witchbuns

Farah Heron, 2025

3.75 Stars but damn I want to give it more.

This was so close to a four-star or higher rating for me because it was escapist, it had a strong intelligent love interest, and the setting was a main character, a love letter to finding home and building joy in Toronto. Ruby is so authentically herself in enjoying the life she’s chosen to live and express passion for food, fine things, celebrations and Britlit addictions. Living in her head was uplifting and hopeful. Despite her father’s setbacks and her rootlessness, we see that she’s perfectly okay on her own. Having a female main character that isn’t disappointed or in her head when a dreamboat grump doesn’t connect with her – she almost shrugs and moves on? That’s a strong lead character. As her intended, Rashid is kind and loyal after he gets seasoned with Ruby joy, and we see a lot of growth for him, I believe at just the right pace. 

Where I wanted more was the establishing of Ruby as a charter in the beginning. Her nervous monologue in the meet cute with Rashid was too breezy for me as a starter, and I wanted to first fall for Ruby, understand her character more and her motivations, because she’s meeting a stranger in an unusual circumstance. I wish we’d maybe seen some dialogue with her and her friend group before we meet Rashid, because the energy she has with her friends is truly lovely and those parts of the book are so natural and they lift the story. Farah Heron has this beautifully connected world for her stories and you don’t need to read the previous books to jump in with the ensemble, although I highly recommend because she’s just an all-star writer. As Ruby and Rashid meet a few more times, I didn’t see enough chemistry in the enemies to lovers moments, because they were at such odds. I also wished for more buildup moments like a single kiss before they moved into the fling, so that we could have had a few more slow burn swoons, but that’s just my taste. I wonder if the balance of keeping Ruby so independent and looking ahead to her UK move came at the cost of seeing her hope and simmer for chemistry with Rahid. When they come together, it felt less earned to me, although they had become at that point highly compatible.

I recommend this book for rom com lovers who want a holiday feel-good. The third act is so strong, the best part of this book, as the setting changes and we see Ruby making the right choices. I loved the final pieces that Farah Heron laid out and the full resolution of the central conflicts. What a wonderful message that feels so heartfelt. Now we have even more characters to add to the Heron web, and I can’t wait to read new chapters. 

Overall maybe this book to me is more about independence than romance, and keeping that independence while you forge new connections and trust the people that have been earning your confidence along the way. Those parts were strongest, and I just needed a few more gingerbread kisses and stolen glances. 

Thank you to Farah Heron, Forever, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.