REVIEW Not the Witch You Wed (Supernatural Singles #1) by April Asher

Not the Witch You Wed (Supernatural Singles #1) 

by April Asher
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: February 8, 2022
Format: ARC (Giveaway Win from Under the Covers Book Blog) and Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin 

Not the Witch You Wed is the first book I've read by April Asher, but it certainly won't be my last. The first book in the Supernatural Singles series, this is a humorous paranormal romantic comedy complete with lovable characters, a fun romantic aspect, witty banter, and expansive worldbuilding. 

I loved all the different characters in the book. The triplets were fun. Magical grandmas are kick butt, and I really appreciated that she didn’t put her magical responsibilities in front of her role as a grandma. The side characters were great too - no one was ever there as ‘window dressing’, they always had a purpose to their presence in the story. The fact that the book features body-positive representation with mid to plus-size characters was a bonus for me.

This book is the motherlode of romantic tropes. You have childhood rivals, second chance romance, enemies to lovers, and fake dating. You also have one of my favorite romantic tropes of witty banter between our hero and heroine. Violet is the fiery, sassy non-magical witch, and Lincoln is the gruff alpha hero with a secret heart of gold on the inside. When they are put together, the tension between them is electric. As a result, the chemistry between Lincoln and Violet was quite engaging, and it was fun as a reader to see them reconnect romantically. 

My only complaint with the book was how hard it was to keep track of worldbuilding. Not the Witch You Wed was ambitious, with the range of supernatural denizens and species featured. However, keeping track of the dynamics between the different species and the power structure took a lot of work. Unfortunately, it took me a long time to understand certain aspects of what was happening, negatively impacting my enjoyment of the read. 

Narrator Zura Johnson did a great job bringing this romantic comedy to life with her performance in the audiobook. Overall, this was a great read and I would highly recommend it to those looking for a lighthearted romance-filled urban fantasy/paranormal romance book. I’m excited to read the next book in the series, Not Your Ex’s Hexes, and for the chance to read the next triplet Rose’s story.  

Thank you to the author and Under the Covers Book Blog for providing me with an ARC of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Not the Witch You Wed immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About the Book

A fake relationship between a magic-less witch and a wolf shifter turns to more in the start of a bewitching new paranormal rom-com series.

Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne—the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time.

The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance—along with Violet’s magic—they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for sure: magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier.

In Not the Witch You Wed, April Asher brings all the hilarity and sweet, sexy moments you love in a romantic-comedy—plus a fun dose of magic—to this spell-binding new series about being sexy, single, and supernatural in New York City.

About the Author

April Asher, aka April Hunt, was hooked on romantic stories from the time she first snuck a bodice-ripper romance out from her mom's bedside table. She now lives out her own happily-ever-after with her college-sweetheart husband, their two children, and a cat who thinks she's more dog—and human—than feline. By day, April dons dark blue nursing scrubs and drinks way too much caffeine. By night, she still consumes too much caffeine, but she does it with a laptop in hand, and from her favorite side of the couch.

From the far left cushion, April Asher pens laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with a paranormal twist, but when she’s not putting her characters into embarrassing situations with supernatural entities, she also writes high-octane romantic suspense as April Hunt, her thrill-seeking alter ego.