This Spells Love was a lot cuter than expected. While semi-predictable, it was humorous, sweet, and just an enjoyable read. Gemma’s internal debates irked me at times, but I think because they were so relatable.

Came for the cover and witchy vibes stayed for the sheer love of the work. Gemma and Dax were so lovely and I love a good alt timeline to push our heroine on the right line.

This was such a cute read, enjoyed both Gemma and Dax. I'm think experiencing the alternative timeline gave Gemma realization of what she truly wanted.


4 stars.

⏳ Book Review ⏳

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
⏳
This book was absolutely delightful, completely charming, and fantastically whimsical. It addresses the “what would my life look like if I made different choices” scenario that we all consider. Gemma is thrown into an alternate timeline where she starts over with her best friend Dax, but soon realizes that she wants to be more. My question is, how did Gemma not realize from the very beginning that Dax was endgame? He’s stunningly handsome, with tattoos and scruff, is reliable, respectful, and is the perfect gentleman. He sounds absolutely perfect. Gemma, her sister, and aunt are fun, quirky, and are so supportive of each other. I had a blast reading this book, and the magical realism vibes are the perfect transition to spooky season!
⏳
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️magical realism
▫️alternate timeline
▫️best friends to lovers
▫️he’s been in love with her for years
▫️slow burn
⏳
Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, NetGalley, and Kate Robb for the gifted copy. I received it for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was so cute! The premise of this book was very intriguing and the execution did not let me down! I loved the magical element of the story and have never read anything like this before. Dax was so sweet and he and Gemma really were the perfect match in whichever universe they were in! In both timelines of the story, Dax and Gemma were so drawn to each other and you could really feel that while reading. If you love friends to lovers like I do, this is a great book to pick up!

This Spells Love was one of my favorite rom-coms of 2023. After getting dumped by her long term boyfriend, Gemma heads over to her aunt’s house to get drunk with her sister and her best friend, Dax. After a few too many margaritas, they decide to cast a spell to erase her ex from her life. The spell actually works, and catapults her into an alternate timeline in which she never even met her ex, but also means that she never met and became best friends with Dax. As she tries to get back to her old life, Gemma starts to see the ripple effect of her different choices and starts to see Dax in a whole new light.

This book was soooo good. First of all, the concept is amazing. Who doesn’t wonder what their life would be like if they had followed a different choice? It also does a great twist on the friends to lovers trope. I am obsessed with Gemma and Dax. Their chemistry is top-notch. The banter throughout the book is unmatched, and not just between our romantic couple, but all of the characters. The voice of the book is just hilarious and even the side characters are awesome. I especially loved Gemma’s relationship with her sister and how it evolved through the timeline jump as well. This book truly has everything. It is sweet, meaningful, funny, thought provoking, and spicy. A full 5 out 5 star rom-com.

Short synopsis: After Gemma and her boyfriend break up, she along with her best friend Dax her sister and her cuckoo aunt cast a love spell to erase her ex from her memory.

My thoughts: What a sweet romance! I binged this one in a day. Such an easy light read full of humor, alternate realities and what-ifs.

I loved watching Gemma admit to her feelings for Dax, and how he supported her. I also loved how the good and bad in both realities melded together and Gemma found her true happiness.

The curling was such a fun unique addition to the story. I’ve never read a book with curling, and honestly don’t really understand it, but color me intrigued.

Read if you love:
- Magical realism
- Best friends to lovers
- Curling
- Humor and heart
- Fulfilling your dreams

When Gemma's long-term boyfriend dumps her, she turns to her sister, aunt, and best friend Dax for comfort—and one too many margaritas. Their impromptu love-cleansing spell promises to erase her ex from memory, but when Gemma wakes up, she's in an alternate reality where not only is her ex gone, but Dax no longer knows her.

This book is lighthearted and fun, with plenty of humor and heart. I loved the blend of magic with everyday life, and the friends-to-lovers trope was executed beautifully. Gemma’s journey of self-discovery and navigating her feelings for Dax felt authentic and relatable. Watching her struggle to reclaim her old life while questioning if she even wanted it anymore added depth to the story.

The magical twist gave it a fresh feel, making This Spells Love more than just a typical romance (which, if you know me, is a requirement for me to read a romance!) I really loved this cast of of characters and couldn't get enough.

I love how it had romance and a mix of enchantment to it. nothing better than witchy books to get you in the mood for fall

Loved this so unbelievably much. I love a little magic and some magical realism thrown into my romance books and I had so much fun with this. I found myself rooting for both characters in their own ways. I will definitely pick up so much more from Robb!!

This was a cute, short and easy read.

about a girl getting over a long term breakup and has elements of magical realism
Gemma just got dumped by her long time boyfriend. After drinks with her friends they decide to cast a cleansing spell to help her get over the breakup. She ends up in an alternate universe where she has to kiss her best friend, Dax, to get back to her real life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I was eager to dive into a world of magic and romance, but "This Spells Love" fell flat on its face. The premise of a spell-induced alternate reality was intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The characters felt one-dimensional, with Gemma coming across as more selfish than endearing. The plot was predictable and lacked the spark needed to truly ignite the story. While the concept had potential, it wasn't my cup of tea

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The romance, the characters and the writing all mostly worked very well. I read through this book very quickly and enjoyed myself. But once I closed the book, and started looking at the story more closely, I saw things that made this book easy to forget. Those were two main things for me, the magic and the depth.

