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Hex Education
Beauty, grace, and a resting witch face…
Bewitched meets Yellowjackets in Maureen Kilmer’s Hex Education when a former coven reunites to stop their lives from going up in flames.
On the outside, luxury realtor Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the neighborhood—running errands, navigating the school pickup line, and begrudgingly volunteering at the high school concession stand. Yet she has an edge that others don’t: She’s a witch! She uses light magic in secret, small ways, almost like an enchanted personal assistant. And absolutely no one knows about it.
Except her estranged ex-coven. In college, when she and two friends, Katrina and Alicia, first uncovered the magic, it didn’t take long before they used it to improve their lives. Yet, they made a mistake one night, and their dorm went up in flames and burned to the ground. After that terrible night, the coven scattered. And no one ever found out that the fire was their fault. Their secret was safe, until the three reunite at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire. Suddenly, the magic doesn’t seem to want to stay small any longer. Her familiar—an overweight orange tabby cat named Katy Furry—begins to argue with her. Her self-brooming broom goes full Martha Stewart. Her fridge overdoes it and stocks thirty pounds of sliced turkey for school lunches.
As it grows more and more difficult to hide the magic and the past, Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia once again gather to harness their power, and keep their secrets safe…before they find out if polite society still burns witches.
Bewitched meets Yellowjackets in Maureen Kilmer’s Hex Education when a former coven reunites to stop their lives from going up in flames.
On the outside, luxury realtor Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the neighborhood—running errands, navigating the school pickup line, and begrudgingly volunteering at the high school concession stand. Yet she has an edge that others don’t: She’s a witch! She uses light magic in secret, small ways, almost like an enchanted personal assistant. And absolutely no one knows about it.
Except her estranged ex-coven. In college, when she and two friends, Katrina and Alicia, first uncovered the magic, it didn’t take long before they used it to improve their lives. Yet, they made a mistake one night, and their dorm went up in flames and burned to the ground. After that terrible night, the coven scattered. And no one ever found out that the fire was their fault. Their secret was safe, until the three reunite at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire. Suddenly, the magic doesn’t seem to want to stay small any longer. Her familiar—an overweight orange tabby cat named Katy Furry—begins to argue with her. Her self-brooming broom goes full Martha Stewart. Her fridge overdoes it and stocks thirty pounds of sliced turkey for school lunches.
As it grows more and more difficult to hide the magic and the past, Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia once again gather to harness their power, and keep their secrets safe…before they find out if polite society still burns witches.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2023
59 people are currently reading
4318 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Kilmer
3 books219 followersMaureen Kilmer graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children. She does not have a She Shed, and thankfully has not had to battle the forces of darkness (unless going to Costco on a Saturday counts).
She is the author of the upcoming HEX EDUCATION (9/19/23) and SUBURBAN HELL, released in 2022.
Under Maureen Leurck, she wrote CICADA SUMMER and MONARCH MANOR, both set in the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area.
She is the author of the upcoming HEX EDUCATION (9/19/23) and SUBURBAN HELL, released in 2022.
Under Maureen Leurck, she wrote CICADA SUMMER and MONARCH MANOR, both set in the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
September 24, 2023
Hex Education has some good things going for it. It really does. But it falls short for a reader like me, someone who’s read too many witchy books to count.
And I’m both surprised and disappointed by this as I’ve seen multiple rave reviews for Maureen Kilmer’s debut, Suburban Hell. So maybe it can be chalked up to a sophomore slump?!?!
I don’t know. We'll see how her third book turns out.
At any rate, Kilmer’s latest starts off fine enough. Three college friends, and secret witches, reunite at a ceremony marking the anniversary of a fire on the campus of their alma mater – an accidental fire they caused years ago while working a spell – and suddenly, the magic they’ve tried so hard to contain wants to be big again.
Things start to go haywire: small spells double and triple in power; Sarah’s familiar, an orange tabby cat named Katy Purry, begins to talk. And when a pesky reporter comes snooping, digging up the past to discover how the campus fire started, the witches are then forced to use their magic in ways they never imagined. All so they don’t lose the lives they love.
The story is absorbing at first. Kilmer’s writing is snappy, making the book a quick read, and I enjoyed getting to know the witches and discovering the backstory of the fire. The magical hijinks are also fun, and there’s Katy Purry, a comedic goldmine. Her lines are the best in the book.
But it falls apart. Character development stops, as does the development of the relationship between the three witches. And then Kilmer tops the story off by giving us a lame ending that reads more like a silly cartoon. The villain is so ridiculous I had to laugh – and not in a good way.
I’d hoped to give Hex Education a more positive report, but I just can’t. Other witchy reads do it better.
My sincerest appreciation to Maureen Kilmer, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
And I’m both surprised and disappointed by this as I’ve seen multiple rave reviews for Maureen Kilmer’s debut, Suburban Hell. So maybe it can be chalked up to a sophomore slump?!?!
I don’t know. We'll see how her third book turns out.
At any rate, Kilmer’s latest starts off fine enough. Three college friends, and secret witches, reunite at a ceremony marking the anniversary of a fire on the campus of their alma mater – an accidental fire they caused years ago while working a spell – and suddenly, the magic they’ve tried so hard to contain wants to be big again.
Things start to go haywire: small spells double and triple in power; Sarah’s familiar, an orange tabby cat named Katy Purry, begins to talk. And when a pesky reporter comes snooping, digging up the past to discover how the campus fire started, the witches are then forced to use their magic in ways they never imagined. All so they don’t lose the lives they love.
The story is absorbing at first. Kilmer’s writing is snappy, making the book a quick read, and I enjoyed getting to know the witches and discovering the backstory of the fire. The magical hijinks are also fun, and there’s Katy Purry, a comedic goldmine. Her lines are the best in the book.
But it falls apart. Character development stops, as does the development of the relationship between the three witches. And then Kilmer tops the story off by giving us a lame ending that reads more like a silly cartoon. The villain is so ridiculous I had to laugh – and not in a good way.
I’d hoped to give Hex Education a more positive report, but I just can’t. Other witchy reads do it better.
