What an adorable romance. Like sliding doors and a gentle practical magic come together. Looking forward to another by the author.

if you are looking for a ROMCOM book that feels like an actual ROMCOM with an amazing book boyfriend that everyone could ask for, will makes you SWOONING SO HARD that your cheeks hurts so much because you can't stop giggling, smiling, and laughing, this book is THE PERFECT CHOICE.

I ADORE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! the plot is very fun to read, the main characters and side characters are very loveable, the character development is top notch. the splash of magic makes it interesting and the writing is so addictive that i can't put the book down. this book give me such a great reading experience that reminds me why i love reading so much.

gemma, the fmc, she is so fun and easy going! she also has this big heart and a kind soul. she is growing in me and reading her journey makes me want to hug her so bad, i am so proud of her!

dax, the mmc, DAMN THIS MAN! he is literally too good to be true and one of the BEST BOOK BOYFRIEND! he is such a gentleman and a literal golden retriever, one of the most memorable thing that he did for gemma is he sent her flowers that the meaning of the flowers are "admiration, devoted affection, and be gentle with me" IM CRYING. protect him at all costs!!

i still can't believe that this is a debut novel! very well done!

This Spells Love by Kate Robb 🩵

Yeah I really enjoyed this. It was a super fun story. Gemma has spent the last 4 years dating someone she’s just been super comfortable with, but not in love with. Over those four years she became best friends with Dax, who she happened to meet the same night she met her now ex-boyfriend. One night with her aunt and sister they try a sort of cleanse spell where she wishes she never met her ex-boyfriend. The next day she wakes up in this alternative timeline. The thing is Dax doesn’t know her in this one. And things with herself, her sister, and her aunt are slightly different. Something’s for the better and some for the worse. She has to figure out whether she wants to stay in the new timeline or return back to the old.

I feel like this is a great romance for those that don’t like fantasy but enjoy a little magically realism. They’re not witches (though the aunt sure seems to know some things) and the switch in timelines isn’t fully explained in the end, but I think it was perfect for what it was. I honestly don’t care about the specifics of it all cause it was just so much fun.

I loved Gemma and Dax. Seeing them as best friends and then again as strangers in this alternate timeline was so fun. Gemma knew all this stuff about Dax while he knew nothing but they were both still so drawn to each other. Their connection existed in both timelines. It was super interesting to see them move from the strangers to dating while knowing they were best friends in the other timeline. Gemma had this cheat sheet in a way but didn’t use it in a questioning way. She really did fall in love with Dax and who he was, while also realizing she’s probably been in love with him for awhile now.

I really enjoyed all the side characters in this one as well. I feel like they were all well written and I cared about them all. Yet they didn’t feel like they overpowered the story.

I think I’ll need to pick up a physical copy for my library and will definitely be reading this authors future books!

Tropes:
⏳ two timelines / magical realism
🥰 best friends to lovers (in one timeline)
🤍 strangers to loves (in the other timeline)
👏🏼 no third act breakup
✨ self discovery and growth

single POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
1.5/5 spice level 🌶️

This Spells Loves was a wonderful read! Gemma and Dax embody what I love most about friends-to-lovers romances which is witnessing the unconditional love both characters have for one another in their friendship and romantic relationship. Now mix in a parallel universe and you have just the right amount of angst that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I wish it was just a little bit longer so we had more time with Gemma and Dax :) Out December 5th, 2023! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC!

Thank you to netgalley and randomhouse for giving me a copy of the arc in exchange for my honest review!

rating 3.75 stars out of 5

This book was really fun and enjoyable to read, I loved how whimsical and sweet it was. Though I would say at the halfway point it does get a tad bit slow. It does end very well though and I had a huge smile on my face throughout. I think the pacing is just a bit off at times, but overall such a cute book.

This Spells Love was a really cute sliding doors-ish story. It's a romance, but also borderline women's fiction since the FMC's journey is the heart of the story. I really loved the writing and am very impressed that this was a debut novel.

I'm a big fan of time travel/alternate reality stories and Kate Robb did a great job putting her own spin on it. There was never a doubt that I was going to fall for cinnamon roll Dax. He was such a sweetheart and his banter with Gemma was so fun and cute. I really appreciated the focus on consent during the steamy scenes too. Their relationship progression felt a little disjointed in the alternate timeline though and I found it a bit of a stretch that he didn't think she was a stalker. LOL I also wish that there would have been more time in the "true" timeline so we could see things unfold between them since he had been friendzoned for 4 years.

The secondary characters were a ton of fun (though sometimes over the top), and I loved Aunt Livi and Kiersten. I liked that the sister relationship between Gemma and Kiersten was just as important in the story as the romance between Gemma and Dax. Yes, Gemma's behavior was sort of annoying at times and I didn't like how clueless she was regarding Dax's financial situation, but her overall character growth was very satisfying. The ending left me smiling ear to ear (the use of the last name! *swoon*) and I loved how everything came together. Overall, this was a great read and I look forward to seeing what Kate Robb writes next!

