What a delightfully fun romance book! I requested this book on a whim because I love the sliding doors/alternate reality trope. I’m happy to say that I loved this book.

I enjoyed Gemma’s character and her chemistry with Dax. At the beginning of the story, Gemma and Dax are best friends. Gemma has just broken up with her boyfriend of four years, so she does a love cleanse with her aunt and sister. The next morning she wakes up in an alternate reality where she never dated her ex. Unfortunately, that also means she never met Dax. The story then follows Gemma as she tries to get her best friend back, but ends up falling for him instead. The question becomes, does Gemma want to stay in this alternate reality or go back to her own reality?

I don’t usually like smutty books, but for some reason this one worked for me. Dax is a cinnamon roll of a love interest. I loved his and Gemma’s banter. I loved the side characters, Kiersten and Aunt Livi as well. The character interactions had me smiling the whole time I was reading this book.

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

I really enjoyed this one. I was so surprised this was her debut book as her stories hit right in with some of the current romance authors that we all know and love. Gotta love the MMC Dax, Gemma was great too but she drove me nuts at times with how dense she was to what was happening around her.

I have a soft spot for sister bonds and an unfortunate past of an unstable childhood so I really connected with those two elements in the story.

Would recommend to a friend. I’m interested to see what’s next for this author.

Check more of my review on my Instagram @bookish_starry_skies

SUCH A FANTASTIC DEBUT NOVEL!!!! I am so proud of Kate to have this as her debut. Imagine your favorite romcom with memory loss but a book

When our FMC accidentally changes her timeline, she doesn't realize she just erased herself from her best friend's memory. The only way to sort this is to redo the spell that got her here- but on the next full moon. What the book displays then is her new life, so different from the old one, but she must make a choice- whether to stay here or return.

To start off, there's way too much making out in here to be normal. I just got more and more frustrated with the increasing amount of sex scenes, which were absolutely not needed to show the bonding and love between our MCs. And I'm saying this as someone who doesn't really mind the occasional spicy scene. So, if you don't find yourself comfortable with that, maybe reconsider this read.

I found the idea of the alternate timeline and the parallel comparison very interesting, and I was totally invested when it was time for Gemma to choose whether to stay in this amazing version of her life or go back and make some changes. I think the end could have been longer though, but the entire middle was super long and dragging.

Not something I'd recommend, but it isn't a bad read either. I'll probably just forget about this one...

ARC REVIEW: 4.5 stars (I round up for official ratings because I think everyone deserves to be given the extra half star vs losing half!)

Totally devoured this book in one day! For me- that’s a good read :)
This book was basically eternal sunshine of the spotless mind but with a much lighter 13 going on 30 feel. Gemma, our main character, grows so much through the book, and you really leave it feeling content that things work out the way they should.
Will definitely read this author again!!

Very cute cover for a cute, steamy, make a wish, fantasy story. After breaking up with her boyfriend of four years Gemma gets drunk with her sister and favorite aunt. She casts a love-cleansing spell to erase her ex from her memory. When she wakes up the next day her world has changed. She has to figure out where she and her various relationships are in this world and if there is a way to reverse the magic if she wants. I like that the changes weren’t predictable. For example she is more successful in her business now than before.

Of course everything is going to depend on her relationship with Dax. He was her best friend before. But here he doesn’t know her and she really wants him to be more than just friends. I thought the premise, although similar to other books I’ve read, still has fresh twists and turns. I like that she learns from the world that she is in and how the author works the ending. I like that it is open door as well. Very enjoyable book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

(4 Stars)

Well this was delightful! I gulped this book in one day and loved so very much about it!

Let's start with the setting - Hamilton, Ontario - which was great because yay for Canada and not a huge city (although Toronto makes a cameo appearance).

And the main character - fresh from her breakup, Gemma is determined that it would have served her better to never meet her ex - but when the spell she performs with her great aunt and sister actually works she finds out just how life might have gone, not just for her but for everyone around her.

And so, what is the best course to take? Stay in the alternate reality or 'come home'?