My sincerest appreciation to Maureen Kilmer, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
September 17, 2023
When they were in college, Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia uncovered their magic. They were soon trying to improve their skills. Unfortunately, one night their dorm went up in flames when they made a mistake. They scattered and no one realized they were responsible for the fire.
Twenty years later, Sarah is a real estate agent with a magical assistant. She only uses her magic in small ways that no one will detect. When she reconnects with Katrina and Alicia at their alma mater to attend a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire, their magic wants to emerge.
This is dubbed Bewitched meets Yellow Jackets, and it has a very YA feel to it. This book involves spells that don't go quite go as planned, magic, witches, familiars, and covens. I loved Sarah's familiar is a cat named Katy Purry. Katy Purry is quite a cat! Stole every scene she was in.
I had such high hopes for this book. I enjoyed Suburban Hell and so wanted to love this book as well. It was a fast read magical read which involved a mystery. I can't fault the writing, unfortunately I did not find it as bewitching as I had hoped. I am still open to reading what Maureen Kilmer writes next as I enjoyed the first book I read by Kilmer.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Twenty years later, Sarah is a real estate agent with a magical assistant. She only uses her magic in small ways that no one will detect. When she reconnects with Katrina and Alicia at their alma mater to attend a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire, their magic wants to emerge.
This is dubbed Bewitched meets Yellow Jackets, and it has a very YA feel to it. This book involves spells that don't go quite go as planned, magic, witches, familiars, and covens. I loved Sarah's familiar is a cat named Katy Purry. Katy Purry is quite a cat! Stole every scene she was in.
I had such high hopes for this book. I enjoyed Suburban Hell and so wanted to love this book as well. It was a fast read magical read which involved a mystery. I can't fault the writing, unfortunately I did not find it as bewitching as I had hoped. I am still open to reading what Maureen Kilmer writes next as I enjoyed the first book I read by Kilmer.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 20, 2023
After loving Maureen Kilmer's debut novel Suburban Hell, I was excited to read Hex Education. Unfortunately, although this was a fun and fast read, I wasn't quite as *charmed* (witchy pun!) by it as I'd hoped I'd be.
In college, Sarah Nelson and her friends Katrina and Alicia discovered their magic together, performing small and simple spells. But one of those spells ended in disaster when their dorm burned down. After swearing they would tell no one the truth about what happened that night, the three went their separate ways.
Now, twenty years later, Sarah is a successful realtor and mom of teenage twins. Her magic is dormant, aside from simple spells she uses to make her life easier (also, she can speak telepathically with her cat Katy Purry). She hasn't had contact with her coven since they left college, but that's about to change. When the three are reunited at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire, they immediately feel their magic spark, threatening to spin out of control. And it couldn't be happening at a worse time, because an ambitious podcaster is sniffing around, asking questions about the fire...
Hex Education is a domestic mystery with a witchy bent. It was entertaining to watch Sarah navigate the relatable, hectic life of an overwhelmed modern woman with the help of magic. Katy Purry with her smoker's voice and sass was my favorite part of this book; she stole every scene she was in. I just wanted more from this book overall: more witch/occult vibes, and especially more development of the friendship between Sarah, Alicia, and Katrina. Because their reunion happened so quickly and there are only a couple of short flashback scenes, I wasn't fully invested in their bond. The relationship between the female characters was so well-developed in Suburban Hell, and I was hoping for and expecting that from Hex Education as well.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a lighthearted supernatural read this fall; Hex Education is far more Bewitched than The Craft on the witchy scale. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
In college, Sarah Nelson and her friends Katrina and Alicia discovered their magic together, performing small and simple spells. But one of those spells ended in disaster when their dorm burned down. After swearing they would tell no one the truth about what happened that night, the three went their separate ways.
Now, twenty years later, Sarah is a successful realtor and mom of teenage twins. Her magic is dormant, aside from simple spells she uses to make her life easier (also, she can speak telepathically with her cat Katy Purry). She hasn't had contact with her coven since they left college, but that's about to change. When the three are reunited at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the fire, they immediately feel their magic spark, threatening to spin out of control. And it couldn't be happening at a worse time, because an ambitious podcaster is sniffing around, asking questions about the fire...
Hex Education is a domestic mystery with a witchy bent. It was entertaining to watch Sarah navigate the relatable, hectic life of an overwhelmed modern woman with the help of magic. Katy Purry with her smoker's voice and sass was my favorite part of this book; she stole every scene she was in. I just wanted more from this book overall: more witch/occult vibes, and especially more development of the friendship between Sarah, Alicia, and Katrina. Because their reunion happened so quickly and there are only a couple of short flashback scenes, I wasn't fully invested in their bond. The relationship between the female characters was so well-developed in Suburban Hell, and I was hoping for and expecting that from Hex Education as well.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a lighthearted supernatural read this fall; Hex Education is far more Bewitched than The Craft on the witchy scale. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
August 31, 2023
Initial Thoughts
After enjoying Maureen Kilmer's debut novel, I was excited to pick up her newest book. I might like this one even more than her previous work. Sarah is a mom, wife, and realtor living a fairly normal life. No one knows that she uses magic every once in a while. When she was in college, she discovered along with 2 friends that they were gifted but stopped when their experiments ended in an out of control fire. It is now 20 years later and they have reunited and their magic has sparked. Someone is asking questions and they know that they need to get the situation under control. I had a lot of fun with this one and thought that it had some pretty exciting moments. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
After enjoying Maureen Kilmer's debut novel, I was excited to pick up her newest book. I might like this one even more than her previous work. Sarah is a mom, wife, and realtor living a fairly normal life. No one knows that she uses magic every once in a while. When she was in college, she discovered along with 2 friends that they were gifted but stopped when their experiments ended in an out of control fire. It is now 20 years later and they have reunited and their magic has sparked. Someone is asking questions and they know that they need to get the situation under control. I had a lot of fun with this one and thought that it had some pretty exciting moments. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
June 29, 2023
Out September 19, 2023! Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam.
--
This book was one of the most fun reading experiences I've had in quite some time.
