I really enjoyed this book. It mixed all of the genres I like romance, with a little fantasy, and Japanese fiction. I found this to be extremely thought provoking, and really made me think about friendship and love. Remy and Cam are best friends who struggle to admit to each other that they love each other. They take a love potion and it goes extremely wrong. What was a dream vacation, turned into them having to travel around Japan using memories to create an antidote. I would for sure recommend this one! It was a really cute story!

This had a great synopsis, but for me it just wasn't what I was looking for in a romance. It was a slow start and it never picked up for me. Has a great cover, but the story wasn't what I had hoped it to be.

I don't remember if I picked this book because I knew it was the second in a series, but I do remember well the first story, and I had enjoyed it a lot. So, as soon as I realized I was reading this time the story between the younger siblings of the first book's couple, I got excited. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good. And the cover? And the title? They give you all the wrong the idea of what to expect.

This story, unlike the first one, takes place in Japan, but it's also about a trip Remy and Cam take to Tokyo, where their sister and brother live now, and where Remy wants to enroll for college. Remy has liked Cam forever, but she never seems to get the courage to confess, and now they might go separate ways, since he plans on attending MIT, it may be her perfect but last chance. That's when she finds out she actually has no soulmate, takes an ancient love potion, and thanks to that, Cam forgets everything about her. They have a few days to relive their memories before the effects of the potion become definitive.

I had trouble feeling interested by the story. Both characters are fine, the world-building is still super interesting, but the events and their consequences felt shallow. It wasn't even a matter of "oh I already knew what was going to happen so I didn't care about all the drama". I had real trouble caring for anything. Unfortunately, I can't point out what was at fault. Perhaps, there was too many stimuli for me to focus on the real matter. Maybe the organization was lacking. In the end, as much as I could relate to the problems the characters went through, I don't remember one part I really cared for them. It just felt shallow. Moreover, it didn't help the book's case that Cam's conflict didn't have enough time to be developed. I still don't get much how the event that brings him to said conflict was enough for that. Then again, him not remembering enough of it for a part of the story makes it hard to show it to us readers too.

We also have a bunch of interesting side characters of which we get a glimpse of depth but then that's it. I wasn't a fan of how any of them developed or acted in the story. Likewise, I think I'd have preferred the story to be just about Remy and Cam, and less about a trip to Japan. It was distracting.

As second books in series tend to, this wasn't a good follow up. It lacked the feels of the first one, and maybe it wasn't ready to be released yet. But it's still a pleasant read that stands apart from regular YA romcoms.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

As always Julie Abe creates a terrific story. I enjoyed being immersed int eh world full of travel, drama, family, and love.

This was such a cozy, whimsical story. I had no idea what to expect from this book and I ended up really enjoying it. Remy and Cam are the sweetest main characters. This is a friends to lovers romance set in Japan during the holidays with magic. I really loved the magic in this story and felt that it was just enough to add something special to this book. The pacing was a bit slow for me and I didn't get really invested until a third of a way through.

this was an okay read for me. i was expecting more and was a bit disappointed. it was a cute and cozy friends-to lovers romance between two teenagers set in tokyo. it's low fantasy, as there is magic in their world and one of the characters is hoping to attend a magic university. and that's part of the issue i had with this book. i don't think the whole magical universe aspect was truly needed for this story to be told. it could've simply been a best-friends-to-lovers romance with a touch of magical realism. because the important parts of the book don't have to do with the fantasy world they live in, just a love potion gone wrong and a quest for the FMC to make the MMC remember her before it's too late. i did enjoy the sweet moments between remy and cam and i thought their love was believable, but there was just something lacking. i think if you're a teenager/young adult who enjoys cute and sweet stories about childhood best friends falling in love with a bit of magic added in there, you might like this. just don't expect anything too deep or a really fleshed-out fantasy world.

"If he only has until January 1st, he needs to figure out what this is. Because there's something about her that's more addicting than sugar, and he needs answers... before he forgets her forever."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC of Our Cursed Love in exchange for an honest review.

