Hopelessly Teavoted
A Novel
Published on 16. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-1-6680-6832-8 (ISBN)
Description
After the deaths of his parents, a witch returns to his spooky family manor and joins forces with his former crush when his parents' spirits warn them of a sinister threat in this witty and lyrically unique rom-com in the vein of The Crescent Moon Tearoom and The Ex Hex.
Azrael Ashmedai Hart must be cursed. He's a witch twice named for the devil. He's making his way back to his family manor in Hallowcross after a failed screenwriting career. He's adopted a cat he's allergic to, and if all of that is not enough, he's also forced to come face-to-face with his childhood best friend and former crush.
Victoria Starnberger, the bubbly girl-next-door Az lost touch with after an awkward incident in college, has just been disowned by her parents for quitting business school and buying Azrael's late parents' Hopelessly Teavoted tea shop against their wishes. Being cut off financially is one thing. But, now Vickie also owes a lesser devil for the souls her parents promised him in exchange for her gift to summon the dead by touching something they treasured in life, destroying the object in the process.
When spirits all over town, including Az's parents, keeping warning her about a sinister threat, Vickie and Az are forced to combine their powers to save the Hallowcross. But to do so, they must prevent her magic from immolating him after Vickie's devil places a curse on them to keep them from touching until she repays her debt. As they race against the clock to find clever ways around their curse, they find it increasingly harder to deny that they've been hopelessly devoted to each other all along.
Azrael Ashmedai Hart must be cursed. He's a witch twice named for the devil. He's making his way back to his family manor in Hallowcross after a failed screenwriting career. He's adopted a cat he's allergic to, and if all of that is not enough, he's also forced to come face-to-face with his childhood best friend and former crush.
Victoria Starnberger, the bubbly girl-next-door Az lost touch with after an awkward incident in college, has just been disowned by her parents for quitting business school and buying Azrael's late parents' Hopelessly Teavoted tea shop against their wishes. Being cut off financially is one thing. But, now Vickie also owes a lesser devil for the souls her parents promised him in exchange for her gift to summon the dead by touching something they treasured in life, destroying the object in the process.
When spirits all over town, including Az's parents, keeping warning her about a sinister threat, Vickie and Az are forced to combine their powers to save the Hallowcross. But to do so, they must prevent her magic from immolating him after Vickie's devil places a curse on them to keep them from touching until she repays her debt. As they race against the clock to find clever ways around their curse, they find it increasingly harder to deny that they've been hopelessly devoted to each other all along.
Reviews / Votes
"Ruoff's debut is a magical rom-com full of hijinks, featuring an eclectic cast of characters in a quirky small town and a slow-burn romance to savor." * <B><i>Library Journal</i></B> * "A witchy romance with cozy vibes, a cursed heroine, and just the right amount of spice. What more could you ask for?" -- <B>Kami Garcia, #1 <I>New York Times</I> bestselling coauthor of <I>Beautiful Creatures </I></B> "Hopelessly Teavoted is a romantic, devilish delight. With wit, flair, and a quirky friends to lovers couple, this book is just the right mix of sweet, steamy, and swoony." -- <B>Gwenda Bond, <I>New York Times</I> bestselling author of <I>The Frame-Up</I></B> "Hopelessly Teavoted is a colorful, sweet, and swoony debut that makes you feel like it's spooky season all year round! This tender friends-to-lovers romance scorches with yearning and sexual tension, with a unique, paranormal twist. Audrey Goldberg Ruoff writes with all the whimsy, sparkles, and heart to create a magical world readers will want to sink into with a warm cup of tea of their own. I can't wait for everyone to fall under its spell!" -- <B>Mallory Marlowe, <I>USA Today</I> bestselling author of <I>Love and Other Conspiracies</I></B> "If you're looking for Pushing Daisies vibes, a cozy Stars Hollow-esque setting, and the weird, loving family dynamics of the Addams Family, Hopelessly Teavoted is the perfect romance for you. It gave me things I didn't even know to want-like you've heard of a they take the gloves off scene, but have you ever heard of one where they leave the gloves on? With her warm, assured voice, Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is an absolute star." -- <B>Alicia Thompson, <I>USA Today</I> bestselling author of <I>Never Been Shipped</I></B> "The perfect magical read, Hopelessly Teavoted is full of charm and yearning and so much witchy fun! Audrey Goldberg Ruoff's debut belongs on everyone's TBR!" -- <B>Brigid Kemmerer, <I>New York Times</I> bestselling author of <I>Warrior Princess Assassin </I></B> "A delightfully funny romance filled with heartwarming humor and heartfelt charm, Hopelessly Teavoted delivers a perfect love story with a side of tender, heart-wrenching thoughtfulness about grief, healing, and how to make the most of second chances." -- <B>Laura R. Samotin, author of <i>The Sins On Their Bones</i></B> "Hopelessly Teavoted is a steamy, gothy, whimsical small-town romance full of heart!" -- <B>Jen Comfort, author of <i>What Is Love?</i></B> "Hopelessly Teavoted is a flirty and supernaturally charged romance filled with serious yearning and bite. Readers eager for a tenderhearted and tantalizing read decked out with Gothic goodness and sensual banter will definitely add Hopelessly Teavoted to their TBR pile. Goldberg Ruoff through her whimsical prose shows that grief can make way for hope and the best love can feel like a never-ending enchantment." -- <b>Celestine Martin, author of <i>Witchful Thinking, Kiss and Spell </i>and <i>Deja Brew</i></b> "Whimsical, horny, and-despite its macabre premise-heartwarmingly optimistic, Hopelessly Teavoted is a thoroughly charming debut. Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is an exciting new voice in romance, and I can't wait to see what magical world she cooks up next." -- <b>Rachel Runya Katz, author of <I>Whenever You're Ready</I>and <i>Isn't It Obvious?</i></b>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 204 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
287 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6680-6832-8 (9781668068328)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2025
Atria Books
€11.86
Available for download
Person
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is a former high school English and journalism teacher who taught with the enthusiasm of Valerie Frizzle, but for secondary education. She lives in a suburb of Washington, DC, with her spouse, her kids, a scrappy but loyal little dog, and a witchy black cat. Hopelessly Teavoted is her debut novel.