herself and since her husband made her believe she was such a failure ; she puts herself down before anyone could ever think to do it.
She rents a shop so she can make her dream come true, and she inevitably gets stuck with the shifter cat/man who owns the place. He helps her out in exchange for her help to stop his curse.
This was honestly super cute & a good palate cleanser! There’s a murder mystery & her husband’s disappearance going on in the background, but the focus remained on the fmc. It was an easy & quick read, and the village was really lovely!
3.75✨
Autumn is a honey witch who was stuck in a narcissistic marriage for years. Her husband goes missing one morning and she decides to finally do things he never let her do.
This story was really enchanting and it’s easy to root for the fmc. She defends her abuser all through the novel and you can really see the damage he caused over the years. She doesn’t believe in herself and since her husband made her believe she was such a failure ; she puts herself down before anyone could ever think to do it.
She rents a shop so she can make her dream come true, and she inevitably gets stuck with the shifter cat/man who owns the place. He helps her out in exchange for her help to stop his curse.
This was honestly super cute & a good palate cleanser! There’s a murder mystery & her husband’s disappearance going on in the background, but the focus remained on the fmc. It was an easy & quick read, and the village was really lovely!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
Honestly?? Honey & Hexes was exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I needed rn 🍯🐝 witchy bee magic, a meadery, a grumpy cat shifter who's secretly a hot cursed guy... yeah I was obsessed
Autumn's husband was a total douchebag and a waste of breath so honestly good riddance to him, glad she finally gets to live her life lol. The vibes in this book are so warm and cottagecore, I wanted to crawl inside it and live there. Rafe's nicknames had me actually laughing out loud, He's actually so funny!
Only complaint is it's kinda short so I wanted MORE of everyone, more side characters, more chaos. but as a first book in a series it did its job — I'm hooked
🍯 atmosphere: 5/5
Thank you to NetGAlley and Author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review💖
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
Honestly?? Honey & Hexes was exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I needed rn 🍯🐝 witchy bee magic, a meadery, a grumpy cat shifter who's secretly a hot cursed guy... yeah I was obsessed
Autumn's husband was a total douchebag and a waste of breath so honestly good riddance to him, glad she finally gets to live her life lol. The vibes in this book are so warm and cottagecore, I wanted to crawl inside it and live there. Rafe's nicknames had me actually laughing out loud, He's actually so funny!
Only complaint is it's kinda short so I wanted MORE of everyone, more side characters, more chaos. but as a first book in a series it did its job — I'm hooked
🍯 atmosphere: 5/5
Thank you to NetGAlley and Author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review💖
July 30, 2026
“Merry meet! Step back in time and enjoy a sweet honey wine at Argleton’s brand-new destination tavern and eatery.”
“Honey and Hexes” follows Autumn, a honey witch living in a quaint English village, whose husband Warrick suddenly disappears. A honey witch is an inherently delightful concept. The cover and summary immediately drew me in. I also happened to visit a meadery while reading this book (shout-out to Silver Hand Meadery & Honey Shop in VA) which made the experience even more enjoyable. If you enjoy culinary experiences or wine tastings but have a sweet tooth, I strongly recommend trying a mead tasting yourself.
My strongest criticism concerns Autumn’s characterization and, more specifically, the novel’s treatment of coercive control. Financial control, social isolation, and years of belittlement can erode a person’s independence self-efficacy. The problem is the novel uses those dynamics as a convenient explanation for Autumn’s naïveté without examining them deeply enough to make her behavior psychologically coherent. She frequently seems less like an active protagonist than someone to whom the plot happens—an Offred-like passivity without the equivalent narrative attention to what constrains her agency.
Autumn’s practical abilities are similarly inconsistent. She buys and opens a meadery without realizing that she needs a liquor license, then is ready to abandon the entire venture as soon as she discovers it. Autumn laments that Warrick never taught her to use tap-to-pay and appears mystified by debit cards and even the process of checking her bank balance. In another chapter, however, she casually mentions watching a YouTube tutorial on how to prime and paint a wall. (Girl… if you could consult YouTube about primer, I feel reasonably confident that you could’ve asked how a bank withdrawal works.)
Again, financial abuse could plausibly account for Autumn’s lack of confidence and experience, but the novel never quite bridges that gap. Her competence changes according to the needs of a particular scene. Rather than showing her gradually reclaiming skills once Warrick’s control is removed, the story repeatedly infantilizes her and then expects Rafe’s admiration alone to convince us of her brilliance. This could have supported a meaningful arc of personal growth, but that opportunity is developed only superficially.
Warrick, meanwhile, is not so much a multidimensional character as a checklist titled Very Bad Husband. He prevented Autumn from maintaining friendships or attending book club, dictated whether she may wear a bikini, refused to let her learn to drive, despised every heirloom left by her mother and grandmother, belittled all her opinions, withheld affection, limited her to pocket change, and apparently expected her to remain within their homestead and garden. He also . Any one of these behaviors is believable and abusive partners can exert control in numerous overlapping ways. Collectively however they were presented with so little complexity that Warrick became a caricature. I remain curious why Autumn married him in the first place. Even a brief indication they’d once been happy, his behavior worsened gradually, or that she’d spent years rationalizing incremental changes would’ve made both characters more credible. Re: credibility— I understand cozy fantasy requires some suspension of disbelief. I’m entirely willing to accept werewolf neighbors, a charming communal blood bank for the local vampires, and a honey witch opening a magical meadery. One thing I couldn’t accept was 800 hoverboards fitting inside one snug English cottage.
The insatiable Rafe, on the other hand, was delightful. He made me giggle several times and was an entertaining male main character, although he insisted too frequently of his exceptional gifts in bed. Once would have landed the joke. I especially enjoyed the moments when feline mannerisms slipped into his human form. I loved Rafe’s shameless hedonism and his habit of stealing things simply because he enjoys owning nice objects. Go off king. His identity as an expert hacker was less inspired. (Why are so many fictional love interests conveniently expert “hackers”? The same trope appeared in “Lights Out”. It feels like a lazy way to give a character immediate access to any information or system the plot requires.) Rafe occasionally functioned like a very attractive Swiss Army knife: hacker, form-filler, lover, thief, and general solution to whatever Autumn couldn’t manage herself.
The humor was somewhat uneven. Most of the jokes landed successfully, but others—such as “gothwaffles”—felt decidedly juvenile. For context, “Dungeon Crawler Carl” was a DNF for me; readers who enjoy its style of humor will probably find everything here perfectly satisfactory. (A zoological quibble: cats don’t lift a leg to urinate. Was this done for humor? It was mentioned a few times.) The majority of the comedy did work, particularly when the book gently acknowledged the absurdity of its own cozy-fantasy conventions. The tongue-in-cheek emphasis on the British Murder Village was especially well executed. I love that kind of gentle fourth-wall ribbing when used sparingly. Here it felt knowing without becoming smug.
I also appreciated the unconventional romantic representation through Mina’s polyamory and, even more so, the inclusion of a blind character. Those details helped Argleton feel more socially expansive than the standard collection of interchangeable cozy-village eccentrics. However, some of the worldbuilding rules remained frustratingly unclear. How was Autumn’s use of magic not cheating in the garden competition? Autumn opposes cheating when she is taking a test, yet apparently sees no contradiction in magically influencing a contest. Why must she conceal the fact that she is a witch if witchcraft is not a crime? These questions didn’t necessarily represent plot holes, but the rules were insufficiently explained. Cozy fantasy doesn’t need a constitutional convention but it does need enough internal consistency for the characters’ choices to make sense.
Unfortunately, my most serious problem with “Honey and Hexes” is its ending—or, more accurately, its lack of one. Denouement is absent. Rafe’s curse, the murder mystery, even the sexual tension— none of it is satisfactorily resolved. It ends as though someone misplaced the final chapters. I’d been debating between three and four ☆, but the abrupt non-ending instantly lowered my rating to two ☆. To clarify, the end of the book wasn’t a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger brings a developed arc to a deliberate point of suspense. Here, the final chapters introduced a deus ex machina, left nearly every significant thread unresolved, and then stopped. It might as well have ended in the middle of a sentence. A successful installment in a series should both contribute to a larger unfolding saga and function as a complete narrative unit. This book did neither. It effectively DNFed itself.
Continuing a series should feel like an invitation to discover what happens next, not an invoice for the ending the first book already owed me. Because the novel demonstrates no interest in resolving its own central story, I don’t trust the next installment won’t repeat the same tactic. I therefore don’t plan to continue the series. What makes this especially disappointing is I’d been thoroughly enjoying the book until its final pages. The honey magic, meadery, supernatural village, feline romantic lead, and tiny bee chorus created exactly the kind of eccentric coziness I wanted. My two ☆ rating doesn’t reflect an absence of charm or enjoyment; it reflects the novel’s failure to transform an appealing premise and entertaining middle into a finished story.
——
P.S. I’d like to lodge a formal complaint with the cover. Why does it depict a seal-point Siamese when Rafe’s feline form is repeatedly described as a flame-point? C’mon!!! If you are going to give me an attractive supernatural man who turns into a specific variety of fancy cat, I expect accurate cat representation.
“Honey and Hexes” follows Autumn, a honey witch living in a quaint English village, whose husband Warrick suddenly disappears. A honey witch is an inherently delightful concept. The cover and summary immediately drew me in. I also happened to visit a meadery while reading this book (shout-out to Silver Hand Meadery & Honey Shop in VA) which made the experience even more enjoyable. If you enjoy culinary experiences or wine tastings but have a sweet tooth, I strongly recommend trying a mead tasting yourself.
My strongest criticism concerns Autumn’s characterization and, more specifically, the novel’s treatment of coercive control. Financial control, social isolation, and years of belittlement can erode a person’s independence self-efficacy. The problem is the novel uses those dynamics as a convenient explanation for Autumn’s naïveté without examining them deeply enough to make her behavior psychologically coherent. She frequently seems less like an active protagonist than someone to whom the plot happens—an Offred-like passivity without the equivalent narrative attention to what constrains her agency.
Autumn’s practical abilities are similarly inconsistent. She buys and opens a meadery without realizing that she needs a liquor license, then is ready to abandon the entire venture as soon as she discovers it. Autumn laments that Warrick never taught her to use tap-to-pay and appears mystified by debit cards and even the process of checking her bank balance. In another chapter, however, she casually mentions watching a YouTube tutorial on how to prime and paint a wall. (Girl… if you could consult YouTube about primer, I feel reasonably confident that you could’ve asked how a bank withdrawal works.)
Again, financial abuse could plausibly account for Autumn’s lack of confidence and experience, but the novel never quite bridges that gap. Her competence changes according to the needs of a particular scene. Rather than showing her gradually reclaiming skills once Warrick’s control is removed, the story repeatedly infantilizes her and then expects Rafe’s admiration alone to convince us of her brilliance. This could have supported a meaningful arc of personal growth, but that opportunity is developed only superficially.
