I thought the idea of this book was adorable. There were some really cute scenes, some hot scenes, some emotional ones too. They were all done really well. But for some reason I did not find myself LOVING this book. Maybe it was the characters. Although their relationship was adorable - and I loved the alternate universe spin, I found them to be kind of ehh as individuals. Honestly, they got on my nerves at times and could not understand why they did some of the things that they did. I felt similarly about the supporting characters, they could have been removed from the book and the story and characters would be unchanged. Overall, a cute and enjoyable read 
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Gemma is having a hard time getting over a relationship. When she teams up with her aunt, sister, and best friend Dax to try and rid herself of her ex’s memory - things turn out wildly different than expected.

This was a cute debut! I liked Gemma and Dax as characters and really liked the spell gone wrong premise. While I obviously knew what the ending would be, it felt a little abrupt and I wish it had played out a little differently.

Rounding up, really cute story that sucked me in from the beginning. Gemma and Dax made such an adorable couple. Magical realism + Canadian setting is a win from me.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you netgalley for my copy of this novel!
I really enjoyed this “be careful what you wish for/alternate timelines” novel.

I felt that Gemma, our main character, grew a lot and became even more grateful for her friends and family after wishing herself accidentally into the alternate timeline. Watching her and Dax grow and develop deeper, more romantic feelings was so fun.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one and I thought it would be more of a witchy vibe, but I am happy with how it turned out.

I also like that the plot focused on both Dax and Gemma growing in their careers and figuring out more of what they wanted to do. I thought Kiersten and Aunt Livi were all-knowing and loving support characters to Gemma. And I’m so happy Gemma wound up being able to return to her actual reality and take the lessons she learned and apply them both in her relationship with Dax and to get what she wanted out of life.

I can’t wait to read other books by Kate!

I want to thank Netgalley and Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have started this book review several times and honestly, I think I had such a hard time writing this review because I was truly ambivalent about this book. I didn’t hate the book and I thought that Robb’s writing style was excellent and funny. However, I didn’t like Gemma (as a person, she was well-written) or Dax (I think this was more a lack of understanding of who he was in both timelines).

This book had lowkey 13 Going on 30 vibes throughout which I liked and I did think that their ending was lovely. However, my favourite part of the book was Kiersten, Gemma’s sister. She was funny and well-rounded and always gave the best advice. I wanted her to be my older sister. I do think that my love of Kiersten’s character is part of why I did not end up liking Gemma as much. I think in many respects their relationship highlighted Gemma’s self-absorption throughout the book.

I also think that Gemma’s donut (and to a lesser extent food) habits at the beginning of the book made me judge her as a person. I understand having a comfort food or neurodivergence about ordering specific things at specific restaurants, but the description of Gemma’s donut (food habits) does not fall into either category. She appears to have grown into such a rut in her life that she never tries a different kind of donut (or anything for that matter) even though it is a specialty shop she visits. I understand trying to highlight that Gemma never takes risks. Still, she seems so paralyzed by something negative happening (which might be an anxiety disorder) that she rarely deviates from her routine because she knows she likes something and/or it’s safe. I do feel a bit like Robb took it a bit too far.

[This is a sidebar, but as a way to highlight how Robb’s writing created imagery and sensory experiences, I’m going to highlight the donuts. Kiersten takes Gemma to the local donut shop and orders the “surprise me special” while Gemma only orders apple fritters. The way that Robb wrote about what these donuts looked like, smelled like, and tasted like made me go on a donut run before I finished the book.]

It is much harder to pin down how I feel about Dax. I feel like I didn’t get to know enough about him as a person in one timeline before I met him in another. And some aspects of him in the one timeline where he featured a bit more made him feel a bit like he suffers from toxic masculinity (see Gemma’s CVS purchase). I get that his life was in a bit of turmoil, but he lacked effective communication skills. It was also hard to go from one version of Dax that I didn’t like, back to the one that Gemma was in love with.

I also struggled with the ethics of Gemma’s time travelling and having all these experiences with Dax and then just acting like every first was a first in the other timeline. When he said “I’ve waited 4 years to kiss you” it was kind of heartbreaking because she had been making out with him for weeks.

Also, in terms of the time travel. Is Aunt Livi a witch? Is her book club a coven? Why were there so many clues that indicated this, but were never picked up again?

