⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
thank you netgalley and dial press for the arc copy.

i think this was a really great debut novel! i think gemma and dax are well written characters and are totally relatable, which adds to their overall personality. i am a sucker for a good side character as well, which this book definitely has!

the plot idea is very unique and i found myself very intrigued by it! it was also a very cute and fluffy romance, which is exactly what i was in the mood for. i really enjoyed this and if you pick it up, i hope you enjoy as well. 🤍

I thought this book was really cute. It pretty much follows the premise of many hallmark movies- a girl makes a wish and it comes true and sends her into an alternate universe where she learns a lot along the way and falls in love. I was hoping from the title and description it was going to be a witchier but it really wasn’t witchy except for the one magical moment that catapults everything. I liked the chemistry between Gemma and Dax and felt the spark between the two of them and found myself reading quickly to know what would happen next between them. But as the book continued it did feel a bit like cheating or something to me as the two universes versions of Dax were not the same. It felt weird to me that she was falling for him when he wasn’t the same as her original universe’s version. It made me feel a little icky. Gemma wasn’t always my favorite character and that reason might have partly been why. I really loved Gemma’s sister and aunt. I felt like they were such fun side characters who I cared for and enjoyed. I liked this book and I read it very quickly, but it wish it had been a little more original in its delivery. 3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to @thedialpress and @netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book was actually really cute. The thought of making a singular wish and losing your best friend/moving to an alternate universe is fascinating. Would your best friend still end up as your best friend if you were just meeting them for the first time today?

The plot addressed the "what if" questions of choices while also creating amazing chemistry with the main characters. Even the secondary characters were well thought out and brought serious life to this story.

Overall, I'm thankful for this read, it really was great!

*I received an advanced copy for review.

This Spells Love is one of those 13 Going on 30 sort of books. The kind where our MC wishes they had a different life and wakes up with what they wished for but isn't exactly what they wanted. Those are like freaking catnip for me. I think, especially right now as the world is kind of on fire, they're so relatable, particularly in reminding us that maybe what we wish for isn't exactly what we need.

Gemma has just gone through a breakup and does a sort of Practical Magic-esque psuedo-magic ritual in her aunt's bookshop that sends her to an alternate timeline where her best friend no longer knows her. In the alternate timeline she comes to the conclusion that the choices she made affected not just her, but everyone around her. As she comes to grips with her new reality, she realizes that maybe her best friend was meant to be more.

This Spells Love was a fun, quick read, great for fans of recently released Every Wish Way or author Livy Hart.

Thanks to Netgalley, The Dial Press, and Kate Robb for the ARC.

Another amazing debut romance! *swoon*

This Spells Love has so many elements I really enjoy in a book! It has a bit of time travel/magic and seeing what could have happened if you had made a different choice which I absolutely love in a book.

I really enjoyed the main characters of Dax and Gemma. They had amazing chemistry as romantic partners but also as friends. In addition, there were some great side characters who added a lot to the story. I just felt completely immersed in the story and really didn’t want it to end! It was one I thought about when not reading it and couldn’t wait to pick it up again.

This book is a complete delight! If you like romance this one was so so cute!

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a ride! This was a fun, sweet friends to lovers story with a twist. Not really witchy, but there was a spell involved. Very funny but heartfelt. There was some frustrating will they/won’t they dynamics for a bit but I guess we needed the tension… I was throughly invested from the start and couldn’t wait to see how it all turned out! Great read. 😊

PS. Publisher, there were a couple of errors/inconsistencies. In chapter 29, they’re having a drunken sidewalk moment and she asks him what he’s thinking about, but then it says he doesn’t wait for an answer so it seems like he asked the question? Which would make more sense since she was deliberating: I love him. I love him so much it physically hurts. “Whatcha thinking about there?” I ask. He saunters over and pulls my hips to his, kissing me hard without waiting for an answer. “About how much I fucking love you.”

Soon after in chapter 29 it seems like it should be “take” not “make” because you don’t make risks: “Sometimes the best risks are the ones you make with your heart.”

And at the end of a chapter the text just abruptly stopped like it was cut off short. But I didn’t mark it and I’m sure y’all caught that!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC of “This Spells Love” by Kate Robb in exchange for an honest review. This romantic comedy offers a unique and quirky story with endearing characters, making it a fun and heartwarming read.

One of the things that stood out to me was the book's quirkiness. It revolves around a love spell that goes awry, adding an element of magic and surprise to the romance. The humor and wit woven into the story make it a light and entertaining experience, and I often found myself giggling at the characters' antics.