Warrick, meanwhile, is not so much a multidimensional character as a checklist titled Very Bad Husband. He prevented Autumn from maintaining friendships or attending book club, dictated whether she may wear a bikini, refused to let her learn to drive, despised every heirloom left by her mother and grandmother, belittled all her opinions, withheld affection, limited her to pocket change, and apparently expected her to remain within their homestead and garden. He also . Any one of these behaviors is believable and abusive partners can exert control in numerous overlapping ways. Collectively however they were presented with so little complexity that Warrick became a caricature. I remain curious why Autumn married him in the first place. Even a brief indication they’d once been happy, his behavior worsened gradually, or that she’d spent years rationalizing incremental changes would’ve made both characters more credible. Re: credibility— I understand cozy fantasy requires some suspension of disbelief. I’m entirely willing to accept werewolf neighbors, a charming communal blood bank for the local vampires, and a honey witch opening a magical meadery. One thing I couldn’t accept was 800 hoverboards fitting inside one snug English cottage.
The insatiable Rafe, on the other hand, was delightful. He made me giggle several times and was an entertaining male main character, although he insisted too frequently of his exceptional gifts in bed. Once would have landed the joke. I especially enjoyed the moments when feline mannerisms slipped into his human form. I loved Rafe’s shameless hedonism and his habit of stealing things simply because he enjoys owning nice objects. Go off king. His identity as an expert hacker was less inspired. (Why are so many fictional love interests conveniently expert “hackers”? The same trope appeared in “Lights Out”. It feels like a lazy way to give a character immediate access to any information or system the plot requires.) Rafe occasionally functioned like a very attractive Swiss Army knife: hacker, form-filler, lover, thief, and general solution to whatever Autumn couldn’t manage herself.
The humor was somewhat uneven. Most of the jokes landed successfully, but others—such as “gothwaffles”—felt decidedly juvenile. For context, “Dungeon Crawler Carl” was a DNF for me; readers who enjoy its style of humor will probably find everything here perfectly satisfactory. (A zoological quibble: cats don’t lift a leg to urinate. Was this done for humor? It was mentioned a few times.) The majority of the comedy did work, particularly when the book gently acknowledged the absurdity of its own cozy-fantasy conventions. The tongue-in-cheek emphasis on the British Murder Village was especially well executed. I love that kind of gentle fourth-wall ribbing when used sparingly. Here it felt knowing without becoming smug.
I also appreciated the unconventional romantic representation through Mina’s polyamory and, even more so, the inclusion of a blind character. Those details helped Argleton feel more socially expansive than the standard collection of interchangeable cozy-village eccentrics. However, some of the worldbuilding rules remained frustratingly unclear. How was Autumn’s use of magic not cheating in the garden competition? Autumn opposes cheating when she is taking a test, yet apparently sees no contradiction in magically influencing a contest. Why must she conceal the fact that she is a witch if witchcraft is not a crime? These questions didn’t necessarily represent plot holes, but the rules were insufficiently explained. Cozy fantasy doesn’t need a constitutional convention but it does need enough internal consistency for the characters’ choices to make sense.
Unfortunately, my most serious problem with “Honey and Hexes” is its ending—or, more accurately, its lack of one. Denouement is absent. Rafe’s curse, the murder mystery, even the sexual tension— none of it is satisfactorily resolved. It ends as though someone misplaced the final chapters. I’d been debating between three and four ☆, but the abrupt non-ending instantly lowered my rating to two ☆. To clarify, the end of the book wasn’t a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger brings a developed arc to a deliberate point of suspense. Here, the final chapters introduced a deus ex machina, left nearly every significant thread unresolved, and then stopped. It might as well have ended in the middle of a sentence. A successful installment in a series should both contribute to a larger unfolding saga and function as a complete narrative unit. This book did neither. It effectively DNFed itself.
Continuing a series should feel like an invitation to discover what happens next, not an invoice for the ending the first book already owed me. Because the novel demonstrates no interest in resolving its own central story, I don’t trust the next installment won’t repeat the same tactic. I therefore don’t plan to continue the series. What makes this especially disappointing is I’d been thoroughly enjoying the book until its final pages. The honey magic, meadery, supernatural village, feline romantic lead, and tiny bee chorus created exactly the kind of eccentric coziness I wanted. My two ☆ rating doesn’t reflect an absence of charm or enjoyment; it reflects the novel’s failure to transform an appealing premise and entertaining middle into a finished story.
——
P.S. I’d like to lodge a formal complaint with the cover. Why does it depict a seal-point Siamese when Rafe’s feline form is repeatedly described as a flame-point? C’mon!!! If you are going to give me an attractive supernatural man who turns into a specific variety of fancy cat, I expect accurate cat representation.
July 30, 2026
Welcome back to Argleton! Or, if you’re new here: this is a fresh new series set in the same place as my favorite Steffanie Holmes books and I envy you/the start of your time in this silly, spooky murder village.
After her human garbage can of a husband goes missing, honey witch Autumn gets a chance to live life on her own terms. And that means opening a magical meadery. The previous owner of her new space was murdered, leaving behind a cursed cat familiar. Rafe can shift into his human form around Autumn, and he helps her launch her new business while she tries to help him break his curse. Also around to assist? A few Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven members!
I loved how cozy the story was, Rafe’s creative nicknames, and the bees’ POV. And honestly, the mysteries kept me on my toes. I’m sure there are still twists to come in book 2…
Thanks to the author for the gifted e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
After her human garbage can of a husband goes missing, honey witch Autumn gets a chance to live life on her own terms. And that means opening a magical meadery. The previous owner of her new space was murdered, leaving behind a cursed cat familiar. Rafe can shift into his human form around Autumn, and he helps her launch her new business while she tries to help him break his curse. Also around to assist? A few Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven members!
I loved how cozy the story was, Rafe’s creative nicknames, and the bees’ POV. And honestly, the mysteries kept me on my toes. I’m sure there are still twists to come in book 2…
Thanks to the author for the gifted e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
August 11, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book.
This book was a really quick and fun read. I especially enjoyed the chapters with the honeybee point of views. They are just soooooooo protective of their mamma and I absolutely love it and squealed in joy to read their thoughts. I also liked the main character Autumn and how she was easily to root. I really wanted her to get all her hopes and dreams that she was not able to before due to her abusive husband. I also liked Rafe and how funny he is. My favorite scene was when he was trying to help Autumn to study for her certificate. I also liked the banter between Autumn and Rafe and wished I had someone who was just as funny in my life.
This book was a really quick and fun read. I especially enjoyed the chapters with the honeybee point of views. They are just soooooooo protective of their mamma and I absolutely love it and squealed in joy to read their thoughts. I also liked the main character Autumn and how she was easily to root. I really wanted her to get all her hopes and dreams that she was not able to before due to her abusive husband. I also liked Rafe and how funny he is. My favorite scene was when he was trying to help Autumn to study for her certificate. I also liked the banter between Autumn and Rafe and wished I had someone who was just as funny in my life.
August 5, 2026
Honey & Hexes was a fun, speedy read! Autumn's husband goes missing and it turns out this is the best possible thing that could happen to her, as it gives her the courage to open her own meadery.
I loved the banter between Rafe and Autumn, and the tension as they realized that they both cared about each other. I also loved the aspect of Rafe actually seeing Autumn for how great she is and how her husband was squashing her. This was a great quick cozy little romance with some fun magic in a modern setting. Also, that ending! Very eagerly awaiting the next book to see what happens!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I loved the banter between Rafe and Autumn, and the tension as they realized that they both cared about each other. I also loved the aspect of Rafe actually seeing Autumn for how great she is and how her husband was squashing her. This was a great quick cozy little romance with some fun magic in a modern setting. Also, that ending! Very eagerly awaiting the next book to see what happens!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
August 9, 2026
Superficially, this is a cozy fantasy featuring a bee witch who opens a meadery (in apparently present-day England, which surprised me slightly; I was expecting a secondary-world setting for some reason), and has a gradually building romance with a cat shifter who's the subject of a curse. If it was just that, and was executed to a good standard and complete in itself, it would have been a four-star read for me, but it has a number of flaws on closer examination.
The setup is that the witch, Autumn, has spent the past fifteen years married to a controlling, negging narcissist who has kept her from making any friends, made her put away anything that reminds her of her beloved mother and grandmother (her father is never mentioned, I don't think), convinced her that she's no good at anything, and stopped her from doing anything outside the house. We're told that she doesn't leave the house and garden, but she must do, because he gives her cash for household essentials which she must go into the village to buy, and from somewhere (bookshop or library) she is getting romance novels. This prize exhibit has gone missing, and Autumn, within a few days of his being gone from her life, breaks out and opens the meadery she's dreamed of. This seems oddly quick, but right at the end we get a hint of an explanation. It's not a cozy one.
A witch who had a flower shop in the village has been murdered, stabbed in the back with her own scissors, and this means the shop is available for rent as the meadery. Along with it comes a cat, who is in fact a thief cursed into cat form by the previous witch; he can assume human form when within 20 metres of Autumn, who seems to have somehow inherited him as her familiar by taking over the space. Attraction builds between them over the course of the book, but the supposedly-rogueish cat shifter holds the line of "you're still married, until we know he's dead or you're divorced this isn't happening," while the supposedly-wholesome witch just wants to bang him and damn the consequences.
I've given the book my "weak-mystery" tag because neither of the mysteries - the disappearance of Warren, the controlling husband, and the murder of the flower witch - gets much progression, or even much focus, during the book - at least not from Autumn, who's narrating. This is a minor flaw compared with the three big ones, as far as I'm concerned.
Firstly, the verb tense, something fairly basic to writing a narrative. It lurches wildly between past and present, often within a single sentence. The main narration is present tense, but it's not consistently maintained. As a more minor point about the mechanics, the setting in England isn't backed up by it being written in British English; there are garbage cans, for example, not dustbins. This isn't particularly obtrusive for me, but it might be more so for a British reader.
Secondly, there are a couple of places where there's a distinct clash of tone. Partway through, the main character has applied for a license to manufacture mead commercially. A grumpy official denies it. (He and his colleague are given the title "Councillor," suggesting they are elected members of the governing body for the council area, but they act as council employees, inspecting premises, administering exams and issuing or denying licenses. I'm reasonably sure that isn't how councils work in England any more than it is anywhere else.)
Finally, the ending, which is also part of the clash of tone, but deserves its own point, since it was what finally dropped the book all the way to two stars for me. The non-spoilery bit is that we get a new character who's only been hinted at previously, and then the book suddenly ends with a disturbing implication. The spoilery bit is that
I sometimes complain that cozy books are too close to the basic formula, that they've been made from box mix, with nothing really to distinguish them. Demonstrating how hard I am to satisfy, I'm making the opposite complaint about this one. It's got too much non-cozy material creeping in round the edges, particularly at the end; the end opens things out rather than tying them up; and along the way there are some things that just don't make sense, and a lot of issues with the verb tense. Also, it's as if Autumn is somehow fated to open the meadery, and in order to enable this Fate (i.e. the author) feels fully justified in committing mayhem against any character who might stand in the way of this happening, even indirectly, including the witch who previously rented the shop.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review; further changes may or may not be made between this and the published version.
