I was quickly drawn into this story from the plot and description. The banter was interesting with the FMC being the quirky/witty driver of this story. The MMC was the mysterious love interest that you know and love with a little twist. Fun story filled with romance and family.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Do you need a hopeful story about three sisters trying to protect their town from dark forces while one (of course) falls for that man that would undo everything they've worked for? Maybe you'd be interested in a magic system where you're either sacrificing your memories or your soul with each spell you cast?

Meet the Petridi sisters, Calliope, Thalia, and Eurydice co-owners of the bookstore/cafe The Tea and Tome (dream workplace). Calliope is constantly worrying her sisters with her reckless use of magic, sacrificing memories for trifles like drying herself off after a shower. They have been entrusted by their mother to protect the Dark Oak, which holds a well of powerful, evil magic that the Petridi family has held at bay for generations. Enter Lucien Deniz, a powerful Shadowcraft practitioner, who has brought his coven to their town in order to secure the power from the Dark Oak for himself in order to save his sister Eléa. On what Calliope believes to be a chance encounter, she manages to magically bond herself to Lucien when they both find themselves at the Dark Oak. What follows is a story of familial healing and Calliope figuring out how to be her own person again.

I really enjoyed the book - this is Breanne Randall's second novel and she really wrote such a delight. I think the consistent messaging of hope throughout really spoke to me in ~these times~ and while it may seem trite, when Thalia tells Calliope "Hope doesn't have the be a blazing fire...sometimes, it's just a flicker in the darkness but it's enough to guide us through" I teared up because I also very much needed to hear those words right now. The characters are so much fun, the number of times I annotated "Bro..." in response to Lucien's shenanigans is too high, but also felt right. We see so much development over the course of the story and the journey I went on was absolutely worth it.

In additional delight - the final part of the book has excerpts from The Tea and Tome recipe book, and let me tell you the Basil Lemonade Martini is so freaking good. I definitely will be trying out the other recipes!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced copy.

One thing I was NOT expecting with this based on the blurb is just how focused this was going to be on Calliope and her sisters. If I had known that the entire premise of the book was going to be based on their relationship and the importance of getting along/working with them, I would have passed. Especially after reading this and it not being representative of my experience with 2 sisters AT ALL.

Secondly, the premise is super interesting, but parts of it just really didn't click for me. In order to use magic, Calliope and her sisters have to sacrifice memories--the bigger the spell, the larger the memory that must be given up. Super cool magic system, I'm on board so far. But....memories useful for magic are still sort of finite--especially when your life is super routine. Calliope uses magic for EVERYTHING--every other page she's doing a spell, or talking about how often she uses spells for cleaning, etc. How does she have any memories left?? How has her mind not fractured like we're constantly warned about? It makes no sense to me and kept driving me insane.

I also really didn't connect with any characters (except maybe "attack first and ask questions later" Grim). It's a combination of really shallow character development and I guess just not having anything about the development we do have that was relatable to me? There wasn't a single point in this that I felt connected to anyone or was rooting them on, which is kind of a bummer. I think I was really let down by the blurb about what this story really was and it never recovered for me.

The premise is interesting and the story flows/is well written, it just wasn't fully for me for a lot of reasons.

This book is advertised to give Charmed and Pride & Prejudice vibes, and I have to agree! The book begins with three sisters (hello, Charmed!) and we learn early on that their mom is missing. The sisters are cautious about using their magic because the cost of using it is their memories. I thought this was a very unique magic system and I was interested to see how it would affect the choices they make throughout the book. The love story was definitely a little spicier than what we saw in The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, but I was here for it! I enjoyed the ride we took with this story, and I won’t soon forget it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

Spell, Strings, and Forgotten Things follows three Petridi sisters, always three, who are witches with a terrible secret. They are very powerful and their magic must be used to protect their beloved town. Unfortunately for the current Petridi sisters, as well as all those who came before them, they must sacrifice memories to fuel their magic.

There are many things I really enjoyed about this book! I thought the magic system was incredibly interesting and enjoyed watching the secrets involving the Petridi curse unfold as the book goes on. I loved the 3 sisters and the dynamic between them all throughout the book. I really enjoyed the cozy descriptions of Gold Springs. I liked so many things about this book, but ultimately there was just one too many moments that took me out of the story.

One of my biggest pain points with this book was the language. Calliope and Lucien, the MMC, often fell into this very formal, old-school type of back and forth that did not fit into the time period or the rest of the story. The pacing also felt off. I meandered through the first half of the story, feeling slightly bored, but the second half was fantastic and action-packed. I also did not quite believe the romance between the female and male main character, although the spicy scenes were fun.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy magical realism and a good witchy story.

