DNF - this book contained content I wasn’t aware of prior to requesting the book. I’m sure it will suit the tastes of other readers. It just simply wasn’t for me

I couldn't put this down. How do you write a likeable and relatable character that needs to better consider the feelings of those around her? I haven't read many, but Kate Robb did. I can't wait to read more from her.

i think i just found my new favourite author. this is so good for a debut.
not to mention, a twist in time trope is literally my biggest weakness. and this one is one of the best of it's kind.
i think my favourite thing about this book was the unique plot. the alternative timeline idea, a glitch in matrix, so many new possibilities and choices...can this be any better?
what i didn’t like was part of the romance. i liked both Gemma and Dax, but some dialogues felt too much? idk, might be a me problem. also, i'm sure there would be more editing in the released version
can't wait to see what Kate Robb comes up with next

I feel like I can't even adequately describe how much I loved this book. Like imagine if the Spiderman Multiverse and Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken had a baby and it was a romance novel... and they enjoyed curling as an activity. I think we all have looked back on decisions in our life and just known had we chosen the other door or the other path that for better or worse our lives would have looked different. This book explores if you could go back to one point and chosen differently how would it have turned out all this time later and would the people around you be the same or different for the choice you made? Robb's debut is thought provoking and tugs at all the right heartstrings.

Amazing, wonderful, interesting and unique. There are so many other adjectives I could give this book but it was definitely addictive. It had a sliding door vibes. With the main character casting a spell to gain some closure in her life only to create a new life that has her reevaluating her current life. It was a wonderful read. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and couldn't wait to keep reading what was going to happen.

We meet Gemma who has just broken up with her boyfriend Stuart, with her sister and Aunt they cast a spell for her to receive some closure. Dax, her best friend was the final ingredient. It takes her into an alternate time line. I love these multiverse story lines where there are the same people but they have obviously been doing different things, experiencing different things. It was a joy to read through. I loved it.

The relationship that Gemma has with Dax grows into something more, something that wasn't seen in the other multiverse, or maybe she was just blind to the obvious. I just couldn't get enough of the two of them. I hope there are more books like this because it was addicting.

I want to thank Net galley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press trade paperback for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

🌟 4
🌶 1
Where to begin! This Spells Love is Kate Robb's debut book and I loved it!
When heartbreak and a bit of tequila send you into an alternate world where your second chance at love might be your best friend!? What do you do?!

I love that this book embodies something everyone has felt before. That heart break and inner turmoil over a failed relationship. The what if's and never ending scenarios of how things could have been different. Also the hope in new beginnings, the drive to see something through and continue to put one foot in front of the other. I was constantly rooting for Gemma throughout it all.
We all need a crazy family member willing to magic your troubles away, a sister who will bring the donuts and, a best friend willing to complete the spell with a kiss.
This is not by any means intense emotionally. It's a light with a sprinkle of angst kind of read that I can pick up and enjoy any day. A palette cleanser sort of book. I cant wait for its release to have the physical!

I had low expectations going into this one as romances are always hit or miss for me, but this one is definitely a hit! It's funny, endearing, wholesome, spicy, literally everything you could want in a contemporary romance. Highly recommend if you find the synopsis interesting! I honestly can't imagine anyone disliking it, so pretty sure you'll have a good time with it!

The writing was good, but I wasn’t a big fan of the frat party vibes, and all of the alcohol constantly being consumed. The story was fun, and I liked the friends-to-lovers relationship between Dax and Gemma. The spice level was way too much for me to feel comfortable recommending this to my friends though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a cute book! Gemma is going through a break up, and through happenstance soles across a book that provides a spell to erase the person she spent the last four years ago from her life. Is her life better or worse without her ex?

The characters are likable and believable. The FMC has a tremendous amount of character growth. And the secondary characters are charming as well. I kind of wanted to know more about where her dream for her business came from and why she wanted that kind of business, but it wasn’t a deal breaker to not know. I would definitely read another of this author’s books!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I devoured Kate Robb’s THIS SPELLS LOVE in less than a day, folks. It is unputdownable. Robb swiftly charms you in a story that that you will both savor and race to finish, eager to discover how things play out.

Gemma and Dax are spicy soulmates and we are HERE for that kind of will-they-won’t-they slow-burn energy. Full disclosure: I am decidedly NOT a fan of friends-to-lovers storylines (I tend to prefer enemies-to-lovers) but this one managed to win me over from the jump.

All in all, I adored THIS SPELLS LOVE. It’s a book that will romance every reader.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

This book gives an answer to the question: if you lived a different life, what would change?

& I had a lot of fun with it.

I liked the original Dax more than alternate reality Dax. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I feel like her fascination with his package was a little over the top, but something that I could ignore.

I liked the growth of Gemma because she realized that she needed to make decisions based on the other people around her and not just herself & she really thought about the happiness of others.

The author really made me enjoy this friends to lovers romance, which is not normally my trope of choice. It’s a definite recommend for me!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book for an honest review!