The setup is that the witch, Autumn, has spent the past fifteen years married to a controlling, negging narcissist who has kept her from making any friends, made her put away anything that reminds her of her beloved mother and grandmother (her father is never mentioned, I don't think), convinced her that she's no good at anything, and stopped her from doing anything outside the house. We're told that she doesn't leave the house and garden, but she must do, because he gives her cash for household essentials which she must go into the village to buy, and from somewhere (bookshop or library) she is getting romance novels. This prize exhibit has gone missing, and Autumn, within a few days of his being gone from her life, breaks out and opens the meadery she's dreamed of. This seems oddly quick, but right at the end we get a hint of an explanation. It's not a cozy one.
A witch who had a flower shop in the village has been murdered, stabbed in the back with her own scissors, and this means the shop is available for rent as the meadery. Along with it comes a cat, who is in fact a thief cursed into cat form by the previous witch; he can assume human form when within 20 metres of Autumn, who seems to have somehow inherited him as her familiar by taking over the space. Attraction builds between them over the course of the book, but the supposedly-rogueish cat shifter holds the line of "you're still married, until we know he's dead or you're divorced this isn't happening," while the supposedly-wholesome witch just wants to bang him and damn the consequences.
I've given the book my "weak-mystery" tag because neither of the mysteries - the disappearance of Warren, the controlling husband, and the murder of the flower witch - gets much progression, or even much focus, during the book - at least not from Autumn, who's narrating. This is a minor flaw compared with the three big ones, as far as I'm concerned.
Firstly, the verb tense, something fairly basic to writing a narrative. It lurches wildly between past and present, often within a single sentence. The main narration is present tense, but it's not consistently maintained. As a more minor point about the mechanics, the setting in England isn't backed up by it being written in British English; there are garbage cans, for example, not dustbins. This isn't particularly obtrusive for me, but it might be more so for a British reader.
Secondly, there are a couple of places where there's a distinct clash of tone. Partway through, the main character has applied for a license to manufacture mead commercially. A grumpy official denies it. (He and his colleague are given the title "Councillor," suggesting they are elected members of the governing body for the council area, but they act as council employees, inspecting premises, administering exams and issuing or denying licenses. I'm reasonably sure that isn't how councils work in England any more than it is anywhere else.)
Finally, the ending, which is also part of the clash of tone, but deserves its own point, since it was what finally dropped the book all the way to two stars for me. The non-spoilery bit is that we get a new character who's only been hinted at previously, and then the book suddenly ends with a disturbing implication. The spoilery bit is that
I sometimes complain that cozy books are too close to the basic formula, that they've been made from box mix, with nothing really to distinguish them. Demonstrating how hard I am to satisfy, I'm making the opposite complaint about this one. It's got too much non-cozy material creeping in round the edges, particularly at the end; the end opens things out rather than tying them up; and along the way there are some things that just don't make sense, and a lot of issues with the verb tense. Also, it's as if Autumn is somehow fated to open the meadery, and in order to enable this Fate (i.e. the author) feels fully justified in committing mayhem against any character who might stand in the way of this happening, even indirectly, including the witch who previously rented the shop.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review; further changes may or may not be made between this and the published version.
August 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ❤️
That ending was straight up evil.
Okay so I must admit that I don't usually care for anything advertised as a "cozy romance", but for some reason I decided to pick this one up and...oh boy, I must have a nose for stuff like this.
Basically, this is a story about a honey witch who escapes a toxic marriage and opens up her own little mead (medieval fermented honey drink) shop. All cool, all nice. She's helped along her businesswoman journey by her cat familiar who....can sometimes turn into a hot man? Who's a cursed thief who ends up treating her with more care than her husband ever did and they have a really cute cozy slow burn romance going on? Did I mention he's a gentleman? haha
Anyway, the whole premise is pretty wacky, especially considering the fact that whenever this fella would turn into his human form I'd imagine him more as an anime-ish catboy rather than a crazy hot badass tattooed thief guy.
(On that note, this book would make an amazing interactive fiction/otome game)
But then, crazy stuff happens. Remember how I said she escapes this toxic marriage? Well she does so bcz her husband goes missing.....and her bees know what's up!! I swear the bees know stuff! BEEN GOING CRAZY OVER WHAT THE BEES MIGHT KNOW EVER SINCE I FIGURED THEY KNEW STUFF and it's so cool because they act like oblivious little kids whenever they share any piece of what they know, but they're such a complex character. I love the bees so much.
Anyway, you MUST read this. I just finished this book and I'm already very excited for the second.
The characters really grew on me, despite everything seeming pretty absurd to me at the beginning, but I'll surely be thinking about this book for....awhile now.
Oh and btw, my bf had to put up with my "THE BEES KNOW" schizo yap and he told me to compliment the book from his POV too because he thought the turns of the plot were insanely ingenious haha
That ending was straight up evil.
Okay so I must admit that I don't usually care for anything advertised as a "cozy romance", but for some reason I decided to pick this one up and...oh boy, I must have a nose for stuff like this.
Basically, this is a story about a honey witch who escapes a toxic marriage and opens up her own little mead (medieval fermented honey drink) shop. All cool, all nice. She's helped along her businesswoman journey by her cat familiar who....can sometimes turn into a hot man? Who's a cursed thief who ends up treating her with more care than her husband ever did and they have a really cute cozy slow burn romance going on? Did I mention he's a gentleman? haha
Anyway, the whole premise is pretty wacky, especially considering the fact that whenever this fella would turn into his human form I'd imagine him more as an anime-ish catboy rather than a crazy hot badass tattooed thief guy.
(On that note, this book would make an amazing interactive fiction/otome game)
But then, crazy stuff happens. Remember how I said she escapes this toxic marriage? Well she does so bcz her husband goes missing.....and her bees know what's up!! I swear the bees know stuff! BEEN GOING CRAZY OVER WHAT THE BEES MIGHT KNOW EVER SINCE I FIGURED THEY KNEW STUFF and it's so cool because they act like oblivious little kids whenever they share any piece of what they know, but they're such a complex character. I love the bees so much.
Anyway, you MUST read this. I just finished this book and I'm already very excited for the second.
The characters really grew on me, despite everything seeming pretty absurd to me at the beginning, but I'll surely be thinking about this book for....awhile now.
Oh and btw, my bf had to put up with my "THE BEES KNOW" schizo yap and he told me to compliment the book from his POV too because he thought the turns of the plot were insanely ingenious haha
August 5, 2026
🔍 Cosy mystery
💞 Slow-burn romance
✨ Whimsical magic
🐈 Sassy cat
Autumn is a honey witch who has spent years trapped in a controlling marriage and being convinced she isn’t capable of much on her own. So when her husband disappears, she finally gets the chance to build a life that belongs to her, starting with her dream of opening a meadery. And because this is Argleton, home of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven, there are of course a few familiar faces popping up along the way, which I loved 🥰
What I really loved about Autumn is that escaping her marriage doesn’t magically undo years of being made to feel small. She has the passion, talent and dream, but absolutely no faith in herself. Watching her slowly start trusting herself again, take up space and realise she is actually very bloody capable gave all the cosy magical shenanigans such a lovely emotional centre.
Rafe was easily my favourite. His delight at discovering the benefits of a bendy cat spine had me cackling, and his metaphorical fist-shaking at feline arch nemesis Mr Muffins was everything. But he’s not just a sassy little digit-stealing gremlin. He also sneaks in unexpectedly thoughtful moments, including: “Not everyone can be a rock star with millions of fans and a career, but everyone should get the chance to enjoy making something and giving their songs to the world.”
That balance is exactly why Steffanie Holmes works so well for me. She combines whimsy and ridiculousness with characters who have genuine emotional depth, then casually drops a mystery into the middle that has my brain ticking away trying to unravel what she’s up to.
💞 Slow-burn romance
✨ Whimsical magic
🐈 Sassy cat
Autumn is a honey witch who has spent years trapped in a controlling marriage and being convinced she isn’t capable of much on her own. So when her husband disappears, she finally gets the chance to build a life that belongs to her, starting with her dream of opening a meadery. And because this is Argleton, home of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven, there are of course a few familiar faces popping up along the way, which I loved 🥰
What I really loved about Autumn is that escaping her marriage doesn’t magically undo years of being made to feel small. She has the passion, talent and dream, but absolutely no faith in herself. Watching her slowly start trusting herself again, take up space and realise she is actually very bloody capable gave all the cosy magical shenanigans such a lovely emotional centre.
Rafe was easily my favourite. His delight at discovering the benefits of a bendy cat spine had me cackling, and his metaphorical fist-shaking at feline arch nemesis Mr Muffins was everything. But he’s not just a sassy little digit-stealing gremlin. He also sneaks in unexpectedly thoughtful moments, including: “Not everyone can be a rock star with millions of fans and a career, but everyone should get the chance to enjoy making something and giving their songs to the world.”
That balance is exactly why Steffanie Holmes works so well for me. She combines whimsy and ridiculousness with characters who have genuine emotional depth, then casually drops a mystery into the middle that has my brain ticking away trying to unravel what she’s up to.
August 9, 2026
I was really hoping for a charming, whimsical cozy fantasy, but unfortunately, Honey & Hexes just didn't work for me.
The main issue I had was the complete lack of a cohesive plot. The story felt erratic and overly strange, throwing together a chaotic mix of magical bees, orchid-stealing cat shifters, missing husbands, severed fingers, and random supernatural elements without ever grounding them into a compelling or logical narrative.
The characters felt shallow, and their decisions rarely made sense. Rather than building genuine intrigue around the husband's disappearance or creating a sweet "annoyances-to-lovers" dynamic, the story relied on bizarre antics and sudden twists that felt completely disjointed.
Overall, the premise had potential, but the execution was too disorganized and weird for my taste. If you enjoy chaotic, highly absurd cozy fantasies with minimal structure, this might appeal to you, but it unfortunately wasn't the right read for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The main issue I had was the complete lack of a cohesive plot. The story felt erratic and overly strange, throwing together a chaotic mix of magical bees, orchid-stealing cat shifters, missing husbands, severed fingers, and random supernatural elements without ever grounding them into a compelling or logical narrative.
The characters felt shallow, and their decisions rarely made sense. Rather than building genuine intrigue around the husband's disappearance or creating a sweet "annoyances-to-lovers" dynamic, the story relied on bizarre antics and sudden twists that felt completely disjointed.
