5 stars!

I loved every single thing about "This Spells Love," Kate Robb's debut novel! From the very first chapter, I was obsessed with the main characters, Gemma and Dax! Robb builds a solid parallel universe where Gemma and Dax are no longer best friends. Instead, they could possibly be more than that. She wants to return to her real life, but in the process, she learns that she is in love with Dax and has been for quite some time (though she's the last person to know). Gemma must figure out if she wants to go back to a world where she and Dax might only be friends, or if she wants to stay in this timeline where she gets everything she's ever wanted with potentially devastating consequences. This cute and charming story will make you swoon, tear up, and question your own life. Gemma and Dax are one of the greatest couples I have read in quite some time. Their friendship and chemistry are palpable, believable, organic, and realistic. They effortlessly flow with one another. Their banter is off the charts good! I laughed so many times while reading this book. I think the spice level is perfect for a story like this. Each of these scenes made me fawn over their connection. I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. Novels with parallel timelines or time alterations can typically come across as a little cheesy, overdone, or familiar, but "This Spells Love" felt fresh, compelling, and immersive. It's the perfect length. It has the perfect ending. I found no flaws with this book and found it to be unputdownable! I cannot wait to see what Kate Robb will write next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Robb, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Following her break up, Gemma did a "love cleanse" where she wished the relationship had never happened. The following morning, she found that her wish had propelled her to an alternate reality where her apartment was not so great, but many other parts of her life were. However, Gemma discovered that changing her own path affected other people's trajectories. Now, she must decide if she should stay or return to her original timeline.

I loved every second of this book! We have all read books like this before where a character ends up in an alternate timeline, but I have to commend Robb on how well she utilized this plot device. Seeing her alternate life had Gemma reexamining the life choices she made in the past and how she allowed her ex to have so much influence on her life. Not only did she see many of her decisions with a fresh pair of eyes, but she also reflected on her relationship with her ex, how her need for stability limited her, and her friendship with Dax.

That last one, the friendship with Dax was one of my favorite things. I loved them both so much, and I wanted Gemma to take a chance on Dax, take that friendship to the next level, and experience a rich romantic life. Friends-to-lovers is a top trope for me, and I especially adore when the two people involved have a deep friendship, amazing chemistry, and just simply belong to each other.

I had recently read another book where the main character had a similar experience and was faced with the same decision - should they stay or should they go back. The pros and cons list was a complicated one here, but I held onto hope because Gemma had learned so much from this journey. If she went back, she would carry those lessons with her, and I was confident she would be able to find her happy despite her choice.

I don't want to say too much about how it all worked out, but I was delighted with the outcome. You can't see it, but I have a big, sappy grin on my face because I was so happy for everyone involved.

Overall: This Spells Love was a wonderful and heartwarming rom-com. It was a reminder that taking chances can result in great things, and that we can learn from our mistakes. The fantastic friends-to-lovers romance was the cherry on top of a story that had me captivated from beginning to end.

This Spells Love was the absolutely adorable story of Gemma, a woman fresh off of a break up who used a magic spell book to give herself a “love cleanse” and have a life where she never met him. This book was just perfect. I love these kind of parallel universe books like Sliding Doors - what if you did something different, what would your life look like. It was whimsical and sweet and the romance melted me. I loved Gemma getting a second chance to undo previous mistakes. Gemma and Dax (best friend, now love interest) were both so relatable and likable. This was a heart warming, feel good, emotional read and I loved it.

Whimsical and charming!! I really enjoyed this book!
You know I love me a good cinnamon roll hero and that was definitely Dax! Dax and Gemma were just so cute together.
I was laughing and swooning soo much! I definitely recommend this debut novel!

Amazing. You know those books that just make you happy? Like you finish reading it, and you keep smiling because it puts you in a warm and fuzzy mood? This book did that for me! I enjoyed it so much. I laughed, I cried (happy tears), I couldn't put it down.
I recieved this book as an ARC and I am so happy I had the opportunity to read it! I have already added the paperback to my Christmas list!

