Plot Summary
The Wrong Job Interview
Regina "Reggie" Johnson, a meticulous, control-loving Spellcraft card game fan, arrives at a mysterious Victorian house for a job interview. Expecting a quirky gaming company, she's instead greeted by Lisa, a pregnant assistant, and led through a house filled with oddities—herbs, crystals, and jars of strange things. The interview grows increasingly bizarre, with questions about star signs and crystal affinities. Reggie meets the stern, intimidating Ben Magnus, who seems to dislike her instantly. The job, she learns, is not for a gaming company but as a "familiar" for a real witch, Ms. Drusilla Magnus. The pay is astronomical, but the reality is unsettling. Reggie's skepticism and need for control clash with the house's chaos and the family's eccentricities, setting the stage for a life-changing decision.
Witchy Revelations and Contracts
Reggie is thrown into a world she doesn't believe in, surrounded by people who take witchcraft seriously. Ben, fiercely protective of his aunt Dru, argues against hiring Reggie, fearing she'll be a liability. Dru, however, insists, and Reggie is offered a live-in position with a magical contract—signed not on an iPad, but on a literal stone tablet. The job's true nature is revealed: she's to be a witch's familiar, a conduit for magical power. Reggie's disbelief is met with a mix of exasperation and amusement. The family's dysfunction and the magical world's rules become clear, and Reggie, motivated by the life-changing salary, agrees to stay, even as she senses she's in over her head.
Roommates, Warnings, and Worries
Reggie returns home to her best friend and roommate, Nick, to share the news. Nick is skeptical and worried, warning her about scams and her tendency to be used by others—especially her manipulative parents. Reggie promises not to get involved with her parents' troubles, but old wounds linger. She moves into Dru's house, comforted by Dru's grandmotherly warmth but unsettled by the house's oddities and the presence of Ben, who is both infuriating and magnetic. The job's strangeness grows, but Reggie's need for stability and control keeps her from running, even as she wonders if she's made a mistake.
Settling In, Spying Out
As Reggie settles into her new role, she's both charmed and unnerved by Dru's eccentricities and the house's magical quirks. Ben, away at a warlock conference, uses magic to spy on Reggie, convinced she's a threat. He's surprised by her loneliness and her instinctive reactions to magical energy, even as she remains skeptical. Meanwhile, Reggie struggles with the house's chaos, her own doubts, and the ever-present sense that she's being watched. Both she and Ben are drawn to each other, their mutual suspicion slowly giving way to curiosity and reluctant respect.
Potions, Power, and Proof
Ben returns, determined to force Reggie to confront the reality of magic. He orchestrates a demonstration: Reggie assists Dru in making a healing potion, acting as a magical conduit. The experience is overwhelming—Reggie is drained of energy and faints, her skepticism shaken. Ben, unexpectedly protective, cares for her, and both are left unsettled by the intensity of the magical connection. The lines between reality and fantasy blur for Reggie, and Ben's feelings grow more complicated as he sees her vulnerability and strength.
Magic's Price and Awakening
Reggie awakens, physically and emotionally drained, and begins to accept that magic might be real. She's tasked with gathering bizarre spell components, leading her to Penny, an exuberant would-be familiar who becomes a friend. Penny's belief in magic and her envy of Reggie's position deepen Reggie's confusion. Meanwhile, Ben grapples with his own conscience, haunted by the consequences of his magic and his growing attraction to Reggie. The magical world's dangers become more apparent, and Reggie's skepticism is replaced by a wary openness.
Shopping for Spells
Reggie's errand for spell components introduces her to the wider magical community and the Society of Familiars. Penny's longing for purpose and her instant bond with Reggie highlight the loneliness and competition among familiars. Reggie's outsider status makes her both an object of envy and suspicion. The magical world is revealed as insular, hierarchical, and full of unspoken rules. Reggie's sense of belonging grows, but so does her awareness of the risks and rivalries that come with her new life.
New Friends, Old Fears
Reggie's friendship with Penny offers comfort, but her Friday night with Nick and his new boyfriend leaves her feeling more alone than ever. The contrast between Nick's happiness and her own uncertainty deepens her sense of displacement. Returning to Dru's house, Reggie finds herself drawn to Ben, their banter laced with tension and unspoken desire. The magical world's dangers loom larger, and Reggie's fears about curses and betrayal intensify, even as her connection to Ben grows.
