I really loved this book! A great concept and the delivery was wonderful. I loved all the characters and read this in one sitting.

It's publishing day for this debut book from Kate! This was a cute light read with a little magic, a little spice, and a whole lot of donuts!

Gemma is ready to move on from the feeling of heartbreak. Stuart was not the one yet she can't shake him. Insert random spell on a drunken night with her aunt, sister, and bestie Dax. Poof! Gemma is in an alternate version of herself where she never met Stuart, her best friend has no idea who she is, and she now has a store that used to be just a plan on paper.
She now has to make all the right moves to get Dax to trust her so that she can recreate the night of actual magic to get her back to here right life. But is this one better?

If I could wave a wand, I would wish for the alternate timeline to be shorter so that she we can see more of the blossoming love with Dax rather than a quick reunion. But we do get a reality check from Kate as Gemma is made to understand that the grass isn't always greener for everyone just because it is for you. We are each a sliver in the world and all of our interactions alter the path of those around us. We need to trust the universe!

Thank you Netgalley & Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

👉🏻This book has:
•Friends To Lovers •Spell •Alternate Reality •Comedy •Slow Burn •Family Dynamic •Donuts & Coffee •Curling

🤔 Ok let’s hear your go-to bar food order. I will always order a pretzel if it’s on the menu!
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Review posted to Goodreads & Instagram today 12/5/23
Review will be added to Amazon on 12/6/23

I did not expect to love this as much as I did! Everything was so dang adorable, from the cover to Aunt Livi to the spell to Dax! The first couple chapters were a little boring and I didn’t like Gemma at first, but it got so much better!!

I really want to see this done as a movie!

The writing style was great, the characters were great, and the plot was great!

I absolutely adored This Spells Love. It was an absolutely adorable romcom with spice. I really enjoyed Gemma. Gemma experienced a break up with her 4 year longtime boyfriend. She is extremely devastated and her sister Kiersten and Aunt Livi help her drink her sorrows. Gemma also has the support of her best friend Dax. He is always there for Gemma. Gemma’s aunt owns a book store in which she finds a book with spells. They cast a spell and Gemma ends up in an alternate life. Gemma realizes that the grass is not always greener on the other side. I really loved Gemma and Dax together. I was a beautiful romance. The humor, romance, and side character were all written wonderfully. I can’t wait to read more books by Kate Robb. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

How do you end a 4 year relationship? Obviously with margaritas, your sister, your best friend, and your aunt with a spell book. Gemma takes a chance to undo her heartbreak and ends up seeing what life would have been like without it, and the unintended consequences beyond her world. As she learns of her alternate reality and starts to see her best friend as something more, she learns to stop settling for fine and safe, and to open herself up to being there for those around her. A magical story with quirky characters, friends-to-lovers, and a little spice, I loved Kate Robb’s novel!

I received a complimentary e-galley from Random House / Dial Press and was not otherwise compensated for this review.

When Gemma is broken up with by her long term boyfriend, she is willing to do just about anything to forget him. Gemma finds herself in her aunt’s bookstore after a long night of margaritas, pizza, and heart to hearts with the opportunity to do just that. Aunt Livi has a way for her to forget Stuart. A combination of candles, chicken, and yarn are gathered in order to perform a love cleanse spell, sealed with a kiss by her best friend Dax.

Gemma wakes up the next morning in an alternate timeline where everything has changed. She’s never met her ex, but her best friend Dax has no idea who she is. Gemma finds herself racing against the moon to repeat and reverse the spell, but first she must befriend Daxon and decide if she wants to return to her other life after all.

This book is so cute!! I laughed, I felt, I loved it. Gemma is an imperfect character, but has such growth and character development. Daxon is endearing, sweet, and swoon-worthy. This book may have redeemed the friends to lovers trope for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group the for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: December 5, 2023.

"Sometimes, the best risks are the ones you make with your heart."

Oh my lord. Dax is pure golden retriever energy, and I am so here for it. I forgot how much I love friends to lovers with some unrequited love. It's all the angst! 😍😍

This was such a cute story mingled with some life lessons. I really really enjoyed this.

HELLO !!!! This was such a vibe !!!

