A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Mariel has always been told "the wind, earth, and stars" predicted she was going to be the strongest witch in generations of her wealthy family famed for strong magic, a forecast that makes her failure to master magic even more disappointing. Her overbearing mother refuses to fund her sorcery doctorate in magical herbology until she masters teleportation. After an exploding-chicken kitchen disaster, Mariel accidentally summons Ozroth the Ruthless. He is a gorgeous demon, once known for his prowess in bargaining for human souls but brought low by a wily human. When her mother pops in to check on how Mariel's summoning practice has gone, Mariel, flustered, says that Ozroth is her boyfriend. Stuck in the human world until he can work out a trade for Mariel's soul, Ozroth is drawn into Mariel's fight against the mayor's plan to tear up a beloved forest to build a luxury resort. Hawley's delightful debut is a welcome addition to the witchy rom-com genre with its ecological flavor, fresh take on the demon realm with a fascinating cosmology, and enticing secondary characters who deserve their own stories.

Hawley delights in her humorous and romantic paranormal debut about soul bargains, self-fulfillment, and family dysfunction. Mariel Spark grew up in the shadow of her mother, Diantha, the matriarch of an extremely powerful line of witches. Diantha is unimpressed by Mariel's innate nature magic and demands Mariel practice summoning spells. This leads to baker Mariel flopping a spell to summon flour and instead summoning Ozroth the Ruthless, a demon renowned for raking in mortal souls. This would be terrifying, except Oz recently accidentally acquired a mortal soul and feelings himself, which soon revolve around Mariel's smile, generous curves, and adoration for all things that grow. Due to some supernatural fine print, Oz can't leave until he's made a bargain for Mariel's soul, which Mariel is not about to give up, so to explain his lingering presence to her friends and family, the pair agree to claim they're in a relationship. As they grow closer, they come to understand each other's heartbreaking histories and become determined to fight for their love. Hawley ably navigates life and love among toxic family members, fantastical chaos, and small-town politics--with some steamy scenes and plenty of dad jokes along the way. This is a treat. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Mar.)

Set in a modern and magical Pacific Northwest, Hawley's hilarious and heartbreaking debut kicks off when Mariel Spark, prophesied to be the most powerful witch her family has seen in centuries, calls a demon after a botched attempt at summoning flour. Ozroth the Ruthless is a demon with a powerful reputation as a bargainer. However, his reputation is in jeopardy after a deal gone awry, and he needs to strike a deal with Mariel to redeem himself. The characters are forced into proximity and get stuck fake dating after Mariel, terrified of her mother's judgment, announces that the two are actually a couple. Narrator Helen Laser masterfully captures the wit and tenderness of Hawley's prose, and she breathes life into the eclectic cast of characters in the novel. Listeners will appreciate the multifaceted nature of the story, not only as a romance but also in its exploration of the power of friendship, setting boundaries with toxic people, and even the importance of preserving the environment. VERDICT Fans of Mary Janice Davidson will feel at home in this paranormal rom-com romp, but the complex themes also give it broader appeal for listeners who prefer multilayered romance.--Ashlynne Watson

*Starred Review* Mariel has always been told "the wind, earth, and stars" predicted she was going to be the strongest witch in generations of her wealthy family famed for strong magic, a forecast that makes her failure to master magic even more disappointing. Her overbearing mother refuses to fund her sorcery doctorate in magical herbology until she masters teleportation. After an exploding-chicken kitchen disaster, Mariel accidentally summons Ozroth the Ruthless. He is a gorgeous demon, once known for his prowess in bargaining for human souls but brought low by a wily human. When her mother pops in to check on how Mariel's summoning practice has gone, Mariel, flustered, says that Ozroth is her boyfriend. Stuck in the human world until he can work out a trade for Mariel's soul, Ozroth is drawn into Mariel's fight against the mayor's plan to tear up a beloved forest to build a luxury resort. Hawley's delightful debut is a welcome addition to the witchy rom-com genre with its ecological flavor, fresh take on the demon realm with a fascinating cosmology, and enticing secondary characters who deserve their own stories. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

Mariel Spark is a witch, albeit a lousy one. One day, while trying to summon a bag of flour during baking, Mariel mixes up her words and instead summons the demon Ozroth the Ruthless. Now she has a demon in her kitchen, and he won't leave until she gives him her soul. Ozroth's last bargain with a tricky wizard backfired, planting the wizard's soul into Ozroth, who previously had none. Now he's stuck with this imperfection that makes him feel things. Mariel is powerful, and Ozroth realizes that by taking her soul he might reclaim his reputation after the wizard debacle. His new soul has other ideas, however, and starts to fall for the quirky witch instead. But as Mariel and Ozroth fall in love, there's still that pesky matter of a soul trade to deal with. VERDICT While Hawley confronts the emotional and verbal abuse that Mariel has endured from her family, overall this romantic comedy is witty and fun, with plenty of humor balanced with the sexual tension between the protagonists.—Heather Miller Cover

Hawley delights in her humorous and romantic paranormal debut about soul bargains, self-fulfillment, and family dysfunction. Mariel Spark grew up in the shadow of her mother, Diantha, the matriarch of an extremely powerful line of witches. Diantha is unimpressed by Mariel's innate nature magic and demands Mariel practice summoning spells. This leads to baker Mariel flopping a spell to summon flour and instead summoning Ozroth the Ruthless, a demon renowned for raking in mortal souls. This would be terrifying, except Oz recently accidentally acquired a mortal soul and feelings himself, which soon revolve around Mariel's smile, generous curves, and adoration for all things that grow. Due to some supernatural fine print, Oz can't leave until he's made a bargain for Mariel's soul, which Mariel is not about to give up, so to explain his lingering presence to her friends and family, the pair agree to claim they're in a relationship. As they grow closer, they come to understand each other's heartbreaking histories and become determined to fight for their love. Hawley ably navigates life and love among toxic family members, fantastical chaos, and small-town politics—with some steamy scenes and plenty of dad jokes along the way. This is a treat. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Mar.)