Absolutely loved this book! Anything to do with witches and romance is an automatic win for me. The way she writes is so funny and I love the banter between the two characters.

3.5 stars

This has such a fascinating concept, and I was really loving it, but I think that perhaps the author didn't quite know how to end it?

Dax and Gemma grew on me throughout this book, and I really loved seeing them get to know each other (for Dax anyway) all over again in the new alternate reality. I also really liked the side characters of Gemma's sister Kiersten and her aunt Livi, who I think did a good job at balancing out Gemma's character and softening how self-centred she was coming across at times. I also really liked the author's writing style; it flowed nicely and I felt immersed into these characters and the world whenever I picked up the book. I just wish that the magical element to the book had been explained more? Maybe it was just that I was reading an unfinished copy, so perhaps it is different in the final version, but in what I read, there was absolutely no explanation that I could see of how this alternative universe switcheroo happened, or why we were getting all these hints towards Aunt Livi being some kind of psychic/witch and then nothing coming of it? It just made me feel a bit disappointed in the ending when Gemma just somehow returned to her old life.

Aside from wishing that the magical element had been a bit more grounded, I really liked the romance aspect of the book, and of course the concept of seeing how your life would have turned out differently based on one decision, is such an interesting topic to explore that I would love to see in more books!

Such a magical book about love. I really enjoyed reading this and loved the vibes of the book. Would read again.

A cosy friends to lover rom com, with a tiny bit of spiciness.
Really enjoyed it, easy to read, made me smile several times.
It is an overall good book and well written, but will not stay with me so can't rate it much higher.

Even though I’m not a friends to lovers kinda girl, I really enjoyed this book! Really well written and I would absolutely read more from this author.

I fell in love with This Spells Love just from the cover and the funny blurb. For someone who is only just getting into rom-coms or modern romance books, this book was a great read.

With Tropes like friends-to-lovers, second chances, and magic realism all beautifully written into an alternate reality story, where can you go wrong? I ended up adoring This spells Love; it was the perfect and refreshing read that I needed in that moment. The characters and the quick paced plot was well thought out with character development roped in throughout the story too.

For Kate Robb's debut book, I am so excited to see what else they come out with and I will be recommending this to everyone!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for this earc

Very well done, very well written. All the witchy goodness, this book is what it says on the tin, perfect for anyone looking for a light fantasy.

I loved this book but I felt like something was missing it didn’t pull me all the way in but definitely worth 4 stars

A charming, magical, whimsical book following the story of the fmc Gemma, after a break up. A beautifully written rom-com style book with rich character development.
Gemma's life changes following a love cleansing spell after a bad break up, wishing she had never met her ex, but in the aftermath of said spell, she wakes up in a alternate reality where her bestfriend, Dax no longer remembers her.

I really liked this book. Although there are some cheesy moments, it was everything I expected for a sweet magical romcom. Gemma and Dax have so much chemistry from the first moment they lay eyes on each other and theur relationship slowly builds as they get to know eah other deeply. It's full of angst and tension and banter. Great spice as well. And I really loved the happy ending of it all. .

Really enjoyed this book. Loved the parallel universe plot and the main character both trying to get her best friend back and falling in love with him at the same time. Very cute and funny and loved that it just had a hint of magic

I absolutely adored this alternative universe story. Trying to work out how and why the new life is better, but also worse. What steps can she do to keep her best friend part of her life, should she jump in head first

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a fun, witty romance that beautifully weaves together a story of friends-to-lovers, second chances, and magic realism. The book follows Gemma, who finds herself in a weird alternate universe where things are very very different. Firstly, she never dated her ex– who had recently dumped her; and secondly, her best friend– the guy she can count on for everything and anything– Dax does not recognise her. In order to reverse this love cleansing spell, Gemma needs to convince stranger–Dax to help her redo the entire spell. The only probably was they are strangers in this alternate universe and the end of the spell requires a kiss. If you had the opportunity to redo and change certain life-alternating moments in you life, would you do it?

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a fun, witty romance that beautifully weaves together a story of friends-to-lovers, second chances, and magic realism. The book follows Gemma, who finds herself in a weird alternate universe where things are very very different. Firstly, she never dated her ex– who had recently dumped her; and secondly, her best friend– the guy she can count on for everything and anything– Dax does not recognise her. In order to reverse this love cleansing spell, Gemma needs to convince stranger–Dax to help her redo the entire spell. The only probably was they are strangers in this alternate universe and the end of the spell requires a kiss. If you had the opportunity to redo and change certain life-alternating moments in you life, would you do it?