Overall, the premise had potential, but the execution was too disorganized and weird for my taste. If you enjoy chaotic, highly absurd cozy fantasies with minimal structure, this might appeal to you, but it unfortunately wasn't the right read for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
personal rating : 4.5/5
Terima kasih NetGalley, Publisher, dan Penulis Steffanie Holmes untuk e-ARC 🥺🫶🏼
Ini adalah buku pertama Steffanie Holmes yang aku baca dan aku sangat suka! Temanya dengan dunia “supernatural” sangat menarik dan eksekusinya sangat baik 😭❤️ Aku bakalan baca buku-buku lainnya! Karena setelah aku lihat buku-buku lainnya, ternyata mereka masih se-universe gitu.
okay, mari kita masuk membahas buku ini:
jujur, aku agak kecewa karena cuma 200 halaman… i need more. endingnya ngegantung banget 😭🫵🏼 tapi ini bakalan menarik perhatian untuk membeli/membaca buku keduanya.
Untuk cerita di buku pertama ini, menurutku sangat menarik dan lebih berfokus pada masalah internalnya si Autumn, di mana kalian akan melihat bagaimana hidup Autumn yang selama ini dikontrol oleh suaminya, si Warrick. Baru kali ini aku sangat suka dengan “menghilangnya” pasangan dari tokoh utama dalam suatu buku 🤣 I HATE HIM SO MUCH!!!!! Autumn ga pantas banget punya suami kayak dia. ughhhhhh. Karakter lainnya, si Rafe, kucing (yang sebenarnya manusia tapi kena “kutukan” dari penyihir lainnya), dia lucu banget 🤣😂 sangat blak-blakan dan semaunya lah (tipikal kucing banget). tapi dia keren banget, mau nemenin Autumn (ya walau karena untuk kepentingannya sendiri juga sih) dan juga dia GENTLEMAN PARAHHHH. bayangin aja… aduh, mau ngomong tapi takut spoiler… intinya di GENTLEMAN (terutama dari interaksi terakhirnya dia sama Autumn di bab XVIII) 🥹❤️ ma babiesss! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! dan tidak lupa, karakter lainnya, warga desa/tetangga Autumn, seperti Mina dan suami-suaminya beserta Celeste dan Pax dan lainnya 🥺❤️ Mereka baik banget kepada Autumn 🫶🏼
Untuk alur ceritanya, di buku ini lebih banyak tentang Autumn yang berproses dengan hidupnya setelah “menghilangnya” suaminya, Warrick. Misteri dan thriller nya oke, perkembangan karakter tokohnya oke banget, dan romancenya masih tipis-tipis sih menurutku. TAPI UDAH BIKIN GEMES, SENYUM SENYUM SENDIRI. AAAAAAAA 😭🥹❤️
Pokoknya terima kasih banyak kepada NetGalley, Publisher dan Penulis atas kesempatannya kepadaku untuk membaca buku yang bagus dan addictive ini 🥺🫶🏼 kalo kalian suka buku yang fokus pada perkembangan karakter utama, dengan bumbu-bumbu magic dan misteri serta romance, inilah buku yang harus kalian masukkan ke dalam list bacaan kalian juga! 😌🫶🏼 ga sabar untuk baca buku keduanya! ^^
————-[ENG TRANSLATED]————-
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author Steffanie Holmes for the e-ARC 🥺🫶🏼
This is the first book by Steffanie Holmes that I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it! The “supernatural” theme is really intriguing, and it’s executed so well 😭❤️ I’m definitely going to read her other books! Because after checking out her other books, it turns out they’re all set in the same universe.
Okay, let’s dive into this book:
Honestly, I was a little disappointed that it’s only 200 pages… I need more. The ending is such a cliffhanger 😭🫵🏼 but it’ll definitely make me want to buy/read the second book.
As for the story in this first book, I think it’s really interesting and focuses more on Autumn’s internal struggles—you’ll see how her life has been controlled by her husband, Warrick. This is the first time I’ve really enjoyed the “disappearance” of the main character’s partner in a book 🤣 I HATE HIM SO MUCH!!!!! Autumn totally doesn’t deserve a husband like him. Ughhhhhh. Another character, Rafe—the cat (who’s actually human but was cursed by another witch)—is so funny 🤣😂 He’s super blunt and does whatever he wants (so typical of a cat). But he’s totally awesome—he’s willing to stick by Autumn (even if it’s partly for his own benefit) and he’s such a TOTAL GENTLEMAN. Just imagine… oh man, I want to say more but I’m afraid of spoilers… the point is, he’s such a GENTLEMAN (especially from his interactions with Autumn in Chapter XVIII) 🥹❤️ Oh my gosh! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! And let’s not forget the other characters—Autumn’s neighbors and fellow villagers, like Mina and her husbands, along with Celeste, Pax, and the rest 🥺❤️ They’re so kind to Autumn 🫶🏼
As for the plot, this book focuses more on Autumn coming to terms with her life after her husband, Warrick, “disappeared.” The mystery and thriller elements are solid, the character development is fantastic, and the romance is still pretty subtle, in my opinion. BUT IT’S ALREADY SO CUTE, MAKING ME SMILE TO MYSELF. AAAAAAAA 😭🥹❤️
Anyway, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the chance to read this wonderful and addictive book 🥺🫶🏼 If you like books that focus on the main character’s growth, with a dash of magic, mystery, and romance, this is a book you should definitely add to your reading list too! 😌🫶🏼 I can’t wait to read the second book! ^^
Terima kasih NetGalley, Publisher, dan Penulis Steffanie Holmes untuk e-ARC 🥺🫶🏼
Ini adalah buku pertama Steffanie Holmes yang aku baca dan aku sangat suka! Temanya dengan dunia “supernatural” sangat menarik dan eksekusinya sangat baik 😭❤️ Aku bakalan baca buku-buku lainnya! Karena setelah aku lihat buku-buku lainnya, ternyata mereka masih se-universe gitu.
okay, mari kita masuk membahas buku ini:
jujur, aku agak kecewa karena cuma 200 halaman… i need more. endingnya ngegantung banget 😭🫵🏼 tapi ini bakalan menarik perhatian untuk membeli/membaca buku keduanya.
Untuk cerita di buku pertama ini, menurutku sangat menarik dan lebih berfokus pada masalah internalnya si Autumn, di mana kalian akan melihat bagaimana hidup Autumn yang selama ini dikontrol oleh suaminya, si Warrick. Baru kali ini aku sangat suka dengan “menghilangnya” pasangan dari tokoh utama dalam suatu buku 🤣 I HATE HIM SO MUCH!!!!! Autumn ga pantas banget punya suami kayak dia. ughhhhhh. Karakter lainnya, si Rafe, kucing (yang sebenarnya manusia tapi kena “kutukan” dari penyihir lainnya), dia lucu banget 🤣😂 sangat blak-blakan dan semaunya lah (tipikal kucing banget). tapi dia keren banget, mau nemenin Autumn (ya walau karena untuk kepentingannya sendiri juga sih) dan juga dia GENTLEMAN PARAHHHH. bayangin aja… aduh, mau ngomong tapi takut spoiler… intinya di GENTLEMAN (terutama dari interaksi terakhirnya dia sama Autumn di bab XVIII) 🥹❤️ ma babiesss! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! dan tidak lupa, karakter lainnya, warga desa/tetangga Autumn, seperti Mina dan suami-suaminya beserta Celeste dan Pax dan lainnya 🥺❤️ Mereka baik banget kepada Autumn 🫶🏼
Untuk alur ceritanya, di buku ini lebih banyak tentang Autumn yang berproses dengan hidupnya setelah “menghilangnya” suaminya, Warrick. Misteri dan thriller nya oke, perkembangan karakter tokohnya oke banget, dan romancenya masih tipis-tipis sih menurutku. TAPI UDAH BIKIN GEMES, SENYUM SENYUM SENDIRI. AAAAAAAA 😭🥹❤️
Pokoknya terima kasih banyak kepada NetGalley, Publisher dan Penulis atas kesempatannya kepadaku untuk membaca buku yang bagus dan addictive ini 🥺🫶🏼 kalo kalian suka buku yang fokus pada perkembangan karakter utama, dengan bumbu-bumbu magic dan misteri serta romance, inilah buku yang harus kalian masukkan ke dalam list bacaan kalian juga! 😌🫶🏼 ga sabar untuk baca buku keduanya! ^^
————-[ENG TRANSLATED]————-
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author Steffanie Holmes for the e-ARC 🥺🫶🏼
This is the first book by Steffanie Holmes that I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it! The “supernatural” theme is really intriguing, and it’s executed so well 😭❤️ I’m definitely going to read her other books! Because after checking out her other books, it turns out they’re all set in the same universe.
Okay, let’s dive into this book:
Honestly, I was a little disappointed that it’s only 200 pages… I need more. The ending is such a cliffhanger 😭🫵🏼 but it’ll definitely make me want to buy/read the second book.
As for the story in this first book, I think it’s really interesting and focuses more on Autumn’s internal struggles—you’ll see how her life has been controlled by her husband, Warrick. This is the first time I’ve really enjoyed the “disappearance” of the main character’s partner in a book 🤣 I HATE HIM SO MUCH!!!!! Autumn totally doesn’t deserve a husband like him. Ughhhhhh. Another character, Rafe—the cat (who’s actually human but was cursed by another witch)—is so funny 🤣😂 He’s super blunt and does whatever he wants (so typical of a cat). But he’s totally awesome—he’s willing to stick by Autumn (even if it’s partly for his own benefit) and he’s such a TOTAL GENTLEMAN. Just imagine… oh man, I want to say more but I’m afraid of spoilers… the point is, he’s such a GENTLEMAN (especially from his interactions with Autumn in Chapter XVIII) 🥹❤️ Oh my gosh! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! And let’s not forget the other characters—Autumn’s neighbors and fellow villagers, like Mina and her husbands, along with Celeste, Pax, and the rest 🥺❤️ They’re so kind to Autumn 🫶🏼
As for the plot, this book focuses more on Autumn coming to terms with her life after her husband, Warrick, “disappeared.” The mystery and thriller elements are solid, the character development is fantastic, and the romance is still pretty subtle, in my opinion. BUT IT’S ALREADY SO CUTE, MAKING ME SMILE TO MYSELF. AAAAAAAA 😭🥹❤️
Anyway, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the chance to read this wonderful and addictive book 🥺🫶🏼 If you like books that focus on the main character’s growth, with a dash of magic, mystery, and romance, this is a book you should definitely add to your reading list too! 😌🫶🏼 I can’t wait to read the second book! ^^
July 30, 2026
I'm so disappointed that I have to mark this as a 2 star. Let me explain...
Honey and Hexes is about a honey witch called Autumn Abernathy (how perfect is that name?!) Her useless controlling husband is missing, and she decides to do something for herself now no one is there to hold her back - and she rents a space to open a mead shop. Not just any mead shop, a magical mead shop. That space is owned by the one and only Rafe, a cat, who can shift back to his human form - only he has been cursed by the shop's previous owner. Working together, Autumn promises to break Rafe's curse, and Rafe helps Autumn to see her true worth.
There are SO MANY magical shop books around nowadays, kind of a trend right? I find they are like Marmite, they're either so well done you love them, or they're absolutely terrible and you hate them. Well this one I LOVED. That's why the 2* is so painstaking.
