Book Review: The Ex Hex
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling is an adorable Halloween read complete with to-die-for banter, humor, and overall cuteness. It is Stars Hollow plus witchy magic. Southern small-town charm, abundant romance, comical curses; it’s really everything you could want in a spooky season rom-com. This book easily fit the bill for the not scary, light October reading that I was looking for. And while I did have a few minor qualms, I would recommend this one for anyone searching for a pleasant, sentimental rom-com to fill a picturesque fall afternoon.
The banter. I would liken the rhythm and wit of the character banter to that of Beach Read by Emily Henry, which, coming from me, is a HUGE compliment. It is smooth, hilarious, and natural. It has the chemistry and comfortability that allows the reader to fall into step naturally with the ongoing jokes and unfolding relationships. And this is, refreshingly, not exclusive to the main couple but also happens a lot between Vivi, the lead protagonist, and her cousin, Gwynn. I found that the humor, wit, and cadence of all of these conversations kept the book moving and had me laughing out loud often.
The entire book is laugh-out-loud funny, even banter aside. When the back of the book promised talking cats, I was expecting Salem from “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” What I got was distinctly funnier. And when I turned the page to find Gwynn standing on a countertop batting away hundreds of tiny, possessed toy skulls with a broom, I almost aspirated my tea.
The magic in the book felt fresh and original while still pulling from historical traditions and rituals. It was an approachable system of magic that served the story well but didn’t overwhelm me with overly complicated rules or associated vernacular. The magical culture and community are accessible to the reader. It is unique and fun, and I enjoyed being a part of the simple magical world that the author cultivated.
At some point, this book loses steam for Steam. When the central conflict is initially introduced, it is framed as dangerous and urgent. The characters are anxious to get things sorted out, but then shortly after, they hit a roadblock, and the entire mood shifts. The main couple becomes so focused on each other that they don’t seem to be working to solve the main problem at all. It’s a sudden shift of focus, and while I am not one to complain about a heavy emphasis on romance, it does change the book’s momentum quite drastically. The slower pace and alternative priorities aren’t necessarily bad, but the quick jump takes some adjustment to settle into.
In the way of conflict and apex of the plot, this book reads a bit like a Hallmark movie: just enough friction to have a story, but not enough to actually pose any kind of threat. There are serious enough stakes; the town, the nature of magic, and, most importantly, the hot male lead are all in grave danger. However, the fixes for these issues come relatively easily and tie up neatly, without too much panic. On the one hand, it is sometimes nice to start a book like this knowing that everything will turn out precisely right; our couple will get together, our loose ends will meet in tidy little bows, and we the readers will not be fraught with anxiety or concern that they won’t. On the other hand, no risk: no reward. By the end of this book, I found that it rang the teensiest bit anticlimactic. I could’ve done for a bit more tension, even in a happy-ending-guaranteed rom-com.
And another thing, I couldn’t figure out what was keeping our main couple, Rhys and Vivi, apart. Sure, they have a complicated history with a decently nasty breakup, but it has been a decade, and they obviously still like each other when Rhys returns. The author writes that they can’t be together because they have totally separate lives across the world from each other. In reality, though, Rhys isn’t close to his family. He doesn’t love being in his hometown and can run his business anywhere. So if he is so crazy about Vivi, what is the real issue keeping him from staying with her? This conflict felt a bit contrived as the author tried to create strife where there wasn’t any.
ALSO, how, in a town full of seasoned, well-versed witches and magical history, does no one know how to break this curse? It just seems improbable to me that nobody knows what to do. And I could’ve read a whole book about the back story and secrets that come out about this town and Rhys and Vivi’s ancestors, but we only got snippets. There was enough to make the story work, but I was disappointed that I didn’t get more detail when it could have easily been worked in without detracting from the overarching plot.
I very much enjoyed this book. It is original, quick-witted, and sweet. Erin Sterling has created a world of deeply loveable, quirky characters, hilarious moments, and an imaginative, magical world and story premise. Even my main drawbacks with this story feel small compared to the charm and warmth I found while reading. It is a definite reread, which I can confidently add to my list of fall favorites.
