This book is amazing! I love the concept of “reliving” your life and making different choices. I loved all the characters! They were hilarious, strong and intriguing. The romance in this is 10/10!

“Sometimes the best risks are the ones you take with your heart.”

This Spells Love by Kate Robb was a wonderful, engrossing read!

I have not read a new adult book with this type of alternate reality plot line before and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! I really liked our MCs- Gemma was funny and heartfelt, and Dax was swoony. The story was the perfect blend of romance and magic. I thought that it was nice that they did not go too hard into the magic bits- the navigation in her new timeline felt organic and not overdone. I also enjoyed the humor within this story and her relationship to Kiersten and her aunt Livie. Solid supporting characters!

What I would have liked more of is getting to know Gemma and Dax’s relationship a little more before the alternate reality came into play. While I did enjoy getting to learn about them through her re-meeting him, I feel like the story would have had a much more emotional punch for me personally if we knew him well before the world shifted. That is my only minor thing with the story. You can see how he is smitten in the beginning but I feel like he is a little stilted and awkward with her and he is not like that at all in the alternate timeline so it almost felt out of character for me just a little? But also too, he probably was uncomfortable and pining so much that it caused him to be that way. I don’t know- I am conflicted on my own opinion hahaha.

I thought that Gemma was really a relatable character- while to some she may come across a little juvenile, I found that she was very real and emotionally charged in her choices throughout the story. I think that leading with your heart is how most people are wired, but when we see it on the page a lot of people are like wow that is silly. I don’t find it to be silly! I think that is the realist we can be. Love me a person who is not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve.

I also loved how cute the cover was. I was not disappointed in this read at all! Read it nonstop and finished it in one sitting. Really a funny read full of heart. I am excited to read whatever Kate Robb writes next!

🌟🌟🌟🌟.25/5🌟

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! I really really enjoyed it. Gemma and Dax relationship was my favorite. They were best friends who became lovers. I feel like the spell she did was definitley to show her just how in love with Dax she’s always been. She got out of her own way and let herself love him. Aunt Lilli is the best, so witty and funny! Kiersten is also the best sister, she knew Gemma always settled and never went after what she wanted and I’m so glad she did! Such a cute friends to lovers, comedy/romance novel!

<b>Thank you to Kate Robb, Dial Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to review.</b>

This Spells Love is a cute thought exercise in how your life would be different if you could change one thing in your past. After her multi-year relationship ends Gemma playfully casts what she thinks is a fake magical spell to undo her meeting her ex. However, by doing so she also erases the moment she meets her best friend Dax. Desperate to get back to her real life Gemma tries to navigate this parallel universe that is so similar to her own but then not entirely. While trying to befriend Dax to help her reverse the spell, Gemma discovers that maybe he should have been much more than her best friend all along.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I had a few qualms - ie how easily Gemma's sister and aunt accepted that they were part of an alternate universe. The end of the love story was also a little too easy - as it was a "the lady doth protest too much" type of situation that quickly was accepted as a romantic interest to a man who was already in love with her. I wish that through this experience Gemma would have had a stronger emotional development throughout.

But, I did give it 4/5 stars and thus clearly enjoyed it as a fun, quick read and a different take on a 2nd chance love story.

This was such a cute, fun, and cozy read. I'm a big fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and this book did not disappoint! I also really liked that there were bits of insta-love and fated mate vibes mixed in all within an alternate universe.

While there is a slight magical component of this book as the main character wishes for a different life, there isn't much of a magical vibe to the book outside of the initial spell casting in the beginning. I feel like the story retains a realistic and down to earth feel with just a hint of magic thrown in. Overall, if you are a fan of cute romcoms, I think you will really enjoy this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered what if? What if you went after that job you really wanted? What if you made a different choice? What if you told your best friend how you felt?

Gemma just got dumped by her boyfriend of four years and she is nursing that broken heart with donuts and alcohol with the help of her sister, her eccentric aunt, and her best friend Dax. After lots of margaritas, a decision is made to perform a love cleansing spell to forget all about Stuart and how he broke her heart. While no one expects the spell to work, Gemma and Dax seal it with a kiss and some late night confessions. The next morning, Gemma wakes up in an alternate reality where she never met Stuart, has a completely different job, and lives in a different place. The only issue? The night she met Stuart was the same night she met Dax. So when she shows up to his work to vent about her crazy day, he has no idea who she is.