First of all - round of applause for the name of the shop "Glazed and Confused." Best shop name ever! Absolutely LOVE!
It was hilarious. The first book I've read this year that has actually made me laugh. I thought the characters were fantastic, except from Warrick of course, but you know how well a character is written when you actually despise them.
I don't think I've read a book where a character has been so outspoken, so confident, as Rafe. That's why I laughed so much, some of the things he said shocked me so much - and why is he always naked!
Okay - the star deductions. Lets get in to it.
The chapters told from the POV of the bees - really? I believe there were only two, but they frustrated me so much. It was like listening to a person talk in baby language, it came across as so childish. And I actually didn't even understand them, because it was so odd!
I wasn't going to let it ruin the whole book, but then BAM! It literally ended. Right during a bee chapter which I did not understand, and there was no ending.
No conclusion to the story. No warning that this wasn't the whole book. It literally ended just as the story had got going. I don't understand? Why not just release the story in one book so the reader can finish it all at once, rather than just only getting 200 pages? It's actually made me mad that I became so invested in a story and now I have the answers to nothing! I have ADHD, I won't remember any of this story by the time book 2 is available, and I will have to read it again. One long book would save all of this!
If you want to read the best magical shop book ever, then read this book! But wait until the rest of the books are available so you can read it all in one go - unless you have an epic memory and not one of a goldfish like mine.
Steffanie Holmes is honestly an incredible writer, I cannot wait to read more of her work. And I'm so sad about this review!
Honey and Hexes is about a honey witch called Autumn Abernathy (how perfect is that name?!) Her useless controlling husband is missing, and she decides to do something for herself now no one is there to hold her back - and she rents a space to open a mead shop. Not just any mead shop, a magical mead shop. That space is owned by the one and only Rafe, a cat, who can shift back to his human form - only he has been cursed by the shop's previous owner. Working together, Autumn promises to break Rafe's curse, and Rafe helps Autumn to see her true worth.
There are SO MANY magical shop books around nowadays, kind of a trend right? I find they are like Marmite, they're either so well done you love them, or they're absolutely terrible and you hate them. Well this one I LOVED. That's why the 2* is so painstaking.
First of all - round of applause for the name of the shop "Glazed and Confused." Best shop name ever! Absolutely LOVE!
It was hilarious. The first book I've read this year that has actually made me laugh. I thought the characters were fantastic, except from Warrick of course, but you know how well a character is written when you actually despise them.
I don't think I've read a book where a character has been so outspoken, so confident, as Rafe. That's why I laughed so much, some of the things he said shocked me so much - and why is he always naked!
Okay - the star deductions. Lets get in to it.
The chapters told from the POV of the bees - really? I believe there were only two, but they frustrated me so much. It was like listening to a person talk in baby language, it came across as so childish. And I actually didn't even understand them, because it was so odd!
I wasn't going to let it ruin the whole book, but then BAM! It literally ended. Right during a bee chapter which I did not understand, and there was no ending.
No conclusion to the story. No warning that this wasn't the whole book. It literally ended just as the story had got going. I don't understand? Why not just release the story in one book so the reader can finish it all at once, rather than just only getting 200 pages? It's actually made me mad that I became so invested in a story and now I have the answers to nothing! I have ADHD, I won't remember any of this story by the time book 2 is available, and I will have to read it again. One long book would save all of this!
If you want to read the best magical shop book ever, then read this book! But wait until the rest of the books are available so you can read it all in one go - unless you have an epic memory and not one of a goldfish like mine.
Steffanie Holmes is honestly an incredible writer, I cannot wait to read more of her work. And I'm so sad about this review!
August 3, 2026
My first ARC Review :) Yay! 2.5 rounded up to 3 for me. It has potential.
I was on the hunt for a cozy fantasy book and this cover screams that. Although, the cat's description in the book doesn't quite feel like it matches the one drawn on the cover.
Autumn's husband Warrick goes missing and we soon find out he was a controlling, manipulative, narcissist. Without his grasp on her, Autumn finds herself signing a lease to a shop downtown with the hope of opening a meadery. The shop houses a cat named Rafe who turns out to be the sexy love interest. Yes, the cat is actually a human and shape shifts. To quickly summarize - the townspeople rally behind her new freedom and she slowly learns to trust herself and her abilities.
What you don't realize is that the book just stops. Flat out cliff hanger in the end. Um what? It literally gives you a to be continued... Maybe I missed the notice about this but if you're expecting an ending you won't get it.
Things that left me confused: Who's a witch? Who can do magic? Why do some people know Rafe is a cat but then others don't? Is magic supposed to be a secret or do some people just think it's a joke? I truly was so confused about how the magic element worked in this town. Do they not think eating a root and growing a mass quantity of hair is magic?
Also, the bees... do people know they have bees swarming them? Why do some people swat them but others don't seem to notice? Having bee's swarming around you all the time isn't normal for a book where I think some people don't believe in magic. The entire bee perspective chapters are unique but I found them to be a little annoying. I guess bee's are annoying so maybe Holmes did that on purpose.
Lastly, her husband is missing. The level of concern is shockingly low except for the assistant. I know he was a bad guy but it seems like everyone is just acting like he went on vacation, including Autumn. It's a major plot point yet also feels like it's being swept under the rug.
Things I enjoyed: The cozy magic (when it made sense). The townspeople rallying around to help Autumn and the sense of small town community. I'd like to live there. I am also very interested to see how it unfolds but unfortunately that won't happen any time soon. We are obviously made to believe that Autumn killed him but hopefully not because that's too easy. We shall have to wait for the next book to see how it unfolds.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!
I was on the hunt for a cozy fantasy book and this cover screams that. Although, the cat's description in the book doesn't quite feel like it matches the one drawn on the cover.
Autumn's husband Warrick goes missing and we soon find out he was a controlling, manipulative, narcissist. Without his grasp on her, Autumn finds herself signing a lease to a shop downtown with the hope of opening a meadery. The shop houses a cat named Rafe who turns out to be the sexy love interest. Yes, the cat is actually a human and shape shifts. To quickly summarize - the townspeople rally behind her new freedom and she slowly learns to trust herself and her abilities.
What you don't realize is that the book just stops. Flat out cliff hanger in the end. Um what? It literally gives you a to be continued... Maybe I missed the notice about this but if you're expecting an ending you won't get it.
Things that left me confused: Who's a witch? Who can do magic? Why do some people know Rafe is a cat but then others don't? Is magic supposed to be a secret or do some people just think it's a joke? I truly was so confused about how the magic element worked in this town. Do they not think eating a root and growing a mass quantity of hair is magic?
Also, the bees... do people know they have bees swarming them? Why do some people swat them but others don't seem to notice? Having bee's swarming around you all the time isn't normal for a book where I think some people don't believe in magic. The entire bee perspective chapters are unique but I found them to be a little annoying. I guess bee's are annoying so maybe Holmes did that on purpose.
Lastly, her husband is missing. The level of concern is shockingly low except for the assistant. I know he was a bad guy but it seems like everyone is just acting like he went on vacation, including Autumn. It's a major plot point yet also feels like it's being swept under the rug.
Things I enjoyed: The cozy magic (when it made sense). The townspeople rallying around to help Autumn and the sense of small town community. I'd like to live there. I am also very interested to see how it unfolds but unfortunately that won't happen any time soon. We are obviously made to believe that Autumn killed him but hopefully not because that's too easy. We shall have to wait for the next book to see how it unfolds.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy of Honey & Hexes in exchange for my honest review. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC.
Honey & Hexes was such a cozy little escape. If you’re looking for a light fantasy with cottagecore vibes, magical bees, and a romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is a charming read.
One of my favorite parts was the atmosphere. Between the bee magic, honey, mead making, and the quaint village setting, the entire book felt warm, whimsical, and comforting. It has the kind of cozy energy that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea.
The romance was sweet, and the banter between the characters kept the story fun. I also enjoyed the mystery woven throughout the novel surrounding Autumn’s missing husband. It added just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning without taking away from the cozy feel.
Because it’s a shorter novel, I did find myself wishing there had been a little more depth to some of the characters and relationships. I would’ve happily spent another hundred pages in this magical world.
Overall, Honey & Hexes is a delightful, low-stakes fantasy that left me smiling. If you enjoy cozy fantasy, witchy stories, cottagecore aesthetics, magical small towns, and a touch of romance, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.
My Ratings
🍯 Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The biggest strength of the book. Warm, magical, and wonderfully cozy.
🐝 Magic: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bee magic was such a unique and refreshing concept.
❤️ Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Sweet, playful, and easy to root for.
📖 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Simple but engaging, with just enough mystery to keep things interesting.
✨ Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Lovable and fun, though I would’ve enjoyed spending more time getting to know them.
• Mood: Cozy, whimsical, hopeful, and lighthearted.
• Pace: Fast.
• Character vs. Plot: More character- and atmosphere-driven than plot-heavy.
• Perfect Reading Season: Spring, early fall, or any rainy day when you’re craving something comforting.
• Recommend If You Like: Cozy fantasy, magical villages, witches, found family, cottagecore vibes, and books that feel like a warm hug.
Honey & Hexes was such a cozy little escape. If you’re looking for a light fantasy with cottagecore vibes, magical bees, and a romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is a charming read.
One of my favorite parts was the atmosphere. Between the bee magic, honey, mead making, and the quaint village setting, the entire book felt warm, whimsical, and comforting. It has the kind of cozy energy that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea.
The romance was sweet, and the banter between the characters kept the story fun. I also enjoyed the mystery woven throughout the novel surrounding Autumn’s missing husband. It added just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning without taking away from the cozy feel.
Because it’s a shorter novel, I did find myself wishing there had been a little more depth to some of the characters and relationships. I would’ve happily spent another hundred pages in this magical world.
Overall, Honey & Hexes is a delightful, low-stakes fantasy that left me smiling. If you enjoy cozy fantasy, witchy stories, cottagecore aesthetics, magical small towns, and a touch of romance, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.
My Ratings
🍯 Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The biggest strength of the book. Warm, magical, and wonderfully cozy.
🐝 Magic: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bee magic was such a unique and refreshing concept.
❤️ Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Sweet, playful, and easy to root for.
📖 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Simple but engaging, with just enough mystery to keep things interesting.
✨ Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Lovable and fun, though I would’ve enjoyed spending more time getting to know them.
• Mood: Cozy, whimsical, hopeful, and lighthearted.
• Pace: Fast.
• Character vs. Plot: More character- and atmosphere-driven than plot-heavy.
• Perfect Reading Season: Spring, early fall, or any rainy day when you’re craving something comforting.
• Recommend If You Like: Cozy fantasy, magical villages, witches, found family, cottagecore vibes, and books that feel like a warm hug.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2026
The vibes immaculate gimme more. Devoured in a sitting and now I'm really really mad at myself..WHAT DO YOU MEAN THATS THE ENDING. BWJWBSFTAGQHQIRB.