Overall, if you enjoy well-written romance novels, I would recommend this book. However, if you want to be able to identify with or like the characters in the book, I cannot give you a recommendation because I did not walk away feeling that way. And while some loose ends were tied up quite nicely between the timelines I was left with several questions that are just left unanswered.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, and Sexual content

*I received a free arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was a sweet friends to lovers romance with an alternate reality twist. I really enjoyed it, it was super fun and sweet. It was a solid debut and I’m looking forward to more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I read This Spells Love in basically one sitting. Kate Robb provided a unique premise on a love story affected by a magic spell gone awry. I truly enjoyed the characters and their relationships. But Aunt Livi’s nonchalant “magic” was by far my favorite.

I do think there were some small continuity issues that were missed in editing, but it did not change my experience. Gemma and Dax and their intrinsic relationship was adorable, and made for a perfect light romance read. 3.5 stars!

A beautifully written friends to lovers debut novel. Kate Robb did such an amazing job with this book and i am thoroughly impressed by her ability to make me fall in love with Gemma and Dax within the first 50 pages.

This spells love is a fun, cute, perfect rom-com novel, filled with witty banter, magical elements, amazing tropes and scenes/moments that will have you in your feelings, This book feels like a big warm hug and i couldn't get enough of it. I loved the friendship between Gemma and Dax, the storyline is so enchanting, the characters and plot were so well executed.

It all starts when Gemma goes through a breakup and she performs a love cleanse ritual to forget about her ex boyfriend. She then wakes up in an alternate reality where everything is different, she's never met her ex, but her best friend Dax is not part of her life either. Gemma is now rushing to reverse the spell and get Dax to be her friend again, when she realizes she is falling in love with Dax!

Our FMC's character development is so well done, and seeing her overcome and grow was so refreshing. Dax is such a kind and thoughtful MMC. He is the definition of a cinnamon roll and will do absolutely anything for Gemma! This book made me so giddy and i was kicking my feet, twirling my hair at their palpable chemistry.

100000% recommend this one. If you are looking for a cozy, heartwarming story that will have you smiling ear to ear look no further and pick up This Spells Love by Kate Robb.

Read if you love: friends to lovers, magical realism, parallel universe, magical spells, fast paced

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ughhh I loved this book so much. It was such a fun and easy read. Literally the perfect mix of romance with a little twist of magic. It’s always a hit or miss when it comes to alternative universe and/or time loop stories and this definitely was a hit. I was hooked from the start. I loved Dax’s character so much. He’s such a cinnamon roll. I wanted to scream at Gemma for missing all the signs that this man was crazy about her.

I loved all the side characters, the amazing food descriptions that left me hungry and the small town homey vibe.

I will definitely look forward to any more books coming out from Kate in the future!

I absolutely ADORED this book! Its so charming, funny, heartwarming and just pure fun! I love Gemma and Dax and hope this is the start of a series! Witty and engaging. Full of sugar and spice. Friends to lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishers for this arc for my honest review.

3.5
It's such a cute book. Gemma is really likeable as is Dax. Their relationship is really cute as well, especially because I love friends-to-lovers. But I wanted a little bit more of the magic and the whimsy - it's really just a sprinkle.

The thing that made me not give a higher rating is that there is a particular thread in the book related to Dax and her sister that is pretty obvious since the beginning. But the main character doesn't see it and she keeps not understanding what's going on and bringing attention to it. So, the reader knows right away and we are just waiting for her to catch on. That makes the book incredibly predictable and the tension due to some decisions that she has to make is just not there.

I liked the book and I really liked following their relationship grow. I liked how Gemma went through some changes along the story that helped her in the end.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

I must first start this review by giving an absolute kudos to @kate_robb_writes !! This book was equal parts cozy, heartbreaking (at times), and ohh so fun and clever!

The supernatural aspect of this book was done so IMPECCABLY and creatively and I was absolutely blown away. I am extra picky with this troupe in books because if not done right it’s either highly predictable and boring or so outrageous it becomes not even fun to read. This was definitely not your average deja vu/life redo storyline and I’m so happy I got a chance to read this ARC!!

