A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
Berkley, 2023
Agent: Jessica Watterson
Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?
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.
Reviews:
"Whimsically sexy, charmingly romantic, and magically hilarious. This book put a spell on me and bewitched me, body and soul!"—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of Loathe to Love You
"I loved A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon! It's the most utterly witchy sort of meet-cute, and I loved their banter. I loved the awkwardness of the relationship - what exactly does a witch do with a sexy demon that she's summoned? Romance readers know this answer. It was quirky, witty, and sexy all at once, and Oz is a delicious swoon-worthy hero. The small-town-with-magic setting is just as charming as the characters and made me want to visit Glimmer Falls. Highly, highly recommended for Nalini Singh fans who like a side of Charmed to their romance."—Jessica Clare, New York Times bestselling author of Go Hex Yourself
"Sarah Hawley makes an outstanding debut with A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon. Reading this book is like standing in the bright heart of magic. I laughed, I swooned, I sighed dreamily, often on the same page. It truly was a sparkling delight, and I can't wait to see what spell Hawley weaves for us next!"—India Holton, bestselling author of The League of Gentlewomen Witches
“…this romantic comedy is witty and fun, with plenty of humor balanced with the sexual tension between the protagonists.”—Library Journal
"Hawley delights in her humorous and romantic paranormal debut...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."—Publishers Weekly
“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.”—Booklist
“A delightful, smile-inducing romantic comedy between a witch and the demon she fake dates to save face in front of her demanding family, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is perfect for all fans of unlikely soulmates, banter galore, hilarious family dynamics and April Asher’s Not the Witch You Wed.”—The Nerd Daily
"If you're craving some witchy vibes or want all the feelings of a cozy romance, then this is it."—Culturess