
Member Reviews

This was the perfect cozy/witchy book to start fall off with! Serena is a kitchen witch who has lost her touch with cooking lately. She is having a disastrous month and wishes she could just start over. She wakes up and somehow gets to start October all over again!
Along the way, she meets Gus who is a former magician. He agrees to help her with her cooking skills. They form a genuine bond, although I felt like Serena was a bit too stubborn at times.
If you're looking for a cozy read, this is it! I wouldn't say there was a lot of comedy in it though. Thank you Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Celstine Martin for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’m in my fall reading mood. Deja Brew is the latest I’ve read. It was a story about a wish gone wrong. I highly recommend this book!

I enjoyed the book Deja Brew by Celestine Martin. This is a fun spooky and spicy mystery that is perfect to read in October. I enjoy the Autumn touches such as mazes. The touches of magic and witchcraft also make this a fun read. Great narration by Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton. I also appreciated that the main characters are people of color. I will look up other books in this series and recommend this book. Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the eARC.

I was hoping this would be a cute and cozy fall read, but I didn't really feel any connection to the characters at all.
It felt like the writing was so intentionally descriptive to set the scene in most places that it was awkward and forced rather than a natural flow. The audiobook narrators also fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the female narrator's voice, but the male narrator remained monotone throughout and didn't really support telling the story with any emotion to help me stay engaged.

Deja Brew is a charming witchy story meets Groundhog Day for the perfect read for fall.
We follow Sirena, a kitchen witch who has lost her touch, and Gus, a magician whose family are reality tv stars. They both are thrown together when Sirena makes a wish that turns into her repeating the month of October.
This was a good slow burn with great cozy fall energy. I liked the leads chemistry with each other and they seemed very supportive of each other. The world was a cross between real world and fantasy and was a bit confusing at times. By the end I had no clue how the magic system worked. There also were quite a few plot holes in the story, but as long as you don't concentrate on that the story is cute.
3 stars

A sweet, cozy, steamy autumn witch romance featuring a magician and a kitchen witch both from long lines of witches and magicians. This is the 2rd book in the series but I was only moderately confused about the scope of the universe, you do learn pretty quickly that pretty much every manner of paranormal and fantasy being/creature exists from vampires and fairies to goblins, trolls and werewolves. Modern, fluffy fall time romance at its best.

This is a very sweet, love letter to fall, romance. I love the different kinds of magic and Sirena and Gus’s relationship.

As a fall girlie, I cannot resist a good witchy story in the fall. Last fall, I read Martin’s Witchful Thinking and had the best time getting swept up in this magical world full of witches, merfolk, and other magical beings set in the coziest mystic seaside town full of charms, hexes, and wishes. I couldn’t wait to return to this world for Sirena’s story. Fair warning: not only will the magic sweep you off your feet, but you’ll be left extremely hungry after reading about all the mouthwatering dishes.
When it comes to witchy books, I absolutely love time travel and wishes… and Deja Brew has BOTH! I really liked how this wasn’t your standard “redo” for wishes and there weren’t any time loops. The changing in time was directly linked to the characters’ emotional journeys - wishing for clarity to regain a missing spark, rediscover joy, and to help others.
I loved reuniting with the Caraway women and getting to witness their newest adventures. I love how no matter what is going on, they stop whatever they are doing to rally around each other. No questions asked. They protect each other fiercely, celebrate and encourage each other often, and love with all of their hearts. It was so touching seeing them bring Gus into their family unit and give him a safe space where he could let his guard down and share his heart.
I really enjoyed the audiobook experience. The narrators had such warmth in their performances and I felt connected to the story because of the level of emotion, humor, and heart they brought to bringing Gus and Sirena’s characters to life. I think I would have enjoyed the story reading with my eyes too, but the audiobook was a fun, lovely experience!
This was such a sweet story full of tender, heartwarming moments that left your heart full of warm fuzzies and hope. If you love cozy, magical stories, full of the most endearing characters, laughter, and love, make sure this series is on your fall TBR!

Deja Brew is a cute rom com with last resort wishes actually coming true. The second chance is literal and a fun way of looking at missed opportunities. Magical twists make me happy; this story felt very current and real with a hint of magical elements, I occasionally forgot I was in a magical world until there was a witch or a spell mentioned. It’s magical romance but not in your face fantasy, the story feels like real life, every day, but with a little something extra.
Sirena is me, she’s you, she’s anyone who has been so embarrassed of an action that she wishes it could be redone. Gus is finding himself again after being lost in the life he thought he needed to have rather than the life he actually wants. The two get a well deserved second chance and experiencing them each coming into their own and allowing the love they deserve into their lives is like a warm hug.
This is a pretty slow burn, once the spice hits, it hits! Not in an overly graphic way but in a touching and celebratory fashion. They worship each other’s bodies in all the right ways.
This is book 3 in a series and I haven’t read the first 2; I can tell you I loved this one without any issues. I didn’t feel like I was lacking information or behind on a story line.
The narrator’s were lovely, no issues with speed or tone, they fit the characters very well and I never had any issues with remembering who was speaking. I prefer duet narration but didn’t have any issues with the different voices each narrator used for any gender. Would definitely listen to other books narrated by these two.
Thank you Hachette Audio for the NetGalley Audio ARC. Can’t wait to pick up some more books by Celestine Martin.

