I wanted to enjoy this book more than what I did! I found the story fell a little flat and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. It also took me a little bit to understand the plot and what exactly what going on - I didn't really figure it out until part way through. One thing I did love was the supernatural and witchy part of the book, which made it a great read for Halloween! From an audio standpoint, the narrators are both awesome!

Sirena Caraway is struggling. She is a kitchen witch and a masterful chef, but her kitchen alchemy is gone. She just bumps into things, starts fires, and makes food lacking in flavor. She feels lost, so she heads back home to Freya Grove, New Jersey. She gets back in time to enjoy some of the pumpkin spice of October, but after a botched job interview and an embarrassing Halloween, Sirena just wants a do-over.

She goes to the tea cabinet and finds a Wish Tea that her sister concocted, and she decides to make herself a cup. She wishes for another chance. And when she wakes up the next morning, she finds that October has reset itself, and Sirena has the whole month to figure out how to get her magic back and try that job interview again.

Gus Dearworth finds himself back in Freya Grove also. Taking a break from his family’s magic show. He’s a gifted magician, but his marriage just ended very publicly, and he needed some time to heal. So he moved back home and took a temporary job with the Historical Society. And when he bumps into Sirena, who he knew from high school, he had an idea.

The Historical Society had some cookbooks that needed someone with expertise to look them over and give them some love. Sirena agrees to take a look at them, and she is bewitched by the old recipes from the witchy cooks who wrote the books. She spends some of her free time at the Historical Society reading over the old cookbooks and wanting to try out some of the recipes. But she also wants to do something she hasn’t done in a long time. Sirena wants to have some fun. She decides to spend some of her second October enjoying the spooky season, spending time with her sisters, and savoring the town’s autumn activities.

But spending time with Gus is quickly becoming one of Sirena’s favorite things. She can’t deny her growing feelings for him, and he seems to feel the same. But what’s going to happen when her time travel wish is over, and November starts up like normal? Will it make a difference that she wished for a rewind, or will she be able to go on as usual, moving towards her dreams, and towards Gus?

Deja Brew is Celestine Martin’s third book in her Elemental Love series, each book about one of the Caraway sisters. Each book works as a stand-alone, but it’s easy to fall for these sisters, so one book from the series may not be enough. This one combines some entertaining supernatural elements with a good, old-fashioned second chance love story. How else can you have someone get lost in a corn maze, because a magic spell made it impossible for her to get out without some magic of her own (or of her boyfriend’s own)?

I listened to Deja Brew on audio, and I thought it was charming. Told in alternating viewpoints and narrated by both Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton, the audio book offers these characters’ journeys with warmth and joy. I thought both narrators did a good job of bringing this world to life, and bringing these two people to the love they were seeking.

I enjoyed Deja Brew a lot. I hadn’t read the other two books in this series, but I will go back because I liked this universe so much. This one does get pretty spicy from time to time, but that’s well balanced with smart writing and engaging characters. This is a great read for fall, or for any time of year that you’re missing spooky season.

Egalleys for Deja Brew were provided by Forever, and a copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

If you love a good holiday romance with a cutesy/Hallmark-esque vibe, then you’ll probably really enjoy this! I loved that the setting was modern, but the characters were all mythical beings without being too out-there. It reminded me a lot of Halloweentown. The two main characters fall for each other very quickly and go between crushing on each other to spicy romance back and forth often. Overall, it was a very cute book with likable characters. Personally I would have liked more of a closed door vibe with how cute the story-line and setting is, but I also don’t tend to gravitate to super spicy books. The male narrator does talk slower than the female narrator, so I did adjust the speed of the audio when they switched parts.

Deja Brew on its own is a great book. Put it in audiobook form? Out of the park. The narrators did a wonderful job of bringing Sirena and Gus to life.

Unfortunately this one was not for me i found the story hard to get into and didnt care for the characters at all. Just think the story wasnt for me

This was a cute fall read but it wasn’t for me. It was hard to get into, and jumped quickly between scenes. Near the end I found it repetitive.

Just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean others won’t! It had a lot of great cozy fall vibes. It just wasn’t the book for me.

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin is the third book in the Elemental Love series, but no worries—this book can absolutely be read as a standalone. I listened to the audiobook of Deja Brew and enjoyed the dual narration, which added something to this magical book.

I love a good stuck-in-a-time loop, and I'm desperate to change your past plotline! Celestine Martin did this story really well; I had such a fun time reading this book! Gus was so real, and I loved hearing his struggles. I also enjoyed that he, alongside Sirena, was finding his way and purpose in the world and Freya Grove! This book also had a really cool, contemporary, magical setting, and I loved that there was no explanation and no issues with any of the magical people or species in this town. I listened to the audiobook for Deja Brew, and I love the dual narration done by Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton. I think it added something extra to the story.

Overall, this book was fun, adventurous, and reflective. Deja Brew is definitely a book to pick up and listen to or read!

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of the audiobook!

I really enjoyed the narrators in this audio, they brought the characters to life. I’m not sure if it was a review copy issue but there was too much time between chapters with white noise.

✨ Review ✨ Deja Brew by Celestine Martin; Narrated by Marissa Hampton; Christopher Hampton

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Forever Publishing, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Note: I started reading this without really realizing it was the third in a series, so this may have impacted my read!

This book starts with a Groundhog Day-style restart to October, giving Sierra a chance to do it again. Her first go-round of October kind of sucked -- injuries, impaired cooking / magical powers, and just general misery. She vows to make better choices the second time around.

She works with Gus, magician, former reality star, and now hottie town historian, and makes a pact to have more fun. He agrees to "tutor" her in fun, and she agrees to work for the local historical society to try to interpret magical cooking texts.

