Member Reviews

Have you every wondered if one little wish could change everything? Gemma certainly does when, along with the help of her Aunt and sister, ends up in a parallel universe where her best friend, Dax, is her boyfriend. She must decide which world she wants to live in: the one where they are friends or the one where they are lovers.

Overall, this book was a quick, fun read. The characters were relatable and you couldn't help but cheer for Gemma and Dax to be together. I really enjoyed that the unrequited love aspect wasn't because either one of the characters were making silly, petty, teenage decisions. It was two adults trying to decide what would be best for them, but in two different universes. All of the supporting characters added a lot of fun and humor to the plot.

I would absolutely recommend this book and author to all of my book loving friends! Anyone that enjoys rom-com type books would really enjoy this one!

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED this book so much! It was so easy to read and everything was done so nicely. The spice was the perfect level and amount as I often find authors go overboard with spice. It wasn’t cringey at all and actually added to the story. So many cute and swoon-worthy moments. Amazingly done and I will definitely read more by Kate Robb in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Phenomenal romantic fantasy, looking at what would happen if you cast a spell to change your past! The characters were so well written and I couldn't put the book down. I'd definitely recommend that people pick it up!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for an eARC of This Spells Love by Kate Robb!

I am not normally a fan of alternate timelines/time travel, but I was absolutely WOWed by much I loved this story. The second-chance romance, best friends to lovers was so absolutely heart warming and beautiful. I loved the sisterly bonding in this book too! It was definitely a perfect "you don't know what you have until it's gone" type of story. Definitely one to add to the bookshelf!

Was this review helpful?

If you are a fan of fantasy type romance, you will enjoy this book! The main character has a spell cast on her to get rid of her feelings over her ex. The spell works and she is now living in a parallel universe where her life is the same, but also very, very different. She must navigate this new world and develop relationships that no longer exist that she had from the old world. And through it all, she discovers love.

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Dial Press for the gifted e-copy of this book!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this story! I’m all about the witchy vibes and loved the idea of the love cleansing spell. Gemma, after a break up, does what all of us do and got drunk with her aunt and bestie, Dax and here’s where it strayed from most of us and they do a love cleansing spell. Things shift and it works, but her bestie now has no idea who she is! This story was absolutely adorable and everything you’d want in a light-hearted rom-com with a bit of witchiness that makes everything different. I loved this book!

Was this review helpful?

This Spells Love gives major Thirteen Going on 30 vibes, but with a witchy (they do a love cleansing spell) twist! This was so much fun, kept me hooked from the start, and was oh so steamy!

Was this review helpful?

Gemma & Daxon, best friends and each other's person, platonically of course.

Imagine not knowing you're in love with your best friend and taking a chance (trying a spell) to make that romance happen. Then imagine nothing quite happens as you expect it to, at all. Yes, lots of good things happen but lots of "Wait, what?" moments happen as well.

What are you willing to give or give up for the people you love?

I really enjoyed this book and found myself rooting for Gemma to find her best self ... with our without Frank, the best roommate ever!

Was this review helpful?

Fans of 13 Going On 30 - here’s your book.

This debut-novel follows a recently broken up Gemma as she’s launched into an alternate timeline to discover the possibilities her career, relationship with her sister, and most importantly, the possibility of a new love that she’s been overlooking for far too long. Thanks to a drunken love spell with the help of her Aunt Livi and sister Kiersten, Gemma is about to find out just how different her life - and love life - could have turned out.

I very much enjoyed this read. Dax and Gemma’s best friend dynamic was written so well I could feel their connection immediately. For those looking for a fun romance read that’s cheeky, and witty, and a bit of a nail biter as you witness the turmoil unfold, this book is for you. My one critique is that it could have used a bit more reference to the spell work and very slight witchy vibes it teases in one chapter - but then again that may just be my Practical Magic-obsessed self always reaching for that vibe the second spell are mentioned.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this debut novel!

Was this review helpful?

✨ARC Review ✨

This Spells love by Kate Robb
Releases December 4th, 2023!

Gemma goes through a bad breakup and casts a spell to forget the night she met her ex. In the process, the spells sends her to an alternate universe. In this universe her life is completely different and her best friend doesn’t even know who she is. She has to stay till the moon is back in position to try the spell again to get back home. Will see stay in this alternate universe or try to get back home?

A sweet romcom story - all about taking risks and not just choosing the safe route because you already know the outcome! ❤️ This book gave me 13 going on 30 vines! I highly recommend!

Thank you so much randomhouse & NetGalley for this arc!

Was this review helpful?

The plot was cute but the smut was wayyyyy overdone. Like the smut scenes were the author’s main goal and arrived way too fast so the tension was completely gone and the last half of the book dragged. I’m disappointed, because the plot sounded good. Ended up being a mediocre read.

Was this review helpful?

Such a cute book and storyline! Such a fun and sexy rom-com novel, and enjoyed the time travel and magical realism. Definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a delightful debut novel of personal growth, romance, and a bit of magic along the way.

