Starred review from August 1, 2024
Sparks fly between a witch and a museum curator, but magic may be keeping them apart. Dina Whitlock's London caf�, Serendipity, has a reputation as a place where "good things [happen]," but what none of Dina's customers know is that all her delicious treats are made with a bit of actual magic. Coming from a family of witches, she has a spell for everything, whether it's giving a friend a dash of luck with a job interview or crafting a tea blend that calls back a fond childhood memory. What she can't figure out, though, is how to ditch the hex that's been hanging over her since her last brutal breakup. It's not easy getting close to someone when there's a literal curse in the picture, designed to put any romantic partners in harm's way. Then Scott Mason walks into Serendipity, and all Dina's resolutions about closing herself off to love fly out the window. Well, almost. The tall, dark, and handsome curator for the British Museum is her type in every way, but Dina can't run the risk of sentencing him to a string of bad luck. Fate, however, seems to have a plan for them: It turns out that one of Dina's best friends is getting married to one of Scott's, and guess who's in the wedding party? As they travel to the countryside for a weekend of celebration and witchy rituals, Dina and Scott fight their attraction to each other at every turn in an attempt to keep the focus on their friends in the lead-up to the wedding, but they can't deny they want to be more than pals. Can Dina lift the hex and give herself a long-deserved chance at love, or is this romance cursed from the start? El-Fassi's debut romance is a delightfully magical story with a welcome helping of spice. An emphasis on female friendship and Dina's connections with her family--Moroccan on her mother's side and Welsh on her father's--adds a heartwarming throughline, but the real star of the story is the steam between Dina and Scott. A soft, spicy romance with perfect fall vibes.
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August 5, 2024
In El-Fassi’s sizzling debut, a café owner and a museum curator find love despite a curse. Witch Dina Whitlock spends her days infusing magic into the pastries she serves at her London bakery, Serendipity Cafe. Haunted by a hex that threatens harm to anyone she falls in love with, a consequence of a spell she cast on her ex-girlfriend that backfired, Dina sets love aside and conceals her witch identity. Enter Scott Mason, a curator at the British Museum. Though he’s not looking for a relationship after a devastating breakup, when he comes into the café, he’s immediately enchanted by Dina. The pair are thrown back together on a train ride to the wedding of mutual friends, who, in a matchmaking effort, assign Scott and Dina to the same cabin. The close proximity heightens their sexual tension and despite Dina’s reservations, their connection deepens. But the more she comes to care for Scott, the greater risk she puts him in. El-Fassi prioritizes her leads’ steamy physical connection, somewhat sidelining the emotional bond. Still, the characters’ complexities propel the story forward. Readers will be charmed. Agent: Maddy Belton, Madeline Milburn Agency.
August 16, 2024
DEBUT El-Fassi's first novel holds strong portent for future successes. It is a sexy cozy featuring Dina Whitlock, a bisexual kitchen witch who is living under a hex. Her London caf�, where she serves sweets and drinks infused with magic, is thriving, and she and her two best friends are deep into the enjoyable days of celebrating a wedding. However, anyone Dina loves romantically is doomed to suffer. The hex was born when a much younger Dina used her magic to compel her ex-girlfriend to return to her against her will. After watching those she falls for get hurt, Dina has no choice but to reject the charming attentions of Scott Mason, a British Museum curator who drops into the caf� and, through the plots of her friends, rooms with her during the wedding. Haunted by the hex, her fear of telling her parents about her sexuality, and falling dangerously deep for Scott, Dina will have to confront her fears and herself if she is to cast a spell for a happy ending. VERDICT Proving that self-acceptance is its own magic, El-Fassi's assured debut showcases strong attention to detail (Dina's family home is fantastic), characterization, and dialogue. Put it on a Halloween display.--Neal Wyatt
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