Tori Anne Martin’s debut novel This Spells Disaster is a queer witchy romcom that takes place over the course of a spellcasting festival. Not only does it feature fantastic worldbuilding and lovable characters who are easy to root for, but it also features one of my favorite romance tropes, fake dating.

The story follows Morgan Greenwood, a potion witch who considered herself to be a hot mess. Morgan has had a crush on Rory Sanders, a badass elemental witch, but is too intimidated by Rory to even approach her. Instead, Morgan has admired her from afar for ages, that is, until fate puts Rory in her path one night at a bar. Rory is complaining about the unreasonable expectations her family always puts on her and that she is dreading spending time with them at the biennial New England Witches’ festival. A drunken Morgan volunteers to fake date Rory and act as a buffer between her and her family. Morgan can’t believe she did that, but even more unbelievable to her is that Rory decides to take her up on her offer.

I adored both Morgan and Rory. Morgan is just the most adorable protagonist. She’s incredibly loyal to those she cares about. Her heart is always in the right place, but she can definitely be a bit chaotic and impulsive at times. Rory is equally fabulous but in a much more reserved way than Morgan. She can be standoffish at first, but once you get to know her, Rory is a sweetheart. She’s also a brilliant spellcaster and both she and Morgan have a competitive streak that makes for some of the most entertaining banter. I just loved watching the two of them get to know each other.

My favorite part of the fake dating trope is when those fake feelings start to become real, and in This Spells Disaster, the author has added a unique complication to this trope. Morgan crafts a relaxation spell for Rory and after Rory starts taking it, she starts behaving as if she has romantic feelings toward Morgan. Morgan can’t believe that Rory could ever feel that way about her and is soon horrified to realize that her feelings for Rory may have slipped into the potion, accidentally turning it into a love potion. Love potions are illegal in the witching community because they take away a person’s right to give or refuse consent. I felt so bad for Morgan since it’s clear she didn’t intend for this to happen, but at the same time, it made the story all the more compelling for me, waiting to see how this would all play out, especially once Rory realizes the truth. I was rooting for them to work things out so hard because fake relationship or not, they were perfect for each other.

I don’t want to give anything else away, so I’ll just say this is a delightfully witchy romance. If you’re a fan of witchy romcoms, adorable characters, and fake dating, This Spells Disaster needs to go on your fall TBR.

This is a sweet and charming witchy romance with terrific world building.

This book was so fun! I adored entering this brand new world and was enthralled by the magic system and the witches. This Spells Disaster is a world I can’t wait to dip into again and again. It had the joy and fun of magic like the Wizarding World with the tropes of my favourite romance books – I’m a slave to the fake dating trope! This is an excellent read to add to the witchy rom com books on your shelf. This book is set in modern day USA, but has a magical world in it. Witches live alongside humans, or mundanes as they are called here, and for the most part get along. Magic is an accepted, if not fully understood, part of life. Mundanes aren’t completely accepting of it, like humans are with so many differences, but witches don’t have to hide their magic in fear. I personally love these kind of magic stories in contemporary settings, and Tori has developed such a delightful setting and premise. Magic is a big part of the book, but it doesn’t overshadow the plot – this romance, at its core, is still about two people falling for each other and working through internal and external conflicts to end up together. It would make a terrific movie – there’s so much visual delight in this story and I could really picture the vivid images of magic and delight from spell casting magic lotions to an ice cream cone that keeps changing its shape and colour with every lick.

Morgan and Rory are two fun main characters. The book is told from Morgan’s perspective. Morgan is fun loving and kind, but kind of anxious and chaotic, and determined to make her mark on the world after people have left her feeling less than worthy. Rory is the mysterious newcomer to Morgan’s town. She’s super powerful, but makes her living owning a bar. And she has some secrets she’s keeping about being the US’s best spellcaster and then disappearing from the circuit. And you can see where this is going. I absolutely adored watching the two of them fumble into a fake dating situationship. Which, of course, couldn’t stay simple. I think my only complaint is that sometimes the relationship developed and then the emotions caught up after. Both Morgan and Rory have a lot of depth and I wanted to see it on the page more. They are such fabulous characters and I’d love to spend more time with them. Watching them fall in love and learn to trust each other? So hot. The book is pretty PG for most of it, with a couple scorching scenes that really showed the depth of their feeling.