Gemma felt comfortable with her life. At 28, things were sailing smoothly. She had good friends, a job, and a kind boyfriend who loved her- and she loved him.
Until, of course, he decides to dump her and flip her world upside down. In a quick "Girl's Night" accident, Gemma and her comfort group decide to perform a magical spell- for the laughs and giggles, of course.
But what happens when things get a little too real with the magic? What happens, when she wakes up, realising that her own (very gorgeous) best friend- Dax- doesn't even remember her? To make matters worse, she's got to find someway to steal a kiss from Dax (all while reminding herself that he is her PLATONIC BEST FRIEND) and get back to her normal life.
But magic has a really funny way of messing around.

OKAY THIS WAS HELLA CUTE BTW!!! It's soooo ....GIGGLES!! It definitely gives like....Cinderella meets Lynn Painter's "The Do-Over" in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I loved the plot and the idea and it was so well executed!
I loved Gemma and watching her development throughout the book. Her and Dax- both before the spell AND after? HELLO!!!! I was giggling and kicking my feet in the air constantly! It was the right amount of EVERYTHING and now I can't stop thinking about them :(
Dax is literally the love of my life, and I have never wanted a man so much before.
I loooved not only the awkwardness but the silliness of Gemma and her mission to get a kiss from Dax! It was SO silly but in a really good way? Like I couldn't stop laughing and I just...ugh. I loved it and I love them.
I'm not HUGE on friends on lovers, but this one.....this one definitely might convert me. The magic, the little element of spooky and the fluffiest romance ever.......hell YEAH.
It's a 4/5 for me though, since it DID take me a little while to really get into the vibe. I wasn't like reading it at every second of the day- it took me a WHILE to get the right vibe. but TRUST ME. She's worth it !!!!!

Kate Robb I want all your books. I'm shaking you by the shoulders!!! I LOVE THEM!!!

If you're a fan of the classic Disney fairy tale era of Cinderella and Ariel....if you're looking for a bit of spooky fun....and a For Funs and Giggles romance? This IS your book.

The Spells Love is a sassy and smart read for everyone who wonders, what would life be like if I had just made that decision.

I loved the movie Sliding Doors when I was younger. I always loved thinking, if I missed that green light, if I’d picked a different major, or class or timetable, would my life still be happening. Is there another Kayleigh out there living another version of my life? What life would that be? This Spells Love throws me into that world and I am so here for it!

Gemma and Dax are sweet, funny and relatable. I loved watching their relationship in both dimensions. Gemma is used to being in control and likes things in order. She knows what she wants and has a plan. Maybe things haven’t worked out quite how she wanted, but there’s still time. And she has her best friend, Dax. who is so perfect, and sweet and a cinnamon roll of a handsome, buff, mcdreamy man. Why isn’t she dating Dax? Oh right, because she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. Fast forward to a breakup, a messy night drinking margaritas with her sister, Dax and her quirky Aunt who convinces her to try a love spell, and suddenly she wakes up in another world, where she’s followed her career dreams, but hasn’t met her best friend yet. Suddenly the option to explore her feelings is on the table. And she needs to connect with Dax to get back to her original life. Gemma and Dax feel like friends I know and would love to hang out with and maybe have a drink too many with. They are so relatable and I adored watching them together and with their friends. The secondary cast of characters is so darn strong and funny in This Spells Love.

Kate Robb is a Canadian writer and This Spells Love is set in Hamilton, Ontario. I think this is the first book I’ve ever read set in the hammer, and I really enjoyed the small town vibes from a city just up the road from me.

This Spells Love has a light touch of magic that just glimmers over the pages of the story. It isn’t a paranormal romance, or even a witchy romcom. I think a reader who likes magic, and even ones who just love contemporary romances, will equally enjoy the story.

This Spells Love is an enchanting debut that will have you asking, what if?

I really enjoyed this twist on the time travel/sliding soors romance story. I liked the characters - just the right amount of depth. Spice level just right for me too. Definitely a debut to read!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this e-book.

I loved everything about this – the snappy discourse, the (sometimes aching) romance, and most of all, the unique take on magic gone wrong (but actually very right). The chemistry and gravitation between the main characters is exquisitely written and getting to see them fall in love twice was a beautiful thing.

This will be a definite purchase and re-read.

This Spells Love was a great debut about rewriting the past, second chances, and taking a risk on love.