The setting is the same universe as the other series and we've got a garden witch, Autumn. Who's controlling husband has gone missing #oops?!? and she's reported it to the police. She's meant to be sad but instead she's relieved and is starting to do things for herself. Beginning with buying up a shop who's previous owner was murdered and was also a witch. Autumn sets out to fulfill her dreams of owning and running her own mead shop. Except this shop comes with a firey Siamese cat Raefe who is cursed to be a cat even though he's human.
When I say I devour this I mean like I went to start it and then it's 3am and the book is at 100%. Steffanie knows how to write a killer cliffhanger and I'm really upset that I now have to wait for the next book (I'll survive but I neeeeed to know about things turn out). You can tell she's had a lot of fun with this one and her history knowledge once again shines through! The double mystery behind the shopkeeper and Autumns husband really made this all the more addictive to try and figure out what happens.
Now the relationship between Autumn and her Husband really enrages me as ofc it's a man wanting to cut down a women and clip her wings. AND HIM BEING THE SNAKE HE IS. Good thing he is MIA... (Read the book to find out more)
Raefe is a shifter and I love that he gets to keep his tail. The chemistry between Raefe and Autumn. Fantastic. AND THE SLOW BURN and boundaries this man sets. CRIMINAL.
BUT WITH LINES LIKE:
“You look like the sunny windowsill I’ve been chasing my whole life." Ahhhh I'm so sold.
AND THE FACT WE HAVE A POV I WASNT EXPECTING 10/10. 🐝
This is for all the people that are wanting a cosy romantasy. It's got a unique witch and a charming small town, rivalries, cat shifters and a bit of forced proximity. While it is a standalone there is cameos from characters from her other series.
The setting is the same universe as the other series and we've got a garden witch, Autumn. Who's controlling husband has gone missing #oops?!? and she's reported it to the police. She's meant to be sad but instead she's relieved and is starting to do things for herself. Beginning with buying up a shop who's previous owner was murdered and was also a witch. Autumn sets out to fulfill her dreams of owning and running her own mead shop. Except this shop comes with a firey Siamese cat Raefe who is cursed to be a cat even though he's human.
When I say I devour this I mean like I went to start it and then it's 3am and the book is at 100%. Steffanie knows how to write a killer cliffhanger and I'm really upset that I now have to wait for the next book (I'll survive but I neeeeed to know about things turn out). You can tell she's had a lot of fun with this one and her history knowledge once again shines through! The double mystery behind the shopkeeper and Autumns husband really made this all the more addictive to try and figure out what happens.
Now the relationship between Autumn and her Husband really enrages me as ofc it's a man wanting to cut down a women and clip her wings. AND HIM BEING THE SNAKE HE IS. Good thing he is MIA... (Read the book to find out more)
Raefe is a shifter and I love that he gets to keep his tail. The chemistry between Raefe and Autumn. Fantastic. AND THE SLOW BURN and boundaries this man sets. CRIMINAL.
BUT WITH LINES LIKE:
“You look like the sunny windowsill I’ve been chasing my whole life." Ahhhh I'm so sold.
AND THE FACT WE HAVE A POV I WASNT EXPECTING 10/10. 🐝
This is for all the people that are wanting a cosy romantasy. It's got a unique witch and a charming small town, rivalries, cat shifters and a bit of forced proximity. While it is a standalone there is cameos from characters from her other series.
August 4, 2026
A cozy fantasy with a lot of potential, Honey & Hexes is a cute book about a witch whose abusive husband goes missing. Autumn has spent years becoming smaller and more isolated as her husband controls her. When he goes missing, she uses her freedom to open a mead shop.
This book is a spin-off of Holmes’ previous books, a set of mysteries set in the bookstore. I haven’t read the series, so I was able to evaluate the book as an independent series. The worldbuilding felt thin, but it didn’t feel too confusing or unexplained. It can be hard for authors to remember to start from scratch with interconnected series, and Holmes generally achieved that task.
The book is trying to be a lot of things all at once: Autumn is trying to open a restaurant, there is a romance storyline, there’s Autumn’s new friendships, and there is a mystery to solve. The combination feels doable, but because the book was so short, it felt like none of them really had the time to develop.
Unfortunately, the book ends on a huge cliffhanger without any actual conclusion or climax. I was shocked when the book ended, as the plot had been building without actually explaining anything or resolving tension. I’m not sure where the author is planning to progress, but I would rather the book have been longer and a standalone. Having no actual climax or denouement is a critical error for a book that unfortunately I can’t ignore.
I also think this book misses something core about cozy fantasy or cozy romances. The author seems to primarily be a cozy mystery writer, which doesn’t have the same boundaries or expectations. It’s cozy to have a garden competition, and homemade beverages, and a nosy neighbor, and a business to open. It is not cozy to find human appendages. Body parts are inherently un-cozy when it comes to cozy fantasy or cozy romance. I would have been fine if this book was described as a witchy mystery, but describing it as a cozy fantasy romance is out of place.
Thank you to Bacchanalia Press, Stephanie Holmes, Victory Editing Co-Op, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
This book is a spin-off of Holmes’ previous books, a set of mysteries set in the bookstore. I haven’t read the series, so I was able to evaluate the book as an independent series. The worldbuilding felt thin, but it didn’t feel too confusing or unexplained. It can be hard for authors to remember to start from scratch with interconnected series, and Holmes generally achieved that task.
The book is trying to be a lot of things all at once: Autumn is trying to open a restaurant, there is a romance storyline, there’s Autumn’s new friendships, and there is a mystery to solve. The combination feels doable, but because the book was so short, it felt like none of them really had the time to develop.
Unfortunately, the book ends on a huge cliffhanger without any actual conclusion or climax. I was shocked when the book ended, as the plot had been building without actually explaining anything or resolving tension. I’m not sure where the author is planning to progress, but I would rather the book have been longer and a standalone. Having no actual climax or denouement is a critical error for a book that unfortunately I can’t ignore.
I also think this book misses something core about cozy fantasy or cozy romances. The author seems to primarily be a cozy mystery writer, which doesn’t have the same boundaries or expectations. It’s cozy to have a garden competition, and homemade beverages, and a nosy neighbor, and a business to open. It is not cozy to find human appendages. Body parts are inherently un-cozy when it comes to cozy fantasy or cozy romance. I would have been fine if this book was described as a witchy mystery, but describing it as a cozy fantasy romance is out of place.
Thank you to Bacchanalia Press, Stephanie Holmes, Victory Editing Co-Op, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
August 9, 2026
Honey & Hexes: A Bee-Witching Cozy Fantasy Romance
by Steffanie Holmes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, thank you to Bacchanalia House for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Honey & Hexes.
Honey & Hexes was exactly the cozy fantasy palate cleanser I needed right now. 🍯🐝 Witchy bee magic, a meadery, a charming village, and a grumpy cat shifter who is secretly a hot cursed guy? Yeah, I was obsessed.
Autumn was such an easy character to root for. After years of being stuck in a narcissistic and emotionally abusive marriage, her husband suddenly disappears, giving her the chance to finally start doing the things she was never allowed to do. I really appreciated how the book showed the lasting impact of that relationship. Autumn constantly puts herself down and struggles to believe in herself, even when it’s clear to everyone else how capable she is.
Opening her own shop and finally pursuing her dream was so satisfying to watch. And then there’s Rafe, the grumpy cat shifter who owns the place and needs Autumn’s help breaking his curse. His nicknames and sense of humor had me genuinely laughing out loud. 😂
The whole book has such warm, cottagecore vibes that I wanted to crawl right into the village and stay there. There’s a murder mystery and Autumn’s husband’s disappearance happening in the background, but I liked that the story kept its focus on Autumn and her journey.
My only complaint is that it’s a little short! I wanted more of everyone—more side characters, more chaos, more time in this adorable little world. But as the first book in a series, it definitely did its job because I’m hooked and ready for more.
Overall, Honey & Hexes was cute, cozy, funny, and wonderfully witchy. If you’re looking for a quick fantasy romance with cottagecore vibes, bee magic, and a grumpy cat shifter, this is such a fun little read. 🐝🍯✨
by Steffanie Holmes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, thank you to Bacchanalia House for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Honey & Hexes.
Honey & Hexes was exactly the cozy fantasy palate cleanser I needed right now. 🍯🐝 Witchy bee magic, a meadery, a charming village, and a grumpy cat shifter who is secretly a hot cursed guy? Yeah, I was obsessed.
Autumn was such an easy character to root for. After years of being stuck in a narcissistic and emotionally abusive marriage, her husband suddenly disappears, giving her the chance to finally start doing the things she was never allowed to do. I really appreciated how the book showed the lasting impact of that relationship. Autumn constantly puts herself down and struggles to believe in herself, even when it’s clear to everyone else how capable she is.
Opening her own shop and finally pursuing her dream was so satisfying to watch. And then there’s Rafe, the grumpy cat shifter who owns the place and needs Autumn’s help breaking his curse. His nicknames and sense of humor had me genuinely laughing out loud. 😂
The whole book has such warm, cottagecore vibes that I wanted to crawl right into the village and stay there. There’s a murder mystery and Autumn’s husband’s disappearance happening in the background, but I liked that the story kept its focus on Autumn and her journey.
My only complaint is that it’s a little short! I wanted more of everyone—more side characters, more chaos, more time in this adorable little world. But as the first book in a series, it definitely did its job because I’m hooked and ready for more.
Overall, Honey & Hexes was cute, cozy, funny, and wonderfully witchy. If you’re looking for a quick fantasy romance with cottagecore vibes, bee magic, and a grumpy cat shifter, this is such a fun little read. 🐝🍯✨
August 10, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Author Steffanie Holmes for providing me with an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
“What's that? Rafe leaps up beside me, peering at the rather explicit image of a witch copulating with a man tied to a tree. Oh, that looks absolutely delicious.”
This was my first foray into the quaint, cozy little town of Argleton and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. We begin the story with Autumn Abernathy, a cooped-up little housewife, who happens to be a honey witch with magical bees. Her husband, Warwick, is a narcissistic and controlling man who makes sure Autumn’s entire world revolves solely on him, until one day he mysteriously goes missing.
The plot does seem to move rather quickly, especially when it comes to Autumn suddenly enjoying her newfound freedom, albeit full of self-doubt and questioning all of her decisions. The fun really begins when, on an uncontrollable whim, Autumn decides to rent out a shop in town, with dreams of turning it into a place to sell her mead. Unbeknownst to her, she soon discovers that it comes with strings attached in the form of Rafe, a mischievous Siamese cat who happens to be a man cursed by a witch.
After Autumn promises to help break his curse, the pair grow closer as they work together. Between Rafe’s mischievous shenanigans and charm, sparks begin to fly between them. Despite some challenges obtaining the proper licenses, unexpected visitors, and nosy neighbors, they manage to make it work with the help of some new friends along the way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, Rafe was definitely my favourite character. The story does end on a magical cliffhanger, which I didn’t mind, but I do wish there had been a little more world building leading up to that point. I look forward to continuing the series and learning what comes next for Autumn and Rafe.
