As a tea lover and someone who enjoys magical stories, I found this book to be an excellent fit. It truly embodies the saying that food is the way to the soul. Everything about it felt like a warm, cozy, magical hug filled with love for food and life.

Rating: 3.5/5

Deja Brew had all the ingredients for a great fall read—witches, magic, small-town charm, and plenty of cozy autumn vibes. Sirena, a kitchen witch who lost her cooking magic (and confidence), gets a second chance to fix her life after drinking a special tea. Gus, a former reality TV magician, is trying to leave his old life behind. Their slow-burn romance was cute, and I liked how they helped each other grow.

But honestly, the second half dragged. Sirena kept hesitating, and the back-and-forth got repetitive. I kept waiting for things to move forward, but it felt like the story stalled. If you’re looking for a low-angst, atmospheric fall read with a sprinkle of magic, it’s worth checking out. But I wanted a little more tension to keep me hooked.

DNF at 20%

I typically love a witchy read, but despite two tries, I just couldn’t get into Deja Brew. The setup had all the makings of a cozy seasonal romance—small-town charm, magic, and plenty of autumn vibes—but the execution didn’t work for me. The writing leaned heavily on telling rather than showing, and the pacing felt disjointed, making it hard to stay engaged. I wanted to love this one, but ultimately, it ended up as a DNF for me.

This is my first romance that has witches in it. I didn't realize that this is the 3rd book following the Caraway witch family. But this is considered a standalone. It just means that I need to read the other two books. We follow Sirena who's a kitchen witch that feels as if she has lost her touch and wants to have a do over for the bad month she has had (don't we all lol). Add in a bit of romance, soulmates, and some time travel and that's a good potion. There are some spicy scenes and I'm all here for Gus and Sirena's story.

I really enjoyed the third book in the series, especially the time loop aspect!

I think so many people would love a second chance to do something over, but obviously, it can't happen in real life so living vicariously through Sirena as she is re-lives the month of October and uses the opportunity to make different decisions, and seize opportunities. I did like, though, that it didn't completely change who she was as a person; she still had a specific goal in mind which, at times, she had to find the balance of constantly working towards that goal or take some time to have some fun, especially with Gus. Of course, taking that time to have fun is actually what helps her achieve her goals, even if they look a bit different than at the beginning.

Gus was an interesting guy; he's been through some major life changes in order to do what he wants, but he still seems to be holding back as he lives his life as a former reality star. I thought Gus and Sirena were could partners to one another - challenging, supporting, balancing.

another great read from Celestine Martin!

Thanks to Forever for the eARC. all opinions are my own.

Deja Brew is the latest book by Celestine Martin set in Freya Grove, where magical and fantastical creatures reside alongside each other. When Sirena Caraway wishes for a second chance, she gets to re-do the whole month of October, including a chance to get closer to Gus. She wonders if she is making the most of her second chance without realizing that relying on her kitchen witch rules has gotten a bit in the way of her making the most of life. It was a fun read full of personality, joy and wit, even through the tough times.

No one was more disappointed than me that I DNFd this at 17%. I just wasn't vibing with it and the writing was not for me.

DNF at 22%. I wanted to love this book. And I should love this book. It had all the fall/spooky season vibes I was looking for. It just didn't grab me. I wish I could put my finger on why but I just don't know. I had no major objections. I just didn't want to keep reading.

Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. It never really grabbed me and drew me in. I actually had to put it down for a few weeks before deciding to finish.

Déjà Brew by Celestine Martin is an enjoyable read with a cozy, inviting atmosphere that draws readers in from the start. The writing style is warm and accessible, effectively creating a setting that feels familiar and comforting, much like a favorite coffee shop.

The protagonist, Emma, is a relatable character navigating the complexities of life and personal growth. Her journey is well-paced and unfolds naturally, and the “déjà vu” element adds an intriguing layer to the plot. While the narrative is generally engaging, there are a few moments that feel somewhat predictable, but they don’t detract from the overall experience.

The supporting characters are well-developed, though some could have been explored in greater depth. The balance between the character-driven moments and the unfolding mystery keeps the story moving at a steady pace.

Overall, Déjà Brew offers a blend of mystery, light romance, and a comforting setting, making it a solid choice for readers seeking a relaxing yet engaging read. It’s definitely worth checking out for those who enjoy stories with a touch of intrigue and heart.

This book is a cozy, magical delight with the perfect mix of romance, humor, and witchy chaos. Sirena’s October do-over is full of hilarious mishaps, heartfelt moments, and some seriously sizzling chemistry with her old flame. The small-town vibes and enchanted baking elements made the story feel warm and whimsical, like the literary equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte. And let’s talk about the spice—Celestine Martin delivers some chef’s kiss steamy scenes that had me absolutely hooked. If you love second-chance romance, time loops, and a sprinkle of magic, Déjà Brew is the perfect fall read!

Really cute and spicy addition to the elemental love series. I really loved the exploration of soulmates or somebody being your kindred. I also enjoyed getting updates on Ursula and Lucy sprinkled throughout the book. Might be my fave couple since Lucy and Alex.

*3.5

I enjoyed it but I think I was confused for a lot of the time. I didn't think that the plot was fully fleshed out. She went back in time and it didn't seem like that much was actually changing? I don't know, I think this book is just not for me.

Deja Brew is the perfect cozy, witchy read for fall! Sirena and Gus are both dealing with personal struggles, but a magical time loop brings them together for some sweet romance and steamy moments. With a kitchen witch, pumpkin spice vibes, and tons of fall fun, this book is a warm hug in literary form!

Can I first say that this book gave me all the fall whitchy vibes. It was seriously giving Halloween Town with black people, which is such a vibe. Nothing seems to be going right for Sirena ... So she makes a magical tea that grants wishes. She drinks the tea and wishes to essentially re do the month all over again. She wakes up and to her surprise she is reliving her recent past. This was such a cozy read. I can not wait to read more from Celestine, especially book 2.

Witchy romances are great. Time loop stories are also great. This book takes both and combines them together with a dash of fall aesthetic that makes it a cozy, but romantic read.

DNF @ 14%

Where the premise is REALLY promising and intriguing, I could not get into this book. The entire 14% I read was an info dump. It was so dry that it read like a textbook. When I looked forward a bunch, it did not get better and I gave up.

This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I loved returning to freya cove to learn about the middle sister. I have been curious about her since book 1 so I couldnt wait to dig deeper. I loved the take this book took on magicians having real magic and the illusions being apart of their power. That was very unique in my opinion. I loved how Gus was self-aware and open to his life taking a change with a different path. While the FMC got frustrating with almost leading Gus on this still displayed positive dating with open, honest communication.

This book had probably the most magic in the series so far, but it didn't help me understand how the magic system works at all. I think I liked the romance part of this book best out of the 3 so far, both characters were more intriguing than previous. I still wish the writing wasn't so flowery, and there was some exposition that seemed to be glossed over where I would've preferred it be expounded on - but honestly overall these are minor critiques and in the long run aren't super important. If you've enjoyed the first two books, you'll still be a fan of this one.

What do we even call this genre? Cozy fantasy realism? Cozy fantasy romance? Whatever it’s called I love. I love the element of magic in what would otherwise just be a romance. Think of it like Groundhog Day but instead of the same day repeating, you get a second chance at an entire month! Loved the concept and the story.