After a rough breakup, Gemma is ready to let go of her ex and move on. After one night of too many margaritas with her sister, aunt, and best friend, she wakes up in a different reality, realizing the love-cleansing spell she and her family performed may have worked too well.

This was such a fun read! I loved how we saw so much leading up to the reality switch—we understand why Gemma was feeling the way she did, why she felt so hindered by the previous relationship, and how her friendship with Dax made her much happier. I adored the dynamic between Gemma and Dax in both realities. They were just incredibly perfect for each other, and I felt so giddy watching their relationship bloom into something romantic.

If you’re looking for a great, cozy, and romantic read this winter, definitely keep this one in mind!

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

5 I'd Fall In Love With You In Any Universe ✨'s

After spending a wild night drinking way too many margaritas with her aunt, sister, and best friend Dax, in an attempt to forget about her recent breakup, Gemma performs a love cleansing spell on a whim and wakes up the next morning in an alternate reality where she never met her ex. The only problem is she also met Dax the same night and Gemma can't comprehend living in a world without her best friend. With the only option to stick it out a month before she can try and go back to her old life, Gemma decides to make friends with Dax again. However, as Gemma finds her footing in her new reality, and she and Dax get to know each other without a label as friends, Gemma has to choose whether she wants to stay in her new world and explore her newfound connection to Dax or return to her old one where they are just friends.

I don't think I will ever be able to forget about this book, I love it so much! Everything about the story was so fun and charming, I loved the alternate reality/timeline aspect and getting to meet Gemma and Dax in both worlds. Their connection transcended universes and I could absolutely feel their love for each other. Gemma was so sweet and relatable, I loved her character growth and getting to watch her come out of her shell and be more brave as the story went along. There were some bittersweet moments toward the end that pulled at my heartstrings and I appreciated there was a range of emotions the story encompassed. I am honest to god shocked that this is a debut book, Kate Robb did an amazing job of crafting Gemma and Dax's love and keeping the story engaging and whimsical. I cannot wait to read more from her, sign me up for all of her future books!

~Many thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is the story of Gemma’s love journey. She is heartbroken after a break up and gets drunk and does a silly harmless spell to remove her ex from her memory. Well that spell does so much more than that. Her whole life is different and best friend Dax doesn’t know she exists in this new reality. She learns she has one month before she can try and break the spell, or stay in this new life. Her and Dax falling for each other is perfect. This is a fantastic book that keeps you interested and entertained throughout. It’s filled with of laughs, swoons and spice that makes is so enjoyable.


I was blessed enough to receive this arc from NetGalley but the thoughts and opinions of this review are my own.

Happy release day to the first book that gave 2000s romcom vibes and had made me giggling and kicking my feet in a LONG TIME. CALLING ALL 13 GOING ON 30 LOVERS (and 16 wishes)!!! This one is for us.

Y’all ever wish you could cast a spell to remove an ex from your brain (god knows I do)…but what if it means having your life completely change and your best friend not recognize you?

This is the one time I will accept the girl best friend trope. When I tell you guys I couldn’t sleep because I NEEDED to know what was next. Gemma met her best friend Dax through her ex, and after doing a spell with her lowkey weird aunt to forget her ex, she wakes up in an alternate universe where they’ve never met. And the only way to get back to her OG life is with a kiss, ofc.

All I can say about Dax is - IF HE WANTED TO HE WOULD. My acts of service heart was screeaaaaaamming. Refusing to let her walk home alone even tho they’re practically strangers. Text me when you’re inside. Cute picnic dates. Showing up when it’s important. The obligatory “must be your other boyfriend” inclusion. I don’t want to spoil too much, but he does sooo many cute things to show he’s serious about his feelings that I was highlighting my kindle left and right.

Aside from the amazingness that is Dax, the plot was also solid and I loved Gemma’s growth and self realization moments. Overall, a really fun read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @kate_robb_writes for this arc in exchange for an honest review. This Spells Love is out now ✨

What would you do if you had the chance to completely erase the ex that broke your heart from your memory? And what might the unintended consequences be? Read This Spells Love to find out what happens to Gemma when she has a few too many margaritas, and decides to go through with a spell to erase her ex from her memory.

