This book is an absolute delight and I'm shocked I haven't seen it more out in the book world. It feels very nostalgic with a Thirteen Going on Thirty/Butterfly Effect vibe. I love a little fantasy/magical realism in my stories and absolutely believe the smallest of actions can alter our lives. There is a romance in here, that has a delightful amount of steam. I saved this for fall/spooky season but it can be enjoyed year round.

What if you had the chance to go back in time and erase the time wasted on your ex? In “This Spells Love” by Kate Robb, Gemma along with her sister and aunt preform a love spell- more of a love cleanse really. It pops Gemma into an alternate reality where she has the chance to do things over again. The down side? Her best guy friend Dax doesn’t know who she is in this timeline, and in order to get back she needs him to kiss her… As she gets to re-meet this Dax though, Gemma realizes she might have missed out in her own timeline- is she falling for Dax?

A BOTM pick that also checks off a NetGalley backlist read, while also being a fun romcom spooky season read? Perfect! I loooooved this book. And I mean, truly loved it. Gemma and Dax are so much fun and there’s just enough magic that I never felt completely out of touch with reality.

I really enjoyed the way Gemma grows throughout this book. In a sense, she becomes more self aware on so many different fronts. It’s nice and kind of refreshing. Especially when you throw in the alternate timeline theme.

In the end, this was a solid 5 star read for me. I was looking for a light, fun read and I definitely got it. The pages flew by because I was enjoying the journey so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was fun read! I’m a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope. I loved that it was set in an alternative universe. While there’s a bit of magic with the main character wishing for a different life, the story feels grounded and down-to-earth, with just the right touch of the supernatural. I will be recommending this to all of my rom-com book loving friends.

Big thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance digital copy!

When a drunken decision changes her entire life, Gemma Wilde has to determine what's really important. After her boyfriend of four years dumps her, Gemma just wants to forget he was ever a part of her life. Her aunt, an eccentric (and possibly magical) bookstore owner, happens to have a way to do that. A magic spell in a donated book, too much tequila, and a kiss with her best friend lead to another life where she never met her ex, but she also never met her best friend, who may be more important to her than she ever realized.

This sweet friends-to-lovers romantic comedy with a multiverse twist has just the right level of steam, character development, and Canadian charm (complete with a sexy curling scene!).

This Spells Love was a lot cuter than expected. While semi-predictable, it was humorous, sweet, and just an enjoyable read. Gemma’s internal debates irked me at times, but I think because they were so relatable.

Came for the cover and witchy vibes stayed for the sheer love of the work. Gemma and Dax were so lovely and I love a good alt timeline to push our heroine on the right line.

This was such a cute read, enjoyed both Gemma and Dax. I'm think experiencing the alternative timeline gave Gemma realization of what she truly wanted.


4 stars.

⏳ Book Review ⏳

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
⏳
This book was absolutely delightful, completely charming, and fantastically whimsical. It addresses the “what would my life look like if I made different choices” scenario that we all consider. Gemma is thrown into an alternate timeline where she starts over with her best friend Dax, but soon realizes that she wants to be more. My question is, how did Gemma not realize from the very beginning that Dax was endgame? He’s stunningly handsome, with tattoos and scruff, is reliable, respectful, and is the perfect gentleman. He sounds absolutely perfect. Gemma, her sister, and aunt are fun, quirky, and are so supportive of each other. I had a blast reading this book, and the magical realism vibes are the perfect transition to spooky season!
⏳
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️magical realism
▫️alternate timeline
▫️best friends to lovers
▫️he’s been in love with her for years
▫️slow burn
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Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, NetGalley, and Kate Robb for the gifted copy. I received it for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was so cute! The premise of this book was very intriguing and the execution did not let me down! I loved the magical element of the story and have never read anything like this before. Dax was so sweet and he and Gemma really were the perfect match in whichever universe they were in! In both timelines of the story, Dax and Gemma were so drawn to each other and you could really feel that while reading. If you love friends to lovers like I do, this is a great book to pick up!

This Spells Love was one of my favorite rom-coms of 2023. After getting dumped by her long term boyfriend, Gemma heads over to her aunt’s house to get drunk with her sister and her best friend, Dax. After a few too many margaritas, they decide to cast a spell to erase her ex from her life. The spell actually works, and catapults her into an alternate timeline in which she never even met her ex, but also means that she never met and became best friends with Dax. As she tries to get back to her old life, Gemma starts to see the ripple effect of her different choices and starts to see Dax in a whole new light.