4 ☆
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If you're wanting a cozy, fall, witchy vibe with a dash of romance, this book is for you! Deja Brew is book three in the Elemental Love series and can be read as a standalone, which is a major plus. Now, I didn't rate this one as high because I felt like the other two in the series had a Disney retelling theme or vibe, and this book didn't have that. This is definitely a slow-paced, slow-burn romance.
I had already read the book, but I LOVE audiobooks and was fortunate to receive this audiobook. Now, the eBook I gave a 3.5 ☆ rating, but the audiobook is definitely a 4 ☆! The narrators did a great job telling the story; they were very easy to listen to and understand! I will definitely recommend it for the fall, spooky season!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Slow-Burn
•Black Romance
•Cozy | Fall Vibes
•Witchy Romance
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Oct.1
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobbok in exchange for my honest review.

(Rounded up from 3.5)
It was so nice to be back in Freya Grove, New Jersey! (But, not to worry, this book will work fine as a standalone.) The town is filled with magical people and other magical creatures (like gnomes). Although a fictional town, we are on the Jersey Shore, somewhere near Asbury Park, since the (real) Berkley Hotel is mentioned along the way. This is the third book in the Elemental Love series, which revolves around three sisters and a cousin, all part of the extensive Caraway witch family. This time we are focused on Sirena, a kitchen witch who seems to have lost her touch. When she finds a batch of “wish tea” made by her sister Lucy, she wishes for a do-over of the whole disastrous month of October.
I enjoyed Sirena’s story and adored her love interest, Gus, a famous magician from a family full of magicians, who has retreated from stardom on his family’s reality tv series, and just wants to be the steward of the Freya Grove Historical Society. He’s licking his wounds from a divorce; and now his ex is getting remarried soon and has invited him to the wedding. I loved how Gus admired and appreciated Sirena’s curves. She describes herself as a big girl and she’s fine with it. So refreshing! When she gets her spark back, her food sounded utterly delicious. I also loved how close the Caraway “girls” were and how they supported one another.
Warning: several explicit spicy scenes.
I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook for this title. There were two narrators, male and female: Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton (no idea if they are related or not). Both narrators were fine, although I felt I had to speed up the audiobook, as the narration was just too slow for me (especially Christopher’s sections).
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

🧉 “Deja Brew” is a delightful, autumnal romance that offers a charming blend of magic, second chances, and heartwarming moments. The story stars Sirena, a kitchen witch, who, after a series of unfortunate events, is granted a magical do-over of the month of October. During this time loop, she encounters Gus, a former reality star with a secret crush. Together, they embark on a magical journey filled with pumpkin spice, spellbinding adventures, and a growing attraction.
✨ The cozy autumn vibes, the magical elements, the charming characters, Sirena's strong female presence, and the excellent narration makes it easy to get attached to the story and look forward to each next chapter. While some plot points were predictable, making it easy to follow, the story could have benefited from a more even pace, and the relationship-development at a more steady pace.
🎧 Listeners of the audiobook will find that the story receives another layer of cosiness thanks to the great team behind the narration. The dual point-of-view narration provided by Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton makes it easy to follow the story and keep pace of the long chapters, whether the story is listened during commute time or on a lazy Autumn day.
⭐ Overall, “Deja Brew” is a cozy and magical rom-com that offers a delightful escape on a chilly Autumn day. With its enchanting setting, charming characters, and heartwarming moments, it easily becomes the story to look forward to. If you enjoy witchy tales, second chance romances, and cozy vibes, this book is definitely worth checking out.
Hachette Audio | Forever, NetGalley, and the editorial team - thanks for giving me the opportunity to review an audiobook ARC of this publication!
Estimated publication date: 1-Oct-2024
For more reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!
#DejaBrew #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

