I’m not a huge fantasy reader, but when it comes to stories about alternate realities or timelines or whatever you want to call them, they're my weakness. I read this in one sitting and never got bored, which is usually my problem with romance books. The main heroine was a little selfish and a little bit dumb but I think she was dumb for the sake of the story. Anyways I really enjoyed this and would recommend this to people. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute and charming book! The characters are relatable while still giving cozy romcom vibes. I love how I’m instantly transported to a lovely 90s classic with a magical twist. I will absolutely be adding this to my fall reads.

I absolutely adored this book! The alternate reality aspect was done perfectly, Gemma was easy to root for, and Dax was incredible, and the friends to lovers arc was simply *chef's kiss*

This book is different from what I've read in the past in the sense that it deals with magic that not only makes her ex forget about her but makes her best friend forget about her as well and place her into an alternate reality where certain things are different. I think anyone who wants a pinch of magic and read a friends-to-lovers that starts over would enjoy this.

Gemma Wilde wasted four years of her life with her ex-boyfriend and wishes to forget it ever happened. Her aunt tells her she found a book in the donation pile that they should sort through over margaritas. A spell is found to forget about her ex and Gemma, her aunt, her sister, and her best friend Dax decide to do it. But what ends up happening? Dax forgets about her.

This was a fun, quick read that has a bit of magic. However, if you're looking for a magical book, it may not be for you because the only magic done is at the beginning and the end.

As for any questions/criticism about the story (in-depth on my Goodreads with a spoiler tag on it in case, this review is seen by others), the magical essence of the book is very scarce and seems a bit off. For example, the items weren't exact and the spell still worked she kissed Dax because it was in the spell but it was Dax who forgot about her, not her ex but everyone still remembered her. Gemma was a bit self-centered and would do things even after that person would tell her otherwise.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kate Robb and Dial Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This was a cute, fluffy, low-stakes romance.


Gemma our FMC has just gone through a recent breakup with her boyfriend of four years and is kind of going through a bit of a damper. She gets together with her sister, aunt, and her best friend Dax for a tequila and ex-boyfriend bashing evening to pull her out of her slump when her aunt mentions a book that she came across. It ends up being an old spell book of sorts and they proceed to do a 'love cleanse' spell so that Gemma can speedily put her ex behind her.


When she wakes up the next morning in a hot strangers bed she continues on down the rabbit hole of what seems to be an alternate life. One that would have existed if she was never in her four year relationship and what it would have been like.. The only problem is , the only ones that remember her in this alternate life is that the only ones to really remember her, not the before her but her at all is her sister and her aunt.


So , I liked this well enough. I really didn't get on very well with the FMC. I found her to be really flighty and self-absorbed, whiney and annoying . But that's okay because at the heart of the novel I feel it's about self-awareness, reflection, and the value you have in the people closest to you.


There's a dash of magical realism and time travel which I love, overall it focuses more on the rom-com aspect of the book. I didn't really connect to any of the characters very much - probably due to not liking the main one. LOL but that's okay, as a whole it was an enjoyable read.


Friends to Lovers
Magical Realism
Time Travel
Alternate Life
Low Stakes Romance
Sisterly Love

This was the fantastic fall read. The touch of magic in the story was perfect. I fell in love with both Gemma and Dax and their parallel universe relationships.
Warning the book did have me craving donuts.

publishing December 5th, 2023

wow, I had a ton of fun with this one! a story about Gemma Wilde, who after getting dumped by her long term boyfriend, performs a love cleansing spell to forget about her ex. it backfires and has consequences, which involve her best friend, Dax. (won’t spoil anything!)

Gemma aka Gem was a great FMC, and I thought Dax was a very charming character. Her family were also a really fun supporting cast.

if you like friends to lovers, a dash of magic, and a very fun premise with equally entertaining characters, this one is for you! It reminded me of 13 going on 30 in some ways.

what a fantastic debut by Kate Robb. I read it in one sitting!

thank you netgalley and Random House Publishing for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

i loved this book 😭 i’m such a sucker for rom coms with a twist and banter and the friendship and the spice. i loved Gemma, and i loved how she wanted to see everyone around her happy and for them to thrive. i love her relationship with her sister and aunt, her aunt is the cookie fun character who has all the wisdom but makes you earn it lol. i also loved the dynamic between Dax and Gemma, not just their friendship but how they weren’t able to get back to it even though she ended up in another timeline and he didn’t remember her. their banter and companionship made my heart swell. the end made me so happy bc they got the best of both worlds and figured out who she could be with dax or even without. her beauty shop. this was a great debut novel and i will gladly read anything Kate Robb writes. 5/5

thank you random house and netgalley for the e arc in exchange for my honest review!

I felt like this book had the potential to be better than it was so I’m giving it 3 stars. I was all into it at the beginning but then found it lacking some in the middle and towards the end.

Gemma and Dax- I liked their characters. Friends to lover trope is always a good one. There was also some funny laugh out loud moments during this book.

The whole time wrap, love spell, thing was a little weird the way it was written. I wanted more to that. The message of not taking what you have for granted and to take a chance was good.

Overall, it was a nice read but could have been better for me. But that’s just my opinion, some will probably love this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House books for sharing an ARC with me. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I wanted to love this novel, I did, and though it proved for a fun enough read, I found myself slogging toward the eventual end. For one, I'd expected a very witchy/supernatural romance story, but the spell that pushes Gemma into this alternate reality felt a bit too convenient (and then unexplored) for my tastes, asking us to simply go along with it - as many of the characters do. And that lead to a ton of minor plot holes. Second, I just couldn't love Gemma, particularly that she wouldn't immediately get the signals from Dax once we meet him. Kate Robb is a wonderful writer, and the dialogue did crack me up at times, so I'm excited to see what her next book holds. This one just wasn't the one for me.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this so much! Ahhh! It was so good. What a solid debut! When I first saw this book I thought it would be a witchy romance because you know me… I hardly ever read synopsis and if I do, it’s a very superficial read. I was so wrong! This wasn’t a witchy read but a time/dimension travel book. It was such a good surprise!

