5 Reasons to Read "A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love" by Ann Rose
- Kim Bartosch
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
I didn’t request this ARC (it may have landed with me by accident!), and it’s not my usual pick, but I’m always up for stretching my reading comfort zone. "A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love" is a slightly spooky paranormal romance about Pepper White, who’s cursed to appear only when the mysterious "Dead of Night" Halloween shop pops up each year, and Christina Loring, whose instant chemistry with Pepper might finally break the spell.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review—many thanks to the author, Berkley, and book tour sponsor Toppling Stacks Tours.
🎃 What it’s about
Each October, the Dead of Night store appears out of nowhere—then vanishes days after Halloween. People remember the shop, but forget Pepper, the woman bound to it by a curse…everyone except Christina. With only ten weeks together before memory fades, Pepper must decide whether to protect her heart or risk passing the curse to someone else in the name of love.
✨ Top 5 Reasons to Read It
1. 🛍️ A delightfully clever premise
A pop-up Halloween store that materializes overnight and a heroine tethered to its comings and goings? The concept is fresh, visual, and instantly seasonal. Even when I felt lukewarm overall, the Dead of Night backdrop kept me curious about how the curse mechanics would play out.
2. 💜 Sapphic chemistry with cozy-spooky vibes
Pepper and Christina spark right away, and the story leans warm rather than chilling. It’s the kind of October read you can pair with cider and twinkle lights—romantic tension, a dash of magic, and low gore.
3. ⏳ A ticking-clock romance (that kicks in after a slow start)
I found the first third slow—around 35% it was dragging for me—but once the story hits its stride, the ten-week countdown adds momentum. Readers who don’t mind easing into a world (and who appreciate a back-half payoff) may enjoy watching the stakes sharpen as the deadline approaches.
4. 🧩 A twist that begs for discussion
There’s a reveal late in the game. For me, it didn’t land—I even flipped back to check details and wished the book had led with it to raise emotional stakes earlier. But that very reaction makes it a conversation starter. If you read with a buddy or a book club, the “did this work for you?” debate is built in.
5. 📚 A solid rec for the right reader
This one ends up a net neutral read for me overall—not a new favorite, but not a miss either. I wouldn’t steer readers away, and I’d happily recommend it to patrons who love seasonal romances, gentle paranormal elements, and high-concept hooks. If that’s your lane, you’ll likely have fun here.
✅ What worked for me
The pop-up shop/curse concept is genuinely fun
Cozy October atmosphere; cute, low-grim tone
Romance energy improves as the deadline draws near
⚠️ What didn’t
Slow start; I wasn’t invested until after ~35%
The twist felt clever for clever’s sake and undercut early stakes
Moments of confusion that pulled me out of the story
📎 Verdict
If you’re craving a cozy, sapphic, Halloween-adjacent romance with a standout hook, A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love is worth a look—especially if you’re patient with a slow ramp and enjoy debriefing big reveals afterward. For my taste, it lands at a steady three stars: enjoyable in parts, uneven in execution, and easy to recommend to the right reader.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
ARC Disclosure: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Ann Rose, Berkley, and Toppling Stacks Tours.
About the book:
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Adult Romance
Publishing date: September 9, 2025
Rep: Sapphic, LGBT+
Synopsis:
In this slightly spooky paranormal romance, will two women finally break their curse and get the happily ever after they’ve fought for?
Each year, when no one is paying attention, The Dead of Night Halloween store appears in a new location with its giant sign and great low prices. No one sees them setting up or tearing down—one day it’s just there and then, two days after Halloween, it’s gone.
Pepper White knows exactly how this works. For five years, ever since the last Keeper of the Store tricked her, she has been cursed—appearing when the store does, and disappearing when it goes away. People will remember The Dead of Night, but they’ll completely forget Pepper. That is, until Christina Loring walks in the door. Their chemistry is instantaneous and, for the first time in five years, Pepper finds herself wishing for more time.
But how do you tell the girl you’re falling for that you’re cursed and that you only have ten weeks together before Christina forgets . . . everything? To have a chance at happily ever after, Pepper has to do the one thing she swore she wouldn’t—find the right treat to trick someone else into taking on the curse. But all’s fair in love and spells, and this spooky season, Pepper and Christina are ready to stir up trouble in the name of love.
About the author:
By day, Ann Rose is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. By night, she is a warrior of words, and is likely rewatching To Call the Midwife for the millionth time.
She grew up in California, lived in Florida for eight years, and now resides in Texas with her partner, two boys, and two polar opposite cats; one who loves everyone who walks in the door, and the other a beloved scaredy cat who’s afraid of his own shadow.
Ann writes stories with a lot of humor and heart. If you ask her, she will tell you she’s hilarious, but you can be the judge of that.
Her debut adult novel The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean is coming out 2024 from Penguin Random House.
Giveaway:
One (1) paperback of "A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love" by Ann Rose. USA Only, ends on October 12, 2025, at midnight EST.