Breanne did it again! She built a wonderful story line depicting the complicated relationships that form in families. That nothing is worth sacrificing the memories made and the importance of believing in yourself. How confidence isn’t based on one’s actual ability to succeed but on one’s belief in their ability to succeed.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is my first foray into the written world of Breanne Randall, and I was intrigued by the premise of romance, sci-fi/fantasy, and magic. And I found this book so delightful and enchanting!

The story follows Calliope, a member of the Lightcrafters coven who, along with her sisters, is tasked with guarding the secret of their magic. The price for said magic is the cost of sacrificing memories in order to cast spells. Which Calliope seems to be fine with because she wants to forget a lot of the bad stuff in her life. Then an ancient evil awakens, and Calliope and her sisters struggle with their bond and weakening magic.

Enter the Shadowcrafters, a rival coven. Calliope (accidentally?) binds herself to one of these ruthless men, Lucien. Steamy chemistry and chaos ensues as they race to fight the ancient evil. Calliope must face down her fears and painful memories without losing herself. I loved this dynamic duo and was definitely here for some "shadow daddy" drama. Yes please.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very likeable (especially Grim!) and I would have loved more messy drama and conflict details between the characters, but I feel the story was well-crafted and compelling. The plot twists were a bit too on-the-nose, but chemistry between the characters, the sisterly bonds, and the emotion of the book was all spot on and enjoyable.

I will definitely be recommending this book for my March book club! If you like Romantasy and magic, you should add this one to your TBR!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things perfectly delivers on its promise of Charmed and Pride and Prejudice vibes, blending atmospheric magic, swoony romance, and an enchanting small-town setting. The story is filled with twists that genuinely gave me goosebumps, and the magical world-building was both immersive and unique. The romance—equal parts forbidden and electric—brought major Phoebe and Cole energy, making it all the more compelling.

While the pacing felt slow at times, the novel’s cozy fantasy feel and strong sense of community made up for it. The sisters’ tea and bookshop was a delightful touch, and I only wish their perspectives had been explored more deeply. The book leaves some lingering questions unanswered, but it’s an intoxicating, witchy read that’s perfect for fall. Fans of Charmed, especially its early seasons, will love this one!

The amount of love that has been obviously poured into this book is insane. It's truly magical to see the love between both family and found family. Even when I had to set this book down I was constantly thinking about it. It is interesting to see how much Calliope is willing to sacrifice just for the convenience of magic. Watching her grow as a character was beautiful, especially when she realizing not everything is worth sacrificing. The magic of cooking/making something with love is also so special. I love how this seems to be a theme throughout Randall's works. It was great to see diverse representation throughout the book. I am definitely hoping to read more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Breanne Randall for the Arc.

Is it fair to say that one of my favorite reads of 2024 is a book that isn’t being published til 2025? Breanne Randall, the absolute magic you’ve made with this one. 💫 Since this was an ARC (thank you, NetGalley!) I won’t spoil anything, I promise! All I’ll say is that there are so many small, beautiful details to this novel — the vibrant sweetness of a cozy town full of friendly neighbors, the dull but ever present pain that comes with a curse of forgetting, recognizing that you’ve fallen in love with someone who would do anything for their family because you would do anything for yours too .. where some books tend to get lost in themselves as the story gets more and more complex, this one only became harder and harder to put down. I’m truly in awe that I could feel so much in so few pages and I can’t wait until this is on shelves everywhere!

really great book! loved the story overall. if you like magic and kinda calm sweet things, this is perf for you! i love all of this authors books and this one fits right in!! if you liked unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic, you’ll like this!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the eARC! The Petridi sisters have been protecting their land and magic for generations, sacrificing memory to cast spells. Calliope is the latest in line willingly giving up parts of herself to gain knowledge of spellcraft and the secrets and threats that are drawing closer, while her two sisters refuse the use of magic. When an ancient power threatens their magic and all they've known, Calliope attempts to fix things on her own and winds up bound to a member of a rival coven. As the danger looms ever nearer, can the sisters come together and find the power to overcome or will they lose everything, including each other?

Breanne Randall does it, AGAIN! I was so excited for this one because I read one of her books last year and I loved it so much! I think this was just as good, if not a smidge better than the book I read last year. I enjoyed the storyline and the pacing! I did find it a bit hard to connect myself to the story but it wasn’t anything huge. The characters were also very well rounded and I liked that about the story as well!

Thank you Net gallery for providing me for an early copy of this book.