A superb but close-knit cast of characters including a super cute best friend turned lover, a supportive sister and knowing great aunt, round out story. Gemma is a great main character and her feelings and actions feel very authentic and real...what a superb debut!

I really enjoyed this book. I was fully invested in the characters and while I'm not usually a friends to lovers fan, I was obsessed with this.

A cute romcom for anyone needing the equivalent of a bubble bath for your brain. The overall plot was predictable by the end of chapter three, but it was a fun lighthearted journey to get there. The characters were sweet and easily loveable. The only issue I had with this book is at one point a character asserts opposite genders can never be platonic friends. Other than that I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick afternoon read.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Magical Realism, Contemporary Romance
Spice Level: High (as in over 10% of the book)
Language: High (plenty—over the top number of f-bombs)

The good stuff:

- I liked the relationship of the sisters and aunt.
- Friends to lover trope is one of my favorites.
- Learned something more about curling.
- Love Canada!

The not so good stuff:

- The language turned me off of this book. I just don't like so much crude language as a personal preference. So, I ignored it and sped read.
- This book hits a spicy section and stalls there for a LONG time. Very graphic content. (I totally skipped most of it, just diving in enough to see if they actually talked or had anything important happen.) Graphic sexual content is also not my thing because I want to feel like the story is progressing.

So, this one wasn't for me. Because the premise is fun, I'm still giving it a decent review because if the factors I didn't like are your thing, you're going to love it.

This Spells Love is a charming magical romance. I think at some point in our lives we wished we never met someone. Well, Gemma’s wish comes true! But is the grass really greener? I’d recommend This Spells Love to someone who enjoys friends to lovers and magical elements in their books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Who hasn't ever wondered what their life would be like without making a specific decision??

This was a good book, especially for a debut author. I adored Gemma and freaking LOVED Dax. I did find myself looking forward to reading it when I was doing other things. But the story was just missing *something* for me to rate it higher, but I don't know what exactly that is.

I don't know whether it was too insta-lovey for me (after Gemma was in Kicks, of course) or if there wasn't enough drama/troubles that Gemma and Dax had to face. Gemma's reveal to Aunt Livi and Kiersten that she's from a parallel universe fell flat. Who just accepts that someone is from a parallel universe without questions? I thought Aunt Livi's cognizance of what was going on (her comments in the apartment, the coffee on the train) was going somewhere, but it was left hanging.

I don't know. It was just missing something to take it to the next level. But I did really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much for this Arc! What a wonderful debut from Kate Robb 👏 The story line was different but so so good. The love story between Gemma and Dax was so good I devoured this book in a day! It made me laugh and it made me swoon 🫠, what more do you really need from a Rom Com? You need to add this to your TBR like yesterday! I can't wait to see what else this author has up her sleeve ☺️

*I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you , Net-galley and Random House Publishing.*

“What if I never met them?”

I'm sure you’ve asked yourself that question. I know I have many times. This book allows a glimpse of the parallel universe of that very question. After a drunken night trying to get over her ex, Gemma casts a spell, along with the help of her family and best friend Dax, to erase her ex from her life, not knowing the whirlwind it would create in her life. I could tell from the opening line that I would be fully absorbed and love this book! This is a perfect mix of cozy, funny, and heart-eye-gushing moments. Her family had me laughing out loud, and Dax gave golden retriever energy that I wanted to bottle up and keep for myself. Towards the end, I was becoming nervous about how everything would end for everyone. This was well worth the read if you're looking for a cute rom-com.

I. Loved. This. Book. I knew pretty quickly that this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read for me.

Think Peggy Sue Got Married meets Book Lovers (but without the books).

Gemma is thrust into an alternate reality when she - with the help of her aunt, sister, and BFF Dax - "cast" a spell to help her forget her ex. But in this alternate reality, Gemma's life is different - from her job to Dax being clueless as to who she is.

Gemma has to figure out how to get back to her actual life, and she knows Dax is the key.