Besides the adorable Morgan and Rory is a solid cast of characters – Morgan has a strong friend and family group including her coven and we get to meet them all as Morgan and Rory start their pretend dating shenanigans. Rory has a powerful and stern family that she’s trying to prove to that she’s happy in her new life including a new love to get them off her back about leaving her professional spellcasting life. It would have been easy for Rory’s family to come off as one-dimensional in this story, but instead Tori gave them such delightful and complex depth that I really enjoyed spending time with them.

Morgan and Rory’s fake dating romance is the perfect autumnal read for romance and fantasy readers alike.

I thought this book started out so strong and I was really impressed by the communication between the characters. However, at the halfway mark, the communication that had been so strong sort of went off the rails and I felt like we really could have resolved it a lot easier and then focused more on the plot with Rory's family and spellcasting. It was a fun romp, and I'd recommend it for someone looking for a witchy romance, but I felt a little let down by the communication aspect.

✨ Book Review ✨

Happy pub day to This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin! 🎉 Thanks to {partner} @berkleyromance for the free book #berkleypartner #berkleyig

✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ One Bed

Morgan, a potions which who sees herself as ordinary, offers to fake date her crush Rory in order to provide some cover for her unsupportive family. Fake feelings soon become real for both... or are they? Morgan had been thinking swoony thoughts while at work and got distracted, and fears she may have made Rory a love potion instead of a relaxation one. How can she fake date with real feelings while trying to break Rory's love-by-potion feelings without hurting them both in the process?

This book felt like a mix of Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the Melissa Joan Hart one). I loved the idea of a little witchy tourist trap town where the protagonists live. My favorite parts of the book were the little details - the descriptions of Rory's magical cocktails, the witchy farmer's market where Morgan's family has a presence, etc.

I also appreciated the focus on consent, as a love potion would take choice away from anyone who would have ingested it. It made me think of all the content where love spells and potions are used for comedic effect, like in A Midsummer Night's Dream , or to teach the potion-giver a lesson like "you're good enough to love" or "don't mess with emotions because too much emotion makes people crazy" like in Teen Witch or The Craft.

As for the romance, I liked Morgan and Rory together and enjoyed their courtship. I do enjoy an opposites-attract where both characters have a lot more in common than not. It's lovely when two people understand each other like no other person in their lives.

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕

✨ Read this if you enjoy: ✨
witches / paranormal aspects
fake dating

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and Tori Anne Martin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is a book I wanted to love and it sounded really promising. However, the miscommunication really made this book drag for me. I don’t mind miscommunication and sometimes it works well with the plot, but in this case it was a miss for me. The writing was also rather choppy which made it really hard for me to connect to the characters and the world. I’ll definitely still try another book from this author in the future.

2.5 Stars

Sapphic romance, magical world, and fake dating trope – sign me up.

This book had so much to recommend it. The world itself has so much going for it. A world just like ours but with magic, rules for those who practice it, and witches who do all sorts of magic. From potions for beauty to competitive spell casters, I loved this idea. This book has that slice-of-life quality with a bit of fantasy that you could easily sink into, and I tried. So desperately tried.

This was a slow read for me, mainly because of the main character, Morgan. Chaotic, messy witch that she is, that wasn’t my hang-up. Her inability to stop degrading herself every half page or from blowing situations out of proportion. Maybe this was because Morgan’s character hits a little close to home, and if I’m living in a world of magic realism, I wanted to see Morgan be more than all her constant internalized fear and self-doubt.

The other characters, including love interest Rory, are nice enough, but we only live in Morgan’s head, and everything is a calamity there. I would have loved to get some of this story from Rory’s POV. And TBH, Rory is a Saint for sticking through all the over-dramatic drama. All the conflict is manufactured by the worst-case scenarios the MC comes up with, and for me, that wasn’t enough to sustain a higher rating. Ironically, even this conflict falls into a-simple-conversation-would-have-solved-all-these-problems territory.

One other aspect that was a challenge for me is that over the course of a long weekend Morgan and Rory fall for each other, with Morgan doing her best to stay away from Rory and the interactions being a bit stilted from Morgan’s side of things. It was hard to buy, but I could overlook that if Morgan’s actions had been a bit different.

Overall, if there is a second book, I’m going to check it out because I love the world, but I would say this one had all the buildup without good follow-through. Hoping this is just a fluke for me where I couldn’t fall for the characters and that subsequent characters will grab me a bit more.

For readers who enjoy Lana Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series.