Remy has always believed that she is meant to be with her best friend of all time, Cam but is too afraid to tell him the truth of how she feels. During winter break from school, Remy and Cam are taking a trip to Tokyo, Japan for the trip of a lifetime where they plan to check out Remy's dream college (for her super important admissions interview) and to see as much of the city as they can possibly pack in. After Remy is chosen for a tea leaf fortune reading and she discovers that she is not meant to be with Cam, she is willing to do anything to change her fate. During a night out with friends, Remy's world is turned upside down when her and Cam are offered a soulmate elixir from a magical apothecary and after they drink, something horrible happens- Cam forgets who Remy is. She has until midnight New Years Eve to bring Cam's memory back or she might lose him forever.

From the first couple of pages of this book, I was not expecting too much from it. This book seemed like a lot of different ideas that I wasn't quite sure how it would all come together- Japanese folklore and culture, the 21st century, and magic that comes from powerful emotion. However, I was pleasantly surprised and drawn in by the character development in this book, especially that of Cam. Sometimes male characters are kind of pushed aside and just there to be used as the love interest. However, readers get an amazing inside look into Cam and what is motivating him throughout the story. I also loved all of the side characters, from Taka to Jack and Ellie, to Naomi. All of their personalities were fleshed out so beautifully and the relationships within the group as a whole were supportive and nicely written.

Overall, I would give this book a solid 4/5 stars and would recommend this book if you are looking for an interesting contemporary novel with just a touch of magic.

I actually enjoy this YA story! but not everything was good.

This book has magic realism but is not heavily focus on it, which can cause a little of confusion since when it's mention there is not a good base. The love story was actually really cute, it’s about the relationship between two friends that have known each other since the day they were born, and they have been best friends since. Both of them have feelings for each other but they have not acknowledge those feelings and because Remy wants to make sure that her feelings are not one sided she asked to know who is her soulmate but after that everything goes wrong and now her relationship with Cam is in jeopardy.

Remy and Cam have amazing potential but the base of this intense love to the point of defying the fates was not there. I mean if there is a third person and I like him better, something got lost in translation.

I have to say one think I am all in for going against the fates trope, we choose who we love and all that but Taka deserved better! Why bring Taka into the story only to break his heart because his fate could not happen because Remi’s in love with her best friend. Taka was amazing and he deserved better!

This was a super cute and magical friends-to-lovers story. The cover caught my attention immediately.

I would suggest this to those who want a sweet but kinda slow YA romance.

What to expect:
-Asian. characters
-Cinnamon roll MMC
-Magical society hidden in modern world
-High school
-Soulmates
-Friends to Lovers
-Takes place in Tokyo

Big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book had a lot of promise but the execution wasn't great. The beginning was slow and hard to get into. Once the conflict actually began it felt like every chapter ended with the exact same sentence just worded slightly differently each time. The side plots also felt a little unnecessary and kind of confusing. Reading the epilogue it was hard to tell what Remy and Cam's relationship status was, which maybe was intentional but didn't make sense after the ending? Overall, the premise was cute and the cover was stunning but the execution was just okay.

Continuing the trend of me reading YA and not loving it…I’m getting a little nervous. Though the story is cute, and I liked aspects of the book (like the magic school, especially), many things just didn’t work for me. However, I will say that the cover image is absolutely breathtaking. I don’t want to go too far into spoiler territory, but if you don’t want to be spoiled at all, I wouldn’t read this review.

What didn’t work for me

The obvious plot: In every interaction between Remy and Cam, it is painfully obvious that they’re in love with each other. And because it’s a dual point of view (so we hear from both of them), it makes it even more obvious…so much so that I just kept rolling my eyes at the whole thing. They’re young; I get that, but there is no world in which they wouldn’t have told each other how they felt, so the book felt pointless. I think we would have benefitted from Remy’s point of view only. It would have left more plot details up in the air.

The writing: I very rarely comment on the writing, but there were many times through my read that I wondered whether this was actually translated from Japanese because the wording was awkward and stilted. (I did check; it was not.) The dialogue especially was clunky.