Imagine you're on SNL. Bill Hader walks onto the set of Weekend Update as Stefan in a sheer shirt and a side part. He sits down. He says: "This book has everything: witchcraft, a talking cat named Katy Purry on the couch watching Ratatouille on pay-per-view, a self-filling refrigerator, doomsday preppers, and three moms dancing to Fighter by Christina Aguilera."
ARE YOU HOOKED YET?
I admit it. I am a witchy book girly and will die a witchy book girly. The Craft was film that was integral to my formative years. I for sure wandered out into the woods with friends and did "magic" with different colored candles and the Rider-Waite tarot deck.
I felt like the main character Sarah, only in her case - the magic worked and with it caused a catastrophic fire that burned down her dorm. The spell gave her friend Katrina power. It gave her friend Alicia fame. And Sarah? She wished for love. And all of their wishes were fulfilled at the expense of hurting another girl in the building, a girl that turns out to be the sister of the hot doctor that Sarah married.
When a true crime podcaster named Madisyn comes around to unfurl the mystery of what happened that night, stuff starts to get weird. Surely, if they undo the spell then they won't be caught and punished for what they did, right?
The little magical touches made this. The magic going haywire - the scene where Sarah is showing a house (she's a luxury realtor) and the showers automatically turn on, cookies randomly bake in the oven. The self-activating broom. God, the turkey cold cuts that appear in the fridge in hundreds of packages simply because her kids want a snack. The soft romance between Sarah and her husband was sweet, too.
This book full-on felt like a love letter to my generation. I laughed and maybe I'm wrong, but dare I detect the possibility of a follow-up?
--
This book was one of the most fun reading experiences I've had in quite some time.
Imagine you're on SNL. Bill Hader walks onto the set of Weekend Update as Stefan in a sheer shirt and a side part. He sits down. He says: "This book has everything: witchcraft, a talking cat named Katy Purry on the couch watching Ratatouille on pay-per-view, a self-filling refrigerator, doomsday preppers, and three moms dancing to Fighter by Christina Aguilera."
ARE YOU HOOKED YET?
I admit it. I am a witchy book girly and will die a witchy book girly. The Craft was film that was integral to my formative years. I for sure wandered out into the woods with friends and did "magic" with different colored candles and the Rider-Waite tarot deck.
I felt like the main character Sarah, only in her case - the magic worked and with it caused a catastrophic fire that burned down her dorm. The spell gave her friend Katrina power. It gave her friend Alicia fame. And Sarah? She wished for love. And all of their wishes were fulfilled at the expense of hurting another girl in the building, a girl that turns out to be the sister of the hot doctor that Sarah married.
When a true crime podcaster named Madisyn comes around to unfurl the mystery of what happened that night, stuff starts to get weird. Surely, if they undo the spell then they won't be caught and punished for what they did, right?
The little magical touches made this. The magic going haywire - the scene where Sarah is showing a house (she's a luxury realtor) and the showers automatically turn on, cookies randomly bake in the oven. The self-activating broom. God, the turkey cold cuts that appear in the fridge in hundreds of packages simply because her kids want a snack. The soft romance between Sarah and her husband was sweet, too.
This book full-on felt like a love letter to my generation. I laughed and maybe I'm wrong, but dare I detect the possibility of a follow-up?
December 3, 2023
The second half of this book is a lot more fun than the first. I enjoyed seeing the "spell goes wrong" trope unfold. Also, Kitty Purry is kind of hilarious.
MEHHHH not very vivid or engaging. Suburban Hell had realllly immersive moments and this one is reading a lot more flat.
46% Just kind of bored 😴😐
Oof that was too real 47%
Ultimately kind of basic though. But I also didn't go into this expecting a ton lol
Although it didn't have ANY horror scenes though. Which was my favorite part of Maureen kilmer writing in suburban hell
MEHHHH not very vivid or engaging. Suburban Hell had realllly immersive moments and this one is reading a lot more flat.
46% Just kind of bored 😴😐
Oof that was too real 47%
Ultimately kind of basic though. But I also didn't go into this expecting a ton lol
Although it didn't have ANY horror scenes though. Which was my favorite part of Maureen kilmer writing in suburban hell
September 25, 2023
I’ve got just the cute witchy read for spooky season! When a group of college witches accidentally set fire to their campus after attempting magic, their coven is reunited once again years later.
I loved this fun story, and found the characters so loveable and surprisingly relatable. A mix of Bewitched and Charmed, 𝙃𝙚𝙭 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 tells the story of suburban Mom, who has a secret past.
Told with humor and fun, the highlights were Kitty Purry the talking cat, and a fridge that magically restocks itself.
I read the ebook and listened to the audio and loved the narration! I would definitely recommend this format.
📖𝗛𝗲𝘅 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
✍️𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿
🗓️𝟵.𝟭𝟵.𝟮𝟯
🪄𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
★★★★
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🪄spells gone wrong
🐈⬛ a talking cat named Kitty Purry
🏡 Magic going haywire in a suburban setting
🧙🏻♀️a cute and funny witch story
*many thanks to Putnam Books and PRH Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
I loved this fun story, and found the characters so loveable and surprisingly relatable. A mix of Bewitched and Charmed, 𝙃𝙚𝙭 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 tells the story of suburban Mom, who has a secret past.
Told with humor and fun, the highlights were Kitty Purry the talking cat, and a fridge that magically restocks itself.
I read the ebook and listened to the audio and loved the narration! I would definitely recommend this format.
📖𝗛𝗲𝘅 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
✍️𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿
🗓️𝟵.𝟭𝟵.𝟮𝟯
🪄𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
★★★★
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🪄spells gone wrong
🐈⬛ a talking cat named Kitty Purry
🏡 Magic going haywire in a suburban setting
🧙🏻♀️a cute and funny witch story
*many thanks to Putnam Books and PRH Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
February 14, 2025
3.5 stars
This is no 'Suburban Hell' but I still enjoyed it.
The main characters are witches, there's a talking cat...
It is possible, though, that, somewhere along the story, some things became a bit confusing.
Still, a quick and enjoyable read.