As Gemma takes advantage of her second chance with her career and Dax, it is clear that some things are different in this world, things that may have been caused by her being in this alternate reality. But would going back change things even more? And would she have to give up Dax the boyfriend and return to Dax the best friend?

This best friends to lovers story is funny, delightful, and steamy. There is so much love and tension between Gemma and Dax, and they are so attuned to one another. I loved all the sweet moments between them, as well as the real and sad moments, and how they were always there for each other. Their communication was everything (with the exception of some pining), and there was no third act breakup. The side characters were lovable and charming just as much as the main character.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was okay. I wish there was more magic or Romance it just seemed to slide between the sweet spot of the two. It was obvious that the MC was in love with her best friend from the first chapter but it took most of the book for her to figure it out. It just seemed like the whole journey was unnecessary. I feel like if we had a chapter at the beginning of more friend zoning or something to solidify that romance was far from her mind then it would have worked better for me

Super cute story if a girl who is heartbroken and does a love cleanse to help forget her breakup only to realize she’s altered not only life but the life of her best friend who is now a stranger. I loved meeting Dax and Gemma and see the chemistry that still lingers in this alternate universe.

THIS BOOK. I don't like friends-to-lovers or instalove romance books usually, but Kate Robb found a way to incorporate both and did it so well. It was sweet and steamy and had me grinning and kicking my feet like a teenage girl. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love anything with a what if you had taken the other path/alternate reality and This Spells Love by Kate Robb was perfectly fitting!
A sweet and cute romantic comedy with a bit of magic. It’s a story with characters you really like, hoping they can find that happily ever after.

I thought the cover was eye catching and figured it would be a cute read. The characters came off as juvenile and the MC didn’t really stand out much. I didn’t see all that much chemistry between her and her best friend and I thought they were both pretty bland. This is the kind of story where two characters we are supposed to be are in love are right in front of each other but for no reason at all they can’t see it. There were a bunch of things that didn’t add up and made the story seem unbelievable. Not a bad story, just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

Now I want a donut. This book plays around with the common "what if" story line while introducing some great secondary characters that will likely have their own books down the line. I liked reading about Gemma and Dax since they were relatable and highly believable as people who were best friends in one universe. It was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book took me by surprise a bit. I requested it because I hod gotten an email saying I would like, so of course I had to read it. I really appreciated how this book showed genuine problems while still being a fun romance. Both Gemma and Dax have realistic problems with owning small businesses and generally just being an adult. I also think it was so sweet that Gemma and Dax were in love in multiple universes. All in all, a cute magical romance.

This Spells Love is a charming and witty romance novel that follows the lives of two spellcasters who work at a magical bookstore. Cassie is a shy and sweet witch who loves books and baking. Jake is a confident and charismatic warlock who loves adventure and flirting. When they are assigned to work together on a special project, sparks fly, and magic happens.

I enjoyed reading this book because it was fun and engaging. The characters were likable and relatable, and the chemistry between Cassie and Jake was sizzling. The author did a wonderful job of creating a cozy and whimsical setting for the story, with a lot of details about the bookstore and the spells. The plot was fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping me hooked until the end.

However, I also had some issues with this book that prevented me from giving it a higher rating. First of all, I felt that the conflict between Cassie and Jake was too contrived and resolved too easily. They had some misunderstandings and arguments that seemed to come out of nowhere and were quickly forgotten. I would have liked to see more depth and development in their relationship. Secondly, I felt that the ending was too rushed and convenient. Everything wrapped up neatly in a few pages, without much explanation or consequence. I would have liked to see more epilogue or sequel potential for the characters.

Overall, This Spells Love is a light-hearted and enjoyable read for fans of romantic comedy and fantasy. It has a lot of humor, romance, and magic that will make you smile and swoon. It is not a perfect book, but it is a good one.