“What's that? Rafe leaps up beside me, peering at the rather explicit image of a witch copulating with a man tied to a tree. Oh, that looks absolutely delicious.”
This was my first foray into the quaint, cozy little town of Argleton and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. We begin the story with Autumn Abernathy, a cooped-up little housewife, who happens to be a honey witch with magical bees. Her husband, Warwick, is a narcissistic and controlling man who makes sure Autumn’s entire world revolves solely on him, until one day he mysteriously goes missing.
The plot does seem to move rather quickly, especially when it comes to Autumn suddenly enjoying her newfound freedom, albeit full of self-doubt and questioning all of her decisions. The fun really begins when, on an uncontrollable whim, Autumn decides to rent out a shop in town, with dreams of turning it into a place to sell her mead. Unbeknownst to her, she soon discovers that it comes with strings attached in the form of Rafe, a mischievous Siamese cat who happens to be a man cursed by a witch.
After Autumn promises to help break his curse, the pair grow closer as they work together. Between Rafe’s mischievous shenanigans and charm, sparks begin to fly between them. Despite some challenges obtaining the proper licenses, unexpected visitors, and nosy neighbors, they manage to make it work with the help of some new friends along the way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, Rafe was definitely my favourite character. The story does end on a magical cliffhanger, which I didn’t mind, but I do wish there had been a little more world building leading up to that point. I look forward to continuing the series and learning what comes next for Autumn and Rafe.
July 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for letting me review this book! 🐝
This was such a cozy little fantasy. The magical bees, enchanted honey, cozy village, and cat shifter had me immersed in such a fun whimsical world. AND A FELLOW AUTUMN! Obsessed.
Rafe was easily my favorite part of the book, and I loved watching Autumn slowly build a life that was finally her own. The atmosphere was exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy. The idea of a honey witch is so unique and original, and I was rooting for Autumn (and against her husband) the whole time. I’m also a sucker for shop renovations and rebuilding tropes. This was a light and easy read, a fun murder mystery while mainly focusing on the main character and exploring her healing from her husband’s abuse. The book explores deeper elements of someone being in a bad marriage with a narcissist and what that can do to your self worth while also keeping the vibes light and funny which I appreciated.
My only critique is that I wanted more. I would’ve loved more time with the side characters and for the mystery to be explored a bit deeper, because everything wrapped up pretty fast.
Overall, if you’re looking for a comforting fantasy with cottagecore vibes, found family, and a sweet romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. It gives me similar vibes to the Spellshop series whilst being completely unique and different in its own whimsical way.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for letting me review this book! 🐝
This was such a cozy little fantasy. The magical bees, enchanted honey, cozy village, and cat shifter had me immersed in such a fun whimsical world. AND A FELLOW AUTUMN! Obsessed.
Rafe was easily my favorite part of the book, and I loved watching Autumn slowly build a life that was finally her own. The atmosphere was exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy. The idea of a honey witch is so unique and original, and I was rooting for Autumn (and against her husband) the whole time. I’m also a sucker for shop renovations and rebuilding tropes. This was a light and easy read, a fun murder mystery while mainly focusing on the main character and exploring her healing from her husband’s abuse. The book explores deeper elements of someone being in a bad marriage with a narcissist and what that can do to your self worth while also keeping the vibes light and funny which I appreciated.
My only critique is that I wanted more. I would’ve loved more time with the side characters and for the mystery to be explored a bit deeper, because everything wrapped up pretty fast.
Overall, if you’re looking for a comforting fantasy with cottagecore vibes, found family, and a sweet romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. It gives me similar vibes to the Spellshop series whilst being completely unique and different in its own whimsical way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a great time reading Fangs For Nothing, so when I saw a new standalone by Steffanie Holmes, I had to jump at the chance ro read it. Except it's not a standalone, and now im dying for the next book.
It did feel a bit short and like it ended abruptly, but now realizing its only ~200 pages and part of a series, that makes more sense. Though it is disappointing and I think Holmes could've easily finished one of the story ARCs, giving a modicum of closure, while still keeping the suspense for another book. Instead we get no resolution.
I've never seen two such innocent* ignorant** idiots*** before but they were adorable. The way she connected with her bees and plants, is exactly what I imagined, when I first heard the term Honey Witch.
I love her extra-friendly , no questions asked, friends and their Grumpy counterparts. The town itself is ridiculous, and yet I want to live there. The way things work out are silly and fun, so thinking too hard about some aspects may ruin it.
If you want something to idly enjoy, this is great cosy and whimsical story, with a little dark undercurrent.
*pretty sure they're both murderers
** one was sheltered and abused
*** communicate dammit
Thank-you to NetGalley and Bacchanalia House for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
It did feel a bit short and like it ended abruptly, but now realizing its only ~200 pages and part of a series, that makes more sense. Though it is disappointing and I think Holmes could've easily finished one of the story ARCs, giving a modicum of closure, while still keeping the suspense for another book. Instead we get no resolution.
I've never seen two such innocent* ignorant** idiots*** before but they were adorable. The way she connected with her bees and plants, is exactly what I imagined, when I first heard the term Honey Witch.
I love her extra-friendly , no questions asked, friends and their Grumpy counterparts. The town itself is ridiculous, and yet I want to live there. The way things work out are silly and fun, so thinking too hard about some aspects may ruin it.
If you want something to idly enjoy, this is great cosy and whimsical story, with a little dark undercurrent.
*pretty sure they're both murderers
** one was sheltered and abused
*** communicate dammit
Thank-you to NetGalley and Bacchanalia House for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2026
Having read The Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries by @steffanieholmeswrites, I couldn't believe my luck when I found this ARC on @netgalley 💚
I dove straight in.... and completed the read in less than 12 hours. In case you can't tell, I'm a big Steffanie fan, aswell as all the magic feels 💫
This book is fast paced, laugh out loud, sweet like honey, mystery and romance.
My heart hurt for our FMC Autumn, who is stuck in an emotionally and mentally abusive marriage. It takes her husband disappearing for her to realise that she's not happy, she's just doing whatever it takes to keep the peace, and her husband happy. I mean, someone who loves you would never steer you wrong, right?
Our MMC Rafe is a cursed cat burglar, who gets stuck as a familiar to a witch who then gets murdered. He needs help getting free... enter our amazing Autumn.
I loved Rafe 🐈 His witty comebacks, dirty banter, and crazy confidence had me laughing while waiting for his next stunt. The way he pushes Autumn to reach for her dreams, and helps in her times of need had me melting for him 💛
I love that we got a pov from the bees 🐝
My only complaint is that I now have to wait until book 2 as Honey & Hexes ends in a cliffhanger.
Worth mentioning: Getting to catch up with characters from previous series. The relationships and connections flow seamlessly, and only make the story that much better.
I dove straight in.... and completed the read in less than 12 hours. In case you can't tell, I'm a big Steffanie fan, aswell as all the magic feels 💫
This book is fast paced, laugh out loud, sweet like honey, mystery and romance.
My heart hurt for our FMC Autumn, who is stuck in an emotionally and mentally abusive marriage. It takes her husband disappearing for her to realise that she's not happy, she's just doing whatever it takes to keep the peace, and her husband happy. I mean, someone who loves you would never steer you wrong, right?
Our MMC Rafe is a cursed cat burglar, who gets stuck as a familiar to a witch who then gets murdered. He needs help getting free... enter our amazing Autumn.
I loved Rafe 🐈 His witty comebacks, dirty banter, and crazy confidence had me laughing while waiting for his next stunt. The way he pushes Autumn to reach for her dreams, and helps in her times of need had me melting for him 💛
I love that we got a pov from the bees 🐝
My only complaint is that I now have to wait until book 2 as Honey & Hexes ends in a cliffhanger.
Worth mentioning: Getting to catch up with characters from previous series. The relationships and connections flow seamlessly, and only make the story that much better.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fun and funny read.
Autumn Abernathy's husband drove to work like he did every morning, but he did not come back. After reporting her husband missing, she discovers a shop for rent in the village. She has had dreams of opening a meadery and without her husband discouraging her, she rents the former flower shop and begins the work to make her dream a reality. Of course, she quickly learns that the resident Siamese cat causing so much mayhem is a former thief that the witch who owned the flower shop cursed to become a cat shifter, and transforms into a handsome, ginger haired mostly human male.
A witch with an affinity with honeybees, a former botany thief cursed to be a cat shifter, and a shop with the mysterious murder of the former owner. This witchy cozy mystery has plenty of laughs, some unexpected twists in the plot, and a cliffhanger that has me eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. I adored these entertaining and laugh out loud funny characters with their quirky personalities that kept me entertained from the very first page. I loved, loved, loved this book and recommend it to anyone.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
Autumn Abernathy's husband drove to work like he did every morning, but he did not come back. After reporting her husband missing, she discovers a shop for rent in the village. She has had dreams of opening a meadery and without her husband discouraging her, she rents the former flower shop and begins the work to make her dream a reality. Of course, she quickly learns that the resident Siamese cat causing so much mayhem is a former thief that the witch who owned the flower shop cursed to become a cat shifter, and transforms into a handsome, ginger haired mostly human male.
A witch with an affinity with honeybees, a former botany thief cursed to be a cat shifter, and a shop with the mysterious murder of the former owner. This witchy cozy mystery has plenty of laughs, some unexpected twists in the plot, and a cliffhanger that has me eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. I adored these entertaining and laugh out loud funny characters with their quirky personalities that kept me entertained from the very first page. I loved, loved, loved this book and recommend it to anyone.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've had to think about what to say about this book. To say I loved it pales in comparison to reality. The plot caught me right from the start, with a mystery of the loss of a husband, followed by the clear emotional abuse that the MFC had gone through, letting you know that this disappearance wasn't a bad thing.
The integration of magic in the real world was well done. It was so seamless at first that it took me by surprise when modern things were talked about. Showing the different types of magic was neat too, our MFC uses bee magic, which is one type I've not seen before.
Our MMC has all the sass a cat should have, and is the first character to give me the thrill I got from seeing Diabolo in Maleficent ages ago. I fell in love with him immediately and loved that he respected boundaries and also laid down some of his own.
This is a cozy romantasy and cozy mystery tied up together. Though I must say I am very displeased that I have to wait another 4 ish months to get the sequel, especially with that ending.
Definitely a book to check out, I read it in one day and honestly couldn't put it down.
I read this book through NetGalley.
The integration of magic in the real world was well done. It was so seamless at first that it took me by surprise when modern things were talked about. Showing the different types of magic was neat too, our MFC uses bee magic, which is one type I've not seen before.
Our MMC has all the sass a cat should have, and is the first character to give me the thrill I got from seeing Diabolo in Maleficent ages ago. I fell in love with him immediately and loved that he respected boundaries and also laid down some of his own.