Gemma and Dax 🥹 I love them. They are the good kind of friends to lovers for me. Gemma realizing that Dax is her true love while he gets to know her for the first time because he has no idea who she is brought the perfect ammount of angst. Gemma was so good, but Dax is the one who’s earned my heart in here. What a perfect man 😍

I would have loved a few more chapters in the end, but I am very happy with how everything turned out. Magical realism can go very well or very bad, but I think this book is the former. I totally recommend this book!

Rating: 4.5/5
Steam level: Open door, 2-3 scenes, high level of detail

ARC provided by Dial Press and NetGalley. Opinions are my own!

A hot, fun, heartwarming friends-to-lovers, sliding doors romance. The bit of magic was just enough to pull us out of our world and into this delightful debut!

This Spells Love by Kate Robb

Genre: Contemporary romance with a twist of magic
Pub Date: December 5th

Read if you like:
Friends to Lovers
Cozy reads
Alternate realities
Eccentric Aunts (don’t @ me)

Kate, how is this your debut?! Where have you been hiding?!

The way that I devoured this book… I can’t remember the last time I read a book in a day, but I couldn’t put it down.

This was such a wholesome and clever read. It kind of reminded me a little of Ashley Poston’s writing because of the unique and thought provoking storyline.

Everyone has asked themselves, “what if I had done it different.” This cozy and fun rom-com dives deep into that question. After a breakup, Gemma finds herself asking ‘what if’. A night in with her sister, aunt and best friend, Dax, she finds herself in the middle of a spell and the next day wakes up to a life. When she discovers her new life is her ‘what if’ scenario she sees that *maybe* the grass is greener here… or maybe it isn’t.

The characters in This Spells Love are EVERYTHING. The banter between everyone will leave you cracking up. And honey, Dax and Gemma?! The tension?! We actually got a lot spicier than I was thinking and I was HERE. FOR. IT.

So, how much do you think one decision could change your life? Highly recommend following Gemma’s journey to find out.

*Thank you to Kate Robb and Random House Publishing for the ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.*

SPOILER FREE.
Release date: Dec 5 2023.
🌶️🌶️/5

This book was freaking adorable. A unique story, lovable characters, witty banter and some solid spice scenes. This was such a sweet easy read and one of my top tropes… but in which timeline?

It was a quick easy read that was thoroughly enjoyable and a fantastic debut novel from Kate Robb. Very excited to see what she releases in the future if this is how she comes out the gate. Side note that as a Canadian I loved all the Canadian references and locations!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the premise was interesting I didn’t connect to the characters or plot in a meaningful way. Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley, I was able to read this debut novel by author Kate Robb ahead of its December 5, 2023 release.

I adore this book! Gemma is someone I would love to be friends with. From the coffee and fashion obsessions to the questionable sense of humor and a goal-oriented attitude, we vibe. Gemma also has sweet relationships with her sister and aunt. And her heart is in the right place, which she proves in the end.

With a healthy dose of comedy and enough romance and magical realism to keep things interesting, this story is a quick, enjoyable journey of personal growth. Oh, and it's spicy, too!

I’ll be picking up a physical copy of this gem when it is published!

This was so cute and so charmingly Canadian. It isn't really a witchy romance read as it is more like magical realism. I will say there were some plot holes in the magic and alternate reality rules that sometimes pulled me out. I might've been overthinking it though. The romance was lovely and I'm not really a big fan of the friends-to-lovers, but I really felt the longing here.

I liked the lessons Gemma learned in this story and I liked the way the story ended. I would have liked a little more of the end though. I did wonder what happened to her in the other reality.

Honestly, I feel like this is a solid 3.5 read for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Robb and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique storyline😭

This was an amazing book! Especially for a debut!
Gemma is heartbroken and performs this witchy ritual to erase the day she met her ex. The only problem is that she met her best friend, Dax, that same day.

When she wakes up in a parallel universe where she has never met her ex, life seems better. She has a better job even though she lives in a basement. She has more friends because she hasn’t wasted the last 4 years with her ex and actually socialised. And she fulfilled her dream of opening her own store.

But her best friend doesn’t remember her. That breaks her heart. So she decides to do the ritual again but now she has to wait for a month when the moon is in the same phase.
Of course during this time she ends up falling for him and realises he’s always been into her. Which makes her consider that maybe she can stay in this universe forever.

But the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Turns out her dating her ex for 4 years wasn’t a complete waste after all. Now things are only getting worse, especially in Dax’s life.

Btw him being sure she is a stalker was hilarious lol.

I loooooove their relationship! These two are literally made for each other and Dax is pretty incredible. I love him!
This says A LOT coming from me because I usually despise friends to lovers trope!

The humour, the side characters, the spice… all of it was written wonderfully! Makes me want to visit Canada now.

4.5⭐️
2/5🌶️

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

This story is super cute with a side of spice. I loved the characters and the story. I found the question of ‘what if I had or hadn’t dated this person’ relatable and enjoyed this book.

Y'all, I could not put this book down, it was so adorable and fun. This is one of the best takes I have seen on the alternate reality/time travel trope. Considering time travel/alternate reality isn't my usual type of read, I am delighted by how much I liked it. I love that there is plot and spice and that one doesn't overwhelm the other. I loved Gemma's kooky aunt and her super supportive sister as well. With some donuts, oat lattes and a touch of magic and this book is a must read friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers rom-com.

It appears that this is Kate's debut novel, and if that's the case, I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Robb and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.