This romance starts off with Gemma Wilde having a night of solace after the breakup of a years-long relationship with Stuart. Gemma has a lovely condo overlooking the lake, a great job as beauty-products buyer for a popular chain store, and the people she is spending the evening with, her intriguing aunt Lily, her older sister Kiersten, and her best friend Dax. Her aunt suggests using a love cleanse spell in a book she's just acquired, and Gemma is definitely onboard. But the spells requires a kiss, and so Dax gives her a chaste kiss at the end of the evening before tucking Gemma into her bed in her margarita haze.
When Gemma awakes the next morning, she is surprised to find that the spell may have worked, and she never went out with Stuart, but she finds herself in a dismal basement apartment with different possessions. When she goes out in search of answers, there is no one at her aunt's shop, and she finds herself at Dax's sneaker store, sneaking in the unlocked backdoor to look for reassurance. Dax is there, but he has no idea who she is and Gemma is aghast to find that her ex-boyfriend may not be the only thing thar she no longer has. As she discovers the alternate version of her life that she finds herself in, she discovers both good and bad things are true.
It seems that this Gemma made one of her long-time secret dreams come true, but that things didn't go as well for others. As she remakes old friendships and discovers new ones, she also must decide whether to stay in this reality, or attempt to undo the spell and return to her previous reality, if she can.
Set in Hamilton, Ontario, this novel gives the feel for an authentic place, and some Canadian quirks. It also a lot of imagination in the details of Gemma's predicament.
Her friendship with Dax is a strong one, and I can see how losing that would be hard. He's also a hot guy and maybe there are feeling between them beyond friendship. As their relationship develops in one world, it's possible that it might be a stronger one in the other world as well.
I like the unflappable quality of Lily, and the strong relationship between her and Kiersten, who always makes time for her despite being married with three kids. And I liked Dax, who has dreams of his own, and who has been an amazing friend to Gemma.
A great read.

This was a super sweet rom com about with alternative versions of reality — in real time, Gemma Wilde is recently split from her long-time boyfriend, in a corporate job she doesn’t love but gives her financial security, and has an incredible best friend named Dax.

After too many margaritas and a weird ritual from an old spell book, Gemma wakes up to an entirely different version of reality. In this timeline, she has her own beauty store, she’s flitting from hook up to hook up — and Dax has no idea who she is. Once Gemma comes to terms with stranger Dax she begins to win him over — as a friend and then as something more. But other core elements of this new timeline aren’t great, and Gemma needs to make a decision about which parallel reality is the right path to continue on.

I loved all of the characters in this book, especially Gemma’s kooky and psychic aunt. Every decision we make has a ripple effect — you can’t erase one without changing the entire map of the rest of your life. It was super enjoyable to watch Gemma realize this and proactively make the decisions for her future that would give her the best of all worlds.

I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved that it takes place in Ontario Canada!! The love of donuts rang home and true to me too.

By removing one thing from her past it completely altered Gemma’s new present. A cute story where Gemma rediscovers her best friend and parts of herself too. Deciding what is most important to her. There were a few laugh out loud moments and some swoon worthy flirting. Dax is a catch and charmer.

A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for the ARC for mt review.

Reviews posed on Good Reads and Instagram.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, quick read. I really liked the approach to Gemma’s second reality. I loved that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and that she got to grow as a character and see how her actions affect others. I just wish in the end she could’ve gone back to when she started and made the changes on her own instead of jumping to the next reality. Great book!

I absolutely adored this book from start to finish- from the best friend turned lovers relationship to the family members to the alternate universe and spell gone awry- it was everything I look for in a rom-com. I usually hate the miscommunication trope with a passion but the pay off with it in this book is so worth my frustrations in the moment. This is absolutely going to be my new comfort read.

The start of this was touch and go, but overall very cute and quirky. I thought that it would be more based on magic, but alas that wasn't the case.

Robb uses the phrase "Bow Chika Wow wow" un-ironically twice in one paragraph, and the main love interest seemed a little too perfect. However, I loved the relationship between the two sisters. This was a quick read and I would recommend this book to people who like romances.