I needed a magical read that was light and sweet. This one was perfect! Kate Robb is a debut author, and I will be picking up her next book. If you love romance with a little bit of magic, this one is for you!

Gemma just broke up with her boyfriend and she has a lot of mixed feelings. She didn't see it coming, and her heart is broken. While trying to mend her broken heart, she decides to try a love-cleansing spell with her sister, her aunt, and her best friend Dax. There are also margaritas involved. The problem is, when she wakes up the next day, things are not quite as they were, and her best friend Dax doesn't know who she is. Gemma sets out on a journey to see if she can make things right.

This book is FUN! It is exactly what I needed. I love a good romance, and I adore a book that throws in some magical elements. I really enjoyed seeing Emma grow and make choices on her own terms. It was also amazing to see her realize how lucky she is to have her sister, her aunt, and her best friend in her life. She really grows throughout this story. Her sister Kiersten, Aunt Livi, and Dax are incredible characters. They were really more than side characters. I really enjoyed watching Gemma's relationship with her sister grow and change. I would love to see more of these characters!

I cannot believe that this was a debut novel! I truly look forward to reading more from Kate Robb. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book early - it releases on December 5th! If you love your romance with a touch of magic, this one is for you! I highly recommend this book!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve learned this year that alt-timeline romcoms are just not for me, because I want something from them they’re not prepared to deliver, and This Spells Love is the second book I read this year that pulled the “13 Going on 30” ending twist in such an unsatisfying way.
Gemma is a chaotic mess, and while that can be a little annoying, it does give her room for growth. And said growth is really the only thing that stands out, given everything else resets by the end of the book.
And in principle, I like the idea of “what would your life be if you hadn’t met this person?” and exploring whether achieving what she thought was her dream was worth it at the expense of having Dax in her life. But it also comes at the cost of him being a completely different person in the alternate timeline, one who basically becomes irrelevant once she’s learned her lesson and can reverse the mess she made. And it absolutely brings up the question of what she liked about him: his personality, or just the fact that he was who he was? Will she miss the alt-timeline Dax when she’s back with the “original,” since life has made them so different, or does it not matter?
Granted, I’m making a big deal out of what is meant to be a silly magical romcom, but this just brings up the point that these paradoxes don’t exist if you don’t mess with them, and you can still have the lessons learned without them! I’m somewhat skeptical of the belief that romance has been hijacked by “women’s fiction” to appeal to the masses, but when the love interest has no character arc, since any development he has becomes irrelevant when the timeline resets, it makes for a very unsatisfying read, even if it technically could work in another medium.
But while it’s not for me, the enduring popularity of the trope suggests I’m very much in the minority. If it sounds interesting to you, I’d recommend giving it a try, in hopes you enjoy it more than I did.

“This Spells Love” is a charming and funny novel. Once I got into the story, I couldn’t put my kindle down.

After Gemma’s boyfriend of 4 years dumps her, she has a drunken night with her sister, best friend and aunt. Her aunt uses a book of magic spells to help Gemma forget her ex, but this spell requires Gemma and her best friend Dax to kiss. So when the spell actually works and Dax doesn’t remember her she has to rebuild their relationship in this new parallel universe.

This book reminded me a lot of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, but without the angels. Maybe it’s just the Christmas season now, but it had that sweet sentimental vibes of that movie except with lots and lots more spice! I would definitely recommend this book to any romance reader!

After getting dumped, Emma performs a love cleansing spell with the help of her sister, aunt, & best friend, Dax. They follow the instructions, complete with an absolutely platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal. But when she wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked, but Dax doesn't remember who she is.

What a great friends-to-lovers debut this was! I loved how this trope had its own quirky & whimsical time travel/alternate universe thingy to it.

Emma & Dax were the epitome of perfection. I just adored their bond & chemistry in both the worlds. The best thing was how one of them fell first for the other in separate timelines, which gave a heartfelt perspective to the story.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed the book & and would read anything by Kate now.

<i>Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.<i>

If this was your Book of the Month pick, and you want a friends to lovers, parallel universe type of story with some steam this one is for you. It was cute, but I wanted some more time in the “real” world

I was looking for a love story and this was the perfect one! This Spells Love had a Freaky Friday twist that leaves Gemma wondering what is real and what she needs to do to solve it. When she finds herself loving her new life what will she do to ensure she isn’t messing up everyone else’s?

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I was expecting a fall witchy romance similar to The Ex Hex with this one, but it wasn't really like that. I love magical realism and alternate timeline travel. This book was heavier than I imagined it to be in the alternate timeline, and the romance in the alternate timeline was a bit instant love which I don't always find realistic. The friends to lovers in the original timeline made my heart happy though in the end. Also I loved the self growth for Gemma throughout the book.

4 stars

I don’t normally do closed door romance, but I read book 1 and fell in love with the characters. I’m so happy Colby and Noelle got their happy ending.

I listened to the audio ARC and the narrators did such an amazing job. Colby started with a cocky glint in his voice that really helped the character development. We all know those guys who overcompensate with confidence when they’re utterly gooey inside.

Noelle trying so hard to push him away because of her past relationship trauma I think is something all women can relate to in some degree. I do think she took one cheating boyfriend from college too much to heart, but maybe I’ve been lucky to never have thought I was in love with my cheating exs.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.