~ Landra

This book was a fun Sapphic Rom-Com!
I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The world building was fantastic.
Characters were fun and full or witty banter. And i loved the fake dating trope.
I loved watching Morgan and Rory develop as characters, friends, and then more.
This had a small town feel with perfectly mastered rom com wittiness.
It was lighthearted but still touched on some pretty important topics(check trigger warnings)

It was the perfect book to get me feeling my spooky witch vibes.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Romance for this ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

An unrequited crush, a coven, a newt festival, a fake dating situation, a love potion…

Wait.

Recently I posted about tropes I’m weird about & one of them is love potion—a plot point in This Spells Disaster.

With that being said author Tori Anne Martin addresses the lack of consent with those in the author’s note & one FMC’s awareness of it prevents her from moving physically forward with the other lead so it worked a-okay for me.

This sapphic witchy romance is ca—ute! (Is that how you spell it if you say it like that?) The book is set in a cozy town in Maine (never been but it makes such a great romance backdrop!), there’s queer rep, that aforementioned consideration of consent & love potions, a fun newt festival (can I go?).

Morgan is a potions-witch at her family shop; Rory is a very well-known witch who abruptly left the spotlight to become a bartender at Morgan’s small town. When Rory’s parents try to pressure Rory to return to the spotlight, she & Morgan begin a fake dating situation that gets complicated by their real feelings & also the love potion Morgan accidentally made that she thinks Rory has ingested.

On one hand I grew a bit frustrated with how lead Morgan was trying to “How to lose a guy in 10 days” Rory because of the accidental love potion she made & gave to Rory, but on the other the conflict kind of made sense given how everything was set up for & about the characters earlier in the book.

Witchy reads are the bomb.com & this is a fun one.

4 ⭐️. Out now!

Please read a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a garden of zinnias. Trees & a yard are on the right side of the image.]

I thought this book was decent. I tend to love fake dating so that was an automatic yea for me. I’ll never say no to a sapphic witchy romance either. The storyline wasn’t anything too special but I was still entertained.

If you’re craving a sapphic witchy read go snag this one now!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC. This rambling review is totally my own.

Things to love—
•PNR/Witchy Romance
•Fake Dating
•Sapphic —both main characters are bisexual so we love the representation

They might be witches, but you’re going to relate to Rory and Morgan. Morgan struggles with self deprecation and feelings of unworthiness that are going to hit a lot of us right in the feels. If you’ve ever felt the mounting pressure of expectations—your own or others, then Rory is going to resonate with you here. I really enjoyed the premise of this, enjoyed their two personalities together, but I did struggle with the amount of miscommunication. I think Martin handled the topics of consent, familial pressure, and emotional trauma well.

This is a fun sapphic, fake dating, witchy story. Morgan is a potion making witch who’s had a crush on Rory for a while. Rory works as a bartender, but she’s also a powerful elemental witch who has competed in, and won, contests. Her parents are annoyed with her bed she’s no longer competing.
The Harvest Festival is coming up and Morgan suggests that she and Rory fake date to distract her parents. Unfortunately, Morgan is convinced she accidentally gave Rory a love potion, so when the fake starts to be real doesn’t believe it.
I liked the characters and the world building but the miscommunication trope didn’t work for me. Morgan spends so much time worrying about the potion and she never asks Rory if she took it. Some of the character’s actions were a little immature. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

This witchy book was just what I needed and came just in time for fall. THIS SPELLS DISASTER was funny, sexy, heartwarming, and just plain fun. I love love love Rory, and the relationship between Rory and Morgan felt real. I'll read anything Tori Anne Martin writes after this one.

Thank you to Tori and Berkley for an advance copy.

This is a single POV novel (Morgan’s) which makes it very one-sided. Morgan herself was so immature and insecure I struggled to believe the HEA she finds with Rory. The issues Martin addresses with autonomy were interesting, but Morgan’s unwillingness to have a simple conversation watered down the overall message. Miscommunication trope overrides fun fake dating trope. The cover is brilliant, but sadly the interior isn’t quite at the same level.

This was a cute Sapphic witchy romance and I can see the reasons for the comparisons in the elevator pitch. I do feel that Morgan was a bit too dramatic at some point but I also acknowledge that a lot of that had to do with her internal issues and anxiety and everything else she was grappling with. I found the ending to be hilarious in how simplistic the confusion was but it was also very believable. The slow burn aspect was nice and it was very low steam although it had to be considering the 'love potion' aspect behind the main storyline. All in all an enjoyable read and I would read more books set in this world and from this author.

