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

Thanks to @alcovepress for letting me read this book in advance through @netgalley. I read this willingly and this is my honest review.

This book broke me, it was so emotional and beautiful at the same time. I cried, laughed and smiled. I felt so much while reading it.

" She wondered if that was what love was. The subtle easing in her chest. The lending of strength when you needed it most".

This book is about so many things. It's about family, love, grief, friendship and forgiveness.

It's about a magical family living in the real world with their real relationship problems. It's about how your family can help you cross every hardship. It's about showing your love with actions and taking risks.

With her recipes, Sadie helps people. She uses the magic of nature, plants and their significations and creates amazing food.
I love each recipe in the book with all their significations in each chapter. I can't wait to cook them.

There is also a second chance romance. I love reading it but it comes second in the story. What resonates more for me was the family values and how someone can impact life so much even after death. Love conquers all.

The grandma is funny, strong and wants to keep everyone safe. She made me laugh out loud so many times. She was my favorite character in the book.

" A legacy without love ain't worth a damn, sugar ".

I recommend this whimsical, magical story for everyone this fall. If you love witches, second chance romance, eccentric family and small town, you're gonna love this one ❤️.

3.5/5 stars

I can agree with this being described as having Practical Magic vibes. It's definitely a sweet and cozy read for the most part.
FMC Sadie avoids getting too close to people for fear of having her heart broken, which was foretold by a magical curse that exists in her family. Each family member has a magical ability and Sadie's is that she imbues power into food she cooks based on the ingredients used. You feel sad, have a muffin made with certain ingredients that will make you happy, for example. I loved that! The recipes added at the end of each chapter were a great touch as well.

Some aspects that I didn't enjoy:
It was easy to forget Sadie was a woman in her thirties and not a teenager due to the way she sometimes acted and this threw me off while reading.
This was primarily a book about family dynamics but I would've liked some more focus on her relationship with Jake (her love interest) in order to make the eventual small plot twist between them a bit more believable. The miscommunication trope was used heavily and it wasn't believable to me.
The book started off slow but picked up pace in the last half and things got a little grittier than I expected due to the breezy feel of the book up to that point. I enjoyed this shift because it got me more connected to the characters than I'd previously been.

Overall, this was still an enjoyable read and I liked the:

✅ Small-town charm
✅ Endearing characters
✅ Magical happenings
✅ Family Bonding & Drama
✅ Diverse characters
✅ Mental health rep

If you like books with cozy, witchy, and overall lighter vibes, this may be a good one to pick up.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was the perfect book to get me into the mood of fall. I love the Practical Magic vibes. I especially love how cooking, baking and gardening was how Sadie's magic manifested. I wish my cooking and baking could do that. This book does an excellent job addressing how grief and fear can hold us back and prevent us from experiencing life to the fullest. When you are too scared to lose something, you cease enjoying it.
I wish the recipes were compiled at the end of the book rather than at the end of each chapter. The formatting of the eBook ARC was already slightly noncohesive and the recipes made reading each chapter a little distracting. It's also hard to go and flip through them after completing the book due to this formatting.
Other than the formatting issues, I really enjoyed this book.

This book was a slow burn. I didn't dislike the character's but the story really dragged on. I just didn't get drawn in like I was hoping that I would. Overall, the book is not bad. I think it is an interesting concept that everyone in the family is cursed upon birth. Having a curse that consists of four heartbreaks and you will lose your magic I thought was also interesting. I understand why Sadie is so blocked off to others, yet Her trying to take care of everyone without falling in love was kind of sad. I was glad she found a way to use her magic to help other people in the town. Jake's character was okay. I enjoyed him but maybe not as much as some other love interests. I think that his storyline was tragic as well in its own right. This book really wasn't a pick me up romance that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Thank you to Alcove Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.