CW: parental abandonment (past), fire, financial problems/concerns

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

3.5 Stars!

This Spells Love is a delightful read that took me by surprise in the best possible way.

When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she's desperate to forget him. The last thing she ever imagined happening was getting drunk with her aunt, sister, and best friend, Dax. As if getting drunk wasn't enough, Gemma ends up performing a cleaning spell that ends up turning her entire world upside down.

This Spells Love is a super fun and sweet read. Think of the movie Sliding Doors, and add a dose of magic. At first glance, Gemma loves the alternate world she's found herself in. She never dated her ex, but Dax has no idea who she is. To return to her old life, Gemma must become friends with Dax again, as he's the only one who can set things right.

For Gemma, she quickly discovers that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Her story asks the hard-hitting question of if you had a second chance to fix all the things that went wrong in your life, would you do it? Think of the movie Sliding Doors with a magical twist.

Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters and thought the plot was a lot of fun. If I had to make one complaint about this story it would be about the pacing. It was a bit slower than I would have liked once I got to the halfway point. That being said, I am so happy I kept reading because in the end, it left me with a big smile on my face.

Well hello, and thank you Kate Robb for the perfect, steamy rom com that was a combination of Sliding Doors and Hocus Pocus. This book was really fun in both time lines/realities, and I think I read the whole thing cover to cover in four hours because I had to know how it ended. Film adaptation asap please! Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

"This Spells Love" by Kate Robb is a lighthearted rom-com with a whimsical premise that adds a touch of magic to the familiar landscape of romantic misadventures. Gemma's post-breakup escapade, complete with a love-cleansing spell gone awry, sets the stage for a story that promises both humor and heartfelt moments.

The novel explores the consequences of an unconventional spell that erases not only Gemma's ex from her memory but also reshapes her entire life. The plot takes an intriguing turn when Gemma realizes that her once-familiar world has transformed, and her best friend, Dax, is now a stranger. The concept of the love-cleansing spell is a creative twist that adds an element of fantasy to the romance genre.

Gemma's journey to reverse the spell and navigate her changed relationships, particularly with Dax, forms the heart of the story. The progression of emotions and the awkwardness that arises between the characters are relatable, offering moments of humor and tenderness.

However, where the story falls short is in its predictability. The trajectory of Gemma and Dax's relationship follows a conventional romantic arc, and the resolution feels somewhat expected. While the premise of the spell provides a unique foundation, the overall plot structure leans toward familiar romantic comedy tropes.

Additionally, the supporting characters, including Gemma's sister and aunt, add moments of levity but lack depth. The potential for further exploration of their roles in Gemma's life and the broader impact of the spell on her relationships is left untapped.

In conclusion, "This Spells Love" is a charming and breezy read that offers a delightful blend of romance and magic. Kate Robb infuses the story with humor and warmth, making it an enjoyable escape for fans of contemporary romance.

This debut romance from Kate Robb was absolutely adorable and compulsively readable. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down until I got to the last page. The set up is adorable and the friends to lovers trope well executed.

Reeling from a breakup, Gemma Wilde and her wacky aunt share one too many margaritas and cast a spell to cleanse Gemma of the ex boyfriend. The next morning she wakes up in a stranger’s bed living a completely different life - one in which she never dated the ex but also her best friend, Dax has no clue who she is. This Spells Love shows us what life would be like if we made a few key different decisions along the way.

I enjoyed Robb’s writing and look forward to more from her. The character development worked for me and the steam level was great. I thought the end wrapped up a little too quickly for my preference but in all, this was a solid 4/4.5 star romance!

Content flags: on page use of alcohol to point of drunkenness; structural fire

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 11/24/2023. Review will be posted to Amazon on release day.

After the end of a four year relationship, Gemma Wilde finds a spell in a book at her aunt’s job to make her forget her ex. Little does she know that this spell will change everything. When she wakes up the next day, her home is not her home, her best friend, Dax doesn’t know who she is, and she’s a shop owner. Gemma has to make the choice to stay in the parallel universe or return to her own time.

This was such a fun debut novel! Very Sliding Doors in nature. I enjoyed Gemma and Dax and was rooting for them in every universe and timeline. The secondary characters in this book were a lot of fun and rich.

This was a fun version of the love spell/friends to lovers. Gemma has a bad breakup, and she decides to do a spell one night. She wakes up in an alternate life, where everything is just a bit different. As a month passes (because the spell has to be undone during the same type of moon), Gemma glimpses how things could have been. Some of it is amazing, but other things aren't great.
Most of the book is spent in the month in the "alternate universe," and I really enjoyed how it gave Gemma time to think about her actions and their consequences, and the interconnectedness of things. She also evaluated her willingness to take risks and her dependence on her older sister.
The book wrapped the story up nicely, and I enjoyed the ending, although I would have liked an extended view at the time after the month is up.