This was a fun fake dating, opposites attract Sapphic paranormal romance debut that sees two witches falling in love over the course of a Spellcasting festival as fake feelings turn real with a bit of help from a rogue love potion. Unique, witty and full of heart. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of Lana Harper or Rachel Harrison. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Top marks for a gorgeous purple witchy cover too!!

Read This Book If…you’re looking for a standalone witchy romance to kick off spooky season!

Please note: this was an ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: queer romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: coastal tourist town in Maine
POV: single, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: fake dating, small town, miscommunication

What I Thought: I think this story would make a super cute rom-com for spooky season! I really enjoyed that witches are public with their magic and celebrities in their own right. This book did a great job talking about consent, especially in the context of love potions. I found it to be a little predictable and wished the main characters spent more time together, but overall this was a very enjoyable read!

Memorable Quote: “Rory had bewitched her every bit as much as she had accidentally bewitched Rory.”

Another rom-com featuring magical powers and messy witches! This is perfect for fans of Lana Harper's Thistle Grove series, it has some of the same quirks. This was sweet but the lack of communication between these two irked and frustrated me at times. I did love how it all came together at the end! Maybe I just wish the miscommunication could've been cut in maybe half and we had gotten them to spend more time together afterward.

“This Spells Disaster” by Tori Anne Martin is a wonderful, spellbinding romance, sweet with unexpected twists on the fake dating trope. What fascinated me was the blend of “Practical Romance” with spellcasting competitions and festivals. The way the world is built intrigued me and makes me want to see more of this world and of the magic. Beyond the details, the relationship is set up perfectly, with Morgan already having a crush on Rory. It’s the perfect set up to segue the pair into romance. 

I love the characters. Neither Morgan or Rory are perfect, each has flaws and issues. But in helping each other with those imperfections, in discovering that those flaws are actually what makes each perfect for the other and beautiful, it makes the romance even sweeter. Morgan learns lessons along the way that make her better while Rory embraces the messy. I love how their characteristics work together to make a great story.

If you love sweet, spellbinding romance, this is the romance for you. It is well written, has a lovely LGBTQ romance and the dilemma the pair faces is brought to a resolution that leads to a wonderful happy ever after ending that every romance reader wants to see. With wonderful world building and characters, this story is sweet and beautiful.

Perfect for fans of Lana Harper's Thistle Grove series, This Spells Disaster is a cozy, Sapphic story filled with fake dating, magic moments, lots of secret pining and 2 softies to love. Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for the e-ARC; all thoughts are my own.

Morgan Greenwood is messy, chaotic and has been harboring a huge crush on Rory Sandler for the better part of a year. Rory, former Spell-casting champion, is taking a break from the spotlight (and her family) by working at the local bar serving enchanted drinks to locals and tourists.

After drunkenly offering to be Rory's "fake girlfriend" during the upcoming Witches' festival, Morgan finds herself falling even harder for her secret crush. Told in single POV, readers watch Morgan as she struggles with her growing feelings, a failed potion and Rory's desire for more.

If you read this book, you need to read the author's note. Tori Anne Martin discusses the topic of consent in books with love potions and magic and I found it extremely interesting and eye opening. Despite the inclusion of the love potion trope, consent was handled with the utmost care and concern. Any mind altering magic is also heavily punished in the This Spells Disaster world.

Fun, tender and soft, I adored watching Morgan and Rory fall in love. Rory is a secret softie and Morgan is just a softie and I really loved them together. Morgan stands up for Rory and pushes her to try things out of her comfort zone (like dancing and being assertive). Rory teaches Morgan that she is enough just as she is. I love them.

Fingers crossed for more magical Queer stories from Tori Anne Martin! Also, can we talk about how perfect the cover is because STUNNING!!

Ahhh here we have another comfy & witchy romance read. I'm intrigued to see if Tori Anne Martin will have more books set within this world/witchy community because it is a perfect mix between the mundane world and covens since witches are widely accepted and their services sought after. This book starts off strong with the fake-dating trope....with one party clearly interested in it being real, and I feel the relationship develops rather organically even with the disaster of a love potion at play. The only thing that really hurt my enjoyment of the book is that these is not only miscommunication but basically non-communication about the big important topic of the love potion itself and that made me want to shake our main character the whole way. This ended up impeding how the plot & relationship developed in a bad way. Overall this was a sweet and cozy read and an interesting play on fake dating but I just wanted more from the characters since the setting/atmosphere/magic system were all well thought out.