This is no 'Suburban Hell' but I still enjoyed it.
The main characters are witches, there's a talking cat...
It is possible, though, that, somewhere along the story, some things became a bit confusing.
Still, a quick and enjoyable read.
September 30, 2023
After absolutely loving Suburban Hell I couldn’t wait to give this one a read. This is about 3 college girls who accidentally started a fire after discovering they were witches. 20 years later they haven’t told anyone the true story of what happened and after they are reunited things start getting a little out of control and the truth starts being revealed. I thought this book was okay. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters and their friendship and I felt like the characters in Suburban Hell were much more enjoyable and had a stronger friendship than in this book. There were parts I enjoyed (Kitty Purry was the best) but other parts felt like I was reading an 800 page novel. If you’re looking for a book about rich suburban moms who go to galas and occasionally do light magic- this is the book for you. Think cute Disney Halloween movie about witches vibe. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 10, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the chance to read this ARC copy!
Sarah Nelson is your typical suburban mom on the outside--husband, twins, and a flourishing real estate business. There's just one thing giving her an edge, she's a witch, a secret she holds close to the belt. But that isn't the only secret she is hiding. Twenty years ago, a spell went awry and burned down the dorm of her and her friends, her coven. Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia went their separate ways thinking their secrets would always be safe. Using magic here and there, Sarah kept her magic under control that is until she was reunited with her coven. Now, the magic doesn't want to remain leashed. All the little things she'd been using magic to make her life a little easier are suddenly overcharged including her cat, Katy Purry, who's now chatting with her outside their minds for all to hear. Sarah, Alicia, and Katrina must band back together to harness their power to get their magic under control before all of the secrets are exposed and their lives unravel.
This book was perfect to get me in the mood for fall. It's Bewitched/Charmed style sucked me in immediately when we meet Sarah and her coven in the aftermath of the fire. Sarah is such a believable character to follow as she juggles the insanity swirling around her life with twin teenagers, a devoted husband, her job, and a talking cat. Her inner monologue reminded me of my own as she darted through life desperate to keep her secrets intact. I loved her and Travis's relationship as it felt casual and realistic. The friendship between her, Katrina, and Alicia was such an interesting dynamic. Abracadabra Alicia was hilarious and reminded me of Frankie from Grace & Frankie. As the book progressed, it was interesting to see how the stress of everything affected the coven's relationships with each other. Katy Purry was an excellent addition to this book, and I always loved the interactions between her and Sarah.
The epilogue splendidly wrapped up at the end of the book, but it did leave a cracked door that makes me hopeful we might meet Sarah and her coven again!
Sarah Nelson is your typical suburban mom on the outside--husband, twins, and a flourishing real estate business. There's just one thing giving her an edge, she's a witch, a secret she holds close to the belt. But that isn't the only secret she is hiding. Twenty years ago, a spell went awry and burned down the dorm of her and her friends, her coven. Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia went their separate ways thinking their secrets would always be safe. Using magic here and there, Sarah kept her magic under control that is until she was reunited with her coven. Now, the magic doesn't want to remain leashed. All the little things she'd been using magic to make her life a little easier are suddenly overcharged including her cat, Katy Purry, who's now chatting with her outside their minds for all to hear. Sarah, Alicia, and Katrina must band back together to harness their power to get their magic under control before all of the secrets are exposed and their lives unravel.
This book was perfect to get me in the mood for fall. It's Bewitched/Charmed style sucked me in immediately when we meet Sarah and her coven in the aftermath of the fire. Sarah is such a believable character to follow as she juggles the insanity swirling around her life with twin teenagers, a devoted husband, her job, and a talking cat. Her inner monologue reminded me of my own as she darted through life desperate to keep her secrets intact. I loved her and Travis's relationship as it felt casual and realistic. The friendship between her, Katrina, and Alicia was such an interesting dynamic. Abracadabra Alicia was hilarious and reminded me of Frankie from Grace & Frankie. As the book progressed, it was interesting to see how the stress of everything affected the coven's relationships with each other. Katy Purry was an excellent addition to this book, and I always loved the interactions between her and Sarah.
The epilogue splendidly wrapped up at the end of the book, but it did leave a cracked door that makes me hopeful we might meet Sarah and her coven again!
September 9, 2023
If you, like me, came of age watching Charmed every week, then this is the book for you. It was pure witchy goodness and deliciously fun. With a little Bewitched mixed in for good measure.
I loved everything about this book, especially Katy Purry. The most fabulous talking feline ever. She truly was fantastic!
This is such a wonderfully spooky read for the Halloween season!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved everything about this book, especially Katy Purry. The most fabulous talking feline ever. She truly was fantastic!
This is such a wonderfully spooky read for the Halloween season!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 3, 2023
This was ok, but it wasn't nearly as good as the authors first book, Suburban Hell. It was a quick and easy read and I loved the talking cat, Katy Purry. Other than that, I didn't care for it.
October 19, 2023
3.5⭐️ My fellow romance haters can rejoice as we have a cozy, witchy book that has no romance subplot. It is a rarity, and I applaud it!
With Hex Education we are given a story of 3 witches that accidentally burned down their dorm when they were in college. We are following one of them years later as a podcaster is threatening to let their secret of what happened with the fire as well as their craft out.
Shenanigans ensue as the 3 witches band together to try and solve this issue, but everything they do backfires.
Is there anything super surprising here? Not at all. The story is easily predictable, but I didn’t mind that all too much. This was exactly what I was hoping for with this read. I wanted a good, low stress, spooky season book that wouldn’t make me think much and maybe laugh a little. That’s what I got!
Honestly loved Katy Purry. I’m a big fan of talking cat familiars. Lol
With Hex Education we are given a story of 3 witches that accidentally burned down their dorm when they were in college. We are following one of them years later as a podcaster is threatening to let their secret of what happened with the fire as well as their craft out.
Shenanigans ensue as the 3 witches band together to try and solve this issue, but everything they do backfires.