There was a lot to love about this book. First of all, the characters. Gemma is one of the most enjoyable female protagonists– I love that the author gave the character the depth to exist beyond her relationship with the male lead. I love that we get a subplot surrounding Gemma and her relationship with her sister, Kiersten, and her aunt. I'm a sucker for any good domestic themes and relationships in books, and I really enjoyed how much we got to see of Gemma's sister and her aunt– to the point where they were actually integral parts to the main plot.

Kiersten, Gemma's sister, and her aunt Livi were definitely well-written quirky characters that were actually not annoying. I anticipated all the scenes with these secondary characters and looked forward to all their interactions with Gemma and Dax. There were a few moments where I found myself grinning whilst reading, or even giggling aloud.

The romance was so well-written. It is a slow-burn– but the good kind. The well-written, worth-it-in-the-end kind. It should be expected that books with the friends to lovers trope need to be slower in terms of pace in order to show the gradual change in these characters' relationship. Unlike enemies to lovers or rivals to lovers that can get away with a faster paced romance that is mainly built on banter and tension, in my opinion, a well-written friends to lovers story requires build up and patience.

(Spoiler: I'm a sucker for a sweet little call back between the love interests so the whole "Gemma McGuire" "slip of the tongue?" thing that Gemma and Dax did throughout the book, and then the call back to it in the real world literally made me squeal and giggle aloud. That is how you do romance, folks!!!)

I thought the author did such a great job incorporating the magic realism element into the story without taking it away from the romance. According to Reedsy, "Magical realism is a literary style that weaves threads of fantasy into a depiction of everyday life. Its heroes aren’t fairies or sorcerers, they’re ordinary people — whose lives happen to butt up against the extraordinary". At its heart, this book is a love story between these two characters and that became the focal point of the story– not the magic realism bit. In my reading experience so far, magic realism can be far too distracting or even too complicated for me to follow along, and as a result, it can take away from the contemporary aspects of the book. As a consequence of this, readers (me) can end up focusing too much on the magical element and completely disregard the realism part. However, I think this book did everything right. It added just the right amount of magic realism that benefited the plot of the book without taking away from the romance. I wasn't bothered about the explanation as to how the love cleansing spell works or where the magic of it stemmed from. I was too focused on the witnessing a really exciting love story.

And I am very happy to say that this book checked all of my boxes.

5 stars.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

this was such an enjoyable read! this story is about gemma who has recently broken up with her boyfriend of four years. in an attempt to lift her spirits, her sister, her aunt, and her best friend have a night of margaritas and spells.

gemma wakes up in a new reality where everything about her life is different, including the fact that her best friend doesn’t know who she is. in order to reverse the spell, she must wait for a specific moon, meaning she is stuck in her new reality for a month.

the month passes and gemma has a decision to make. stay in this reality, where she has her dream job and her best friend now turned boyfriend, but risk causing a blip in the universe, or return back to her original reality?

this was such an enjoyable read and im so glad i chose to pick it up.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is such a fun debut, it's a lovely rom-com. It has such an interesting premise which was really well executed, I didn't think I was much of a friends to lovers kinda gal but I'll be picking up more books featuring this trope for sure,

A delightful and enchanting friends-to-lovers romance that takes readers on a magical journey through parallel worlds. Gemma's drunken wish to undo her past relationship leads to an unexpected twist of fate, where she finds herself in a world where her ex is out of the picture and her best friend, Dax, doesn't remember her. The chemistry between Gemma and Dax is undeniable, and as they navigate this new reality, readers are treated to a heartwarming and humorous tale of love, friendship, and second chances.

When I got offered the arc for This Spells Love, I gladly accepted. Although I hadn’t read anything from Kate Robb, the blurb already made me laugh. The story definitely is original and the whole different dimension angle keeps you on your toes.

Gemma and Dax have been best friends for years, but when Gemma wishes that she could erase her relationship with Stuart, she accidentally wakes up in a universe where Dax and Gemma have never met (because Dax was a friend of Stuart). So now, Gemma has to figure out if she wants to continue her life in this alternate universe, where her ex Stuart has never been her boyfriend, or if she wants to get back to her old life, with her BFF Dax in her life.

The story is cute and funny, with some unexpected twists in the parallel dimension. So, you have te keep paying attention as to what is happening in which dimension, but in all a very original and engaging story. Loved it! So, four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

An amazing romance with just a hint of magic in the form of time travel!
We then end up with Friends to lovers in an alternative universe!
The story was really well paced and I devoured the book in one sitting! A classic!

Really enjoyed this book when I read it last year!!!
The friends to lovers aspect of this book was written so well, and I found it to be such an easy read.
3.5 stars!!

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.