A cute story that was a fast and fun read. I loved the concept and all the details the author added were flawless.

I received an ARC of This Spells Love by Kate Robb from NetGalley!
While the story is fast moving and does keep you intrigued, the characters don't feel fully real. Our protagonist Gemma has some great moments sprinkled in but for the most part she feels like someone ran every single Hallmark movie character into a blender and this is the result. Dax also felt like so wooden he too fell victim to feeling like a a lifetime movie love interest so bland you don't really care to root for him. While the premise of this book will appeal to all sorts of readers ( those spicy scenes are what earned this book a star) the book sinks itself early on due to poor characterization choices.

Fantasy meet sci-fi in this adorable heart-wretching romantic comedy. I love love love this book! The FMC is easy to love and goes through some major character changes throughout her adventure. It's a must read for sure if you love growth, friends to lovers, and slightly witchy vibes

This was my first to review on Netgalley & it did not disappoint! Gemma & Dax are adorable, Gemma wakes up in this crazy alt reality and ends up falling for this "stranger" Dax. Overall a very cute romantic novel with some bittersweet moments.
9/10 for me🫶🏻

Is this a predictable rom-com? Yes. Are there plot conveniences galore? Also yes. But it's laugh out loud funny, genuinely heartfelt, and has the perfect amount of magic and spice. And, let's be honest. Who hasn't looked at their life and thought "if I had or hadn't done this, things would be so much better" at least once or twice?

This Spells Love is a fun, light read about the choices we make and how those choices not only determine our future, but the lives of those around us. The characters are relatable and the plot is charming with only a little angst.

Side note: the cover is absolute perfection.

I will admit that friends to lovers isn't my favorite trope. But. BUT. This one had such a fun twist that it might now become my favorite trope!

A true delight to read, from beginning to end. Loveable characters with a very relatable sister-sibling relationship. Just enough angst to keep you hooked, but not so much to raise your heartrate to an unhealthy level. The spice added to the story, and gave those foot-kicking giddy vibes.

I will be recommending this book to every single romance reader I know, and to any who are looking to dabble in the genre.

Also, those Canada references? LOVE THEM. Love having a romance set here. EATONS?! IYKYK.

Okay wow. I love this book so much. I was not expecting a lot from a debut author but wow this hit all the marks. I was happily surprised that the book was written by a Canadian author whose Canadian references were on point and relatable. The writing reminds me of Carley Fortune but not in a copycat way— more of a, you can get excited about this book if you love her books way. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing— I was smiling like an idiot the whole time I was reading it. I cannot wait to see what Kate Robb does next!

If I were writing a one-word review, I’d go with a simple “delightful.” Since more than one word is required, here are my three favorite things about This Spells Love:

1. The premise is fun: Four years ago, Gemma friend-zoned her now-BFF Dax. After a night of too many margaritas and a little bit of magic, she wakes up to find herself on an alternate timeline, one in which she and Dax have yet to meet. With a fresh slate for getting to know him, she begins to see him in a different—and decidedly more sexually charged—light. In this new reality, Gemma is happier than she’s ever been, but the same may not be true for Dax. As the time approaches for Gemma to return to her old life, she has to decide what she’s truly willing to risk for love.

2. The secondary characters are refreshingly well-drawn. I especially loved Gemma’s sister Kiersten, who clearly has a full and complicated story of her own. I appreciated how she both supported Gemma and doled out some heaping servings of tough love. The balance was very much that of a loving but exasperated older sibling.

3. The chemistry between Gemma and Dax is believable and well-paced, and the steamy scenes are (ahem) quite satisfying. I appreciated how the author crafted the friends-to-lovers storyline within an alternate timeline—it came across as both clever and thoughtful.

This title is definitely going on my Recommended Reads list.

I binged this book in 1 day. When I read the premise for it, I knew I had to read it. I love what ifs and alternate realities. I’ve seen these kinds of storylines play out on screen but I’ve never came across them in a book until this one.

The concept is so creative and unique. The story is filled with heart and humor. The friends to lovers trope is so well-done in this. I love the fantasy aspect and how it meshed so well with the romance.

Gemma is one of the most headstrong and passionate FMCs I've read about and I love that Kate Robb gave her layers. I love when an author intertwines a coming-of-age story within a romance. As the story progresses, we see Gemma learn more about what she wants and getting more confident in who she is.

Dax is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful MMCs I’ve read about. He would drop everything for Gemma to make sure that she’s okay.

I was so invested in the relationship between Gemma and Dax. The love they have for each other is the kind of love I want from my future partner and the love I want to give them in return. I was rooting for them to end up together which tells you how invested I was in their relationship.

I wasn’t expecting the steam but I ate it all up. It’s written so well and there are moments where I had to gasp for air.

I cannot believe that this is Kate Robb’s debut. It feels like she’s been writing books for years. I love her writing in this. It’s fast-paced and leaves you wanting more.

I giggled, kicked my feet, screamed, and cried. It’s such a fun and entertaining read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!