Started a little slow for me but I fell in love with both characters and both timelines. Hard choices and alternate realities will warm your heart.

Really 4.5 stars

A fun, cute rom com to read.
The chemistry between main characters, Dax and Gemma, was fun to see evolve over time.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

THIS SPELLS LOVE was exactly the cute, paranormal, witty romcom I needed to cement in my heart that witchy romances are, indeed for me. The classic spell-gone-wrong trope worked quite well, and I was swooning from the very beginning of the relationship.

Kate Robb was not on my radar before, but now she definitely is!

This book was OK. I got through it well enough, but really struggled to keep my attention. All in all, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it as I didn't really feel like it had anything new to offer.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

This one didn't quite hit for me- I enjoyed aspects of it, and I liked the voice. I enjoyed the premise as well, but I didn't think the story quite pulled it off.

Gemma is an appealing protagonist, and I like her motivations. She is afraid of change, afraid of risk, and her now former boyfriend encouraged those tendencies. Clearly, the best thing he ever did for her was dump her.

Dax is her best friend, and clearly in love with her. They do everything together, and have for years. I liked that he had a strong personality and drive, which makes him both like Gemma and not.

I had two main issues with this one: world building and consistency. The rules of this universe seem very flexible to how the story needs to go. Gemma casts a spell to erase the memory of her ex from her life, because she's heartbroken, and inadvertently enters an alternate reality where she never dated her ex. I do not get the reasoning behind this- I didn't think the spell was supposed to change the past, just erase bad memories? Plus, it doesn't make sense to me that Gemma doesn't get memories of the alternate reality. The whole point of the spell was to erase her ex, but it erased him everywhere except her mind!

It also didn't track for me that she wouldn't be friends with Dax if she and Stuart (her ex) never dated. They met the same night, slightly earlier. So, what happened in the alternate reality, did she just never go out that night? Because if it hadn't been for Stuart, it seems like Gemma and Dax would have just started dating when they met four years ago.

There's also just no resolution over her aunt Livi's weird behavior- is she a witch? How does she know so much before it happens? Did she know all along what would transpire? It just seems like a loose end to me. There is another one earlier in the book, when Gemma first wakes up in the alternate reality and a guy she slept with the previous night (but doesn't recognize, because alternate reality) says she doesn't usually sleep over. Usually? Is this like a friends with benefits guy? Because we never hear about him again.

The last thing I didn't like is the idea that Gemma must return to her reality or risk causing damage in the alternate one. I didn't like that it seemed like she didn't have a choice. Things are better for Dax in the other world, but that isn't why Gemma should go back. She should go back because it's home! Plus there's the nerve-wracking fact that she can't remember four years of her life in the alternate world!

Overall, I was dissatisfied. It was written well, but it feels unfinished. It maybe needed a few more drafts to tighten it up and re-writing in a couple of places.

This was absolutely heartwarming and adorable! I expected it to be just another cutesy witchy romcom but it was so different from what I thought it would be! Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this was such a good example of that!

This book started off kinda slow for me. I thought it was predictable but somewhere in the middle your not to sure of how it will end. Perfectly written romance with a hint of predictably. Great book.

This is an interesting alternate timeline romance that will warm your heart.

Gemma has just broken up with Stuart, her dull boyfriend of four years. Well, he broke up with her, and while she is sad it's over, she is starting to realize she stayed for the stability, not for love.

She can't wait to hang out with her sister, her aunt and her best friend Dax. Dax, who has always been there for her. The group does a love removal spell, but it has very strange effects. The next morning, Gemma wakes up in a new apartment, with some strange man, and a different life. She never met Stuart, but she also never met Dax. She has her dream job, but without Dax in her life, it all feels wrong. She befriends him, so she can get him to kiss her and send her back to her timeline, but she also falls in love with him. She could stay in this timeline, couldn't she? But this timeline has its issues as well, and to fix what is wrong, she might have to give up some things that are right.

This romance is spicy but not explicit. The story (even beyond the time slip) is only somewhat realistic, but I was willing to put that aside for love!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Kate Robb for this e-arc!! I thought this book was so cute and I LOVED Dax! There were a couple lines that felt like were taken from other places but it didn't bother me, just made me go huh and there where some repetitive remarks throughout the book that seemed unnecessary. Overall I really enjoyed this book and so glad I read it.

I LOVED this sweet magical friends-to-lovers romance! It gave cozy vibes and all I wanted to do was curl up on my couch and read. If you love strong characters, a sweet romance, and a little bit of magic you will love This Spells Love.

This is a debut novel?? It's freaking FANTASTIC! I literally just checked for more books by Kate Robb before realizing that duh there aren't any since this is the first. Seriously though, it is such a good read. I've realized that a few of my recent reads have involved an alternate timeline where the main character wishes to change something and realizes how big the consequences of changing one thing can be, but this still felt fresh and unique. I read and listened to the audio for this one and there were so many moments of me just laughing out loud in an empty room while my dogs stared curiously at me like I was losing it. In the beginning I did feel a little bit frustrated when Gemma kept putting on the breaks and overthinking things but even that fit with her character and didn't detract from my love for this novel. Gemma and Dax have BIG chemistry and I now have a new book boyfriend, so thank you Kate Robb! I think I'm still too giddy to write much more without giving spoilers but the writing is great, the characters are lovable and engaging, the steamy scenes are *chef's kiss* and if you're listening to the audio the narrator Khaya Fraites does an amazing job bringing Gemma to life.

This Spells Love is very much 5 star read for me and 100% in my top 5 books of the year!