Friday Night Loneliness
As Reggie and Ben's relationship deepens, so do the obstacles between them. Ben's reputation as a dangerous warlock precedes him, and rumors swirl about his past. Reggie's parents resurface, threatening her hard-won independence. The magical community's suspicion and the ever-present threat of curses create a sense of siege. Amidst it all, Reggie and Ben find solace in each other, their shared loneliness and longing drawing them together, even as old wounds and new dangers threaten to pull them apart.
Curses, Coincidences, and Confrontations
When Dru's former familiars are revealed to be cursed, suspicion falls on Ben. Reggie's trust is tested as she confronts the possibility that Ben is not only dangerous but responsible for the misfortunes around them. The magical community's judgment is harsh, and Reggie's own doubts threaten to destroy the fragile bond she and Ben have built. A confrontation at a warlock party brings tensions to a head, forcing Reggie to choose between loyalty and self-preservation.
The Truth About Magic
The search for answers leads Reggie and Ben to a reclusive warlock, Abernathy, whose spell points the finger at Ben as the source of Dru's curse. Reggie, exhausted and overwhelmed, flees, convinced she's been betrayed. Both are left shattered—Ben by the loss of the one person who believed in him, Reggie by the realization that she may have made a terrible mistake. The truth, when it comes, is both simpler and more complicated than either imagined.
Lunch with Rivals
Reggie is thrust into the world of magical high society, facing off against Dru's rivals and enduring the scorn of other familiars. The lunch is a battleground of status, power, and veiled threats, but Reggie's resilience and wit shine through. She learns that the magical world is as petty and political as any other, and that her outsider status is both a liability and a strength. The experience steels her resolve and deepens her commitment to Dru and Ben.
Library Chaos and Confessions
Reggie's attempts to bring order to Dru's chaotic library mirror her struggle to make sense of her new life. Ben's interference—moving books to keep her from finishing—reveals his own fear of abandonment and his growing attachment to Reggie. Their confessions, both spoken and unspoken, lay bare their vulnerabilities. The library becomes a symbol of their relationship: messy, complicated, but full of potential.
Scrying, Spying, and Danger
Dru sends Reggie on a dangerous spying mission, arming her with a magical ring that transforms her into a cat. The experience is both exhilarating and terrifying, culminating in a narrow escape from a vicious dog. The ordeal leaves Reggie shaken and vulnerable, forcing her to confront the reality of magic's dangers. Ben's rescue is both a turning point and a deepening of their bond, as they care for each other in the aftermath.
Cat's-Eye View
Reggie's time as a cat is a revelation—magic is real, and so are its consequences. The experience strips away her last doubts and leaves her physically and emotionally exposed. Ben's care and protectiveness in the aftermath cement their connection, even as both struggle with the implications of their feelings. The magical world is no longer a game; it's a place of real peril and real passion.
Rescue, Recovery, and Realizations
In the wake of her ordeal, Reggie and Ben share a night of vulnerability and honesty. They confess their fears, their pasts, and their hopes for the future. The barriers between them fall away, replaced by a deepening trust and affection. The magical world's dangers remain, but together, they find the strength to face them. Their relationship, once fraught with suspicion and misunderstanding, becomes a source of healing and hope.
Card Games and Connections
Reggie and Ben's shared love of Spellcraft becomes a metaphor for their relationship: strategic, competitive, and full of surprises. Their card games are both a refuge and a battleground, a place where they can be themselves and test each other's limits. The intimacy of play deepens their connection, and their banter is laced with affection and desire. The magical world's chaos recedes, replaced by the simple joy of being together.
Jealousy, Joy, and Judgments
A visit to Gwen, Ben's former lover and a sex witch, stirs up jealousy and insecurity for Reggie. The encounter forces both to confront their feelings and the baggage they carry. Gwen's insights and provocations push Reggie and Ben closer, their passion ignited by the realization that they want—and need—each other. The magical world's judgments fade in the face of their growing love.