"This Spells Love" is a new take on the "sliding doors" concept as well as the friends-to-lovers trope. Most of us would like to erase at least one ex from our lives...but if you did, what other invisible strings would you pull? This was a cute and heartwarming exploration of just that. There's a real sense of community and family in this book - the story is set in Hamilton, Ontario, and it's nice to read a romcom set so close to home. There are landmarks and specific streets referenced throughout. And while of course the focus is on our two leads, dimension-shifting Gemma and BFF and absolute cinnamon roll Dax; Gemma's Aunt Liv and sister Kiersten have a really strong presence in her life and this book - it's nice to see side characters being so well-developed and whole.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eGalley of this one in exchange for a review - I enjoyed it so much!

Witch romance novels are my catnip. So when I saw this on Netgalley I was like "yes, please!!"
That is not what this book is. Sure, there's a spell gone bad, but it was amateurs playing, not a coven. So if you absolutely have to have witches in in romances, this in not your book. But really- who cares? This book was such fun. To the most minute- level-- the author's writing is fun. Her choice of words and syntax just makes the book so filled with humor and light, not matter what is happening. It's rare a book can do that. I'm going to back and read her other books
Not that the book is all sunshine and happiness. There's challenges and struggles and a realization that one does not always lead their lives perfectly. I like how the book shows the struggle as well as the magic of love. The characters feel real Really good sex scenes too,

Oh, and there's curling. I'm sure there's some demographic out there which will be all "yes, please" for that. It does make one want to try curling

So in brief- yes good sex and romance. No witches. Yes curling. This that adds up to the solid plus column.

A fun and interesting read. After a recent breakup Gemma is heartbroken. While having a bit of a pity/pick me up party with her sister, best friend Dax and somewhat whackadoodle aunt and a few too many cocktails they come up with a crazy plan. A spell to forget “him”. It works, but leaves other unanticipated consequences in its wake. Not only is the ex gone from her memory, but the rest of her life is unrecognizable. Her journey back to her true reality, love and her best life is surprisingly sweet, fantastical magical mystery with a whole of lot love and sweetness.

I really loved this debut novel. I am so excited to read future books by this author. I felt like this was unlike anything else I have ever read. Thanks for the review copy.

I have been reading romances for as long as I can remember. I have vivid memories of being a teenager and reading P.S. I Love You for the first time and hiding under the covers with a flashlight late into the night because I needed to know what happened to Holly and Gerry.

I am always on the hunt for romances, and while I always love a happy ending, I want something deeper. Both of these books had that.

This Spells Love by @kate_robb_writes follows Gemma and Dax, besties that clearly have a vibe going on. There is a time travel element, which is always a favorite and so much humor in this story. I love Gemma and Dax’s dynamic and I also love Gemma’s sister Kiersten. This book had me laughing and I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened! This book also really made me ponder a lot about what can change in life with one single moment or decision. I love books that make me think like that. What a debut!

I absolutely love when debut novels a magical, swoon-worthy, incredibly hard to put down, and just overall, an experience that leaves you with a book hangover and wondering if you will ever find another book that.is just utterly delightful that you don’t want it to end.

What really drew me into this book was the fact that it was a parallel timeline story and Kate Robb did it so incredibly well!
I adored Gemma and Dax - their relationships in both timelines made me swoon and made me want them both to succeed. I did find myself getting upset with Gemma for considering staying in the second timeline because I KNEW in my deepest heart that if she went back to her original timeline and told Dax how she felt, that he would admit he felt the same.

I loved the character growth and development, i loved the side characters - seriously loved EVERYTHING about this book.

I also listened to the audio and Khama Fraites did a phenomenal job. I really enjoyed the audio narration.

Huge thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC. Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC - being gifted these did not impact my honest review.

Aww this was a super cute and fun romcom! I really enjoyed the alternate reality swap and the author did a great job with that transition. I REALLY loves this friends to lovers troupe!! And yesssss Dax was a TOTAL cinnamon roll. This story really left me feel warm and fuzzy inside at the end! Then 2/3rds of the way through URGH my heart was feeling that squeeze when she bumps into that lady…. And Gemma realizes…. Gah!!! No spoilers!!!

Another great part of the story was Gemma’s relationship with her sister and Aunt Livy. Im an only child, so I would’ve loved to have had an amazing sister like Kiersten, who is super supportive and awesome. And who wouldn’t want a book store owning Aunt!?!

Kate has written a wonderful whimsical, witty, heartwarming, emotional book! What a great debut novel! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so hesitant to read this because the cover/synopsis gave off witchy vibes and that is usually not my thing, but I gave it a go and I am SO glad that I did. This is coming out on top as a favorite read of 2023. I love absolutely everything about this book, from the dedication page to the acknowledgements. I want to be real life friends with Gemma, Kiersten, Aunt Livi, and Dax. What an incredible debut novel! I am going to be riding the high from this book for awhile. I cannot wait to read what she comes out with next!

Read if you like:
- Friends to lovers
- Lovable characters
- Magic spells
- Doughnuts and margaritas