Is there anything super surprising here? Not at all. The story is easily predictable, but I didn’t mind that all too much. This was exactly what I was hoping for with this read. I wanted a good, low stress, spooky season book that wouldn’t make me think much and maybe laugh a little. That’s what I got!
Honestly loved Katy Purry. I’m a big fan of talking cat familiars. Lol
October 2, 2024
Rating: 3.75 stars⭐️✨
Recommend: sure
Genre: Cozy fiction with fantasy elements
Spoiler free synopsis:
A former coven reunites after their lives were changed from a fire they caused. They are all grown up and have established careers and families. They end up discovering the magic is still there between them and end up creating chaos around them.
Spoiler free review:
Honestly glad I finished this book at the start of October, the perfect way to start the spooky season. Very cozy not super plot heavy book. If you want a fall witchy plate cleanser this is the book for you.
Recommend: sure
Genre: Cozy fiction with fantasy elements
Spoiler free synopsis:
A former coven reunites after their lives were changed from a fire they caused. They are all grown up and have established careers and families. They end up discovering the magic is still there between them and end up creating chaos around them.
Spoiler free review:
Honestly glad I finished this book at the start of October, the perfect way to start the spooky season. Very cozy not super plot heavy book. If you want a fall witchy plate cleanser this is the book for you.
September 9, 2023
A witchy suburban drama about three college friends who have to reform their coven after years apart when the magic from their past starts getting out of control. Parts of this were really funny, I loved that the cat familiar's name was Katy Purry but overall it was just an okay listen for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
September 26, 2023
I liked this. I enjoyed the writing style and this moves at a good pace. I expected this to be a darker book than it is but it was fine for what it is. I will definitely be checking out the debut book "Suburban Hell" from Maureen Kilmer because I do really like the writing style. Overall, this was a pleasant story that I would recommend. Special Thank You to Maureen Kilmer, Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2024
Nice easy read.
Quite a slow build up and it seemed like all of the action happened in the last 20 pages.
Quite a slow build up and it seemed like all of the action happened in the last 20 pages.
August 29, 2023
The highlight of this: A talking cat named Katy Purry
This reads like watching a cozy halloween movie. It had all the humor and coziness of Suburban Hell but I think I found the characters and plot in that one a bit more compelling. While this was entertaining, not much happened and it lulled at times. I also wasn't rooting for the friendships here the way I was in Suburban Hell. Not to keep on comparing but I also like that there was a splash of horror with the whole demon possession going on, but here it was a more lighthearted vibe the whole way through. Again, I really feel like this would make such a cute movie.
I still really enjoy Maureen Kilmer's writing and the vibes of her books and I'm looking forward to see what she does next.
This follows 3 friends who practiced magic in college together. One night, things went horribly wrong and they started a fire. No one knows it was them. In the present day, a podcaster is digging around trying to find the truth. On top of that, when they reunite something happens with their magic that makes it go out of control. Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia have to find a way to keep the podcaster and her questions off their backs and keep their new surge of power hidden.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc!
This reads like watching a cozy halloween movie. It had all the humor and coziness of Suburban Hell but I think I found the characters and plot in that one a bit more compelling. While this was entertaining, not much happened and it lulled at times. I also wasn't rooting for the friendships here the way I was in Suburban Hell. Not to keep on comparing but I also like that there was a splash of horror with the whole demon possession going on, but here it was a more lighthearted vibe the whole way through. Again, I really feel like this would make such a cute movie.
I still really enjoy Maureen Kilmer's writing and the vibes of her books and I'm looking forward to see what she does next.
This follows 3 friends who practiced magic in college together. One night, things went horribly wrong and they started a fire. No one knows it was them. In the present day, a podcaster is digging around trying to find the truth. On top of that, when they reunite something happens with their magic that makes it go out of control. Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia have to find a way to keep the podcaster and her questions off their backs and keep their new surge of power hidden.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc!
October 1, 2023
It looks like I am the first one star rating for Hex Education and I wish that wasn’t the case. I don’t mean that I wish there were more one star ratings. I simply wish I hadn’t hated it so much, especially since I had enjoyed Suburban Hell.
The thing that especially bothered me was just how privileged and selfish the main character was. Given what another character had endured because of this unpleasant narrator, I found it impossible to care for her fate. I know the author attempted to give Sarah a sad backstory and wrote her as one having a conscience, but it wasn’t enough to alter my opinion. She judged others whom she saw as more privileged, which might have been the (unintentionally) funniest part of this book. And she quickly destroyed my beliefs that she actually cared about what had happened to Nancy with lines that followed her, “Oh, poor Nancy!” monologues. I could not root for her and, since it was clear the author wanted readers to root for this character, the story frequently grated at my nerves.
Still, I held out for an ending I hoped would redeem things. I did not get one. Instead, there were some annoying reveals, and a lot of tidiness. I was especially perturbed by Travis’s reaction in the final chapter, especially regarding Nancy. It was completely glossed over. Honestly, even though Nancy was the only character I liked, I also found her reaction to what Sarah eventually revealed a bit too easy. I hated the convenience of it all. What happened to Nancy was quite serious and, despite tension built around the secret, it was all swept under the rug.
I also felt frustrated by the disastrous use of magic. Even as things went terribly wrong, Sarah was still devoted to trying it again and again. I did not feel any of the mishaps were funny and simply felt the narrator was behaving irresponsibly.
Despite my many negative feelings, I must give a shout out to Katy Purry. I was all about that cat and found most of the cat related aspects of this novel enjoyable. I wish I could rationalize two stars for that, but I loathed the other aspects too much.
I am sad that Maureen Kilmer’s sophomore release hit so many wrong notes for me, but I’m glad its spell has been broken so I can move on to (hopefully) more enjoyable things.
I am immensely grateful to G.P. Putnam Sons and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
The thing that especially bothered me was just how privileged and selfish the main character was. Given what another character had endured because of this unpleasant narrator, I found it impossible to care for her fate. I know the author attempted to give Sarah a sad backstory and wrote her as one having a conscience, but it wasn’t enough to alter my opinion. She judged others whom she saw as more privileged, which might have been the (unintentionally) funniest part of this book. And she quickly destroyed my beliefs that she actually cared about what had happened to Nancy with lines that followed her, “Oh, poor Nancy!” monologues. I could not root for her and, since it was clear the author wanted readers to root for this character, the story frequently grated at my nerves.
