I really wanted to enjoy this book but sadly it missed the mark for me. The characters were great and well fleshed out. The magic system was interesting and different but relyed in memory too much. At times the writing felt beautiful and soft but at other times the writing felt cliche and too young. The story has so much potential but felt ubpolished.

So I'll be honest, this book just was not for me. This is a DNF for me. There are multiple things that I just didn't like about this book. I didn't really enjoy any of the characters other than Grim, he was chill. But all the other characters just seemed not real. Like I kept asking myself "who talks like this" and other things that I just thought were unnecessary. The MFC and MMC were at each other's throats one minute and almost doing it in the library the next. The relationship was just extremely hot and cold. I didn't feel like the ideas were fleshed through enough and we spent so much time on non important miniscule things. I don't like to leave bad reviews because I know how much a book means to an author. But this one just wasn't it for me. So unfortunately I won't be reviewing on other platforms because I wouldn't feel right doing it.

I wish I loved this one more! I really enjoyed the authors other book but I found this one to be a bit too descriptive/ wordy and very hard to engage with.

I hope to enjoy the authors next book more!

This book had a Charmed feel with the sister relationships throughout the book. I really enjoyed the magic system and the stakes it took for the sisters to use their own.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

I did not really know if I was going to like this book in the beginning, but the general atmosphere was compelling, and the plot twists felt very magical and purposeful! I love a book that makes me gasp or scoff if I feel a certain way.

If you love Charmed (as much as I do), you'll LOVE this book. The romantic parts were fun to read, and the way the characters are written made it easy to relate to and really like. The forbidden romance vibe was great and I really felt like I was watching an episode of Charmed! There was the sisterly bond, magic, romance etc.... I felt like I also read this very quickly, so if you're a fast reader or soak up stories that way, this is for you!

Stand outs for me were the characters, world-building, and how general magic worked. This was everything I actually wanted from another book that I read recently, and it had that wichy vibe that wasn't buried in too much non-action.

If you’re a Charmed fan, and if you love it! It reminded me of the episodes where the girls time travel and meet their ancestors on multiple occasions. The general vibe of this book really made me feel warm and cozy, and I can't wait for a sequel!!!!

I received an advanced copy via NetGalley for a honest review.
The cover draws you in and promises a quirky, fun witchy read. The story fell short in multiple ways. There were too many storylines, too many genres, and felt chaotic due to the addition of so much. The story got extremely dark at times, missing the mark of a more cozy read (Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic) which was promised. I did like the ending, but do not plan to continue to read the series. This was a miss for me, but I hope it isn't for you!!

I was so excited to get this book. If you loved Charmed then you will love this book. Three sisters and a magical book, a family curse, search for their mom, and romance! This also has a wonderful writing style.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things.

I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to read Breanne Randall’s second book! While I do own her first novel, Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. After reading this book, I am so excited to dive into it! This book was such a fun read and I enjoyed this story so much. The characters were such an eclectic group that I fell in love with for different reasons. While the story was a bit slow moving at first, by the half way mark I didn’t want to put it down. While I’m not typically someone who highlights certain quotes or passages within books, there were several sentences that drew my attention back over them time and time again because they were worded so beautifully. The author had such a way with evoking very specific emotions through elegant prose. More than once I was in awe of the way the musings of our main characters were worded.

I’m unsure if the author intends for this book to be a series or not, but I could very easily see it headed that way and I wouldn’t be mad at that for one second. There are so many pieces of the puzzle yet to be solved that I really hope the story doesn’t end here. Breanne, if you’re reading this, PLEASE WRITE A BOOK 2! I’m not ready for this story to end, and I don’t think I’m alone in this request. Quickly add this one to your TBR as it hits shelves March 4th!

I was so excited for a cozy, small town fantasy with Gilmore Girls vibes, but I'll admit I was bored. It pained me to DNF for the time being because I was so excited for this ARC!

This was a highly anticipated read for me. I read The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic back in 2023, and it was a five star read for me.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres, so the plot of the book called to me. Unfortunately, the book started becoming a little too much like the spicy fantasy books I see all over social media. The building tension between Calliope and Lucien was a little cringey for my taste.

The writing was good, and I love the sisters and the town, but I just couldn't get past the storyline of good vs evil/light vs dark.

But if you like fantasy, dark romance, and magic, I think you'll like this one! I'm still going to check out more that Breanne Randall writes. Thank you to NetGalley, Breanne Randall, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

If you are looking for a cozy fantasy with a little bit of romance, I would suggest reading this book. I love the found family trope, so that was really refreshing to see. The magic elements in this book were so unique and the characters were completely lovable. It was a little slow moving for me in some chapters, but overall I thought this was a good read.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
# Pages: 400
Publication Day: 03.04.25

"I would say 'I'd die for you," he said in a low voice, tracing her cheek, the line of her jaw, outlining her lips. "But what's the point in that? I would live for you."