Gemma is practical. She chose a safe career. A safe boyfriend and a safe life. Until he broke up with her and upended her safe little world. In an attempt to make her feel better,her aunt decides they should try a spell she found that is meant to help her forget about the man who broke her heart. Her sister and her aunt join her for the spell not truly expecting anything.
However, the next day when Gemma wakes up, the spell has worked and her life is completely different. She never took the safe route and therefore didn’t date the safe guy who broke her heart and instead she was a girl boss with her own skin care shop. Gemma gets a second chance to fall in love with her best friend Dax but at the same time she has to worry about what living in this other timeline has changed in the other. Over the course of the month until the moon turns new again, Gemma lives in this parallel world and has to help Dax fall in love with her because he doesn’t recognize her in this timeline.
There were a few things I would change but overall it was a fun read and if you’re looking for a low key friends to lovers, sliding doors story, this will be for you!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press Trade paperback and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review bc

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is such an adorable debut novel. I absolutely love a friends to lovers trope, but I had never thought that a friends to strangers to friends to lovers trope could exist in such a beautiful way. Gemma and Dax have a unique chemistry together…but I must say, I wholeheartedly related to Gemma’s awkwardness so many times in this book. If you’re looking for something a little more lighthearted this season that is also a quick, fun read, give this one a try!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy!

I had so much fun with this. I am on record at being very 'anti-gimmick' in my romance preferences but I think for me, sometimes the "gimmick" takes center stage versus taking a back seat to enhancing the romance and growth of the characters. This Spells Love is definitely in the latter group and I found myself (for the first time!) actually enjoying a somewhat paranormal romance.

We meet Gemma Wilde when she has just been broken up with, by the very man she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with. A drunken night full of spell books and a surprise kiss from her best friend has her waking up in another life where she never met and dated that man who broke her heart. Instead, her life is completely different - and she has never met her best friend.

Gemma goes on a journey of discovery in this book that was so fun to witness. Not only does she try to find the best friend she misses who might become something more, but she realizes a lot of things about herself and her sister and just generally grows so much in this book. This was such an interesting way to show growth and connection and I had so much fun. The voice of this book was irreverent and clever without being too much and the romance was soooo delightful. This was like, second chance romance wrapped up with friends to more and I just couldn't get enough.

This is probably one of my favorite romances of the year and I am excited to see what Robb writes next!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute!!! Don’t we all wish we could redo certain parts of our life and see how they would turn out if we had made a different decision? I loved Gemma and Dax’s friendship. Their chemistry was off the charts and I really loved the friends to secretly in love with each other trope! If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted romcom, this is a great read!

I truly think that most people will really enjoy this book. Unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. There’s something about the whole alternate timeline thing that feels icky to me when it comes to romance. Like you’re going to date your bff in another timeline, and then go back to your normal one and also date him there? Hey bestie we already have dated and said ily and slept together but you have no memory of it, just me!

I’m definitely making it too complicated but my brain just can’t get past that.

For the Friends to Lovers fans, this 13-Going-On-30-style RomCom is for you!

Gemma gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend and drunkenly casts a spell that sends her to an alternate universe where she never dated him in the first place. Turns out, it’s a great way to get rid of your ex, but it has the not-so-great consequence of changing everything else, too. Like her relationship with her BFF, the hunky Dax McGuire? Totally nonexistent.

Luckily, she has a whole month before she can try and undo the spell that will send her back to her old reality, which should be plenty of time to make Dax her friend again. Unluckily, Gemma’s realizing that in this reality, she’s attracted to Dax and wants to be much more than friends. What does this mean for the Gemma and Dax that exist elsewhere as just friends?

This was a fun and cute read! The leads have great chemistry and somehow made even Curling sexy…? Yeah, I didn’t think it was possible, but here we are.

