witchbuns

Ana Holguin, 2025

3.75 Stars for strong women

I was excited about this book from the Smart Romance substack which had an author Q&A, but it didn’t give me fireworks and super swoon, although Silas wins the award for the hottest damn tattoo I’ve ever seen in a love story. 

I’m divided on this book because I did appreciate Anna Hoguin’s development and pacing, and the world of her celebrity was really grounded – this was stronger than a different book I read recently about cycle instructors. The way Jo and Silas fall in love was very believable because we understood their common values (this is not code for traditional or conservative) from their families and how they feel attached to their hometowns while also running from them. It was very well conceptualized how they would meet and interact, and I was very happy that Jo was just a stone cold fox. Bonus points for real Latina representation, somos gente. 

Where I held back was was the set up and reinforced miscommunication trope that is very plain in the first few chapters. It was challenging to feel attached to their love story when you knew the exact scene that would break them up. I also found his cynicism in the beginning to be a turnoff. Although they did find a connection that built up believably, there’s a world where Jo doesn’t need a nerd hipster, because she would eat him for lunch.

I say yes to Anna Holguin because I want to read other stories by her, and yes I love Peloton, but I want a stronger male (or female or nb) counterpart to my queens.