Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Title: Review: How to Hang a Witch

Series: How to Hang a Witch #1

Author: Adriana Mather

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 2017

Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Salem, Massachusetts, is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials—and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves the Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?

If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real, live (well, technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries-old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with the Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.

My rating: ★★★★★

I was very excited to read this book! I loved the premise of the Salem Witch Trials and the involvement of curse and I just really enjoyed the book overall! That love triangle though? Oof, no thank you. 😬

Since I mentioned the love triangle, let’s start off with one of the love interests, Jaxon, Sam’s neighbor. He was very sweet and charming, funny, and protective, but in a non-suffocating way. For example, his offer to take on some guy together:

“You want me to hit that clown? I’ll hit him.”
“No. I can hit him myself.”
“Yeah, I saw that. Come on, we’ll both hit him. You take his fat head, I'll get the rest of him”

Lol. He also had a little touch of arrogance, which I love when done right, as was the case here! And then he and Sam had a very awkward first interaction and I loved it! They were so cute! 😍

And then we met the dark, broody, hot ghost. Sigh. Not gonna lie, I didn’t hate him—He was very moody in the beginning, but he also had his sweet moments. AND he has freaking dimples the rare times he smiles! 😍 I’m sorry, I just love a guy with dimples. Lol. HOWEVER, I did hate the love triangle, as I always do. They are the just the worst and you can’t change my mind 😒 And they especially suck when both guys are likable in their own way. Oh and then the instalove vibes I was getting from her and Elijah... That’s more "ughs" from me, pal 😐

I did like Sam herself though. She was very snarky, which was fun, but she was also smart. At one point she actually goes to get help from an adult! Jaxon’s mom to be specific. She is very sweet, but I just really love his family in general. Lol

So, the story. Basically there are some descendants of the witches who were hanged back in the day that go to Sam’s school. Sam herself is descended from the guy who ORDERED them to hang! 😲 Man, that’s tough. I really liked the interactions between the characters and the sort-of-but-not-really relationship they developed in order to work together to break this curse. It was good!

The climax was insane! The plot twist didn’t surprise me, but it actually didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book because it was just so interesting and crazy! It was really messed up! What happened in the past was also very messed up 😬

I really loved this book! It had an interesting story and characters, plus I really loved the setting! And the magic. Also loved that. Lol. The one thing I hated was the love triangle. Ugh! I have a strong preference for Jaxon, so if the relationship doesn’t end up that way in the next book, I’m not gonna be happy. He is such a sweetheart! But besides that unfortunate love triangle, it was a great book!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