This is a cozy romantasy and cozy mystery tied up together. Though I must say I am very displeased that I have to wait another 4 ish months to get the sequel, especially with that ending.
Definitely a book to check out, I read it in one day and honestly couldn't put it down.
I read this book through NetGalley.
August 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy and to Steffanie Holmes for continually writing stories I cannot get enough of
5 stars, without question
I adore the Nevermore Bookshop series so, when I saw another book by her on NetGalley, I couldn’t request it fast enough!
I am all in on what’s unfolding with Autumn, her bees, her mead and Rafe. The cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting more
Seeing Autumn’s character develop following Warrick’s disappearance warms the heart. Her realizing how much of her own passion she suppressed and finally going for her dreams had me CHEERING!
Enter Rafe, the perfect sidekick. The best teammate. An anticipated love interest (even with the tail). At times he’s a ruffian but there’s a soft side to him that I want desperately for Autumn.
Them working together to break a curse and open a meadery, was the coziest way to pass time and I may do a reread when Fall sets in.
Pair all of this with a murder mystery, a POV from Autumn’s bees, and appearances of Nevermore Bookshop characters and YES, this book had it all.
I cannot wait for more of the honey witch and definitely recommend this book
5 stars, without question
I adore the Nevermore Bookshop series so, when I saw another book by her on NetGalley, I couldn’t request it fast enough!
I am all in on what’s unfolding with Autumn, her bees, her mead and Rafe. The cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting more
Seeing Autumn’s character develop following Warrick’s disappearance warms the heart. Her realizing how much of her own passion she suppressed and finally going for her dreams had me CHEERING!
Enter Rafe, the perfect sidekick. The best teammate. An anticipated love interest (even with the tail). At times he’s a ruffian but there’s a soft side to him that I want desperately for Autumn.
Them working together to break a curse and open a meadery, was the coziest way to pass time and I may do a reread when Fall sets in.
Pair all of this with a murder mystery, a POV from Autumn’s bees, and appearances of Nevermore Bookshop characters and YES, this book had it all.
I cannot wait for more of the honey witch and definitely recommend this book
August 3, 2026
Ratings: 3.75
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Honey & Hexes in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are expressed as my own.
Although I enjoyed reading Honey & Hexes, I didn't find it to be particularly memorable. I loved the story's cosy vibe and its magical small-town location, witchy undertones, and ghostly atmosphere. I enjoyed the world's inventiveness and found it to be a simple read that kept me amused. I found it difficult to empathise with the characters and their romance, though. I found myself hoping that some of the story's scenes had more nuance and emotional impact because some of them felt a touch predictable. Even though there were some entertaining parts, I was hoping for the last touch that would make the tale truly memorable.
All things considered, Honey & Hexes is a delightful and endearing paranormal romance with an enjoyable magical atmosphere. Readers who like cosy witchy tales, light-hearted romance, and a hint of intrigue might find it appealing. I enjoyed reading it even if I wasn't a fan.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Honey & Hexes in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are expressed as my own.
Although I enjoyed reading Honey & Hexes, I didn't find it to be particularly memorable. I loved the story's cosy vibe and its magical small-town location, witchy undertones, and ghostly atmosphere. I enjoyed the world's inventiveness and found it to be a simple read that kept me amused. I found it difficult to empathise with the characters and their romance, though. I found myself hoping that some of the story's scenes had more nuance and emotional impact because some of them felt a touch predictable. Even though there were some entertaining parts, I was hoping for the last touch that would make the tale truly memorable.
All things considered, Honey & Hexes is a delightful and endearing paranormal romance with an enjoyable magical atmosphere. Readers who like cosy witchy tales, light-hearted romance, and a hint of intrigue might find it appealing. I enjoyed reading it even if I wasn't a fan.
August 1, 2026
Going in, I was expecting a cosy fantasy romance with hints of mystery. From the synopsis, I had "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" and a bit of "Weyward" vibes, and I was not disappointed.
This book delivered exactly what I wanted and was expecting from it, pulling me in from the first chapter. The way the author describes the scenery, garden and village, was very vivid and I really felt part of it. I also enjoyed the irony and absolutely loved the chapters from the pov of the bees, it was such a good addition!
The mystery element also delivered, and the more I read the more nervous I got, wandering when everything would stop being so nice and going as it should.
What I didn't love were some elements of the romance part of it, for example I feel like his feelings developed a bit too fast for day 2.
All in all this was a very cute read, perfect to get into the fall spirit with a little bit of magic.
🍯 🐝 ✨
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to review this as an arc!
This book delivered exactly what I wanted and was expecting from it, pulling me in from the first chapter. The way the author describes the scenery, garden and village, was very vivid and I really felt part of it. I also enjoyed the irony and absolutely loved the chapters from the pov of the bees, it was such a good addition!
The mystery element also delivered, and the more I read the more nervous I got, wandering when everything would stop being so nice and going as it should.
What I didn't love were some elements of the romance part of it, for example I feel like his feelings developed a bit too fast for day 2.
All in all this was a very cute read, perfect to get into the fall spirit with a little bit of magic.
🍯 🐝 ✨
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to review this as an arc!
August 3, 2026
I picked up Honey and Hexes expecting a cozy witchy romance, and it delivered exactly that. It has the perfect mix of magic, humor, romance, and small-town charm that makes for such an easy, comforting read.
The story never took itself too seriously, which made it all the more enjoyable. I loved the magical mishaps, the playful banter, and the chemistry that slowly built between the main characters. Every chapter had something that kept me smiling, whether it was a funny moment, a sweet interaction, or another unexpected twist in the magical world.
While I wished a few emotional moments had been explored a little deeper, the overall reading experience was still incredibly enjoyable. It felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a cup of tea cozy, entertaining, and full of charm.
If you’re in the mood for a light paranormal romance with witches, hexes, lovable characters, and plenty of cozy autumn vibes, Honey and Hexes is one I’d happily recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and Steffanie for the reader copy!
The story never took itself too seriously, which made it all the more enjoyable. I loved the magical mishaps, the playful banter, and the chemistry that slowly built between the main characters. Every chapter had something that kept me smiling, whether it was a funny moment, a sweet interaction, or another unexpected twist in the magical world.
While I wished a few emotional moments had been explored a little deeper, the overall reading experience was still incredibly enjoyable. It felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a cup of tea cozy, entertaining, and full of charm.
If you’re in the mood for a light paranormal romance with witches, hexes, lovable characters, and plenty of cozy autumn vibes, Honey and Hexes is one I’d happily recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and Steffanie for the reader copy!
August 11, 2026
A little bit spooky, a little bit strange, a whole lot cozy and a generous amount of sweet.
This was my first book by this author and I cannot wait for more.
I loved that the paranormal aspects of it were just treated so, well, normally. A witch who makes mead and isn't sure how to act now that her controlling husband has disappeared, all perfectly natural. It had me smiling so much.
The way the author described the setting was so lovely and had me feeling like I was right there with the protective bees and the kooky cat familiar.
I didn't realise this would end on a cliffhanger so now I'm waiting very impatiently to see how it all plays out.
I loved the other characters we met throughout this book and can't wait to go and read the other books to get to know them more.
The delightfully weird path this book trod was a joy to read.
Was it deep and had me asking challenging questions? Not at all, but that's not what it positioned to be and not at all what I needed.
I was after something cozy and lovely, with a touch of magic and intrigue and this nailed it.
This was my first book by this author and I cannot wait for more.
I loved that the paranormal aspects of it were just treated so, well, normally. A witch who makes mead and isn't sure how to act now that her controlling husband has disappeared, all perfectly natural. It had me smiling so much.
The way the author described the setting was so lovely and had me feeling like I was right there with the protective bees and the kooky cat familiar.
I didn't realise this would end on a cliffhanger so now I'm waiting very impatiently to see how it all plays out.
I loved the other characters we met throughout this book and can't wait to go and read the other books to get to know them more.
The delightfully weird path this book trod was a joy to read.
Was it deep and had me asking challenging questions? Not at all, but that's not what it positioned to be and not at all what I needed.
I was after something cozy and lovely, with a touch of magic and intrigue and this nailed it.
August 5, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy.
Overall I thought this was a very quick, and cozy read. It had a good mix of romantic tension, mystery, and magic. The cliff hanger at the end definitely had me checking to see if there was a date for the next book!
That being said, this wasn't a perfect read for me. The FMC was fun and I found her magic really unique (absolutely loved the bees and their pov chapters), but not sure I found her very believable. She seemed to make friends and bond with people almost instantly, and for someone who says their dream was to open this meadery, she didn't even know she needed a liquor liscence...idk I guess this had a bit more suspend your disbelief than normally I vibe with. I also liked Rafe but his character had me checking the year this book was supposed to take place in. His speaking style and overall vibe felt much more historical than modern.
Overall a fun time and I'm looking forward to the next book :)
Overall I thought this was a very quick, and cozy read. It had a good mix of romantic tension, mystery, and magic. The cliff hanger at the end definitely had me checking to see if there was a date for the next book!
That being said, this wasn't a perfect read for me. The FMC was fun and I found her magic really unique (absolutely loved the bees and their pov chapters), but not sure I found her very believable. She seemed to make friends and bond with people almost instantly, and for someone who says their dream was to open this meadery, she didn't even know she needed a liquor liscence...idk I guess this had a bit more suspend your disbelief than normally I vibe with. I also liked Rafe but his character had me checking the year this book was supposed to take place in. His speaking style and overall vibe felt much more historical than modern.
Overall a fun time and I'm looking forward to the next book :)
July 31, 2026
5/5
This book is the perfect mix of whimsy and mystery. This book certainly bee-witched me, that's for sure. For all the Cosy Autumn readers that love a good hot chocolate (or mead 😉) and like to read curled up by a fireplace, this is certainly the book for you.
With a missing husband in Warrick haunting the narrative, you get a breathe of fresh air reading about Autumn who escapes the clutches of her horrible husband and begins to live her life now he's vanished.
With a shape shifter in Rafe and several mysteries to solve Steffanie Holmes does a wonderful job like any good witch story of breadcrumbing little things into the book.
The representation was beautifully integrated with a characters like Autumn and Mina. Overall I really loved the book and the cliffhanger has got me desperately waiting for the next installment in the series !
This book is the perfect mix of whimsy and mystery. This book certainly bee-witched me, that's for sure. For all the Cosy Autumn readers that love a good hot chocolate (or mead 😉) and like to read curled up by a fireplace, this is certainly the book for you.
With a missing husband in Warrick haunting the narrative, you get a breathe of fresh air reading about Autumn who escapes the clutches of her horrible husband and begins to live her life now he's vanished.
With a shape shifter in Rafe and several mysteries to solve Steffanie Holmes does a wonderful job like any good witch story of breadcrumbing little things into the book.
The representation was beautifully integrated with a characters like Autumn and Mina. Overall I really loved the book and the cliffhanger has got me desperately waiting for the next installment in the series !
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