I'd recommend this book to literally everyone, but especially those who like: friends to lovers, tension, banter, a little bit of magic, personal growth, he falls first, cinnamon roll MMC and lots of laughs.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It came out on December 5th, so go check it out!!! You will have ZERO regrets.

I could have sworn I already wrote a review and gave feedback for this but netgalley is saying I didn’t.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I devoured this , I ate it up, I barely wanted to put it down.

Time travel and alternate universes is one of my favorite tropes, and I’ve read quite a bit of those this year!

I loved seeing the struggle of our main character and whether or not she wanted to stay where she was happy, or go back to where everyone was happy.

So much of the romance had me giggling and kicking my feet.

My one complaint which isn’t even a complaint or criticism, I just wish I got to see more of Gemma and Dax when she came back from the alternate universe. A bigger “ I love you” reveal would have made the book even more delicious but I am still happy with what we got.

I thought this book was going to be more Halloween due to the title of the book, but I was quite surprised!
In this book, Gemma was dumped by her boyfriend Stuart and she wished she had never met him. Her aunt owns this eclectic bookshop and after too many margaritas, with the help of her sister Kiersten and her best friend Dax they perform a love cleanse so that it was like she had never met him at all. She enters a parallel universe and I didn't think she'd get back to the her normal timeline. She works her way through this parallel universe to see what life would be like if she didn't meet Stuart and she falls in love with Dax instead.

The ending was so adorable it brought some tears to my eyes! I loved the relationship between Gemma, Kiersten, and her aunt! They were supportive of each other and always dropped things to be there for each other.

I would recommend if you enjoy:
⭐️Friends to lovers
⭐️Rom-com
⭐️Paranomal Romance

I'm a huge fan of magic realism and this book did not disappoint. I couldn't stop reading it, it was so cute!

This was SO CUTE. basically had heart eyes the entire time reading it. I wish it came out a different time of the year, because I feel like it would have gotten more hype. So glad it was at least a BOTM pick.

I read this in a day, and I think that is one of the highest recommendations for a book. I was glued to the page, loving this book.

When Gemma’s boyfriend breaks up with her, she does a little “love cleanse” spell with her kooky aunt, sister and totally platonic, hot best friend Dax. The next morning, Gemma wakes up and her world has completely changed. She never met the boyfriend, but she also never met Dax, and now she has try to get him back in her life and decide if she wants him as a friend or something more.

I am the target audience for a book like this, I loved Sliding Doors and alternate realities and things that explore what if?

Although I don’t love friends to lovers usually, this one was surprisingly un-annoying about the agonizing over potentially ruining a friendship by trying a relationship.

This was written by a Canadian author and set in Hamilton, Ontario, so I was totally proud that the first Drake reference didn’t even happen until the epilogue 😂 It was also so nice to recognize all the brand and store names for once in a book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After a bad breakup, Gemma does the only reasonable thing a person could do: a love cleanse found in an old book in her aunt's dusty shop. Sealed with a kiss by her (platonic) best friend, Dax, what could go wrong? Gemma wakes up the next day to realize that her ex has indeed been wiped from her life, and her new life is profoundly different... so different that Dax doesn't know her.

So the premise to this one is a little strange, a little fun, a little... unbelievable? Time traveling books always confuse me a little. The hardest part of this one is that it's difficult to understand why Gemma is suddenly so adamant that Dax, her best friend of four years, should suddenly be her boyfriend in her new timeline. Her obsession with him is borderline creepy. Dax, meanwhile, while momentarily weirded out that a girl shows up seeming to know everything about him, easily adapts and wants to date her, despite the two not really having anything in common. Gemma's early attempts to bond fail, and while the book has a ton of steamy scenes, I'm not sure they have a ton of chemistry together. Gemma has one month to get Dax to kiss her (it's a full moon thing) and revert back to her old life, but soon she starts to wonder if she should stay in her new life.

I did quite enjoy the side characters, like Gemma's quirky aunt and her poor sister, who deserved so much more appreciation. It was interesting to see how Gemma's life differed in her two timelines, and the focus on small business ownership was intriguing. The book had a good focus on believing in yourself and not being afraid to fail.

Overall, I think this is a cute read if you can get past some of the weirdness about Dax and Gemma's friendship/relationship choices.

I'm always a little hesitant about time travel/time slip books but I really enjoyed this one. It takes place in Hamilton, ON and in Toronto which is super fun as a Canadian.

Overall I enjoyed the characters, Gemma is funny even when she's a little cringey. My only issue with Gemma was that she was quite oblivious to very obvious cues about Dax's alternate life. Dax was very hot love interest. I loved that her aunt livi judges people's credibility off of what they read. There was lots of growth for Gemma, which time slips support so perfectly. Plus there is a good bit of spice.

This romance set in Canada is a friends-to-lovers magical realism (loose witchiness but not witches and think Sliding Doors kind of?) story that utterly captivated me. I loved the characters, I found the book impossible to put down because I needed to know how it would resolve, and both timelines had their moments! Naturally, stories like this require a bit of suspension of belief but as someone who reads for escapist joy, I don't care about any of that and I was just here for the characters and their moments.

Fans of friends to lovers stories like Lovelight Farms would likely enjoy this too or really anyone who enjoys stories about the one being right there in front of the main character. There is a great sister relationship with a lot of realness, and the business elements of the character's careers were fun too.

I definitely recommend this one! It is not a Christmas or holiday read despite its publication date. It'd be a good one to add to your wishlist though!

I really enjoyed this rom com overall, super cute. My other gripe with the character development. Most of the side characters and relationships felt underdeveloped.