Gemma is reeling from her fresh breakup and a night fueled by alcohol ends with her performing a love-erasing spell with her aunt and sister. Much to her surprise, it works in an unexpected way and she lands in an alternate timeline. In that timeline she gets to examine multiple “what ifs” from the past four years of choices, one of those being with her best friend Dax, who doesn’t know her in this timeline. Gemma gets a chance to see what her life might be like if she takes some risks. However, some of her choices lead to changing the lives of those she loves, and she has to decide if it’s worth staying or finding her way back ‘home’ when the time comes.

I thought this was a great turn on a time slip story. Gemma had a lot to figure out about herself. A lot of her self-examinations were things I think a lot of people can relate to. ‘Did I choose this route because it felt right or because it felt safe?’ being the biggest question she faces in multiple aspects of her life. She also had the opportunity to examine her relationships, especially with her sister. They have a strong bond in both universes, but in her alternate one, her eyes are opened to how much she may be taking her sister’s support for granted. I was happy to see Gemma come to that realization, because it seemed like she had a habit of leaning heavily on everyone else for support without questioning what they might need in return. The alternate timeline relationship with Dax was lovely, too. Their chemistry was palpable and the progression of their relationship felt natural. However, as best I can say without spoiling anything, I found myself wishing I knew for sure they were in the same permanent timeline before they *fully* progressed the relationship. I did also want more time with them in the “real” timeline. I loved them together, and I never doubted Gemma’s love for Dax in either time. The way she ultimately shows it is heartwarming. Without saying if she stays or goes back, I can say Gemma definitely follows through with the things she learns from the chance to explore her “what ifs” and brings the book to a satisfying conclusion.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for this digital ARC copy of This Spells Love. I rated this book a 4/5 stars. I will admit that friends to lovers is not my favorite trope but this book was so well written and cute that i almost forgot about that. The book follows Gemma who has just gone through a breakup and after one two many margaritas performs a spell to forget her ex but ends up turning her world upside down. Gemma was a likable main character that i was rooting for and Dax was the sweet dreamy best friend everyone wants. I genuinely thought this perfectly fit the rom com mold and would be the perfect book to be made into a movie. i really had fun time reading it!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much Random House and Netgalley for this awesome ARC!

There was so much I loved about this story. First of all, friends to lovers is a trope close to my heart since that is kind of my story. I found the way this friendship developed and grew into more to be more believable then it often is, even if there was some fantastical elements (like multi-dimension universe type stuff).

I did find it a little slow to start out, but once Gemma hit the new timeline I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering how things would go, and especially wanting to know if she'd stay in the new reality or go back to the original.

I absolutely loved how Dax always checked in with her when they started getting physical. Even after making out for a while he'd check to make sure it was still OK or to see whether she wanted to keep going etc. And it was continuous and just so nicely done. I loved that.

Gemma started out a little self-centered and needy, but her character arc was excellent.

A fun and unique friends go lovers story, with a great supporting cast.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to say that my review isn't all that fair because after starting the book I understood it was a bit fantasy/magically which I have never read and there not tropes I usually go for. I picked this because of the paranormal part not seeing it was also fantasy. So I wasn't surprised that it wasn't something I enjoyed very much. However being that, that's not normally something a read I loved the idea and plot of the story. Who wouldn't want a spell that can erase their exboyfriend lol. I enjoyed the fast on your toes steamy novel. It was funny and heartwarming I think if you enjoy fantasy and witchy vibes this is a book for you! Who does love a friends to lovers its always a good trope!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was a very cute, easy read. It had very likable characters. I loved the time traveling, history changing aspect. I feel like we all have those moments that we want to go back and change. But I feel like this book demonstrates while we shouldn't.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 — imagine being able to live out an alternate reality of your life where you’re not afraid to make huge life altering changes. That’s exactly what happens to Gemma when she accidentally does a magic spell and transports into an alternate reality.

I really enjoyed most of this book; it was a really cute and easy read. Normally I’m not a huge fan of a predictable story, but I actually really enjoyed the banter between characters making it a bit more unique than other time skip books. At one point the author “breaks the 4th wall” which I honestly loved. I also really loved Dax’s character. He was the sweetest puppy of a human.

The things that made me knock down a few stars is that I really just did not like Gemma in the alternate universe. She was extremely selfish and expected everyone around her to drop everything that they were doing to help her at all times.
I also did not enjoy any of the open door scenes or how they were written. Mainly because the descriptions were really clunky and I honestly felt they didn’t need as many scenes as it had (and I love smut, just these seemed forced). I physically cringed when Gemma would not stop bringing up the “perfect penis” it was overkill when she mentioned it twice but I’m pretty sure she mentions it literally 4 times.

Overall I think a lot of readers will enjoy this quick and easy read.

Was this review helpful?

This was a easy read -- a la When Harry Met Sally in a time-traveling/alternate universe. The characters were likeable (would have liked more on the whimsical Aunt!) and the relationship between Gemma and her sister Kiersten was (co-dependently) sweet. I cheered for Dax and Gemma -- though the most intriguing and fun parts were the curling descriptions! 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. Thanks to @PenguinRandom and the author for the ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Was this review helpful?

This was a case of it’s not you, it’s me.
I honestly didn’t enjoy this book, and I kind of wish I never requested it, because I felt like I skimmed through most of it and it just wasn’t for me. The story didn’t connect with me, the characters I didn’t really care for. Yeah this was disappointing. The cover is super cool though.

Was this review helpful?