Still, I held out for an ending I hoped would redeem things. I did not get one. Instead, there were some annoying reveals, and a lot of tidiness. I was especially perturbed by Travis’s reaction in the final chapter, especially regarding Nancy. It was completely glossed over. Honestly, even though Nancy was the only character I liked, I also found her reaction to what Sarah eventually revealed a bit too easy. I hated the convenience of it all. What happened to Nancy was quite serious and, despite tension built around the secret, it was all swept under the rug.
I also felt frustrated by the disastrous use of magic. Even as things went terribly wrong, Sarah was still devoted to trying it again and again. I did not feel any of the mishaps were funny and simply felt the narrator was behaving irresponsibly.
Despite my many negative feelings, I must give a shout out to Katy Purry. I was all about that cat and found most of the cat related aspects of this novel enjoyable. I wish I could rationalize two stars for that, but I loathed the other aspects too much.
I am sad that Maureen Kilmer’s sophomore release hit so many wrong notes for me, but I’m glad its spell has been broken so I can move on to (hopefully) more enjoyable things.
I am immensely grateful to G.P. Putnam Sons and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
For fans of Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Bewitched, Hex Education is good, witchy fun. It is described by the author as horrorlandia. I would add suburban horror comedy.
Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the neighborhood. Except she has a secret. Sarah is a witch and so are her two college friends that she reunites with on the anniversary of a dorm fire. When they come together again old sparks of magic ignite and suddenly little spells go completely awry. Can they get the magic under control and can Sarah maintain her secret?
This book is a lot of fun. The writing is really good and there are some great, funny lines. If you are a fan of witchy stuff Hex Education will be very satisfying. Imagine magic wreaking havoc in normal domestic scenarios. Things appearing out of nowhere.
There isn't anything scary in Hex Education except for the characters themselves. I think it would make a great TV show. If you loved Kilmer's Suburban Hell you will like this one too although there isn't anything too creepy this time around.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read.
Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the neighborhood. Except she has a secret. Sarah is a witch and so are her two college friends that she reunites with on the anniversary of a dorm fire. When they come together again old sparks of magic ignite and suddenly little spells go completely awry. Can they get the magic under control and can Sarah maintain her secret?
This book is a lot of fun. The writing is really good and there are some great, funny lines. If you are a fan of witchy stuff Hex Education will be very satisfying. Imagine magic wreaking havoc in normal domestic scenarios. Things appearing out of nowhere.
There isn't anything scary in Hex Education except for the characters themselves. I think it would make a great TV show. If you loved Kilmer's Suburban Hell you will like this one too although there isn't anything too creepy this time around.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read.
September 12, 2023
Thanks to Putnam for the copy of this book!
A coven of three witches accidentally starts a fire in their dorm, burning down the building. Years later, the witches are safe in their lifestyles with hidden magic, but the fire’s anniversary is approaching and threatens to bring the real sequence of events to light.
Hex Education is a fun, domestic mystery-style witchy read. We follow Sarah’s point of view - she’s a classic housewife who became a realtor as her kids got older and she needed to fill her time. She uses magic to help around the house and also has a talking cat named Kitty Purry, but her family doesn’t know about her magic. It was fun to navigate her relatable marriage and parenting moments with elements of magic as it went awry. This was a really quick and enjoyable read, and perfect for lovers of witches or suburban settings. I could totally see this being a fun, seasonal movie on Netflix!
Read if you:
- like spells gone wrong
- are intrigued by a cat named Kitty Purry who sounds like she smokes a pack a day
- enjoy domestic or suburban mysteries
- want a quick and bingy witch read
A coven of three witches accidentally starts a fire in their dorm, burning down the building. Years later, the witches are safe in their lifestyles with hidden magic, but the fire’s anniversary is approaching and threatens to bring the real sequence of events to light.
Hex Education is a fun, domestic mystery-style witchy read. We follow Sarah’s point of view - she’s a classic housewife who became a realtor as her kids got older and she needed to fill her time. She uses magic to help around the house and also has a talking cat named Kitty Purry, but her family doesn’t know about her magic. It was fun to navigate her relatable marriage and parenting moments with elements of magic as it went awry. This was a really quick and enjoyable read, and perfect for lovers of witches or suburban settings. I could totally see this being a fun, seasonal movie on Netflix!
Read if you:
- like spells gone wrong
- are intrigued by a cat named Kitty Purry who sounds like she smokes a pack a day
- enjoy domestic or suburban mysteries
- want a quick and bingy witch read
May 31, 2023
Big thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgallery for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a disappointment to me as someone who loved Kilmer's first book, Suburban Hell. I expected this book to have similar charms to that of SH, however, the little it did could not salvage the plot of the story of this one. I expected this book to follow around a trio of best friends and to evoke the same feelings I had about the SH group but that was not the case at all. This trio are 'friends' however, their time together was short-lived in the past and they have not kept in touch for years. So, the hope for them all getting together for spells throughout this book was dashed because most of the book they are not together at all. Had the book included multiple POVs of them all, I think it would work better. Or, if they had more time together on page.
Then, there's the plot that is simply about magic gone wrong and you can see how this book will end from a MILE away, which took a lot of the fun out of the journey for me. And while this book read fast with simplicity, I found the pacing to be off with the story itself. I spend a lot of time just waiting for something happening, or for at least a humorous moment to occur - like in SH. Because while SH was slow at times, it kept me entertained with the campy-vibe of it all, but that's not really present here.
In the end, I'm bummed by this one. I really wanted to love it as a follow up but the only thing I consider a stand out for me is the talking cat, Katy Purry.
If you're looking for a simple, witchy book in the fall season, you may enjoy this! However, if you're coming from reading SH and expecting similar campy-horror feels and charm, I'd change your expectations.
Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a disappointment to me as someone who loved Kilmer's first book, Suburban Hell. I expected this book to have similar charms to that of SH, however, the little it did could not salvage the plot of the story of this one. I expected this book to follow around a trio of best friends and to evoke the same feelings I had about the SH group but that was not the case at all. This trio are 'friends' however, their time together was short-lived in the past and they have not kept in touch for years. So, the hope for them all getting together for spells throughout this book was dashed because most of the book they are not together at all. Had the book included multiple POVs of them all, I think it would work better. Or, if they had more time together on page.
Then, there's the plot that is simply about magic gone wrong and you can see how this book will end from a MILE away, which took a lot of the fun out of the journey for me. And while this book read fast with simplicity, I found the pacing to be off with the story itself. I spend a lot of time just waiting for something happening, or for at least a humorous moment to occur - like in SH. Because while SH was slow at times, it kept me entertained with the campy-vibe of it all, but that's not really present here.
In the end, I'm bummed by this one. I really wanted to love it as a follow up but the only thing I consider a stand out for me is the talking cat, Katy Purry.
If you're looking for a simple, witchy book in the fall season, you may enjoy this! However, if you're coming from reading SH and expecting similar campy-horror feels and charm, I'd change your expectations.
March 24, 2023
Magically fantastic read!! 🔮
I absolutely loved this! Hex Education Felt like Charmed mixed with Desperate House Wives with a splash of Sabrina the Teenage Witch all rolled into a magical book!
We follow Sarah Nelson as she leads her perfectly normal life in the suburbs. Working as a luxury realtor, married to a handsome doctor and mothering 2 children and caring for her feline familiar. What the world doesn’t see though is her sassy cat Katy Purry arguing with her (yes - a talking cat named Katy Purry!) and the little bits of magic that surround Sarah everyday. She has limited her magic to small household chores and spells over the years - that is until a someone threatens to unearth a secret her estranged coven has buried for over a decade. As the threat grows closer the magic develops a mind of its own and starts to spiral out of control. Can the coven reunite, keep their secret buried and return to their lives like nothing happened? Find out when Hex Education hits shelves September 19, 2023!
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Maureen Kilmer comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved this! Hex Education Felt like Charmed mixed with Desperate House Wives with a splash of Sabrina the Teenage Witch all rolled into a magical book!
We follow Sarah Nelson as she leads her perfectly normal life in the suburbs. Working as a luxury realtor, married to a handsome doctor and mothering 2 children and caring for her feline familiar. What the world doesn’t see though is her sassy cat Katy Purry arguing with her (yes - a talking cat named Katy Purry!) and the little bits of magic that surround Sarah everyday. She has limited her magic to small household chores and spells over the years - that is until a someone threatens to unearth a secret her estranged coven has buried for over a decade. As the threat grows closer the magic develops a mind of its own and starts to spiral out of control. Can the coven reunite, keep their secret buried and return to their lives like nothing happened? Find out when Hex Education hits shelves September 19, 2023!
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Maureen Kilmer comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2023
Magically fantastic read!! 🔮
I absolutely loved this! Hex Education Felt like Charmed mixed with Desperate House Wives with a splash of Sabrina the Teenage Witch all rolled into a magical book!
We follow Sarah Nelson as she leads her perfectly normal life in the suburbs. Working as a luxury realtor, married to a handsome doctor and mothering 2 children and caring for her feline familiar. What the world doesn’t see though is her sassy cat Katy Purry arguing with her (yes - a talking cat named Katy Purry!) and the little bits of magic that surround Sarah everyday. She has limited her magic to small household chores and spells over the years - that is until a someone threatens to unearth a secret her estranged coven has buried for over a decade. As the threat grows closer the magic develops a mind of its own and starts to spiral out of control. Can the coven reunite, keep their secret buried and return to their lives like nothing happened? Find out when Hex Education hits shelves September 19, 2023!
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Maureen Kilmer comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved this! Hex Education Felt like Charmed mixed with Desperate House Wives with a splash of Sabrina the Teenage Witch all rolled into a magical book!
We follow Sarah Nelson as she leads her perfectly normal life in the suburbs. Working as a luxury realtor, married to a handsome doctor and mothering 2 children and caring for her feline familiar. What the world doesn’t see though is her sassy cat Katy Purry arguing with her (yes - a talking cat named Katy Purry!) and the little bits of magic that surround Sarah everyday. She has limited her magic to small household chores and spells over the years - that is until a someone threatens to unearth a secret her estranged coven has buried for over a decade. As the threat grows closer the magic develops a mind of its own and starts to spiral out of control. Can the coven reunite, keep their secret buried and return to their lives like nothing happened? Find out when Hex Education hits shelves September 19, 2023!
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Maureen Kilmer comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 18, 2023
As a huge fan of Suburban Hell, I was beyond excited to read Maureen Kilmer's newest novel and it did not disappoint in the slightest.
Set in the fictional upper class suburbs of Chicago, once again, I found myself to completely immerse myself in the storyline. Of course it helps that I am roughly the same age as the main character and have teenagers of my own. I do not, however have a refrigerator with an endless supply of turkey sandwiches, but that will probably go on my Amazon wishlist for Christmas this year. The story follows Sarah, a witch with magical powers strong enough to clean her house, who is invited to a reunion at her old college with the rest of her "juggling club" that in actuality was her coven. Back in the day, a spell gone wrong ended up causing a terrible fire in the basement of their dorm room. Now that they've reunited, their magic has grown stronger and they must contend with the consequences of their actions along with a nosy podcaster who is determined to find out what caused the actual fire.
Hex Education is filled with quirky and delightful characters including a talking cat. The plot moves smoothly and is full of laugh out loud moments. I may have perhaps laughed more than most would having lived in the suburbs of Chicago almost my entire life except for my college years at a university eerily similar to the one described in the book. Overall, I absolutely adored this book and can count on Maureen Kilmer to help me escape from the massive pile of laundry sitting in my dryer and my extremely hungry teenagers. She has definitely been added to my must-read, favorite authors list and I can not wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Maureen Kilmer for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the fictional upper class suburbs of Chicago, once again, I found myself to completely immerse myself in the storyline. Of course it helps that I am roughly the same age as the main character and have teenagers of my own. I do not, however have a refrigerator with an endless supply of turkey sandwiches, but that will probably go on my Amazon wishlist for Christmas this year. The story follows Sarah, a witch with magical powers strong enough to clean her house, who is invited to a reunion at her old college with the rest of her "juggling club" that in actuality was her coven. Back in the day, a spell gone wrong ended up causing a terrible fire in the basement of their dorm room. Now that they've reunited, their magic has grown stronger and they must contend with the consequences of their actions along with a nosy podcaster who is determined to find out what caused the actual fire.