⭐️OUT TODAY 12/5⭐️

4.5⭐️

Special thanks to NetGalley @thedialpress for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

#thisspellslove #katierobb #dialpress #randomhouse

This Spells Love is the cutest witchy dual timeline romance I've read.
Gemma is going through an unexpected break up when her witchy Aunt Livi talks her into drunkenly performing a spell to forget her ex but ends up waking up in an alternate timeline where her best friend Dax doesn't even know her. While scheming to become a part of Dax's life again, she and alternate reality Dax end up dating. The Dax from her timeline and the Dax of the alternate timeline are not the same though, and Gemma takes FAR too long to realize that alternate timeline Dax is having financial issues. Although Gemma is kind of self-absorbed (to be fair, we all can be...especially after a break up), I loved this book and thought the story was super cute with the perfect amount of spice. I also really loved the witchy auntie aspect and how her aunt "just so happened" to know what she needed at every turn.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Robb for the digital ARC of this book.

This is such a cute friends-to-lovers or friends-to-alternate reality strangers-to-lovers. I absolutely love the friends-to-lovers trope, and this was a great spin on that with an alternate universe. I love the message, What would your life be like if you did just one thing different?
I really liked this book. I thought it really hit the mark with the friends-to-lovers. I absolutely loved the friendship and romance between Gemma and Dax. I thought it was written really well. I also loved Aunt Livi; she is the eccentric, fun, and extremely caring aunt everyone needs. I really enjoyed and related to Gemmas sister. When she talks about finally doing something for herself after years of taking care of her family as a stay-at-home mom, I really understand her. Kate Robb really knows how to write characters well.
For the most part, I really liked Gemma. I liked her personality more in the alternate reality than I did in her original at the beginning. Her character development was great; she really transformed into the person she really is and should be from the person she kind of forced herself into. My biggest issue with her was that she really didn’t think about anyone but herself, which gets addressed in her character development, but it still just bothered me. I know that she was primarily affected by the multiverse thing since she was the only one who knew about it, but it still bothered me how she didn’t seem to notice the clear struggles of those around her. Dax was also a great character, but I just wish we got more of the original Dax and less of the alternate reality. Dax because there were clear differences. I liked both versions of Dax, but I just felt like they were two different characters. I would have loved to see the romance develop between Gemma and Dax in their original reality.
Overall, this is a great book with a super sweet romance and a fun plotline. It has some great spice in it too; it was written well and was very steamy without any cringe, which is very important for me.

Ah, "This Spells Love" by Kate Robb! A delightful rom-com with a touch of magic that swept readers off their feet in 2023. Gemma's heartbroken. After a brutal break-up, she seeks solace in a boozy girls' night with her aunt, a dab hand at the mystical arts. One too many margaritas and a mumbled spell later, Gemma wakes up in a parallel reality where her ex never existed! Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, not quite. The only thing that bothered me was the predictable plot: The friends-to-lovers trope is well-trodden territory, and the overall story arc might not surprise seasoned romance readers. However, the execution is so charming and witty that it's hard to hold it against the book.

If you're looking for a witty and charming rom-com with a touch of magic, a friends-to-lovers romance that sizzles, and a heartwarming message of self-discovery, then "This Spells Love" is definitely for you!

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This wasn’t my favorite. I liked the idea. Decent spice. I found Gemma annoying and manipulative. Super self absorbed, she kinda discovers that at the end. Communication would have really helped them from the beginning.

18+ multiple scenes. Descriptive and explicit

This book was so sweet and fun. There was also some great spice in this book. I appreciated that the magic aspect of this book felt small enough that it was believable. I thought this was a classic friends to lovers with a magic twist. This was really enjoyable and really makes you think about how important every action you take is, and how each choice can impact your life, as well as the lives of those around you. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a fun, spicy, lighthearted read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
something about the cover caught my eye, and I am so glad I received the ARC because this is an amazing read.
Fun enchanting read that really makes you think if things were different , Gemma trying to get over an ex cast a spell for him to be gone from her life and poof he is.. and it changes everything but not for the best.
I really enjoyed this book and hope to see others from this author.

This Spells Love follows Gemma as she accidentally ends up in a life where her best friend Dax doesn’t know her anymore. She starts to see him in a romantic way and wonders if she wants to go back to her previous life. I really enjoyed this book. I usually do not like books with magic but this one works.

Many thanks for the ARC! This was a sweet friends to lovers! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and found myself loving Gemma, her family and of course, Dax. This book made me giggle, kick my feet and smile the whole way through. I love a magic-themed book. If you like The Ex Hex, you'll love this!