One element that would’ve really taken this to the next level for me would have been a bigger, more explosive finale. I personally love a massive tension build-up with a dramatic HEA payoff!

Thanks to @NetGalley and The Dial Press for this e-ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley & The Dial Press, Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Y’all…I am lowkey obsessed with this book! From page 1, I was just enthralled with Gemma, Kierston, Aunt Livi & of course, Dax. I LOVE magical realism contemporary romance novels & this was ooey-gooey warm & fuzzy & just gave all of the best feels; with just enough quirkiness & sprinkle of magic.

Gemma – I love her, mostly because she was an awesome character, but also because I just found she was so damn relatable. Truly, she was the perfect balance of so many character traits. From uncertain, “don’t-know-where-I-am-fully-going-with-life” but also “I-do-have-a-stable-if-not-passionate-job-and-a-nice-condo” late-20 year old, to recently dumped, heartbroken, and mopey, but not annoyingly miserable & constantly playing the oh-woe-is-me card. I think female characters were traditional put into one of two groups: headstrong & cold or soft & emotional…& it doesn’t always feel 100% natural when they are merged. But Robb really made Gemma a star by finding that balance. & Dax…Kate Robb where does one find a BFF like that…asking for a friend 👀 but seriously Dax was the epitome of golden-retriever, cinnamon-roll book boyfriend. I truly think they are one of the truest examples of friends-to-lovers I’ve read.

I thought that Robb did a really great job taking what could have been a cliched storyline & put a unique spin on it. & if I’m being honest I can’t pin down exactly what made it stand out, except that it did. Gemma had some character development – but I think more so she had confidence development. It was all there – it just took some time, & an alternate reality, for her to see it!

Look, from the first side-eye alternate-reality-Dax gave Gemma my heart was in shambles. And that was something I was really aware of through most of the novel. Real reality Gemma & Dax’s relationship is set up so well, the love they have for each other so evident, that the rug-ripped-out-from-under-us first moment in the alternate reality really left me choked up.

Unexpectedly got a shallow intro into curling & I’m not going to lie it was just enough to intrigue me to really want to learn more about the sport? & not just because of Dax’s low hung black sweats I promise.

Bottom Line: do you ever just ~know~ going into a book that you are going to love it? Because that was the case with this one for me. I loved the characters, I loved the romance. Overall, I thought the pacing was mostly good, though I do think the ending was rushed; I would have loved to see more of “post return to the real reality” before the book was wrapped up. I also think there were a couple of plot-holes/unfinished subplot lines. But overall I don’t think any of those things impacted my enjoyment of the book. I am super excited to see what Kate does in the future & will definitely be picking up her future work!

While stories where the main character wishes to change one thing in their past only to wake up in a completely different one, aren't particularly original, there's something about this one that hits that perfect balance of fun and sentimental.
Everyone's had that one breakup where all you want to do is forget about it, so when Gemma's quirky aunt gives a spell book guaranteed to make it better, it's easy to see how that wish, and some margaritas, make it seem like an excellent idea.
Gemma doesn't think it'll work, so she panics upon waking up in a life that doesn't resemble hers at all. She lost the ex, but also her boring job and, most importantly, her best friend. Now, she's on a mission to rekindle that friendship that just might be more while trying to navigate a life where she jumped feet first into the unknown and might just be making a success out of her greatest desire. But changing the past doesn't only alter her present, it alters that of those around her, and she'll have to decide if staying in the new reality or going back to the old will be what's best for everyone.
It's a great friends-to-lovers story with a great mesage of empowerment and having confidence in yourself. I really liked Gemma and the characters Robb surrounded her with because they help the story feel fully rounded and added depth to the emotional hits.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for the wonderful read!

I thought this one had a really interesting premise. I like a good magical realism and the what if moments that come with living in different timelines.