This narrative made me feel like I was reading a new episode of "Charmed," as a fan of the 90s witch series. It was precisely what my soul needed. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of these three sisters and their efforts to avoid losing their memories.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things" by Breanne Randall is indeed an intriguing novel. It follows the story of Calliope Petridi, a young witch who must sacrifice memories to cast spells. Set in the small town of Gold Springs, Calliope and her sisters guard the secret of their magic and the price they must pay to practice it.

The novel combines elements of magic, love, and self-discovery, with a thrilling plot that involves an ancient evil awakening in their town. Calliope accidentally binds herself to the leader of a rival coven, leading to a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.

If you're a fan of magical tales with a touch of romance and family secrets, this book has been on my must read for 2025.

The only reason is 4/5, The blend of formal magical language with modern banter was indeed to be tricky to balance, and it seems like it didn't quite work for me in this case. It was frustrating when the character voices feel unrealistic or two-dimensional, especially when you're looking for that entertaining spark.

As far as that goes I think overall the idea of the plot interesting including the characters that were in this story.

Three sisters are tied together by their shared magic – a magic that requires the sacrifice of memory to power a spell. Bigger magic requires bigger memories. Amidst fracturing relationships, a darkness comes to town, and the sisters must work together to protect their home or lose everything.

I liked the themes of love, family, and the ties that bind; memories and shared pasts connecting us all like magical strings. What happens to those relationships, and even to who you are as a person, when you begin to sacrifice those? When is it worth it? At first maybe you just sacrifice the memory of how it felt to wear a new jacket the first time, that seems harmless, right? But when does that slippery slope become too much, and how do you cope with not even knowing what you’ve given up, and who you were before you did?

An interesting magic system, an ancient evil, and three sisters trying to get along (it’s always 3 with witchy sisters, isn’t it), all things I loved. I wasn’t wild about the romance with the MMC though; too typical, bland broody dark tortured character, etc etc. That relationship felt too much like insta-love, maybe my least favorite trope to ever trope.

Luckily for me, there was plenty of non-romance plot in this book to keep me entertained and the spicy bits didn’t overwhelm the story. (Although if you DO like the FMC falling immediately for the brooding bad-boy with daddy issues, then you’ll be very happy too.) I loved loved loved the whimsical elements like the sentient grimoire, and there were lots of hidden family secrets, revealed for great jaw-dropping shock moments.

Overall it’s a fun little read, and I’m giving it 3 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine for an advanced copy, in exchange for my opinions!

What about you? If you could cast magic spells but had to sacrifice memories to do it, would you?

_Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things_ by Breanne Randall is a magical, romantic, and atmospheric romantasy read. Calliope Petridi is a Lightcraft witch who lives in a small California town with her two sisters Thalia and Eurydice. For generations their family has guarded the Dark Oak by their home to protect the town from the dark power trapped within, but Calliope discovers the wards are weakening the same night she meets handsome Shadowcrafter Lucien. Even though Calliope has been taught that Shadowcrafters should not be trusted, she is drawn to Lucien, and now they all must work together to save the town and themselves.

Wow, I LOVED this book. The sisterhood, the nods to Charmed and hints of Practical Magic, the queer representation... I was so here for it. Books like this one would've made my teenage self feel seen and represented. Breanne has a way of writing magical books that leave you eager to read more. Cannot recommend this one enough.

Calliope, the youngest of three witch sisters continues to sacrifice little memories for her magic even though her two sisters, Eurydice and Thalia, long ago swore off their magic when their mother disappeared. One night while out with her best friend, Danny, she feels a cold presence and a shadow whisper to her. She is drawn to the Forbidden Forest where the Dark Oak tree lives and locked away in it a long standing family secret. She finds herself in peril until Lucien, a member of the rival witch coven, steps in to save her and they are bound together.
A beautiful story of family, love, and the importance of even the smallest memories. Yet again, I just love Breanne Randall’s writing.
My only very small complaint is things do get a little too tropey and a little too cliche with some of the sayings.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for this amazing ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things has an intriguing premise, with a really unique magic system centered on sacrificing memories. The small-town setting of Gold Springs is atmospheric and richly described, bringing a cozy yet mysterious vibe that complements the story well. While the pacing started off slow, the story did pick up and became more engaging as it unfolded. The romance follows familiar enemies-to-lovers beats, but it has its enjoyable moments. Overall, this is a solid read and I'd definitely recommend it for a cozy witchy read.

This book had me absolutely encaptured. As soon as I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. The characters were so complex and amazing. The plot kept getting better and better and I just couldn’t believe what I was reading