DNFed 34%

Here’s the thing, like I get the concept of this book and probably any tiger time I would’ve love it. I guess just the dynamics between Gemma and Jax grossed me out. First of all, I think it’s not a genuine friendship when one of the two sides has *very* strong feelings for the other person because they always expect that maybe one day they’ll realize they are meant to be together.

Secondly, the amount of alcohol consumption in this book is worrisome, for me.

Third, the concept of “sex date” screams purity culture to me.

This was really good for a debut novel! I always love a good alternate reality storyline and this one was done so well, It was very easy to keep up with and I really enjoyed the characters. Emma and Dax were fantastic and who doesn't love a good friends to lovers story? Dax is the perfect golden retriever MMC and I loved to watch Gemma grow so much throughout the book. These two are so relatable and that made the book so easy to read. Along with the side characters which just added more to the book as well. Loved this one for sure!

I fell in love with this book. It's such a cute and feel good storyline. It has a good moral too - - you definitely have to watch what you wish for because you don't know how it can impact others around you. The Butterfly Effect and all ....

Dax and Gemma are best friends and that's all they've ever been. But events happen and Gemma makes a wish wanting to erase her ex-boyfriend, Stewart from her life. She forgets that in erasing Stewart, it will trickle down to a lot of other things in her life - - including the day she initially met Dax.

This story is all about how Gemma tries to restore her life but along the way she finds that her old life wasn't the greatest in some ways. Yet, she still needs to bring it back because in the adjusted timeline, she's set other things into motion that may not be good for others. It all just needs a reset.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I was mesmerized by the storyline and the characters.

This Spells Love is a second chance, supernatural romance. Although I'm generally not a fan of time travel/parallel universe stories, as the scenes of the main character trying to explain their predicament always gets old to me, I really liked this one. I did find some issues with the pacing, and Gemma seemed a little illogical at times. Additionally, the transition from Gemma hard-core friendzoning Dax to being obsessed with him was a little awkward, but once the two of them started spending time together, I really liked the romance. Dax is a very kind character, and I love how sincere the romance felt!
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved this book! Friends to lovers is not my go-to trope but this book did it SO WELL! I will say the cover led me to believe this was a witchy book but in actuality, it really wasn't. With that said, I wasn't disappointed because the plot was absolutely perfect. 5 star read! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher; the review is my own.*

2.5 stars

I read a similar book about a month ago and intentionally waited until now to read this one so I wouldn't be comparing them the whole time. While I was able to separate the two and allow this one to stand on its own, I still have a very strong preference for the other because of content (see Notes). This book was cute but could have been so much better. I loved the storyline and the tropes (best friends to lovers), but so much of its potential was lost behind all of the f bombs and sexual content. I know a lot of people like that stuff, but I try to avoid it. As this was my first Kate Robb book, I wasn't aware I should expect it.

Gemma (28) experienced a significant amount of character growth during the month after she performs the love cleanse. She became more aware of what was important to her and those around her. Not only did she learn the value of taking risks for things that matter, but she also became less selfish in her relationships with her sister and her best friend. But I also feel kind of like the month she spent after the cleanse allowed her to have a risk-free trial of what a relationship with Dax would be like, which felt a bit like cheating. I liked Dax, both versions of him. He was a devoted, supportive friend who was so clearly in love with him Gemma despite her inability (or unwillingness) to see it in her original timeline. Even when things weren't going well for him, he tried to keep going.

Quirky Aunt Livi and her random psychic insights were fun. I liked the strong bond that Gemma and Kiersten had as sisters and the support hey provide one another, particularly once Gemma became aware of her sister as a person rather than her personal support group. And I can't forget Frank the spider; I appreciate that Gemma didn't squish him.

I grew tired of how frequently Gemma talked about Dax's penis. Is it acceptable for men to fixate on women's breasts and vaginas and talk about them all the time, as if the rest of a woman is secondary to the importance of those parts? No, it's not. So why is it supposed to be funny or cute that Gemma fixates on Dax's anatomy so much? (I also think it's very odd that in the author's acknowledgments, she told everyone that her husband's penis inspired the sex scenes.)

Note: Swearing, including a LOT of f words. Sexual content, including several pretty descriptive open-door scenes, talk about sex, and lots of talk about Dax's penis.

Very cute, sweet romance. I liked the characters a lot. I was actively rooting for them. Well-written!