The Curse Mystery Deepens
Ben and Reggie attend a high-stakes magical party, seeking answers from the reclusive Abernathy. The event is a gauntlet of suspicion, gossip, and social maneuvering, with Ben's reputation on the line. Reggie's loyalty and courage are tested as she stands up for Ben, defying the magical elite. The party becomes a crucible, forging their bond in the face of adversity and setting the stage for the final confrontation with the truth.
Party of Power
Abernathy's spell, meant to reveal the source of Dru's curse, instead points to Ben. The magical community's suspicion turns to condemnation, and Reggie, exhausted and heartbroken, flees. Both are left to grapple with the fallout—Ben with the loss of the woman he loves, Reggie with the realization that she may have misjudged him. The party's aftermath is a reckoning, forcing both to confront their deepest fears and desires.
The Blame Game
Reggie, wracked with guilt and doubt, seeks refuge with Nick, her oldest friend. Ben, devastated by her departure, is left to pick up the pieces. Both are forced to confront their pasts and the patterns that have shaped them. When they finally reunite, their confessions are raw and honest, and forgiveness becomes possible. Their love, tested by betrayal and misunderstanding, emerges stronger and more resilient.
Running, Regret, and Reunion
Reggie and Ben's reunion is a catharsis, a chance to lay bare their wounds and begin anew. They confront the patterns of mistrust and self-sabotage that have haunted them, vowing to break the cycle. Their love is no longer tentative or conditional; it is a choice, made in the face of fear and uncertainty. Together, they return to Dru's house, determined to solve the mystery and reclaim their future.
Dru's Deception Revealed
The truth behind Dru's curse is finally revealed: she orchestrated the entire ordeal as a matchmaking scheme, faking her own magical coma to force Ben and Reggie together. The revelation is both infuriating and liberating, as the couple realizes they were always meant to find each other. Dru's meddling, while manipulative, is rooted in love and a desire to see Ben happy. The family's wounds begin to heal, and the magical world's chaos gives way to a new sense of belonging.
Healing, Hope, and Home
With Dru awake and the truth out, Ben and Reggie are free to build a life together. They confront their pasts, set boundaries with toxic family, and embrace the messy, magical future ahead. Their love, forged in adversity, becomes a source of strength and joy. The magical world, once a place of danger and suspicion, is now a home—full of challenges, but also of hope, healing, and endless possibility.
Analysis
Go Hex Yourself is a witty, heartfelt, and subversive romance that uses the trappings of magical fantasy to explore deeply human themes: trust, vulnerability, and the longing for belonging. At its core, the novel is about the ways we sabotage ourselves—through mistrust, self-doubt, and the legacies of trauma—and the courage it takes to break those cycles. Reggie and Ben's journey is both a love story and a story of healing, as they confront the wounds of their pasts and learn to risk intimacy. The magical world, with its rules and rivalries, serves as a metaphor for the barriers we erect to protect ourselves, and the dangers of letting others define our worth. The novel's humor, warmth, and sharp dialogue make its emotional truths all the more resonant. Jessica Clare's message is clear: love is messy, magic is real, and the only way to find home is to risk being seen, flaws and all. In a world that prizes power and perfection, Go Hex Yourself is a celebration of imperfection, resilience, and the transformative power of connection.
Review Summary
Go Hex Yourself receives mixed reviews, with readers split between loving and hating it. Fans praise the enemies-to-lovers romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamic, witty banter, and steamy scenes between Reggie and Ben. The witchy magic system and quirky characters like Aunt Dru receive positive mentions. Critics cite excessive explicit content, flat characters, problematic consent issues (voyeurism scenes), and poor pacing. Many reviewers identify it as published Reylo fanfiction, with character similarities to Star Wars. The spice level is notably high, surprising some readers expecting lighter fare from the illustrated cover.
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Characters
Regina "Reggie" Johnson
Reggie is a fiercely organized, anxious, and deeply loyal woman whose life has been shaped by unreliable, manipulative parents and a constant need for control. Her journey from skeptic to believer is marked by vulnerability, resilience, and a longing for belonging. As Dru's familiar, she's thrust into a world she doesn't believe in, forced to confront her fears and open herself to magic—and love. Her relationship with Ben is both a source of healing and a test of trust, as she learns to let go of old patterns and embrace the messiness of real connection. Reggie's growth is defined by her willingness to face her own flaws, fight for those she loves, and claim her place in a world that once seemed closed to her.