This book is FULL of fall fun - festivals, witchy things, and all things pumpkin spice, and I loved these pieces. On the flip side, the book felt like it dragged on too long and I just got a little bit bored. tldr: fun but too long!

🎧 the audio narration was fantastic - I loved how the narrators embodied their characters. would listen to these narrators again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25 stars)
Genre: contemporary/fantasy romance
Setting: magical world sort of adjacent to our real world
Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
Pub Date: Oct 1, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ pumpkin spice and cider galore
⭕️ witchy magical fall fun
⭕️ friends to lovers
⭕️ small town romance

It was a cute fun romcom for the season. I didn't realize it was a series going into the book and honestly felt like I didn't miss anything by moving forward. However, I do feel like I will go back and read the rest. Both mc struggling for their careers and finding one another to lean against in this warm fall vibes all over the place steamy book. Loved the narrator, kept me engaged in the book.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

We’re back in cozy Freya Grove for the third and last book in the Elemental Love series Deja Brew. Sirena Caraway and Gus Dearworth are looking for a reset. After a viral heartbreak on his family’s reality tv show, Gus is looking for a new path forward out of the limelight. October is typically a witch’s month to shine but for Sirena, a kitchen witch it’s a disaster. It’s October 31st, her magic is on the fritz and so is her cooking career. Sirena’s wish at a second chance is granted when she restarts the entire month giving her time to get her powers straight and flirt with a cute magician. What could go wrong?

Deja Brew is a super cute romance, think a Hallmark Fall Into Love movie but prepare for some spice. The depth of the characters really captured me, it’s more than a romance. Gus grapples with his old reputation as “good time Gus” and mature Gus, who is total nerd but still wants to have fun. Sirena still grieving a big loss and the weight of family responsibility, is trying to find herself again. Both characters are so relatable and it was delightful to read their journeys to themselves as individuals and a couple.

DNF 31%. It's not a bad book, it just completely failed to get my attention and I'm zoning in and out of the story so that's not the best when it comes to following the plot and all. The narrator is completely ok, I just don't really care about this book.

Such a lovely witchy read. Absolutely perfect for the fall season. I didn’t realize before going into this book that it was part of an interconnected series of standalone novels so I will have to pick up the others in the near future.

This was a cute story. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I felt their chemistry from the beginning. The third act twist was a nice change from other books in the genre. Celestine Martin knows how to draw readers in with her story telling. There was the right amount of angst, spice, self-reflection and snark. The narrators were on point with voicing every character and keeping my interest in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of thee audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I don’t listen to many ARCs but I’m so glad this was on audio!! I’ve read the other stories in this series and I couldn’t wait to return to Freya Grove. I absolutely loved Sirena’s confidence throughout the book. And I loved the chemistry between Sirena and Gus. Slow burn🔥🔥🔥

This was an advanced listener’s copy. I came for the fall vibes, which were present, but the rest was pretty hard to swallow. I like cozy and cute, but this didn’t work for me. The spice was nonstop and I know that works for some people. The back and forth feelings and groveling were overly dramatic. Again, I know this is some people’s cup of tea. Unfortunately I don’t think this author is for me.

This was a cute pumpkin spice, fall vibe of a witchy, magical romance. I enjoyed being back in this magical town filled with witches, magicians and all kinds of magical creatures, but I wish there had been more appearances of the supernatural creatures and more magical elements.
Compared to the other 2 books in the series this one felt flatter to me on the romance aspect and I had a harder time connecting to Gus and Sirena as a couple.

I alternated from an ebook to the audio and preferred the ebook because I didn’t feel like the narrators were matched in speed or volume which had me making constant adjustments as I listened which became distracting.

Overall it was a satisfying end to the series even though it wasn’t my favorite of the trilogy.

"Deja Brew" by Celestine Martin is a cute romance that follows Serena, a kitchen witch that lost her spark, and Gus, a magician that just wants to be accepted as he is after he has experienced love, loss, and growth.

Serena, after a difficult October, whips up a potion that unexpectedly takes her back for a month do-over. With this opportunity, she decides not to waste it and that she needs to learn how to have fun again. Meanwhile, 'Goodtime Gus' has grown since his younger party days and is working in the community, away from family and trying to build his own stability. Both have made promises to themselves, to have more fun and to be brave, but can they overcome past habits and fears to have those things together?

While this is part of an interconnected world, the previous books are not necessary to read and enjoy this title. Again, this is a cute romance and I would recommend it for fans of Sarah Hawley. The narrators for the audiobook are outstanding and I would recommend this audiobook to anyone for a fun October romance.

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin is a delightfully cozy, sweet & spicy witchy romance that feels like a cup of tea during the fall.

This is book #3 in the Elemental Love series & can easily be read as a standalone. However, the first book in the series, Witchful Thinking made me fall in love with this series & this magical town, so I do recommend starting there.

Deja Brew is great for fans of…
🧡 Witchy Romance
🧡 Kitchen Witch x Magician
🧡 Small Town
🧡 Groundhog’s Day (Month)

I was so excited to return to this small town & everything in entails. I loved the family aspects that are woven throughout the novel. I adored the sisters’ bond, their unwavering support & love for each other. I thought the kitchen witch aspect was super interesting & a brought a fresh spin to the witchy romance subgenre space.

I also listened to the audiobook. I loved how they brought the characters to life. I listened at 2x speed & it was the perfect listen for my ADHD mind. I really enjoyed the narrators & appreciated how they narrated this story.

I cannot wait to see what this author writes next & I am excited to read more of their work.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Forever books for the gifted copies, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.