This book was a delightful read that captures the magic of romance in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The characters are well-crafted, with the protagonist's journey of love and self-discovery standing out for its wit and charm. The romantic elements are well-balanced with humor and heartache, creating a narrative that keeps you invested from start to finish. Robb's vibrant and evocative writing style paints vivid scenes, though some sections could benefit from tighter pacing.

The standout aspect of this novel is its seamless integration of magical elements, which add an extra layer of intrigue without overshadowing the central romance. Overall, "This Spells Love" is a charming and heartwarming story that will appeal to fans of romantic fiction with a touch of magic, showcasing Kate Robb's talent for crafting entertaining and emotionally resonant tales.

This book was super cute and enjoyable! I loved the fantasy/witchy element (who doesn't love a spell that sends you into an alternate reality?!) and enjoyed the romance between Gemma & Dax (in all timelines!)

Kate Robb's debut novel, This Spells Love, is a delightful blend of romance and magic that keeps readers entertained with its whimsical premise. The story follows Gemma, who, in an attempt to heal her broken heart, casts a spell to erase her ex from her past. However, the spell has unintended consequences, leading her to an alternate reality where her best friend, Dax, doesn't recognize her. The friends-to-lovers trope is handled with charm, and the chemistry between Gemma and Dax is palpable, making their evolving relationship the heart of the story.

While the romance elements shine, with moments of genuine warmth and humor, the plot occasionally feels underdeveloped. The concept of alternate realities and magic spells is intriguing, but it sometimes lacks the depth and exploration needed to fully immerse the reader. Nevertheless, the witty dialogue and the endearing dynamics between Gemma and Dax keep the narrative engaging. Robb's ability to create relatable and likable characters ensures that readers are rooting for their happily-ever-after.

Despite its plot shortcomings, This Spells Love is a fun and enchanting read. It's perfect for fans of romcoms looking for a lighthearted escape with a sprinkle of magic. The novel's charm lies in its characters and their journey, making it a promising debut from Kate Robb.

DNF 55% I don't know, this didn't do much for me! The friends-to-lovers trope, I can get behind, but we honestly didn't even get to see these two characters as friends? The first scene in the book is them casting the spell to forget her ex, and then the best friend forgets who she is the literal next morning, so there's never any time to buy into any best friend chemistry before they become lovers aside from the author just telling us that they are best friends because she said they are. (Show me, don't just tell me!)

I also just don't typically fw commercial romances because the tone doesn't feel realistic to me. The overly horny best friend or sister type, the replacing swear words with silly goofy words, the saccharine fmc who is just completely clueless. I don't judge anyone for this type of thing being their jam, but sadly it's just not for me. I debated just finishing it out, but I honestly didn't care enough about what was happening in the plot to pick it back up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a physical copy of this book through Book of the Month and listened to a portion of the audiobook on Spotify.

✨ARC Book Review✨

This Spells Love by Kate Robb

What a delight this book was! I finished it yesterday and felt so giddy about the whole thing.

Gemma finds herself single after her predictable, practical, and pretty boring 4-year relationship comes to an end. One night after too many margaritas with her sister and aunt, she decides they should cast a love spell because she wishes the whole relationship hadn’t happened. Enter her bestie, Dax, who she met the same night as her ex. She needs his help to seal the spell with a kiss. Then he helps get her drunk butt to bed, and she wakes up in an entirely different life—one where her relationship never happened, but her best friend is now a complete stranger.

This is like a little of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets a lot of 13 Going on 30. It has friends to lovers and invisible string vibes (and a bit of spice). Gemma is a frustrating main character in a fun way, and I positively adored Dax. They are a really fun duo. I felt like their friendship made sense, and Gemma coming to terms with his potential feelings in her “real” timeline along with her own feelings for him was pretty funny—one of those situations where everyone else thinks it’s obvious, but she had to figure it out on her own. I think the alternate timeline bit would translate SO well on screen, and I would totally love to see a movie version of this one day. It would make a great film.

Anyway, this one sort of forces you to sit with the question of how our life decisions can affect those around us and how things could go differently if we simply choose a different path. Honestly, such a fun read. I recommend this one!

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

📖: (4.5/5—rounding down on Goodreads) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was fine - thought I would enjoy the friends-to-lovers romance and the magical element of the plot more but it fell short because the main character, Gemma, was so unlikable and the lack of depth in her relationships with the other characters made me dislike her more. Understandably, Gemma is going through a rough time because of her breakup and it was definitely not unreasonable for her to be neglectful/selfish but the way it was resolved in the book was not satisfying. Her relationship with Dax was alright - didn't make me feel like rooting for them because it seemed like he was a great guy and she didn't realize until after the spell but it's weird because Dax post-spell feels like a different person. I usually would eat the whole "falling in love with each other even in a different timeline" up but since we didn't really see them before and Gemma was kinda horrible before, it didn't really hit.

A cute and whimsical read but I was not particularly endeared by the characters and was also not very compelled by the plot. The humor and “quirk” of the main characters just didn’t resonate with me this time around.