Hex Education is filled with quirky and delightful characters including a talking cat. The plot moves smoothly and is full of laugh out loud moments. I may have perhaps laughed more than most would having lived in the suburbs of Chicago almost my entire life except for my college years at a university eerily similar to the one described in the book. Overall, I absolutely adored this book and can count on Maureen Kilmer to help me escape from the massive pile of laundry sitting in my dryer and my extremely hungry teenagers. She has definitely been added to my must-read, favorite authors list and I can not wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Maureen Kilmer for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2023
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
"Hex Education" is the kind of book that wraps you in a cozy, magical blanket and transports you to a world where spells and suburban life mix and mingle. If you're looking for a fun and enchanting witchy read for the season, Maureen Kilmer's book is a good choice.
The story focuses on one character from a coven of witches who meet in college and have a spell go awry, which results in a fire that burns down their dorm and severely injures their RA, who later becomes our MC's sister-in-law. However, after 20 years our witches' magic starts to go haywire so they must come back together to figure out what's going on while trying to evade a noisy podcaster who thinks they know what happened that fateful night long ago.
This is not a rom-com as there is no romance, and the characters are older and established in their lives, but the other 2 witches seemed far more interesting than Sarah, our main character, who uses her magic to restock the deli meats, but we have a nice twist ending and a snarky cat, always a win in my book.
"Hex Education" is the kind of book that wraps you in a cozy, magical blanket and transports you to a world where spells and suburban life mix and mingle. If you're looking for a fun and enchanting witchy read for the season, Maureen Kilmer's book is a good choice.
The story focuses on one character from a coven of witches who meet in college and have a spell go awry, which results in a fire that burns down their dorm and severely injures their RA, who later becomes our MC's sister-in-law. However, after 20 years our witches' magic starts to go haywire so they must come back together to figure out what's going on while trying to evade a noisy podcaster who thinks they know what happened that fateful night long ago.
This is not a rom-com as there is no romance, and the characters are older and established in their lives, but the other 2 witches seemed far more interesting than Sarah, our main character, who uses her magic to restock the deli meats, but we have a nice twist ending and a snarky cat, always a win in my book.
September 20, 2023
Hex Education is a story about magic gone wrong and the consequences it creates. Sarah Nelson hasn't done anything but small magic in years until she reunites with her former coven members. Suddenly her magic is going crazy. Talking cats? Fun in theory but hard to hide. All Sarah has ever wanted is to have a loving family and now secrets from the past are putting that at risk. This story was entertaining. I enjoyed the magic and was intrigued to learn more about the past. I do with we had learned a bit more about the magic though. Are there other witches out there? I tend to prefer a book where there is a paranormal community. One of the most interesting parts to me was when Sarah finally talks to people about the past. I liked that not everyone had the reaction she expected. I recommend this one if you want a little magic and mystery thrown into your fall reading.
Thanks to Netgally, Putman books and Maureen Kilmer for letting me read this title early. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgally, Putman books and Maureen Kilmer for letting me read this title early. All opinions are my own.
October 15, 2023
I loved Maureen Kilmer’s debut novel, Suburban Hell, so I was very excited to read her sophomore novel! While I was entertain enough to finish Hex Education, I was definitely let down. It seemed to be missing a lot for me. I’ll start with what I did like about it though! I did like the writing and the characters. Especially Katy Purry. The author definitely knows how to take suburban family to a whole other level. So what was missing? The plot. There really was no plot for me. Where was the magic??? You have three witches and maybe 20 pages that included some sort of magic! Besides the cat being able to talk. If the writing was good then I definitely wouldn’t have finished it. But I will definitely read the author’s next novel.
October 18, 2023
A perfectly witchy read for October!! 🪄🧙♀️ that was entertaining while it lasted but wasn’t a standout for me!!
✨3 friends in college who realize they can be like Charmed in real life
✨magic gone wrong!!🫣
✨a suburban mom who uses magic to help with the little things in life - how nice would it be to have a kitchen that cleans itself?!
✨a podcaster coming around asking alll sorts of questions they want to keep hidden 🎙️
✨a talking cat named Katy Purry who sounds like she smokes 3 packs a day
✨funny!!
✨some social commentary on motherhood!
I found it super fun and liked the questions it made me think about - what would I use magic for? If I could have ONE wish what would it be? but it lacked some character development, background, and tension!!
✨3 friends in college who realize they can be like Charmed in real life
✨magic gone wrong!!🫣
✨a suburban mom who uses magic to help with the little things in life - how nice would it be to have a kitchen that cleans itself?!
✨a podcaster coming around asking alll sorts of questions they want to keep hidden 🎙️
✨a talking cat named Katy Purry who sounds like she smokes 3 packs a day
✨funny!!
✨some social commentary on motherhood!
I found it super fun and liked the questions it made me think about - what would I use magic for? If I could have ONE wish what would it be? but it lacked some character development, background, and tension!!
January 23, 2024
I loved the campy horror vibe of Kilmer's previous release, so I was hoping for the same here, but it didn't deliver. The blurb is a little misleading because you're not following a coven. It's three women who were friends in college, dabbled in witchcraft, and went their separate ways only to reunite twenty years later and have their magic go haywire. You're only following Sarah, who was pretty boring. The only highlight was her talking cat, Kitty Purry. I was hoping for fun, chaotic moments of spells going awry, but everything felt more serious than I was expecting. The ending was also pretty predictable. Kilmer's writing was easy to fly through, and I read this all in pretty much one sitting, but the plot was lackluster.
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