As readers, we experience Gemma and Dax fall in love. It is organic and pure. I loved it. But while we are reading as these two characters fall in love, we are also trying to figure out what will be the "trigger" to send Gemma back to her life - and what will happen with Dax there.

There are 3 spicy scenes that are pretty descriptive. I did not find them cheesy and over-the-top; it was just essentially the natural progression when two people are "discovering" each other.

This book is going to appeal to those who enjoy a rom-com with just a slice of spice.

I really enjoyed this, I just love a girl who has no idea her best friend is in love with her. Seeing her fall in love with him in the other universe was a lot of fun. My only thing is that I wish we got to see more of them together in their universe.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was a really fun read! It took me a little while to get into it, but I think that's because I'm not always a fan of timeline play. But I am a fan of ~magic~ and romance, so I'm glad I gave this book a try! It was a cute story that was different from my normal rom-com and romantasy reads. The characters are endearing and easy to root for and I would definitely recommend this cozy romance to a friend!

This Spell Love is a cute romance between friends, Gemma and Dax. Honestly I was expecting to be more witchy magical story, it wasn't, but I still enjoyed it a lot, it was cozy and the romance was so cute. Love the idea of time travel, and how small actions create different paths and can change everything.

Gemma and Dax are best friends, they met the same day that she met her now ex-boyfriend, to forget him her aunt prepares a spell, but it goes wrong, and instead of never meeting the ex, she wakes up in another alternative reality where she is not friends with Dax either.

Gemma and Dax are so cute together, fun and witty too. They are independent and talented, own their own small business, his are personalized footwear and hers a skin care shop.

The romance is the principal plot, but I love that there is also a family focus, I enjoy the scenes between Gemma and her older sister Kiersten, and the cool Aunt Livi; their bond is evident. Also, the portrayal of small businesses, from having an idea to opening and operating your own business. It’s lighthearted but at the same time kind of realistic.

This was fun, Gemma and Dax are loveable, the romance is slow burn but spicy, it’s a charming debut, with a sweet but fun romance, cool family, yummy food (and margaritas) and a Canadian setting.

Read it if you want:
• Time Travel (in 13 Going On 30 style)
• Cute but spicy romance
• Friends to lovers

This blew me away. I loved SO much about it. Like basically everything. This book moved so fast I just couldn’t help but to completely devour it. I loved the balance of sci fi parallel timeline exploration with romance and also some personal growth thrown in there with some side characters.

The friends to lovers. This is a favorite trope of mine and this one I felt handled it accurately. Gemma gets a chance to explore a possible romantic connection with her best friend of 4 years but it’s realistic in that in the alternate timeline it isn’t just easy going. Gemma is still recent post break up with someone else in the original timeline and it’s confusing and daunting and I just loved that personal exploration and doubt. I loved that Gemma and Dax got a chance to have these cute strangers to lovers moments. It’s almost like you get two different romances in one but it’s written so well that they really tie in together. Gemma gets to explore what’s the same in the new timeline and discover what’s different and it’s genuinely so fun. As a reader we get to see a new relationship develop while internally Gemma shares with us their original development in a really organic way. Fate is on Gemma and Dax’s side in the new timeline and it’s just full of butterfly moments as they connect. Again with the fast pacing, it lends such a benefit to the romance and general storyline.

There’s also hilarious side characters that feel very vivid but also an important one in particular in Gemma’s sister Keirstin. Sparing spoilers I just really liked that added bonus and side story.

This is open door and a wonderful amount of spice. Yay!

This was everything I look for in a romance and I’m so grateful to Dial Press/Random House for this ARC! I’m looking forward to upcoming books from this author. This had me feeling all the feels.

"This Spells Love" by Kate Robb is a romantic and comedic novel that tells the story of Gemma Wilde, a young woman who tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but wakes up in an alternate reality where she's lost more than she bargained for. The book is full of love, humor, banter, chemistry, spice, and angst. Its plot is unique, warm, and a cozy read, with a touch of magical realism. I would have liked to see a bit more character development, though overall it was whimsical, witty, and an overall fun read. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of magical romance, or just someone looking for a cozy and fun read.