LOVING A WITCH IS TOTALLY FOOLISH (Total Chaos 2) by Aura Hayes-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 15, 2026

Ava McGuire should be dealing with moving on after her devastating breakup. Instead, she’s been thrust into the world of paranormal. As if learning that your best friend is mated to a serial killer vampire wasn’t bad enough, she learns she has her own vampire mate.

Valen has been held prisoner for longer than he can fathom. The human world is vastly different than the one he was taken from centuries ago. For starters, there are tall buildings and places that claim to make your lunch in under five minutes. He’s having to relearn the world around him while navigating the complicated urge to claim his mate while also being wary of touch after being held captive.

Ava and Valen, with the help of their friends, are trying to get to the bottom of what’s really going on in Chicago. All the rain, all the paranormals showing up, and what was the true reason Valen was taken all those years ago?

Ava herself just might be the key to it all. Turns out, she’s not some simple human, she’s the last of the line of one of the most powerful witch families to ever exist.

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Julie’s Review 🦋: I went into Loving A Witch Is Totally Foolish expecting chaos, spice, and laughs after falling hard for the first book and wow, it delivered all that and then some. This one felt even warmer and more emotionally satisfying than Loving a Vampire Is Total Chaos, and I devoured it in basically one sitting because I could not put it down.

Ava is such a lovable mess. She’s still raw from a crappy breakup, trying to process the fact that her best friend is now mated to a (former? Not really 😂) serial killer vampire, and suddenly she’s tossed headfirst into the paranormal world with her own fated mate showing up. She’s cheeky, bubbly, and sarcastic when she needs to be, she has this incredible resilience that makes you root for her from page one. Watching her discover she’s not just some ordinary human, but the last of a powerful witch bloodline was exciting.

Then there’s Valen. Oh my heart, Valen. This man has been through absolute hell, centuries of captivity, and yet he’s this curious, attentive, gentle giant who’s trying to navigate modern Chicago (fast food! skyscrapers!) while battling his instincts to claim his mate and his deep wariness of touch.

The way he and Ava navigate that trauma together is so tender and healing. He’s a virgin MMC (sigh) sweet, a little awkward at first, but incredibly devoted once he opens up. Their banter is playful and flirty, the forced proximity and fated mates tension is 🤌🏻, and the spice? Let’s just say it’s noticeably hotter and more frequent than book one 😜

What I loved most was how the book balances the romcom lightness with darker threads. The found family from book one is back and even stronger here, the Chicago mystery (all that rain, the surge of paranormals, Valen’s kidnapping) keeps you guessing, and there’s genuine tension without tipping into really scary territory. It still feels like a fun, hilarious escape, but with more heart and depth in the character arcs.

The “dark” in this dark romcom mostly lives in the backstory and the larger plot, Valen’s past, the threats building around them, while the romance itself is surprisingly soft, hopeful, and giggle inducing. 😝

If you loved the unhinged sunshine energy of the first book, this one shifts gears a bit toward a sweeter, more protective dynamic while keeping the witty dialogue and chaotic paranormal vibes alive. When Valen starts showing his “don’t touch my mate” vibe, I did squeal. It’s the kind of story that makes you kick your feet, laugh out loud, get a little teary during the vulnerable moments, and immediately start counting down to book three.

So, if you’re in the mood for fated mates, vampire x witch, healing trauma through love, found family, and a perfect mix of spice, humor, and mystery, this is an absolute treat.

Valen and Ava are precious, their story is addictive, and the Total Chaos series just keeps getting better. And we know who the next book is about, and I loved that we will probably still see the characters from the previous books.

Highly recommend, especially if you need something fun, steamy, and comforting with a side of supernatural intrigue.

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Sarah’s Review: She’s back at it again! Ms. Hayes’ next addition in the Total Chaos series is here and me oh my is it oh so good! Loving A Witch is Totally Foolish is book two in the series. As always, I do recommend reading the books in order to get the most out of them, but also in this case, they are a definite must.

We met Valen in book one “Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos” and from there I knew I had to have his story. After being locked up for centuries, he is finally free, but the world is a very different place than what he is used to and that leads Valen into some foolish, but funny situations. When he sees Ava for the first time, he knows she is the perfect match for him, but it just might take a little convincing for her to feel the same way.

Ava on the other hand is just out of a bad relationship and isn’t sure if jumping into a new one is a good idea, but Valen isn’t just any guy. She is drawn to him in a way she doesn’t fully understand, but it’s getting harder and harder to fight the more time they spend together. These two have such great chemistry together, they feed off the parts of one another that make each other unique and it just makes them that much more interesting and enjoyable to read.

If you’re looking for a magical romance read with a kick, this is your book. If you loved book one and want to follow through with the series, welcome to the chaos car, I hope you packed a spare pair of undies, you will need them. 🥵 Ava is the perfect partner to Valen simply because she is patient, kind and understanding of the trauma he has been through. Valen is Ava the same way, he is curious, protective and obsessed with her, she has her own hang up and he works them out with her versus making her feel uncomfortable and broken. When you find your person, you find your person.

The third book in the series is a giant mystery and I am waiting with baited breath to see who our mystery couple is…..Here is hoping it’s just as good as the first two books.

Copies supplied for review