Ben Magnus
Ben is a powerful, centuries-old warlock burdened by a reputation for ruthlessness and a history of loss. Raised by neglectful parents and shaped by trauma, he's fiercely protective of his aunt Dru and deeply suspicious of outsiders. His initial hostility toward Reggie masks a profound loneliness and a longing for connection. Ben's journey is one of vulnerability—learning to trust, to forgive, and to accept love. His relationship with Reggie challenges his self-image and forces him to confront the darkness in his past. Ultimately, Ben's arc is one of redemption, as he finds in Reggie not just a partner, but a reason to hope and a home he never thought possible.
Drusilla "Dru" Magnus
Dru is a two-thousand-year-old witch whose eccentricities mask a sharp mind and a deep well of love for her family. Both grandmotherly and cunning, she orchestrates much of the story's drama, manipulating events to bring Ben and Reggie together. Her history is one of survival, adaptation, and a refusal to be defined by loss. Dru's relationship with Ben is maternal and fiercely protective, while her bond with Reggie is both nurturing and challenging. Her actions, though sometimes infuriating, are rooted in a desire to see her loved ones happy and whole. Dru embodies the paradoxes of the magical world: chaos and order, tradition and change, love and manipulation.
Lisa
Lisa is Dru's former familiar, now pregnant and preparing for motherhood. She's the steady, grounding presence in the household, offering support and perspective to both Reggie and Ben. Lisa's own history with magic is marked by mistakes and growth, and her friendship with Reggie is a source of comfort and guidance. Her role as a bridge between the magical and mundane worlds highlights the importance of community and the value of second chances.
Penny
Penny is a would-be familiar, brimming with enthusiasm and longing for purpose. Her friendship with Reggie is immediate and genuine, offering a glimpse of the magical world's possibilities and pitfalls. Penny's outsider status and relentless optimism make her both endearing and vulnerable. Her journey is one of patience and hope, as she waits for her chance to belong and make a difference.
Nick
Nick is Reggie's best friend and former roommate, a source of unwavering support and tough love. His own struggles with career and self-worth mirror Reggie's, and his relationship with her is a model of chosen family. Nick's skepticism about magic and his concern for Reggie's well-being ground the story in reality, even as the magical world encroaches. His romance with Diego offers a counterpoint to Reggie's journey, highlighting the importance of trust, communication, and self-acceptance.
Gwen
Gwen is a former familiar and sex witch whose presence stirs up jealousy and insecurity for Reggie. Her unapologetic embrace of pleasure and power challenges the story's norms and forces Reggie and Ben to confront their own desires and boundaries. Gwen's history with Ben is a reminder of the magical world's complexities and the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Willem
Willem is a fellow warlock and Ben's reluctant ally, embodying the magical world's rivalries and shifting alliances. His own struggles with finding a familiar and navigating magical society mirror Ben's, and his interactions with Reggie and Penny highlight the challenges of trust and belonging. Willem's pragmatism and wit offer both comic relief and a foil to Ben's intensity.
Reggie's Parents
Reggie's parents are a constant source of pain and conflict, embodying the patterns of betrayal and abandonment that shape her fears. Their reappearances force Reggie to confront her past, set boundaries, and claim her own worth. Their role in the story is both a cautionary tale and a catalyst for Reggie's growth.
Maurice
Maurice is more than just a pet—he's a former familiar trapped in feline form, offering comic relief and a reminder of magic's unpredictability. His interactions with Reggie and Ben are both mischievous and meaningful, highlighting the story's themes of transformation, acceptance, and the search for home.
Plot Devices
Magical Realism and the Unseen World
The story's central device is the collision of the mundane and the magical. Reggie's skepticism is gradually eroded by undeniable experiences—potions, curses, transformations—that force her to accept a reality beyond her control. The magical world is both alluring and dangerous, full of rules, rivalries, and hidden histories. The use of magical contracts, scrying, and spell components grounds the fantasy in tangible details, while the ever-present threat of curses and betrayal raises the stakes. The narrative structure alternates between Reggie and Ben's perspectives, allowing for dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and deep psychological insight. The story's twists—Dru's self-imposed curse, Abernathy's misfired spell, the true nature of the familiar's role—are seeded early and pay off in moments of revelation and catharsis.