Thank you netgalley for this eARC! This was an average romantic comedy, I recommend for its cuteness and cozy charm. I dont think its anything special in the rom com category, but it was fun.

A cute rom com for the year. It had me laughing and swooning. Very enjoyable and entertaining with cute characters and witty banter!

VIBES: Magic, Slow Burn, Sassy Grandma, Friends to Lover
THOUGHTS: The concept of this book was so fun and unlike anything else I have ever experienced. The blend of magic & love was otherworldly. A cute quick rom-com read!

Spice rating: 3/5

a big 4.5!

when gemma is dumped, her aunt helps her perform a love-cleansing spell. with her best friend, dax, there to seal it with a kiss like the spell book calls for, she falls asleep just hoping for an easier day tomorrow. what she wakes up to is a a whole different life with no best friend. she must reintroduce herself to dax and hope that another kiss from him will return her to her old life. but with how cool her new life is and how dax and herself are slowly starting to fall in love, she's hesitant to return back to her old life.

i was absolutely obsessed with this book. the tropes and premise of it, the magic weaved in this was just perfect to what a friends to lovers trope is written for. there's yearning in both timelines and such a cool story told with gemma's goals and what she could romatically have with dax. their chemistry was so much fun and i got butterflies reading their story.

a wonderful read i will be recommending to everyone!

Spicy Rom-Com with magical realism thrown in. It was a quick, well enjoyed romance. The story unfolds at a great pace and it is interesting to see how the magical qualities come into play.

Witchcraft gone wrong, this romcom takes the readers on a trip of realizing the right person was there all along.

It took me a while to review this book. Usually friends to lovers is not my favorite type of books but "This spells love" is an exclusion. I really enjoyed reading it. Light, sweet and really easy reading

I loved Dax so much! He is the perfect book boyfriend. There is not much spice in this book, in a good way! It’s a perfect cute Rom-com. It gives me all the feels. Gemma is wonderful & so relatable! If you are looking for a cute book to cozy up to. Don’t miss out on this one!! 4/5 stars! I hope to read more from this author in the future!

This book was so perfect. When Gemma’s aunt casts a love cleanse spell to help her forget her ex boyfriend, Gemma wakes up in a parallel world where everything is different. In this timeline Gemma not only realizes that her best friend doesn’t know her, but that she’s in love with him. Gemma has to figure out how to undue the spell and return to her original life so that she can act on her feelings.

In this charming debut novel, Gemma finds herself in a whimsical yet unexpected predicament after a breakup: waking up in an alternate reality where her ex-boyfriend no longer exists in her memory. As she navigates this new world with the help of her quirky family and best friend, Dax, Gemma grapples with the realization that she may have lost more than she bargained for.

The premise of a love-cleansing spell gone awry sets the stage for a delightful exploration of friendship, love, and self-discovery. As Gemma embarks on a mission to reverse the spell and return to her old life, she finds herself drawn to Dax in ways she never expected. Their journey from friends to potential lovers is both heartwarming and humorous, filled with witty banter and genuine emotion.

Author Kate Robb crafts a relatable and engaging narrative that explores themes of identity, regret, and the transformative power of love. Gemma's internal struggle between holding onto the past and embracing the present is portrayed with authenticity and depth, allowing readers to empathize with her journey of self-realization.

With its mix of humor, romance, and magical realism, "This Spells Love" offers a fresh take on the classic friends-to-lovers trope. Fans of contemporary romance will be captivated by Gemma and Dax's charming and heartfelt story, rooting for them every step of the way as they navigate the complexities of love and friendship in a world where wishes can come true. I absolutely loved this book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

After a break up Gemma casts a cleansing spell to erase her ex from her life. But something goes wrong (or right?) and she wakes up in a life where she never met him. As a result, many other things are different as well.

This Spells Love has a a little bit of everything - romance, humor, spice, a pinch of magic, consequences and hard choices.

A delightful romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism. Brilliantly written with endearing characters. Entertaining page turner.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I read it in less than a day because I had no desire to put it down. I found myself with a giant smile through most of the book.

I loved this play on friends to lovers with the magical realism. It was kind of a one sided friends to lovers in a way. Before Gemma goes to the alternate reality you get the impression already that Dax is in love with her so you don't need to see that happen for him. But you get to see Gemma throughout the book go from that transition of seeing him as just her best friend to the perfect guy for her. I would have liked to be able to see a little bit more of the Gemma and Dax in the correct reality but that could also be because I didn't want the book to end.