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.

Absolutely unique take on forgetting your ex!

Gemma goes through a bad break-up and her eccentric Aunt wants to do a “spell” to forget him. When she kisses her best friend, Dax, to seal the spell she can’t help but NOTICE the kiss. The completely-we-are-just-friends-platonic-kiss. But when she walks up the next day it the migraine of all migraines she can’t help notice that things have changed. She never dated her ex. Ok. . . Her and Dax are not friends. Not ok . . . Her dream that she has told exactly no one, EVER to own and operate her own store is actually a reality, weird.

Convincing her Aunt that she did, in fact, do a “spell” with her to change her history is much easier than having to get her best fried, Dax back. But now that circumstances have changed, she has to pick between the reality where she has it all or where Dax is happy.

It’s a beautiful story of love, sacrifice, and best friends finding each other across space and time.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the eARC of This Spells Love. It was a great read!

I both loved and hated this book. I loved the different timelines and outcomes of her life, however it made me cringe at points. I thought it had a lot of sex for a book that I thought was a rom-com. (I love sex in a book, I just was surprised at the volume). Gemma was fun to get to know, and I'm so glad she ended up happy. I would love for a sequel to see where she and Dax are in a few years.

I love a good book with magic elements. And just in time for spooky season. This was a fun, lighthearted, friends to lovers romance. The characters were likable and it was a quick read. I enjoyed the humor and bit of spice. However, I do wish there was a bit more depth to the story to make it more memorable.

Gemma and Dax are both lovable characters and I’m always rooting for the friends to lovers relationships. I was hoping for a little more magic, but I still appreciated the cleansing spell element that transported Gemma to an alternate life where everything had changed. A cute little magical romcom that got me in the mood for the Halloween season… and gave me a serious craving for donuts.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a paranormal romcom and the story of Gemma and Dax.
 
Gemma and Dax are best friends, but it always stayed platonic. However, I could tell that there were sparks between them and the potential for more. And they finally get the chance when Gemma performs a spell that goes wrong, and she lands in an alternate timeline where she doesn’t even know Dax.
 
I really liked the witchy aspects of this book that were cozy and magical. Gemma has a great family and support system behind her.
 
The alternate timeline provided a situation that allowed the question of what if certain aspects were different. This was fascinating, but at the same time the gap to reality still stood and the story didn’t properly combine the two. I wish we would have seen more romantic scenes of Gemma and Dax in the present timeline. The plot is also very simple and not that much happens. In addition, I wish we would have gotten Dax’ pov.
 
Overall, if you’re looking for a cozy read, this book might be for you. 3 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

This was a fun read. Had some adult humor, adult language, and open door. The witchy vibes were good and very fun for the fall season.
Didn’t really connect with the characters, but it was a good time.

I love that this rom-com is mixed with magic. Reading this was like drinking warm tea under a warm blanket. The trope of friends to lovers was done really well and I was rooting for our couple. I loved the deeper thinking aspect of what would you do if this happened to you?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This Spells Love is a rom-com that follows a woman named Gemma in the aftermath of a breakup. She jokingly recites a love-cleansing spell with her quirky aunt, sister, and (of course) her attractive, heterosexual male best friend. This spell takes her to a parallel universe where she gets to explore a relationship with said best friend, and some chaos ensues.
I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. I realize a major part of the book was about Gemma ‘finding herself,’ but I just could not get behind her character. Like how is one so imperceptive of the feelings of everyone around them?! Even if it was a parallel universe, her lack of intuition drove me nuts. It was a light, quick and easy read for me though. Overall 3 out of 5 stars.

This Spells Love was such a cute and fun read! I loved the concept of friends to lovers and absolutely loved Gemma and Dax. It addressed the age old question would you start over and change decisions or keep them how they are?

I was so invested in Gemma and Dax's relationship and what was going to happen, I didn't want to put this book down! So excited for Kate Robb's debut and can't wait for her next books!

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: Parental abandonment (past, briefly mentioned),

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-time slip
-friends to lovers
-a pet spider named Frank
-only one passenger seat
-horny curling

I love this book, I don't care how many times I read it I just adore Gemma and Dax's love story. Gemma is just so entirely relatable. Risk adverse, making choices in her life because she should, too scared to follow her dreams. But with a breakup and a spell/wish she ends up in a reality where she never meets her ex but an also isn't best friends with Dax anymore. This is the best of what if, what if you take a risk and follow your dreams, what if you take the risk and admit your feelings for your best friend, and what if you just leap. Gemma is the best and an amazing Main character.

But can we talk about Cinnamon roll Dax. He is just book boyfriend golden retriever perfection. An amazing friend, pining away, but in the time slip he gets to take shit shot. The consent in this book is chef's kiss and the sexual tension (every time Dax calls Gemma his last name I screamed). He is just the sweets and book boyfriend perfection.

The side characters in this book only add to it. Gemma's aunt, her sister Kiersten (if she could get her own book I would be so thankful because I adore her) and have i mentioned somehow I would be okay with Frank the spider as my pet. The sexual tension, the heartache of I love you enough to give you up. Kate Robb is a master of just effortless raising the stakes, banter, and just perfection and somehow. You can't not swoon and fall in love with Gemma and Dax's love story.

