The description of Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls was SPOT ON- minus the banter! This was a cozy, small town, magical read. I loved the descriptions of the magic and the cooking. What I felt was lacking was depth to the characters. I never really got to know any of them enough to cheer or feel for them.

Ultimately this book was just mediocre for me. It didn't really live up to the comparison of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls and the romance was a bit bland. Not a bad book, just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I have read so far this year. It had me hooked from the first sentence with the charm and wit. The best autumn read ever!

Sadie has always relied on her magic to guide her life, but when the one thing she's always counted on starts to go haywire, she knows something's brewing that will change her path forever... Her grandmother, Gigi, has raised Sadie and her twin brother Seth their whole lives, teaching them how to be a family, how to be good people, and how to use their magic to better the world around them. But change is coming, and Sadie will have to rely on all she's learned in order to save her and her brother from the darkness headed their way. With lots of eccentric yet loving family and friends by her side, Sadie will have to be brave enough to choose her own future while trying to reconcile her past.

Thoughts: I've seen a lot of reviews that relate this story to a combo of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, and while I don't necessarily disagree, I didn't quite get those vibes. Yes, it's a small-town story with lots of charmingly quirky characters, and I really enjoyed the story. I just wouldn't make that comparison. But I would add a dash of Hope Floats for us Sandra Bullock fans, especially with the main theme of the book being self-discovery, forgiveness, and finding love after heartbreak and loss. This is a fall-vibe new-adult-ish coming-of-age that's both whimsical and incredibly poignant. The romance is kind of a slow burn because this is more about Sadie's journey to finding herself and letting go of the past. She's a MC readers can root for, and her brother Seth will charm you, as well. I adored her BFF Raquel and, while past-love-returned Jake is kind and so sweet but with enough baggage that readers can understand Sadie's conflict. There are really no unlikeable characters here, even if I expected a few not-so-altruistic motives. No real bad guy, just plenty of drama from the universe herself, which is more than enough to keep the plot moving right along. Perfect Fall read for fans of magical realism and family dramas with side of love story. And let's not forget all of the food! Recipes galore just add to the whimsy and make for an adorable added touch. The whole ride definitely left me with the warm and fuzzies, like a nice cup of lemon pound cake tea.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

This book was marketed as a mix between Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls. I definitely got the PM vibes- there was a lot of cozy imagery, sweet treats with a dash of magic, and a bunch of cooky aunts. For me- the GG was missing. This book was a lot more serious and sad than I was expecting. Readers should be prepared for themes of grief, self sacrifice, and on-page death of a grandparent.

Conceptually, I loved the book. The execution didn’t quite work for me in some ways. The first 25% or so felt like a cozy witchy fall romance. Then it shifted dramatically. There were a few plot points that I would have liked to see flushed out a bit more (the romance mostly).

I was hoping for a bit more wit and banter. The FMC was in her mid20s but acted very very immature for her age, which made it hard to connect. However, this definitely isn’t a surface level book. There are some really heavy topics - a sort of unaliving attempt - cancer, relationship trauma, etc.

I enjoyed the book and think a lot of readers will too. It was just different than what I was expecting and hoping from a witchy romance.

DNF somewhere around a third of the way through, I think. Maybe 40%?

I really really wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into it. I was confused by where it was supposed to be set (it felt like maybe the South but then had some weird moments & references that made me think Britain), and I had a hard time relating to the main character. She just felt really immature. Maybe if I had made myself finish the book, I would have discovered she'd gone through tremendous growth?

Normally this type of story would have me staying up late to finish, or getting really grumpy any time I had to put it down, but in this case I just was totally unmotivated to keep reading. The story felt unfocused, the characterizations uneven, and the writing sometimes repetitive. Also, I don't see how anyone could really keep that many secrets in a tiny town. I realize other readers have connected to this book, and that's great. But for me it was just...not a group of people I really wanted to hang out with, unfortunately.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw this recommended for Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls fans I knew I had to add it to my fall TBR, and after reading I think that’s a very good comparison.