There are always unintended consequences fromm such an epic spell, but will they be good or bad? Or maybe a bit of both. In removing her ex from her life she looses someone important to her, but she also finds herself. I loved this novel and highly recommend it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

this spells love is a frothy, slow burn friends-to-lovers contemporary romance that mostly reminded me of 13 going on 30.

gemma gets dumped by her longterm boyfriend and starts wondering about the trajectory of her life and what her future looks like. naturally, she gathers her sister and her aunt and tries to puzzle out her problems with tequila. much in the tradition of practical magic, midnight margaritas lead the women to a mysterious spell book and dabbling with witchcraft. gemma's solution to all her problems? do a spell to erase her ex from her past. sealing it with a kiss with her best friend dex, when she wakes up in the morning, she realizes that her spell has actually worked.

gemma's got a new life - one that doesn't involve her ex. she's actualized a secret dream of owning a store of beauty products. her once sprawling apartment is suddenly a dingy basement that smells of chicken noodle soup. and dex? well, he doesn't recognize her at all, but she sets out to recreate the spell so she can hop back to her own timeline and realizes along the way that she and dex may be a bit more than friends.

this was cute. it was slooooowburn and gently spiced. i feel like this is going to be a favorite for a lot of people because of its similarities to 13 going on 30. personally, i found gemma a bit grating and i felt like it lacked some of the heart and humor from the film, but i'm also dried up on the contemporary romance genre at the moment, i think.

conceptually, i was hoping for more, i think - though there's ramifications to gemma's choice to change up her timeline and we see those play out, i was hoping for something fleshier. i also feel like we didn't see much of the other characters, particularly dex, and why gemma felt about each character the way that she did. similarly, gemma made a lot of selfish choices and i don't feel like there was any real pushback on those things. so yeah - it's not a bad concept, i was just hoping for more meat with this one, but i understand that i'm not the target audience.

Synopsis:
After a recent break up, Gemma drowns her sorrows in margaritas and when she has one too many, she performs a love cleanse. When she wakes up, her best friend Dax has no idea who she is.
✨ Friends to lovers but in an alternate “what if” reality.

Review:
Such a cute rom-com read with more spice than I was expecting! The chemistry between Gemma and Dax was soooo good and you could really feel the sparks between them! One of my favorite reads of the year 💕 Kate Robb will be an auto-buy/read author for me now!

** thanks to NetGalley and Random Press for the ARC and chance to read and review ** Synopsis:
After a recent break up, Gemma drowns her sorrows in margaritas and when she has one too many, she performs a love cleanse. When she wakes up, her best friend Dax has no idea who she is.
✨ Friends to lovers but in an alternate “what if” reality.

Review:
Such a cute rom-com read with more spice than I was expecting! The chemistry between Gemma and Dax was soooo good and you could really feel the sparks between them! One of my favorite reads of the year 💕 Kate Robb will be an auto-buy/read author for me now!

** thanks to NetGalley and Random Press for the ARC and chance to read and review **

What an adorable and enjoyable rom-com this was! Full of tension, humor, banter, spice, and love, this story pulled me in from the start and I was hooked until the very end. The plot was unique, the characters were lovable and executed perfectly, and the writing was so addictive. I found myself giggling throughout, admiring the relationships between the characters, and swooning over Dax 🥵. A humorous friends to lovers rom-com with a touch of magic - what more could you ask for? Bravo on your DEBUT NOVEL, Kate Robb 👏🏻. Anxiously awaiting the next one 👀.

4.25/5 stars
2/5 spice

This really brings to light that even the smallest of our choices in life can have the biggest impact.

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Alternate universe
Magical vibes
Soulmates
Single POV

I really enjoyed how the author slowly unraveled the so-called "perfect" world she thought she was living in just because Gemma got what she thought she wanted. I will admit that at times, I wanted to shake her awake because it was so obvious that her rash decision was the cause of all the chaos. I really wanted to know more about Aunt Livi... she was definitely hiding something, but we never really got closure on that. Oh well...

I really enjoyed Dax and Gemma's friendship, and I'm glad the author took the time to show the relationship growing in a different light so Gemma could finally see what she was blind to all those years. I also liked how Gemma grew to be more confident and aware of the other people in her life. The HEA was very satisfying.

Overall, it was a fun quick read that had me in an emotional roller coaster. Highly recommend for fans of friends to lovers and second chance romance.

Thank you to Dial Press Trade Paperback and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.