This was so much different than what it was marketed as, which really bothered me. The “Gilmore Girls” vibes didn’t feel quaint and cozy, instead it felt stifling and oppressive. And I couldn’t find the “Practical Magic” elements in the amount that I read. All of the promotions leading up to the release claimed this was a blend of those two beloved works and I spent the whole time I was reading looking for those elements.

The book was very slow to start and I found myself not caring enough about the characters to continue on. I DNF’d around the twenty percent mark. It just was not for me, but I am sure someone else may love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Breanne Randall for an advanced e-copy of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Hearbreak and Magic in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for providing an ARC of this book. I wasnt a huge fan of this, and felt like the storyline could have been so much more, I ended up DNFing this.

I enjoyed this, but there were a few parts that fell a little flat for me! I did enjoy the magic system and the explanations. I also will be trying some of the recipes (hehe). Overall, it was okay! I think another POV would have helped, and I didn’t love the romance subplot in this one.

I struggled with this book all around. I think part of it was the marketing of Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls, without any content warnings. And that just rubbed me the wrong way. On top of the fact, that this book read like it was unedited and that is something that makes it very difficult to read.

When choosing this book I expected wholesome, cottage core, witchy vibes and I was incredibly shocked to find that there was an on page suicide attempt, death of a loved one, and other unexpected occurrences. The plot seemed unorganized and chaotic. And I still don’t think I know what conclusion we were meant to come to.

This isn’t a book I’d probably recommend to anyone. Unfortunately, it missed the mark all around.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley

Great magical read with a lot of heart and romance. So sweet.

I read this at a time in my life when I really needed a comfort read and this book, while dealing with heartbreak on the page, can help heal grief in the heart because it's comforting writing is calming and easy on the soul like a warm hug.

The story is a little slow at first but as the pages turn, you enter this world full of magic, drama, and a little love.

Sadie is a character that little by little you empathize with her, with her you remember that she is a broken heart and the complexity of family relationships.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic- Breanne Randall
Rating:⭐️⭐️💫

This book was labelled for Practical Magic & GG lovers ( two of my faves). I was SO excited to read this one, but the unfortunate thing is … it just wasn’t for me. 🥲

I felt like this book had a lot of great potential, but many of the plot points fell flat or were underdeveloped. I thought the characters were just ok, and the romance trope was not my favourite.
The magical bakery was cozy, and I liked the recipes that came before each chapter-with a little blurb on their magical purposes. I also enjoyed the big “witchy” family coming together through hard times, and the warmth and joy that came with that. I loved the simple/ practical uses of magic that were tied in throughout the story.

There were sweet moments, but ultimately this one just left me feeling underwhelmed. Although it may not have been my cup of tea, that is not to say it won’t fill you with magical delight.

This was an entertaining and cozy paranormal read. It is the story about Aria and Callan, and the story is set in a small town of Charming Cove. I loved the small town vibes a lot and I liked how Aria and Callan's relationship progressed. This was a sweet, and simple read, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a witchy book that is easy to read.

Although much different than pitched (this is not a Gilmore Girls style book at all), the practical magic vibes were there; albeit a low percent - the small town and a love curse, but overall this fell short. The missing pieces were the sibling bonds, the Gilmore Girl’s level of witty banter, and the palpable romantic chemistry in both of the referenced stories. This was a mashup of genres with strong Christian undertones and extremely surface level characters.

I would like to start of by saying thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of receiving this eARC.

As hard as it is to write, I unfortunately did not connect with this book as I had so hoped.
As this was promoted as being a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic book I had such high hopes.
What could be better than two of my favourite things combined, especially in the form of literature. My thirst for this world was ultimately left unquenched and soured by the poor execution.
I found the writing style to by more YA than I had originally anticipated and the storyline was tragically dull. The wording at times felt tiresome and overused as if the author herself was bored just writing about it.

Although this book was not to my liking I wish the author nothing but the best for her future endeavours.

CONTENT WARNINGS:
Cancer
Attempted suicide
Death of a family member

I would again like to share my appreciation to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advances readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Although this is different than expected, it was definitely incredibly heartfelt. My heart felt for Sadie so much. With a mixture of family drama, magic and love this book packs an emotional punch.
4/5 ⭐

By the end of the book, I truly cared about the characters! The writing was a little slow in the start for me, but I did end up being fully immersed in it by the end. It was a good mix of magical realism and fantasy. I was not expecting too much fantasy, so it met my expectations there.

