To Vex and To Hex by Neena Noon

As a witch with a specialty in book magic, there’s nothing more important in bookseller Lucy Ansari’s life than Crawley Books and Charles, the magical old man who runs it. So when Charles is injured, and his estranged grandson, Grayson, arrives from Ireland to “help,” Lucy can’t help but go into protective mode. She’s determined to hex him into leaving!

But the arrogant and irritatingly attractive Grayson is determined to stay. Except, much to his chagrin, Lucy refuses to part with his grandfather or the store. Grayson decides to use his own version of magic: vexing Lucy until she gives up her self-appointed role as Charles’ one and only protector.

As shenanigans ensue and sparks fly, Lucy and Grayson realize they share more than just the bookstore–like budding feelings for one another that they’re both desperate to suppress. If they can only stop vexing and hexing, it might just be time to take a chance on each other.

MY REVIEW

I love a fun witch rom-com, and when it’s set in a bookshop, even better. Fate brings Lucy and Grayson together when sweet Charles, the shop owner, is injured. The insults are fierce and frequent, and the magical mischief commences.

Lucy is a bewitching book matchmaker and a part-time baker extraordinaire. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to spend time in a shop where the ambiance is lit by candles, surrounded by flowers, and the smell of freshly baked goods? Add a sprinkle of magic to match patrons perfectly with their next read, and I was instantly hooked.

Grayson is the broody, long-lost grandson of sweet Charles, the owner of the charming bookshop, who has unfortunately been injured. The sparks fly as Lucy and Grayson dive headfirst into an all-out battle of wits. 

Lucy’s independence and fierce loyalty to Charles are admirable, but let’s just say her misconceptions about Grayson lead to some unnecessary drama. I loved her quirky nature at first, but her petulance and refusal to listen to Grayson had me rolling my eyes. The whole feud seemed to drag on far too long, especially when Grayson struts in and starts rearranging the shop without even a heads-up. 

I usually enjoy the grumpy/sunshine trope, but this one just fell flat for me. The dynamic of enemies turning into friends, only to feud again, felt repetitive and left me wanting more depth between the characters. The magical hexes Lucy cast on Grayson were funny at first, but they quickly crossed the line into mean territory. I found myself wanting the story to pick up the pace instead of getting lost in miscommunication that felt more like a rut than a plot device.

While I struggled with certain aspects of the story, it’s worth noting that it presents a delightful mix of whimsical elements that could charm the right reader. After all, everyone ends up getting their happily ever after.

Thank you to Ms. Noon for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neena Noon is a Pakistani-American author who thoroughly enjoys her coastal grandma lifestyle. Born in Long Island, New York, she loves going to the beach five minutes away, for walks around her neighborhood, and down to the pier for ice-cream. At home, she enjoys sitting out in the sunshine during the summer or by the fireside during the winter. She hopes her writing can bring comfort to those who are lonely or sad, even if just for a little while. 

Follow Neena on Instagram.