Hex Appeal

By: Kate Johnson

Narrated by: Catrin Walker Booth

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

This spooky season curl up with the perfect witchy romcom for fans of Gilmore Girls, Hocus Pocus and Charmed. An absolute must-listen if you love Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex and Lana Harper’s Payback’s a Witch!

It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus…

Essie Winterscale lives in a huge and ever-changing house in the village of Good Winter, in deepest, darkest Essex. She lives with various witches of various ages, one of whom is still a bit salty about being hanged in the 1700s, one who keeps accidentally casting fertility spells, and one who knits things that create the future.

All Essie ever wanted was to have a normal life but in the end she found herself drawn back to Beldam House because she just can’t stop her witchiness (although the ability to instantly chill wine is pretty awesome, even she has to admit).

Into this coven of chaos stumbles gorgeous, clueless Josh, their new landlord – and he’s just discovered his tenants haven’t paid rent since the 1700s! As Josh is drawn further into the lives of the inhabitants of Beldam House, Essie is determined to keep him at broomstick’s length. That is, until a family secret, lying hidden for centuries, puts Josh firmly under her spell…

©2022 Kate Johnson (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"Funny, smart and sassy.... No one creates such brilliant worlds quite like Kate does." (Julie Caplin)

Cozy Witchy Romance

This book feels like a warm cup of tea after some really steamy sex! It's the perfect combination of cozy and sexy. This will be a repeat listen!

Super Cute!

Absolutely adored this super cute witchy Rom Com! Between the storyline and the narrator’s voice, I’m in LOVE! 🖤

So cute!

This is an excellent version of a girly story! Such a cute book! It has everything a woman would like in a hallmark movie. Small town, magic, love interest, mistaken identity and of course, time travel! Ha ha! This is a great read and non that I have read before.

I love Kate Johnson's Ghost and Witch Books!

While this one isn't quite as good as Little Haunting By The Sea, it is still an excellent story with great characters and a PLOT that moves well. I can't wait for more of her stories.

Cute cozy fall read

I love reading books like this to bring in my fall. Not the cozy hallmark book I thought it was going to be but good none the less. I gobbled up the story quickly. And absolutely loved the narration! I loved the historical backing of some of the witchy things and actually enjoyed the fact that though it was a love story it wasn’t about flaming passion. I hope the author writes more books like this it is my first time reading one of her novels so I will be looking for more. So if you’re looking for a book to snuggle up under your favorite blanket with chose this one it’s like hocus pocus meets practical magic with the warmth of Encanto mixed in!

so much fun

Johnson's books always contain good stories but it's her voice that makes them special. Her humor is great and I particularly like her passing references to other authors and traditions. No belaboring, just a word here and there and you're reminded of any from Terry Pratchett's witches to particular details in historical events.

Not what I expected

A darker vibe than I expected. Due to the cover and title I thought it would be another flirty witchy romance book but instead this one had a more melancholy story line and neutral slow narration. This a cozy morning slow read not a sexy fun summer read. Still a good book.

I liked it!

This book is guilty of what is quickly becoming one of my biggest pet peeves- American characters who speak like English people. No Seattleite is ever going to call them “gum boots”.

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book! Perfectly delightful characters and story, and precisely the right ratio of whimsy to sinister.

Just ok

I love paranormal romance with a side of fun (such as Molly Harper). This one was just ok. I finished the book but will not be looking for any more books by the author. The plot was fairly interesting and there was some fun bits. But, the book could have benefited greatly from stronger editing. It definitely dragged in parts. And, the male lead was often very annoying. In an attempt to avoid, I am guessing, what the author perceived as toxic masculinity, she created a character that i often wanted to yell at. He is a grown adult in in 30s but often acts as if he is a child—literally scared of the dark and has absolutely no backbone or ability to stand up for himself against his sister or anyone else.

All the fall feels!

This story was significantly darker than anticipated, and it only made me love it more!!

Beldam House is a magical place and not in the sense of beautiful to look at but actual magic. Ever changing and home to Essie and her eclectic coven of witches. Which also happens to be the one of houses that Josh inherited after his father passed, one that hasn’t paid rent in over 300 years! In an effort to get some answers, he decides to confront the tenants, When arriving, he gets swept up in the world of witchcraft, mystery and the peculiar women he can’t seem to get enough of.

What happens when you put a very eccentric witch, with a very quirky bookworm? A very good time! The banter between josh and Essie kept me laughing through out the book. Though the plot definitely got darker than anticipated (because of the cover), the conversations and inner monologues, made the book feel a bit more jaunty and lively.

I struggled a bit with Johnson’s writing during The Ex Hex, so I was a bit surprised at how quickly I made it through this book.

I would definitely recommend picking this one up as your next fall or winter read! Days getting darker quicker, the temperatures dropping, rain and window sounds outside your window; absolutely perfect atmosphere for this read