The Unfortunate Side effects of heartbreak and magic unfortunately was underwhelming for me.
It sadly lacked depth for me and my main issue with the book is the muddled and unnecessary romantic plotline between the protagonist, Sadie, and her high school sweetheart, Jake, was a significant detractor. Jake's character is criticized for embodying stereotypical traits of the "ideal man" and for being unnecessary to the story.
I wanted to love this book so much but again unfortunately it just didn’t hit for me :(

This book was an entertaining mix of paranormal elements and magical realism. I thought the author did a good job bringing the characters to life made me care about their story. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall is a heartwarming novel that tugs at your heartstrings and keeps you engrossed from start to finish. Randall masterfully weaves together a tale of love, heartbreak, family, and magic in a way that leaves you both enchanted and moved.

The protagonist, Sadie Revelare, is a character that you can't help but empathize with. Watching her navigate through the challenges of her grandmother's impending death, the return of her first love, and her own magical curse of four heartbreaks, is compelling and deeply touching.

The return of Jake McNealy, Sadie's first love, brings an element of nostalgia and romance to the story. The rekindling of their relationship is portrayed with sensitivity and realism, making it easy for readers to connect with their journey.

The narrative is enriched by the familial relationships. The estrangement and eventual reconciliation with her twin brother Seth adds another layer to the story. Their grandmother, a strong and pivotal figure in their lives, is a character that resonates deeply, making her illness an emotional part of the narrative.

The blend of magic and everyday life is done seamlessly, adding an element of fantasy without overpowering the main themes of love, family, and personal growth. The magical elements are used as a metaphor for personal struggles, making the story relatable despite its supernatural aspects.

In conclusion, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of love and family, the pain of heartbreak, and the power of magic. This book will surely resonate with readers who enjoy heartwarming stories with a touch of magic. A must-read!

Such a cozy small town story for fall. I loved the elements that hinted at practical magic. I will definitely be adding this to my fall favorites!

I would not describe this as a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic book, but it was somewhat enjoyable. At times I questioned what genre this book wanted to be placed in. It was part cozy-mystery, small town romance, family relationship, and coming of age all thrown together. This aspect gave it some slow points, and lots of plots lines felt under developed. Some aspects could have used a little more thought and/or research, especially the fact that the witches are Christians in the book. The ending felt rushed, but it also felt like it was left open for a sequel.

I want to thank Netgalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book.

I went into this book with very high expectations. Practical magic and Gilmore girls are two of my all time favorites. While it didn’t live up to my high expectations, it was still a good book overall. I loved the small town vibes and the sense of family that is clear in this book. I also loved the characters and the cozy cafe vibes.

Where do I begin with this book? The book description claims this novel follows Sadie, a witch in small-town America, who thinks her four heartbreaks curse is well worth the price for her magic. After learning her beloved grandmother has cancer with only weeks to live, her estranged brother returns to town, as well as Sadie’s first love, Jake. Everything begins to unravel, and Sadie must decide if love is more important than magic.

This novel was marketed as “Gilmore Girls” meets “Practical Magic,” but it’s anything but. Randall couldn’t decide what genre or vibes she wanted to lean into; there’s a mystery to be solved, but it’s also a heartfelt coming-of-age story, a romance, and an attempt to align with magical realism. Based on the book description alone, it should have leaned into romance or coming-of-age.

The most glaring issue, though, was the weirdly conservative Christian commentary and atmosphere. For a novel about witches in a small town, the conservative Christian elements felt very out of place and also a self-insert of the author. I am fine with a Christian witchy novel. Still, considering the lack of genre cohesion, it felt random and almost like an attempt to market the book to Christians, to no avail.

Even if it had leaned into the romance or coming-of-age genre, the novel’s romance and coming-of-age storylines were all over the place. The romance between Sadie and Jake was stale and lacked any natural chemistry between the characters. Also, Jake’s infidelity and behavior after Sadie finds out about his fiancée and their baby read as if the author was trying to assure the reader that cheating isn’t all that bad and that women should forgive and forget. Spoiler alert: no one should forgive and forget cheaters!

The coming-of-age element garnered little empathy or connection from me, as most of the issues in the novel revolve around Sadie’s inability to listen to others or think critically about her behavior until it blows up in her face. The writing swung back and forth between overly descriptive setting and food details to unspecific core elements of the story.

Honestly, whoever created the marketing strategy for this book should be ashamed of themselves. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a lackluster and stale tale of why authors need decent editors and marketers and why, sometimes, books proposals should be rejected.

This ARC was provided by Alcove Press and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.