It was fun, the characters were lovable, but the chemistry was not as strong as I would have liked. Or as believable as it could be.

I definitely liked the turmoil Gemma had to go through when it came to making her choice - which saved the book for me.

It was still very enjoyable! Other readers would probably enjoy this better than me, it was probably a me thing. But I would have liked to see more build-up on the romance.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.*

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Gemma Wilde has just been dumped and is grieving her relationship. During a drunken night, she does a love cleanse spell and wishes she never dated Stuart. However, it doesn’t go as planned and Gemma wakes up in an alternate reality where things are different, and at times, better than her own reality. She has to decide if she should stay or go back home.

Right off the bat I was in love with the premise of this book. I’ve watched movies with similar premises but I’ve never read a book like this. I love going into books blind so I rarely read the blurbs so I was expecting more witchy vibes, maybe a love potion type thing, but what I got was so much better.

Gemma is a kind and quick witted woman who doesn’t like the unknown. She prefers to know what is coming, so she won’t always take risks. In her alternate reality, we get to watch her grow and mature as a person and a sister. She realizes she may rely on those around her more than she should and more than is fair to them. We also get to see her realize that her feelings for her best friend, Dax, may not be as platonic as she thought.

Dax is one of the best friends you could ask for. He would drop anything to help or be there for Gemma. When she gets to her alternate reality, things between them are not the same between them.

I fell in love with Dax and Gemma in both timelines but I was rooting for them to be more than friends the entire time. Their relationship was too cute and I was hoping Gemma would stay in the alternate reality because I didn’t want them to end.

Gemma and Dax went through so much together in such a short time but they never gave up on each other. Their relationship and the plot both kept me reading. I never wanted to put this book down.

Every character in this book was so lovable. Right down to the nosey neighbor and Frank the spider.

Robb’s writing style was beautiful. She crafted a beautiful story and relationship that I couldn’t get enough of from the beginning. She knows how to make you feel the words on the paper.

There are a few spicy scenes in this book. I think they were done very well. They weren’t cringey and they were realistic. They actually added to the story because you could feel their love during these scenes. I’m not huge on spice, but Robb executed them perfectly.

I think this book will be a bestseller very soon!

I was given the pleasure of receiving this book as an advanced reader copy from the publisher and NetGalley. I also picked this as my book of the month for November and, wow! I sure am glad!! This book is so good! It’s funny, thought provoking and full of great characters. I love that it really makes you think about all the small, seemingly inconsequential decisions you make and how it could change EVERYTHING! If you love a slightly spicy book with banter and some magic… this is for you!!! Make sure to add it to your list and grab it on its publication day of 12/5/23!!!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! This book had me coming back for more! Who doesn't love a cutesy multi-dimensional romcom? I was on the edge of my seat on how it would end. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just say this left me pleasantly satiated. Gemma was super relatable.

This Spells Love is a really great friends to lovers romcom, with a tiny sprinkle of magic. From the first chapter, I was laughing and telling my partner how much I was enjoying this read.

Gemma is heartbroken after her boyfriend of four years breaks up with her. As we all know, the best solution for heartbreak is too many margaritas... And to do a magical "love cleansing" ritual from a sketchy witchcraft book that ends with kissing your best friend and then ultimately being transported to an alternate reality.

Gemma and Alternate Reality Dax become more than friends, and it leaves Gemma wondering if the love she has always needed has been right under her nose.

This Spells Love is a fun multi dimensional love story. Literally.

Best friends to lovers.

I did, however, give it 3 stars.⭐️ There is nothing wrong with this book. The concept is cute. It's an easy read. I would recommend this book to people. So, why didn't I rate the book higher? I just didn't like the love story. This particular set of best friends didn't make a good match to me. I couldn't get past it. I just really liked their friendship.

Fantastic debut novel. I wasn’t sure what to expect when picking up this book, but wow it was great. The characters connected well and this was a great read. I would absolutely recommend this to a friend.