The Kiss Curse: An Ex Hex Novel (The Graves Glen Series Book 2)

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Her face was glowing, her smile bright, and that...that was what had him feeling a little light-headed, if he was being honest. And though Gwyn and Wells are fully committed to their witchy rivalry, they find themselves thrown together when they have to deal with the sudden appearance of a mysterious new coven and Gwyn’s concern that something—or someone—is messing with her magic… After Erin Sterling’s witchy, Halloween-themed rom-com The Ex Hex cast a spell on me — el oh el — last fall, there was no way I was missing out on the sequel, The Kiss Curse. Although it’s still set in Graves Glen, and the original main characters Vivi and Rhys make plenty of appearances, this time around the story focuses on Vivi’s cousin Gwyn Jones and Rhys’s brother Llewellyn "Wells" Penhallow. (And Gwyn’s talking cat, Sir Purrcival. Obviously.)

A breezy new read for Spooky Season from the author of The Ex Hex? Yes, please! Erin Sterling delivers another bewitching romance set in the delightful fictional hamlet of Graves Glen, Georgia—a kind of southern Salem where tourists gobble up magic-themed kitsch and real witches keep their powers on the down low. Readers of The Ex Hex will enjoy the deeper dive into the town’s rearranged power structure (and updates on Ex’s love story), but first-time Sterling readers won’t miss a beat.Gwyn is a snarky and delightfully witty protagonist that I absolutely adored and her chemistry with Wells was incredible. Likewise, Wells—Rhys Penhallow’s stern and serious older brother was a really sweet, secret cinnamon roll of a character whose attraction and subsequent feelings for Gwyn melt his standoffish barriers and make Wells reevaluate his relationship with his father, who very much despises the Jones women. Erin Sterling’s witchy new rom-com, The Kiss Curse, is the much anticipated sequel to last year’s equally charming The Ex Hex.

While the supernatural element is lost on me, the overall romance and sense of small town charm was not. I will keep both of these in my rotation for Halloween reads. New York Times-bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, follows her sensational TikTok hit, The Ex Hex, and casts a spell with a new spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and cursed kisses.The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan-favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry. Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC of The Kiss Curse in exchange for my honest review. Available on September 20. After the events of The Ex Hex, the Jones witches have the town’s ley lines under control and everything is seemingly calm in Graves Glen. However, whilst Vivi, Rhys, and Elaine are out of town, drama inevitably ensues when Rhys’ brother Llewellyn (or Wells) Penhallow moves to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town by opening a witchy shop across the street from Gwyn’s. Despite their competition, Wells and Gwyn both become wary when some of Gwyn’s schoolmates unexpectedly return to Graves Glen. Shortly after, Gwyn and Wells are forced to work together when Gwyn’s powers mysteriously begin to fade. This is the perfect fall romance book and no one can tell me differently. I adored Gwyn from The Ex Hex and was so excited to know we were getting a whole book about her. She is full of sass and knows what she wants in life. She is so protective of the people she loves and I just love her spunk.

Rule follower, extra polished, a remarkable uptight gentleman and elder brother of Penhallows; Wells strikingly charming Penhallow decides to move to Graves Glen to open his own store after the failure of family pub in Wales. Interestingly his father Simon supported his decision, warning him about Jones women who stole their patriarchal powers and magical throne! He still doesn’t give his blessing to youngest son Rhys and Vivi Jones’ marriage. It’s a year after The Ex Hex, and it’s the Jones family’s magic that now fuels Graves Glen, so the Joneses are now responsible for protecting it. And after playing the classic role of snarky best friend/cousin in the first book, Gwyn Jones is now front and center, with newly married Vivi is relegated to a minor supporting role here.Overall, an exceptionally entertaining and enjoyable witchy romance full of talking cats, intriguingly magic mysteries and loveable characters that will have to racing through this spellbindingly swoon-worthy read. Sterling's novel is ultimately crisp and sweet, like biting into the perfect caramel apple . . . will sweep readers up into a world of whimsical magic' Kirkus Is this where we begin snapping our fingers and launch into a dance battle?”Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC of The Kiss Curse in exchange for an honest review. Graves Glen was a collection of lights glimmering in the darkness, homey and warm but far away, shadowy hills rising all around it.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a ton of fun, and an excellent book to read as the leaves start changing and all the spooky decorations start going up. There’s plenty of twisty intrigue regarding Gwyn’s mysterious loss of powers, as well as the undoubtedly rancid vibes coming off of Glen Graves’ newest resident, who Gwyn (and Wells) attended college with. Personally I found both of those side-stories more compelling than the big mystery at the core of The Ex Hex. Also, likely because I go feral at the mere whisper of an enemies-to-lovers trope, I thought Wells and Gwyn’s love story burned far, far hotter compared to the spark between Rhys and Vivi. They’re super cute. While Gwyn and Wells are fully committed to their witchy rivalry, they soon find themselves thrown together once again to deal with the sudden appearance of a mysterious new coven and Gwyn’s growing concern that something – or someone – is messing with her magic . . . She is running her families store when Rhys older brother, Wells, comes into town and sets up a similar store right across the street. She has a lot of hate in her heart for Wells and is extremely mad that he decided to do this. The enemies to lovers in this book goes hard and is *chefs kiss* amazing. I adore Wells and the witty banter between the two is phenomenal. Update 9/20/22: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day! Gwyn had no doubt that whoever he was, his ancestors had absolutely once stared down the business end of a guillotine.

Books Multibuys

Sterling’s novel is ultimately crisp and sweet, like biting into the perfect caramel apple . . . will sweep readers up into a world of whimsical magic‘ Kirkus If Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls had a book baby, it would be THE EX HEX. And yes, it’s just as glorious as it sounds!’