The ending: I was so disappointed by how it ended. There were basically two ways it could have gone and the way that *wasn’t* chosen would have made for a great story (or twist) that could have still made everything make sense. #TeamTaka

What I liked

Tokyo Magic School: I loved the magic part of this book (minus the silly love potion). I wanted there to be so much more of this world explored, but what we did get is what kept me going, for sure.

2.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for an advanced book copy in exchange for my honest review.

Soft and sweet romance shot through with whimsical, contemporary fantasy and a vividly drawn setting in Tokyo. This was the friends-to-lovers story that I've been looking for.

First off, the cover is beautiful and so eye capturing. I loved the magical part of the book but I don't think this one was for me. Great concept but not what I was expecting.

Honestly, I struggled to finish this book and almost DNF. There were many times where I felt like my book had magically gone back to a different section because the wording was so repetitive. The premise is a cute thought, but it was really all surface level. I didn't get the real chemistry as it was just the two of them constantly pining for each other but never actually speaking about it. I knew from the beginning that Remy and Cam were supposed to end up together but I couldn't help wanting to push Taka onto Remy because if I had to hear one more thing about Cam's sweet tooth I'd lose it. I didn't like that Taka just pushed his feelings onto Remy the way he did like it felt rushed or the author needed to throw a loop in the storyline but I did fancy the thought of them getting together. Unfortunately we knew it would never happen since her life revolves around Cam and she doesn't ever think of herself. *sigh*

Thanks to NetGalley for this copy. The author does a great job of the magical world building in Japan and leaves you wanting for more. Our introduction to Cam and Remy and all the other characters as they explore Tokyo with all its magical quirks is highly entertaining but the love arc itself doesn’t lure you in as you would expect from any other YA romance. It often times gives an impersonal glimpse into their history and how their feelings evolved over time without much clarification. Kudos for the magical world and the intrigue around it - would love to read more about what the author conjures of this world itself!

I think the idea behind this book and the premise of magical realism was brilliant. A slight tweak to the amnesia trope, and there's something quite unique.

I had too many expectations for this book for sure, and while I was entertained every now and then, I wasn't emotionally invested. The writing style wasn't that great either, the dual POV didn't work out well for me. Another thing that wasn't great for me was the scientific references which I zoned out while reading. I'm not a science person, but I'm just not willing to read TMI blurts of the functioning of this contemporary world with selected people who have magical abilities.

The series "Just Add Magic" follows the idea of magic in the contemporary world, and I was hoping for similar execution which was lacking. I'm not a fan of this one, but it could easily be liked more by some others so by all means, read if you want to.

The concept was fun, and the characters were cute. It was a great no spice young adult romance. The magic society was pretty cool. I liked how magic and magical shops and universities were blended into modern society. The ending didn't do it for me though. I don't know. I felt like there was an opportunity for more character growth that could have happened if the ending had been different.

Overall, it was a fun book, with a cute journey exploring best friend memories and what it means to fall and stay in love.

Tropes/Themes:
Asian main and side characters
Cinnamon roll MMC
Magical society hidden in modern world
Magical University entrance process
Last big trip before graduation
New Year's Eve hurrah
Tokyo
Soulmate
Tea fortune telling
Magical potions
Friends to lovers

Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe is a delightful tale brimming with enchantment, injecting delightful surprises into the classic friends-to-lovers narrative. The vivid and evocative prose effortlessly captures the vibrant essence and rich cultural tapestry of Tokyo. This captivating fantasy is an absolute treat for those who adore heartwarming romances, creating an atmosphere of coziness and charm.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

First of all, can we talk about the cover of this book? Absolutely stunning.

Our Cursed Love was just what you expect out of a young adult romance with a splash of magic. Best friends, Remy and Cam, set out on a trip to Tokyo. Not long after landing, their friendship and their future is in danger. Remy receives a tragic fortune after getting her tea leaves read and the two of them take a soulmate elixir which results in Cam losing his memories. The rest of the trip is spent trying to recover Cam's memories and change Remy's destiny.

This was a quick and easy read - 3.5 stars. I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and the plot of this book sounded so cute. I couldn't resist. I enjoyed the plot but it was quite drawn out. It became a bit repetitive which ended in what felt like a rushed ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins pressed for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. Publishing date: December 12, 2023.