3/5 stars! I really liked the cover of this book and the premise was entertaining. The book isn't exactly original and doesn't do much to add to the magical contemporary romance genre. But it doesn't detract from it either. It kind of reminded me of 13 Going on 30. I enjoyed it and Dax was a cinnamon roll. I think it's an enjoyable book that could have benefited from a bit more depth of the characters.

I liked, but didn't love this one:
- likable characters
- interesting plot - if your memory of your friendship was erased, would you still be friends with them if you met them again for the first time?
- an ending that wraps things up without loose ends

Overall, a cute and fun-paced read that I do think has a clever story. I've seen the whole alternate universe before, but not done this way- especially with a Friends to Lovers trope! We are following best friends, Gemma and Dax, who have always been platonic despite underlying flirtation and attraction here and there. Gemma ends up having a devastating break-up and her Grandma having witchy tendencies does a spell on her throwing her into another universe where Gemma and Dax have never met, are not friends, and Gemma;s life is completely different. I'll be honest, I didn't care much for Gemma for most of the book, but I was really rooting for her and Dax. I actually loved all the tropes, and the ways she was trying to get Dax into her life using other universe Dax knowledge, BUT I was most interested in her living out her real passions (a skincare brand) in this AU. Seeing how successful and happy she could be if she worked hard and put herself out there was more interesting than the love story aspect for me. I wanted a lot more of that part. Also, for a book that definitely makes it seem like this is going to be witchy, title and cover, it's not. Also the side characters weren't flushed out at all, and I would have liked to see more of Grandma! Overall, a fast paced interesting read, cute and worth it!

a really fun love story, i enjoyed the story along side the character's chemistry and development. the angst was just right and the idea behind the book was genius, truly a great read that I believe I flew trough

This book was a cozy little romcom. The plot was a little dull for me but the characters, and magicalfeel of the story made up for that.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I love the Canadiana of it. I love the premise. I even love the characters. But I found the plot just a little too contrived. Because Gemma ends up home a month after the initial spell, it made me wonder what that other Gemma was doing in all that time and why there wasn't MORE of a fallout from HER actions. In my opinion it would have been better if the spell had returned Gemma to the morning after it had been cast which would have given her the full agency to change her life.

I was intrigued by the synopsis and cover! and it started off very cute but I quickly realized that it was not as witchy as it appeared to be.

I definitely thought there would be some sort of magic—based on the synopsis and title. that’s not really the case though. there’s one spell and some alternate timeline/universe situation. I’ve never really read anything like that, so I guess I found out it’s not really my thing.

it’s a cute enough story but skimmed the last half just to not dnf. I just was not vibing with it

I also dislike the name dropping of brands and random crude way of speaking? idk do people actually talk like that?

- Friends to lovers
- Magic
- Alternate reality
- Family
Love is definitely in the air! After being dumped and having one too many margaritas, Gemma, her sister, and her aunt cast a spell to go back in time and erase her ex. But when she wakes the next morning, she’s finds herself in an alternate reality where she finds that her true love has been there all along. I loved this story! Gemme was such a relatable, sweet character and Dax was *chef kiss*. I found myself laughing at their wittiness and cheering in our MCs throughout the story. Dax and Gemma’s had major chemistry and I was living for it. Definitely a quick, sweet read that will have you swooning.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of This Spells Love by Kate Robb in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book was absolutely lovely and I truly enjoyed every minute of it. The most disappointing part was it ended too soon! If you want a fun read pick this up at the first chance you get!

I absolutely adore everything about this magical read. The character build was perfection and I will absolutely be visiting this world many, many times.

This was a fun little rom com with a hint of magical realism. I don't usually enjoy "alternate reality" books, but this one was the exception. It had plenty of humor and strong supporting characters. I both appreciated and was slightly annoyed by the realness of our main character. She isn't perfect. At times, she was pretty self-centered. (At times, most of us are.) But for the most part, she's a likable character and I was rooting for her growth and happiness. 4 stars!

I can never pass up books that involve in and out of love spells, and what if plots. This Spells Love was a humorous, romantic read that was quite fun throughout. I look forward to reading more by Kate Robb. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

This was a very fun read! I loved the magical realism elements. I thought it was a very fast paced read and easy to finish in one sitting.

I feel like this book lost the plot a little bit? There wasn't a lot of build up to the romance, the main character was... hard to handle at times, and the magic system felt confusing.

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Describes an injury by fire and panic attacks. Contains explicit sexual content.

I can’t believe “This Spells Love” by Kate Robb is a debut. This novel follows Gemma, a 28-year-old who, after a painful breakup, drunkenly casts a spell to erase her ex from her past. To her astonishment, she awakens in an alternate reality where her ex never existed, but neither does her close friendship with Dax, her best friend. As Gemma navigates this new world, she must rebuild her relationship with Dax, leading to unexpected romantic developments.

Kate Robb’s writing is engaging, with snappy dialogue and endearing characters that drew me in right away. The friends-to-lovers trope is executed perfectly, making Gemma and Dax’s evolving relationship both believable and heartwarming. The novel also touches on themes of self-reflection and the consequences of altering one’s past, adding depth to the lighthearted romance.

A sassy and smart read, “This Spells Love” is the book you’re looking for if you’re (like me) constantly obsessed with the “what if” scenarios. This debut novel offers a fresh take on second chances and the complexities of love and friendship. I wouldn’t change a thing.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: December 05, 2023

This book was so cute and totally unexpected in what was going to occur!! Perfectly crafted characters that are very relatable and endearing. The supporting characters, are so lovable that you'll want to connect with them in real life. Lastly, the chemistry between the main characters is really great.

This was such a fun, unique magical realism story. I got caught up in turning pages and would forget I was reading. I loved the premise, the characters, the setting - just very well done! The curling was definitely a fun element as well, in my opinion. Would definitely recommend!

This was such a cute rom com. I loved the parallel universes and the idea of how small changes can make big impacts. Cute story! Highly recommended.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a charming and enchanting romance that effortlessly combines magic and heart. The delightful characters and sweet, spellbinding story make it an absolute joy to read, leaving you with a smile long after the last page.

Thank you Dial Press Trade for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

It's 2025 and I'm playing catchup with my reviews!

This is a DNF, not because of the smut!
I figured the spice would be present. What I wasn't expecting is how insufferable the FMC would be. I did not stick around to see if there would be any growth or change in her character development but given the spice level, I doubt that.