“Sometimes, the most powerful magic isn't in the spells we cast, but in the things we remember.”

* Romantasy
* Enemies To Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* LGBTQ+ Rep
* Small Town
* Shadow Daddy
* Witches
* Family Curse
* Light vs Dark Magic

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall was able to create a magical read with this one. I went into this hoping it was going to be a great read, I wasn’t disappointed.

This story was easier to follow this time and the plot/ sub plots were more clear. I’m hoping with how it ended, there is going to be a sequel. Just a few things that were missing and could be answered in another book. I also like that this read was more whimsical and didn’t feel as forced. All the things I truly hoped for because Breanne does have a beautiful and creative mind.

I did love the world building. The tea shop and small town sounded wonderful. The character development and magical system was very well thought out. The mix of memories intertwined with the magic and sacrifice was captivating. She definitely was able to execute the Charmed vibes with the sisterhood/ bond.

Calliope, FMC, accidentally binds herself to a rival coven's leader, Lucien, MMC. Which starts the intoxicating and forbidden love. Their romance and story is lovable and swoon worthy. I don’t want to go too much into detail with this because of spoilers.

I think overall, as Breanne continues to write her novels, things will continue to fall into place. I have definitely seen improvement in her writing. I would love to see more evenly paced. Maybe a little less detail in some parts to let the imagination do some work and not have some predictability. However, there was definitely a nice twist within the story. She holds a lot of promise for future works and I’m excited to see her journey continue. Thank you for more recipes in this book. I love that personal touch.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and prh audio for the arc and alc.

This novel was delightful! It gave me Hocus Pocus and Pratical Magic vibes. I loved the bond between the three sisters. I also enjoyed the mystery/suspense/drama elements. Saskia Maarvelad did a great job narrating this audiobook, so I highly recommend both reading the book and listening to the audiobook narration!

3.5⭐️

This was a cozy paranormal/witchy romance that gives small town Gilmore Girls x Charmed vibes. I love a book with a sister relationship as the main part of the plot. We got family secrets, curses, prophecies, and a hilarious sentient book named Grim. I very much enjoyed that the FMC was bisexual and that her best friend was nonbinary. I think this would be an especially fun October read!

Overall, this book was pretty average for me. It got pretty repetitive at times. I really didn’t like the MMC. I was left a bit disappointed with how it ended.

Thank you to Dell Romance for a review copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love the themes of this book, enemies to lovers, sisterhood, family. But it was a hard read for me. It really didn’t hold my interest until the MMC was introduced. And even then after a few chapters I lost interest again. I love the author but this just wasn’t a book for me.

I loved this! It was such a great mix of mythical and just generally fun to read. It gives the same vibes as Gilmore girls or practical magic which is what originally made me so interested! It is dual POV, enemies to lovers and it explores some heavier topics such as loss of a loved one. This story is amazing and I am so happy I got the chance to read it!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things will leave readers wanting more of this enchanting, mythical tale. A story that examines sisterhood, loss, and overcoming your past whilst fighting for the future told in a way that will leave readers laughing, crying, and begging for more.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things ​​focuses on Calliope and her sisters, as they try to protect the small town that they dearly love. The catch is that in order to use their magic, they have to sacrifice a memory each time. Something that Calliope is all too eager to do as she tries to forget the abandonment of their mom and the other pains in her life. Things get more complicated once Lucien and his coven come to town, and Calliope and Lucien find themselves thrown together.

​I enjoyed this even more than Breanne Randall's debut book, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. I appreciated the diversity that was easily woven into this small town and the characters - it enhanced the story in unexpected ways. I also enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters, and I hope follow-up books will focus on Thalia and Eurydice.

The plot and "logic" of the lore/magic was a little hard to follow and complicated, and some of the descriptions were a bit lengthy and I found myself skimming through it at times. I would've loved to get more interactions between Calliope and Lucien. While it was dual POV, we only got a few Lucien chapters.​ I feel like we just got a taste of their enemies to lovers dynamic, and would've enjoyed seeing more banter to show how their attraction grew. ​

Overall though, ​once the story picked up, I read this book rather quickly and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Rating: ​4 stars
CW/TW: ​death of a loved one
Spice: 🌶️ (​a few brief/mild sex scenes)
Good for readers who: ​like a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic
Romance tropes: ​enemies to lovers, dual POV, small town romance

*Thanks to StoryGraph & Random House for providing this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a delightful, cozy read with a unique magic system that adds a fresh touch to the story. One of my favorite elements was the charming sentient spell book - it brought such a fun and whimsical energy! The romance has just the right balance of drama, tension, and banter to keep things engaging without overpowering the lighthearted feel of the book. With its blend of magic, charm, and easygoing storytelling, this was a truly enjoyable read, perfect for when you want something fun and feel-good.