The main character is Sadie who runs a cafe bakery with grandmother Gigi who raised her and her twin brother, baking magical treats. The entire family has different magical gifts, but they each come with their own cost.
The story opens with a series of signs and it all starts pointing towards some of those coming due.

The heartbreak in this book is no joke, the parts that hit just right meant there was *so* much crying. I was a bit of an emotional mess by the end, but I loved it. Ending on the right hopeful note was so necessary, and I think the author nailed it.

There were many recipes scattered between the chapters, all tying to the story, a couple of which I really want to try.

My only complaint - and it’s an incredibly superficial one - the grandmother calls *everyone* the same strange nickname. And often. Shouldn’t have been a big deal but it felt really weird to me?

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC

Quick and Dirty⁣
-contemporary witchy fiction⁣
-focused on family and relationships⁣
-grief/loss themes⁣
-second chance romance subplot⁣
-witchy level: 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛/5⁣
⁣
Thoughts⁣
This book has so much potential, but I'll start with what I didn't enjoy. Like with most cozy reads, the author spends A LOT of time and energy conveying sensory experiences: "smells like," "tastes like," "feels like," etc. And, in this case, the author goes a little overboard describing every single detail in an effort to evoke emotion and connection with the reader. While that may work for some, to me it feels forced. Now for what I LOVED about this book! The cast of characters in this book is so charming and by far the best part of the book. With tons of family, friends, neighbors, and extended family, the author creates a community that you instantly feel part of, helping to create a cozy Hallmark vibe that works for Fall reads. I especially loved the flawed MC; we watch her grow and change throughout the book, which I always appreciate. The author effectively conveys the MC's anxiety and grief throughout the book, making her feel relatable and human. The closed-door romance is the PERFECT addition to the novel, not distracting from the plot in any way. Finally, I absolutely loved all the magic in the book and all the baking. There are spells, charms, earth magic, and so much more! And the ending is the cherry on top! I can't wait to see what she writes next, and hopefully, it will be slightly less flowery and overly descriptive.

Being pitched as Practical Magic x Gilmore Girls probably sent me into this one with expectations too high. While I can see the reason for the comparison - small town witchy vibes - it didn’t deliver on the overall promise for me and was ultimately a DNF for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

A book with great potential that ended up being just okay
I might have had too high expectations but the story was just... there. At times it was overshadowed by an excessive writing style that over indulged in one too many description.

This book had all the aspects of being amazing, but I think the storytelling fell a bit flat. The use of descriptions at times made it difficult to look past what the author was describing and what the story was trying to tell. The writing felt too repetitive past 40% of the book which made it difficult to enjoy this story. As a big fan of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, I wanted to LOVE this book, but ultimately it fell flat.

This book was just okay. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. The concept sounded so good and I loved the recipes included at the end of each chapter but overall the story just fell flat.

I thought the pacing was really wonky and I also felt like the characters were a bit flat. It was an okay cozy fall read but I probably won’t read it again.

Sadie Revelare was raised with magic in her life and in her family. Her grandmother raised her and her twin. Sadie learned that she was cursed to lose this magic after four heartbreaks. It is her grandmother's cancer that sparks her downward spiral. The plot thickens as her first love, Jake McNealy, and her estranged twin Seth both return to town... leaving Sadie teetering on the brink of her final heartbreak.

Why I started this book: Loving the crop of witchy romances, so when this title popped up on Netgalley, I requested it.

Why I finished it: Marketing wasn't quiet right with this book. Not funny enough for the Gilmore Girls comparisons... More chic lit, with magical realism than witchy romance. Randall has a sense for beautiful phrases and observations of human nature and quirks. Fun but also drew me out of the story... as if there were too many strewn throughout the text bogging down the story with their sparkling and sometimes artificially insightful wisdom.