The relationship between the main character, Gemma, and her sister, Kiersten, and their Aunt Lily is a highlight of the book. Their banter and their strong sisterly bond bring depth to the characters and make the story relatable. Nana's eccentricity and Gemma's more practical personality create a balanced and enjoyable dynamic.

In the romance department, Dax is a standout character. He's both charming and swoon-worthy, and the slow development of his relationship with Gemma, from friends-to-lovers, is well-executed. Their connection is sweet and sizzling, making it easy to cheer for their love story.

The only reason I didn't give this book a perfect 5-star rating is because the ending was a bit rushed, and I would have liked more exploration of the alternate reality that Gemma finds herself in. Nevertheless, this minor issue is balanced with the overall enjoyment of the story.

In "This Spells Love," Kate Robb has created an enchanting blend of romance, magic, and humor that will leave you with a smile on your face. This book is a delightful choice if you enjoy romantic comedies with a touch of the supernatural and a friends-to-lovers theme.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Trade Press for providing a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

After a drunken night where she casts a spell to forget recent heartbreak, Gemma wakes up to find that her life is totally different (from her job to her family relationships to her best friend, Dax) and is forced to confront what she really wants. This Spells Love is a fun, easy read with engaging writing and a fun set-up. Although I still enjoyed it, I think I preferred some of the other time slip/alternate timeline books I've read this year, and I struggled sometimes with the self-involved, immature choices Gemma made, the general angst, and the fact that we spent so little time seeing Gemma and Dax in their actual timeline. Despite these quibbles, I would still read something by Robb and would recommend this book to patrons looking for a time slip romcom that focuses on the female lead's personal growth. 3.5 stars.

I was unable to finish this book. I thought the premise sounded great, but I didn't like the characters and grew bored quickly. Unfortunately, not a title I would recommend to others.

The humor , the spice, the storyline..omg! I enjoyed reading this book cover to cover! Something about getting a new start not realizing the domino effect one person can cause! I do wish there was more magic involved being at first glance it seemed witchy!

This is a cute and light read! It was easy to fall into.
I was pleasantly surprised to find its based in Hamilton, Ontario!! And i could actually see the different scenes in the book.
I was not impressed with how Dax was presented in "the other" life, but I get they both can't be successful in both at first. The point is for Gemma to grow and learn how to succeed and help others do the same. I just really fell for Dax and felt protective of him :)

This was a sweet friends-to-lovers story that crosses timelines. (The muti-verse seems to be a theme for me for October, haha.)

A little witchy and quirky, with a nice dash of woo….and oh so steamy!🔥🔥🔥 Friends-to-lovers has turned into one of my fav romance tropes.

Overall this was a solid debut and I recommend to those looking for a fun romcom / fantasy. Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This Spells Love drops 12/5/23. 💛

Star Rating: ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
Spice Rating: 🔥🔥

I just finished this book with a smile on my face and a happy heart. I read a lot of romance books (and fanfiction), and I swear I have never read any as relatable as this one. As someone in their 30's who hasn't found love and doesn't really know what her purpose in life is (professionally or otherwise), this book really spoke to me.

I found so many pieces of myself in Gemma - the second guessing, the needing others' opinions before a decision is made, and the playing it safe. Honestly, the risks Gemma took in her life have given me the confidence boost I needed to take some of my own.

Though there was romance in this book and it was essentially the main character's focus, I really feel that this book was more about her journey and growth as a person. She went from devastated she lost someone who wasn't right for her, working in a job she hated, and taking the people around her for granted to giving those people (and herself) more credit, moving onto a business she loved, and finding her actual person. Obviously the way that she got there was a little nutty, albeit entertaining. That was a big part of the charm of this book.

Onto the romance - ugh, I adored it so much. At this point in my life, I'm not afraid to admit that love sometimes makes me bitter and jealous. I know that's ridiculous, but it's the truth. However, I rooted for Gemma and Dax from the moment I read them together. They really are each other's people and it made me so happy and giddy for them to finally realize it (Gemma) and for them to make it happen. Even as friends, it was obvious they were meant to be. They're so compatible and care for each other so much. Their banter was so quirky and adorable, it made me laugh and smile. I rated the spice as 2 because, while pretty hot, it wasn't over the top kinky and smutty. No crazy positions, dirty talk, toys, etc. Now I enjoy reading all of these things, but thought that what was written was perfect for this couple and for the way this story went.

