I had been seeing praise for A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating around and when my hold came through, I picked it up! Instead of letting it lapse or deliver later which has been my bad habit. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts on A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a cute fantasy romance!
Summary
Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.
Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).
But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.
Review
I will always love supernatural fake dating and A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating is a cute story which tackles self-worth and complex families. While the witchy supernatural elements are very cute – I love the idea of a demon plane and demon bargains are always a favorite of mine – the characters were the spotlight. To see how Mariel has to figure out how to establish boundaries with her family and her mother especially.
To figure out that people who treat us badly, even if they’re family, are not worth it. We too often get wrapped up in pleasing our family. Of allowing their voices to haunt us at night. So for Marisol, she not only has to fight for recognition for her magic, but also her limitations and boundaries with her family. And for Ozroth, who is basically immortal, he has to figure out what’s worth living for. Because living and existing are different things entirely.
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A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is cute and heartwarming. It serves up grumpy versus sunshine vibes with some fantastic best friends. There’s plenty of scenes of ‘feels denying’ where they cannot, no definitely not, be falling. Find A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.