I have so many wonderful thoughts about this book, so lets jump right in.
It has been marketed as Practical magic meets Gilmore girls, That right there sold me.
It most definitely rang true to its hype!
Gilmore girls is my comfort show and this book felt like having a little piece of that comfort in my hand.
It is a great addition to my spooky season comfort reads.

After reading it i could not believe that this is the authors DEBUT NOVEL!
The book is well written and such a heartwarming book.
Its not just a romance novel is it beyond that with friendship and family being a HUGE part of the story.
The world building was done beautifully and the characters had real depth and emotion about them.
The food in me was also so excited to see all the recipes within the pages!(I've definitely bookmarked quite a few of them)
.I so so so hope there will be a sequel!

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for the E-Arc of this title.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing the ARC.

As someone who is obsessed with Practical Magic, I was very excited to read this book. And I feel like it really captures the essence of what makes that book/movie so beloved. I loved the close knit family vibe. I loved the weird fits and starts to Sadie's magic when her emotions got high. I love how Sadie was able to instill a little bit of magic in every aspect of her life.

I didn't, however, enjoy the trajectory of the story. The ending had me feeling very meh because while I understand why the author took it in the the direction she did, it felt very bittersweet and not quite the hopeful moment she might have been trying to achieve. The romance aspect felt both too convoluted and messy while also being resolved too simply. I wanted a bit more development overall for it to be a great book for me.

That being said - I enjoyed it. I cried a bit at the end. And I think people who enjoy witchy things will.probably end up loving this book.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a stronger debut novel. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic truly spoke to my 90s girl soul. It gives Gilmore Girls vibes mixed with 1999s Simply Irresistible and every character fits into this little book puzzle so so perfectly. Grandma Gigi is the best. The way she and Sadie bake magic into their food, their family dynamic, the small town vibes, I just wanted to be there for it all. This is the perfect feel-good comfort RomCom and I am hoping will all my fingers and toes crossed that Breanne Randall gives us a sequel. I need more. Upon finishing this ARC I immediately went and pre-ordered a copy to have on release day. Thank you to the author and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A perfect book for the Halloween season! This book is a heartwarming family story with a side of romance (as well as big magical family). You’ll run through all the emotions as you read this story!

Alright so I went into this thinking it was a spooky romance, and while it has some, the main focus is the witchy magic and Sadie's family. So if you’re looking for a book with mostly romance then I wouldn’t pick this one up. If you want a heartwarming tale about friendship and family, with a little romcom mixed in, then definitely grab this one!

Overall, this was an easy autumnal read and I finished in one sitting. Definitely recommend to anyone who likes no smut.

What a great book to read in the fall! It’s super cozy, has witches, takes place in a small town, and involves second chance romance! What’s not to love?! It is compared to Practical Magic, which I can’t really comment on since I’ve never watched it, but it seems that many reviewers agree with this comparison!

I absolutely adored this story. I loved all of the characters and their relationships with each other. There is a big magical family, that you will absolutely fall in love with.

The romance did not seem to be a super prominent theme in the story for me. I would say it focuses more on family and the magic aspects with a side story of romance. I wish it brought the romance to the forefront just a tiny bit more.

The magic system was so interesting to me! I loved that they were able to make food with certain ingredients that manipulated emotions and behaviours! However, I do wish there was more world building and background information on the magic and founding families of the town!

The writing in the book was so descriptive. I loved all of the descriptions of the setting and of course the food. It had my stomach growling lol. There were also recipes at the end of each chapter which I think was a nice touch!

Overall, the perfect cozy read for fall time!

This gives me all of the cozy autumn vibes wish is perfect right now! I can absolutely see why it’s for fans of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic!

“Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel.”

This had everything, yummy food, magic, coziness and a little bit of heartbreak. I thought all of the characters were amazing, I really enjoyed seeing the growth between Sadie and her twin brother Seth.
I loved all of the recipes that were sprinkled though this book too and will definitely be trying out some of them!
I absolutely recommend you get a nice mug of something warm and a sweet treat to read this one

Thanks @netgalley & @alcovepress for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review