Steam: 3.5

This story has such a great premise that really brings a new level of tension to the friends-to-lovers trope! I loved the refreshing cast of supporting characters, especially the sex-positive, blunt “best friend” character being her older sister and a mother of three. Definitely add this one to your list if you enjoy light, humorous romances with a twist.

Synopsis: After a devastating breakup, Gemma wishes she had never met her ex, but when she inadvertently casts a spell to change her past, the unintended consequence is now her best friend Dax no longer knows who she is.

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Now, I picked this book because the title and cover art gave very "witchy" vibes and I love reading themed books during the different seasons, so I am slightly disappointed that this book was not at all what I expected it to be.
I also am not a huge fan of the alternate reality trope. BUT, having said all of that, I still really enjoyed this book. My problem with the alternate reality trope is that the characters tend to be different in the new timeline, I did find that Dax was not really as likable in the new timeline as he was described to be in the original and because we spent most of the story in the alternate timeline, I felt like I would have really loved to get to see Gemma and Dax form their relationship in her real timeline. I really loved Gemma in this book, and was so happy with the selfless choice she ended up making near the end of the book, which paid off for her! The "love story" was a very slow burn at first, it didn't take off until about halfway through the book, so if you are a fan of the slow pace, this is for you. Very minimal spice IMO as well.

I give this book a solid 4 stars, because as someone that is not a fan of the main trope, it won me over and ended up being really cute.

Heartbroken over her breakup, Gemma drunkenly casts a love cleansing spell from one of her aunt’s books to undo the night she met Stuart. The only problem is, that was also the night she met her best friend Dax. Desperate to return to her timeline and carefully planned life, Gemma works to get her best friend back and undo the spell with his kiss.

Given the title and cover, I was expecting a witchy romance (loving this subgenre atm!) but it wasn’t really, which might explain why it isn’t published until December. This book is a fantasy novel in the way that The Midnight Library is a fantasy novel. Gemma is not a witch but simply follows some instructions from a random book from her aunt’s bookshop’s donation bin and makes some guesses about how the spell will work and what conditions to perform them in, just for funsies, not actually believing anything will happen. And Aunt Livi toes the line between fairy godmother and eccentric aunt, which I actually love. Would not be opposed to a spin off about Aunt Livi and her book club. Love her!

The non-witchyness of the book did present one weakness though. There were lots of plot holes regarding the spell and alternate timelines, which would be easily ironed out if the magical premise was less ambiguous so as to clarify the rules of magic. Or just better utilise the spell book to clarify the rules of magic while keeping the same level of ambiguity and witchyness. That’s not to say that there can’t still be silly curveballs like stained pages and undecipherable text, but I needed a better frame of reference to work with.

If this book wanted to lean more into the witchy/festive vibes, I could see that happening with Aunt Livi, her book club, and the costume parties, but even though This Spells Love isn’t a witchy romance, it’s still perfectly enjoyable as a contemporary romance!

…But it isn’t really a friends-to-lovers romance. We don’t spend very much time in the original timeline where Gemma and Dax are friends-on-the-cusp-of-something-else before we’re whisked off to the alternate timeline, where Dax doesn’t remember Gemma anymore. Here, she has the perfect opportunity to start fresh and explore a romantic relationship with alternate-Dax, but instead, she’s hung up on recreating their friendship while alternate-Dax is clueless about the whole ordeal (leading to some silly goofy moments in the beginning where Gemma comes off as a creep) and just trying to get to know her as a potential romantic partner (he warms up to her quick considering how creepy Gemma came off at first but I’ll allow the plot progression haha). Maybe Gemma felt that it was imperative to maintain the status quo with alternate-Dax in order to reverse the spell, but so many things about that doesn’t make sense and ultimately seem irrelevant to reversing the spell. I think it comes down to characterisation and the aforementioned plot holes.

Anyways, when Gemma and alternate-Dax eventually got together, their dynamic came off much more physical rather than rooted in friendship (and by physical, I don’t mean hooking up so much as constantly talking about wanting to hook up). There were many moments when Gemma would think back wistfully on a memory from their friendship that alternate-Dax would never know, which only highlighted that they weren’t friends in this timeline.

Also I didn’t get why Gemma was forcing the two timelines into a dichotomy: “Stay or go. Dax as a lover or Dax as a friend? My dream or his.” With her knowledge of the choices and outcomes made in both timelines, she could have course-corrected in either timeline. Maybe the different timelines are governed by fate rather than choices, but in any case, this story doesn’t seem to be too concerned with the more speculative fiction aspects of its premise. Speaking of speculative fiction: [[[ Spoiler: How can you throw in the possibility of a third timeline and then not do it??! It would have been so crazy if Gemma ended up in a third timeline, but I get it, there’s not enough pages for that haha. ]]]

All that said, I stand by my earlier statement that this book is perfectly enjoyable as a contemporary romance! I had fun in the first half, I felt giddy, all that good stuff. (Another shout out to Aunt Livi!) As the story progressed, I had more and more logistical questions, but if you’re just here for the romance, this book will do the trick! I can see it doing well on booktok.