At first when I read the dialogue, I felt it was a little under-expressive. I kept waiting for an exclamation point or italicized words, and they did eventually come. After you get to know the character and the author's writing style better, the expressions are mostly in the physical expressions. The writing and did get so funny, I laughed out loud from time to time. I mean, take these excerpts for example:
"I’m like Pavlov’s dog. Phone pinging. Lady parts zinging,."
"...and I say that with the possessive confidence of a regency duke claiming his virginal soon-to-be bride."
"His big beautiful penis could be in her magical vagina."
"To Gem, for finally growing a vagina and making her dreams happen."

I am now realizing those are all about lady parts, but my point stands!

My only tiny gripe is that I wish we got an "I told you so," sort of moment from Aunt Livi, who I am convinced is actually a witch. We never really got closure on that, though Gemma did say she wouldn't be telling anyone about her adventures for a while.

I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of romance, quirky characters, alternative timelines, and for anyone who, like me, is still finding themselves.

Thanks to @netgalley @kate_robb_writes and @thedialpress for the chance to read an ARC of This Spells Love. It’s out on 12/5/23.

Kate Robb’s debut is funny, heartwarming, and sexy. I highly recommend it!

When Gemma gets dumped four years into her relationship, she casts a spell to erase her ex from her life. When she wakes up in an alternate reality, she learns that some things are better (she opened her dream store!) and others are terrible (her best friend Dax doesn’t know she exists). As she learns more about the consequences of her sliding doors wish, she has to decide whether the love she’s found with Dax in the alternate timeline is worth the difficult things that have happened to her loved ones. What if one wish changes everything? Can she ever make it right?

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: magic, friends to lovers, sliding doors

I sometimes find that romcoms can be difficult to get into; the humor doesn't always land, the tension feels shallow, and the plot isn't always unique. I had the exact opposite of that experience with this book. With a really unique plot and lovable characters, I fell right into this book and couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed Gemma as a character. I loved hearing her thought process and understanding her motivations. I also love how each character, even the side characters, felt well rounded and had their own issues they were dealing with. I loved going on this journey with Gemma & Dax and will certainly be recommending this one to my friends.

DNF. I was hoping for cutesy charm but everyone sounded the same and the humor was cringe.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I'm pretty sad about this one. I'm keeping myself from rating it lower because I honestly was still enjoying the story, the writing, and I read it pretty quickly. I was really excited for the concept and to start a witchy read for fall. But I wasn't crazy about how the concept was executed and there were exactly ZERO witchy vibes.

So the only "witchy" thing about this book is the "spell" that they do at the beginning that causes the whole storyline. But it's just something they try while drunk and then it doesn't come back up again until she wants to reverse what happened.

As for the storyline, Dax seemed like a really great character, but he was wasted because 90% of him was the other timeline, which we know is not the same at all. I was hoping that maybe 1/2 way or 3/4 of the way she would go back to the original timeline and I actually try to have a relationship with her original Dax, but she doesn't go back until the very end and then there's one scene with him and then the epilogue.

To me, it seemed like she was dating a completely different person, so it was weird for her to go full monty in this alternate timeline and then go back and do the same thing in the original timeline.

Plus, she was pretty fucking clueless/selfish like the whole book. She apparently doesn't read social cues very well, even for the people she's so close with. So that was really kinda cringe to read throughout.

So yeah, still don't really know how I feel about this one.

This was so good! A curse gone wrong, but oh so right!
I loved Gemma and Dax, and the evolution of their relationship in the dual timelines. Their chemistry was so good, and Dax was so swoony 🥰.
I also loved Gemma’s relationship with her sister Kiersten, and Aunt Livi was a real hoot!

Thank you to Dial Press for sending me an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for review.

This was a fun friends to lovers. I like how it showed how changing one aspect of your life can have a domino effect on you and those around you. He very easily went from she might be crazy/need help to I like you in the alternate universe but it worked out alright.

We’ve all had that moment - the wish or the what-if. After a disastrous breakup, Gemma finds herself facing just that and in a moment of drunken decision making, she decides to do a love cleanse spell from her Aunt Vivi’s ‘magic’ book. She wishes for the relationship to have never happened, but you know what they say: be careful what you wish for…

I went into this one not really sure what to expect, and found that it fit perfectly for what I was looking for in a read. A touch of magical realism, a great parallel life time element, some endearing characters I was invested in, and of course a love story.

I really enjoyed our two main characters, Gemma and Daxon. It was interesting seeing their relationship play out in both versions of the timeline. I was rooting for each, as individuals with their journeys / dreams and for them together. I really enjoyed Dax’s character throughout and Gemma as she was figuring things out grew on me too.

I was very satisfied with the ending and how everything played out in the end. I love a story that manages to engage, entertain, and make me think - and this one hit the right balance for that. I definitely look forward to trying more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy!