“Never mix vodka with witchcraft.” – Erin Sterling, The Ex Hex

Are you interested in learning about Erin Sterling’s delightful novel The Ex Hex? You’ve come to the right place! This cute romantic comedy with a supernatural twist offers the perfect blend of humor, magic, and second-chance romance.

In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about this enchanting story, from plot details to reader reviews. Many readers find this book to be the perfect escape, with its witchy, small-town setting and playful approach to the paranormal romance genre.

Trust me when I say this isn’t just another romance novel. It’s a book that combines the cozy comfort of a small-town setting with the magic of the Halloween season and the satisfaction of watching ex-lovers overcome their past to find each other again.

Plot Summary

“You can’t just go around hexing people every time they break your heart. That’s how we end up with weird murder ballads.” – Erin Sterling, The Ex Hex.

The story centers around Vivienne Jones, a witch living in the charming town of Graves Glen, Georgia.

Nine years ago, when nursing a broken heart after being dumped by Rhys Penhallow, she and her cousin Gwyn cast a silly little curse on him, fueled by vodka, weepy music, and a broken heart.

The main characters include:

• Vivienne Jones: A witch who works at a local occult shop and teaches at the local college
• Rhys Penhallow: A descendant of the town’s founder and a powerful witch from Wales
• Gwyn Jones: Vivienne’s cousin and fellow witch who helped cast the original hex
• Sir Purrcival: Vivienne’s familiar, a sassy black cat with plenty of attitude
• Bowen Penhallow: Rhys’s father and a powerful witch with high expectations for his son

The Ex Hex is a light-hearted paranormal romance by Erin Sterling (a pen name for author Rachel Hawkins). The story takes place in the fictional college town of Graves Glen, Georgia, where witchcraft is real but mostly hidden from ordinary humans.

Nine years before the main events of the story, Vivienne Jones was a heartbroken college student who Rhys Penhallow, a charming Welsh exchange student from a powerful magical family, had just dumped.

During a night of drinking with her cousin Gwyn, Vivienne casts what she thinks is a harmless hex on Rhys, wishing him minor inconveniences like stubbed toes and bad hair days.

Fast forward to the present, and Rhys returns to Graves Glen to perform a ceremonial reinforcement of the town’s magical ley lines during the annual fall festival. His family founded the town generations ago, and this ritual is both tradition and necessity.

Upon his arrival, strange things begin happening – the ceremonial reinforcement goes terribly wrong, unleashing chaotic magic throughout the town, and Rhys starts experiencing a series of increasingly dangerous “accidents.”

Vivienne realizes that her silly drunken hex, which should have faded long ago, has somehow stuck around and grown stronger. Worse, it seems to have awakened something malevolent in the town’s magical foundation. Now, she and Rhys must work together to break the curse before it destroys Graves Glen and possibly kills Rhys.

As they work to save the town, old feelings resurface. Vivienne learns that Rhys didn’t break up with her all those years ago for the reasons she thought, and Rhys discovers that Vivienne has always meant more to him than he was willing to admit.

Together with help from Vivienne’s family (particularly her cousin Gwyn and their aunt Elaine) and Rhys’s newly discovered half-sister, they investigate the curse and the town’s magical history.

They find out that the hex interacted with an old family curse laid upon the Penhallows, amplifying both and creating the current disaster. In the climactic finale, Vivienne and Rhys must channel their powers together in a dangerous ritual to reset the town’s magical foundation and break both curses.

Their genuine love for each other proves to be the key to saving Graves Glen and healing old, magical, and emotional wounds.

What Genre is The Ex Hex?

The Ex Hex is primarily a paranormal romance, but it contains elements of several genres:

• Romantic comedy: It features witty banter and humorous situations alongside the romance
• Fantasy: The magical system and supernatural elements are central to the plot
• Second-chance romance: The relationship between Vivienne and Rhys revolves around their history and rediscovery of each other
• Small-town fiction: The setting of Graves Glen plays an important role in the story

The main themes include:

• Second chances and confronting the past
• The unintended consequences of our actions
• Family legacies and expectations
• Learning to trust again after heartbreak
• Finding balance between tradition and personal desires
• The power of genuine love to heal old wounds

When you pick up this book, expect a fast-paced, lighthearted read with steamy romantic scenes balanced by humor and magical hijinks. The novel has been described as “Hocus Pocus meets Practical Magic,” offering the perfect autumnal escape with its Halloween-season setting.

This isn’t a deeply serious exploration of witchcraft traditions. It uses magic as a delightful backdrop for exploring relationship dynamics and creating entertaining scenes of chaos as the hex runs amok.

Ratings and Reviews

“Sometimes love requires a second chance.” – Erin Sterling, The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex has a 3.7/5 star rating on Goodreads from over 90,000 readers, marking it as a popular addition to the paranormal romance genre.

Reviews

• “The perfect Halloween season read! It’s got just the right amount of witchy atmosphere without being too dark or scary. Like a pumpkin spice latte in book form.”
• “The chemistry between Vivienne and Rhys leaps off the page. Their banter is hilarious, and you can feel the tension in every scene they share.”
• “I loved the worldbuilding of Graves Glen. The magical shops, the college, the festival—it all came together to create a place I wish I could visit.”

Critical Reviews

• “The romance develops a bit too quickly after their reunion, considering how much history and hurt existed between them.”
• “The magical system isn’t very well explained or consistent. It seems like the rules change to fit the plot.”
• “While entertaining, the story lacks depth compared to other paranormal romances. The characters don’t undergo significant growth.”

What sets The Ex Hex apart from other paranormal romances is its lighthearted, almost chick-lit approach to witchcraft.

The result is a cozy, fun read that’s perfect for anyone looking for a romantic escape with a magical twist.

Who Should Read The Ex Hex?

This book is best suited for adult readers who enjoy romantic comedies with supernatural elements. While the content isn’t particularly explicit, the romantic scenes and adult situations make it more appropriate for mature readers.

Content Consideration

• Several steamy romantic scenes
• Some mild language
• References to alcohol consumption
• Light magical peril and danger
• A focus on romantic relationships

This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed:

• Beach Read by Emily Henry
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (though this is a much lighter take on witches)

It’s also excellent for those looking for seasonal Halloween reads that aren’t horror or for those who enjoy the aesthetic of witchcraft without darker themes. If you prefer complex fantasy systems or deeply emotional character studies, this might feel too light.

Book Recommendations If You Liked The Ex Hex

If you enjoyed The Ex Hex, here are some books with similar qualities:

• Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper: Another witchy romance set in a magical small town with elements of competition and second-chance romance.
• The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling: The sequel to The Ex Hex, following Gwyn’s story with the same charming setting and magical hijinks.
• Witch Please by Ann Aguirre: A sweet paranormal romance featuring a witch who falls for a mortal man who owns a bakery.
• Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond: A paranormal romantic comedy featuring demons, the apocalypse, and an escape room business.
• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: A heartwarming story about a witch who finds family and love when she’s hired to teach three young witches.

Conclusion

The Ex Hex is a delightful example of what happens when a rom-com meets witchcraft. It takes the familiar trope of exes forced to work together and adds a magical twist that creates both complications and opportunities for humor and connection.

The book’s lighthearted approach might not appeal to those looking for deeper explorations of magic or relationships. Still, if you’re seeking an entertaining escape with charm and spice in equal measure, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.

What makes this book special is how it balances supernatural elements with relatable relationship dynamics. It shows us that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t a hex or magical chaos—it’s opening your heart to someone who has hurt you before.

If you want a book that feels like a magical romantic comedy movie in written form, with all the warm fuzzy feelings and laugh-out-loud moments that implies, try The Ex Hex.

About the Author

Erin Sterling is the pen name for Rachel Hawkins, a New York Times bestselling author. Under her own name, Hawkins is known for young adult novels, including the Hex Hall and Rebel Belle series and the adult thriller The Wife Upstairs.

Erin Sterling focuses on adult paranormal romance with a lighthearted, contemporary feel. The name change helps readers distinguish between her different genres and target audiences.

Other books by Rachel Hawkins/Erin Sterling include

• The Kiss Curse is the sequel to The Ex Hex.
• The Wife Upstairs
• Reckless Girls
• The Villa
• The Hex Hall series
• The Rebel Belle series

Hawkins is known for her witty dialogue, strong female protagonists, and ability to blend supernatural elements with relatable contemporary settings.