This book was soooo good. First of all, the concept is amazing. Who doesn’t wonder what their life would be like if they had followed a different choice? It also does a great twist on the friends to lovers trope. I am obsessed with Gemma and Dax. Their chemistry is top-notch. The banter throughout the book is unmatched, and not just between our romantic couple, but all of the characters. The voice of the book is just hilarious and even the side characters are awesome. I especially loved Gemma’s relationship with her sister and how it evolved through the timeline jump as well. This book truly has everything. It is sweet, meaningful, funny, thought provoking, and spicy. A full 5 out 5 star rom-com.

Short synopsis: After Gemma and her boyfriend break up, she along with her best friend Dax her sister and her cuckoo aunt cast a love spell to erase her ex from her memory.

My thoughts: What a sweet romance! I binged this one in a day. Such an easy light read full of humor, alternate realities and what-ifs.

I loved watching Gemma admit to her feelings for Dax, and how he supported her. I also loved how the good and bad in both realities melded together and Gemma found her true happiness.

The curling was such a fun unique addition to the story. I’ve never read a book with curling, and honestly don’t really understand it, but color me intrigued.

Read if you love:
- Magical realism
- Best friends to lovers
- Curling
- Humor and heart
- Fulfilling your dreams

When Gemma's long-term boyfriend dumps her, she turns to her sister, aunt, and best friend Dax for comfort—and one too many margaritas. Their impromptu love-cleansing spell promises to erase her ex from memory, but when Gemma wakes up, she's in an alternate reality where not only is her ex gone, but Dax no longer knows her.

This book is lighthearted and fun, with plenty of humor and heart. I loved the blend of magic with everyday life, and the friends-to-lovers trope was executed beautifully. Gemma’s journey of self-discovery and navigating her feelings for Dax felt authentic and relatable. Watching her struggle to reclaim her old life while questioning if she even wanted it anymore added depth to the story.

The magical twist gave it a fresh feel, making This Spells Love more than just a typical romance (which, if you know me, is a requirement for me to read a romance!) I really loved this cast of of characters and couldn't get enough.

I love how it had romance and a mix of enchantment to it. nothing better than witchy books to get you in the mood for fall

Loved this so unbelievably much. I love a little magic and some magical realism thrown into my romance books and I had so much fun with this. I found myself rooting for both characters in their own ways. I will definitely pick up so much more from Robb!!

This was a cute, short and easy read.

about a girl getting over a long term breakup and has elements of magical realism
Gemma just got dumped by her long time boyfriend. After drinks with her friends they decide to cast a cleansing spell to help her get over the breakup. She ends up in an alternate universe where she has to kiss her best friend, Dax, to get back to her real life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I was eager to dive into a world of magic and romance, but "This Spells Love" fell flat on its face. The premise of a spell-induced alternate reality was intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The characters felt one-dimensional, with Gemma coming across as more selfish than endearing. The plot was predictable and lacked the spark needed to truly ignite the story. While the concept had potential, it wasn't my cup of tea

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The romance, the characters and the writing all mostly worked very well. I read through this book very quickly and enjoyed myself. But once I closed the book, and started looking at the story more closely, I saw things that made this book easy to forget. Those were two main things for me, the magic and the depth.

This book was a delightful read that captures the magic of romance in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The characters are well-crafted, with the protagonist's journey of love and self-discovery standing out for its wit and charm. The romantic elements are well-balanced with humor and heartache, creating a narrative that keeps you invested from start to finish. Robb's vibrant and evocative writing style paints vivid scenes, though some sections could benefit from tighter pacing.

The standout aspect of this novel is its seamless integration of magical elements, which add an extra layer of intrigue without overshadowing the central romance. Overall, "This Spells Love" is a charming and heartwarming story that will appeal to fans of romantic fiction with a touch of magic, showcasing Kate Robb's talent for crafting entertaining and emotionally resonant tales.

This book was super cute and enjoyable! I loved the fantasy/witchy element (who doesn't love a spell that sends you into an alternate reality?!) and enjoyed the romance between Gemma & Dax (in all timelines!)