I. am. obsessed. with. these. two. Like so much. I have no words. I thought they were just meant to be, which they are. The magical element with them being lost in time when they are together. I squealed. I loved them so much I need time to recover.
It was great to see someone that usually feels the fixer, the one that has to be there for everyone asking for help. I thought it was a great read and I want to read it again.
I got an alc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really adorable audio perfect fall.
Ex-celebrity chef Sirena Caraway has had the wackiest October ever. Her cooking powers are on the fritz, she failed to land a career-saving job, and she embarrassed herself at the town’s Halloween party. Just before midnight, she makes a desperate wish for a second chance to fix her life. The next morning Sirena wakes up and realizes that she’s repeating the entire pumpkin spice-flavored month. Even sweeter, she runs into Gus Dearworth, whose magic leaves her spellbound.
A former reality star, Gus moved to Freya Grove to rebuild his reputation and heal his broken heart, but his restless magic is tempting him to return to the spotlight. And his secret crush on Sirena is making him want to try something dangerous like fall in love again. When Sirena realizes he can help her fix her powers, Gus makes her a deal. If she’ll help decipher a mysterious cookbook in his collection, he'll help get her magical groove back.
Every encounter offers a new adventure—from tasting menus, harvest mazes, and a growing attraction that’s taking on an irresistible enchantment of its own. But as the month winds down and the wish grows stronger, Sirena and Gus have a decision to make. Will their second chance be their happy-ever-after ending or a bittersweet memory?
I had no idea this was part of a series and while you can still enjoy the story, i definitely was really confused at the beginning about sirena’s witch powers, her family and the town as the whole. However, like I said, it’s still a super sweet, time loop story that gives all the fall vibes. And our main characters? Chefs kiss. See what I did there?
Overall I do recommend but you might want to read the previous works first

This one didn’t hit for me. I think the book is completely fine and just didn’t pull me in. I’m a reader that needs banter, the snarkier the better, and tension. I missed both of those in this one. The attraction is very fast paced in this story. There is also a lot of FAST back and forth of ‘we need to slow down’ to pound town a handful of sentences later - this happened at least 3 times. Additionally, the audiobook didn’t support the book as well as it could have. I found the narrators to be emotionally flat. They were so emotionally neutral, the sentences “I flushed the toilet” and “I burn for you” would likely be narrated exactly the same way. A miss overall for me as it just didn’t fit my taste. I do think someone looking for a cute spicy read who would eyeball read this should still consider it if the blurb catches your attention.
Thank you to NetGalley, Celestine Martin, Hachette audio, and Forever publishing for ARC copies of this read.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Deja Brew on October 1, 2024.
I absolutely loved this witchy, cozy fantasy! Serina and Gus had impeccable chemistry from the get-go, and I loved Serina's quest to add a little more fun to her life and get her spark back. Their interactions for work and play built such a fun foundation for a relationship, and I love how this monthly do-over gave them time to connect. Plus, the spicy scenes had me flustered and giggling!
Celestine Martin did a phenomenal job weaving magic into this world too. It's rare to have a contemporary romance where magic is out in the open, so I really appreciated that change of pace! And, of course, the sisterly relationships were as sweet as ever.
This book is def the vibe this fall, so don't miss it!

FINALLY a curvy, melanin blessed witch as the fmc!!!! LOVEEEEEE reading black romance
Deja Brew is a modern day paranormal read and I am HERE for it! I really enjoyed this book and the real life references and historically black phrases scattered throughout the book made me giggle. Living in Australia, I don't really get to enjoy the spirit of Halloween but this brook brought aaall the Halloween goodness! This was the 3rd book in the series but I read as a standalone and everything still made sense. I loved the character arcs and the paranormal aspects kept it so interesting!
Sirena is a kitchen witch with a bad case of bad luck during the month of October and Gus is an ex reality tv star (think of Kardashians but a black magician family). Sirena makes a wish one fateful night and gets a do-over. Sirena and Gus strike a deal and by the end of the month they have a decision to make.
This book was super cozy and just felt like a warm hug (who needs Olaf?). Sirena & Gus 4eva <3
Thank you to Celestine Martin and Hachette Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

This story had the potential to be awesome, sadly it was mid. There was a lot of things that weren’t explained. I just wanted more.

A delightful fall witchy read. This series is so easy to read the vibes are so nice and full of cozy hallmark channel type love stories.
This one has Serena, a kitchen witch that has been having the worst time of it and all comes to a big head at a Halloween party where she ends up covered in fake ghost slime. To soother her heart she drinks some tea and makes a wish for a do over. In the morning October has begun again and she is determined to fix everything that went wrong the last time she lived October.
The romance was pretty cute but I was there for the magic! I love the family of witches and the different powers they have.
It was fun
Thanks to netgalley and hachette audio for an alc

Deja Brew is a solid read to get you in the fall spirits. The setting and timing is the perfect cozy way to get ready for a delightful time. Now I do want to emphasize this is COZY, so make sure you’re in the mindset for a really cozy slower paced read. One of the best things about this book for me was Martin’s descriptions. I loved her prose, and it really helped sell the vibes of the story. I also loved the kitchen witch aspect. One thing I was missing was a strong connection between Sirena and Gus. The relationship was nice, but I was missing the sizzling chemistry I was hoping for especially with some of the spicy scenes they had going on. I wanted more between them. It’s still an enjoyable read, but I may have read too many cozy books in a row. I read this via audiobook and loved that two different narrators were used to voice Sirena and Gus’s POVs. I felt that Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton did well with their respective narrations. Overall the vibes of the story are great especially if you’re a lover of the fall season.
Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️