It was okay. I loved the magic, but it dragged in parts and the ending was lackluster. Nothing in it gave me Gilmore Girls vibes.

Sadie runs the cafe of a small town. She have power et knows her magic comes with a curse and she will eventually lost her magic. The curse is about four heartbreak.
Her biggest heartbreak comes back to her town, and she is scared to love, she is scared to be heartbroken a gain.
I loved the beginning of the story with fall vibes and the coffee shop and the people of the town. But near 30% I started struggling with my reading. The chapters are really too long for me and the story was slow and repetitive. I really wanted to love it but I guess this book was just not for me. I’m sure a lot of people is gonna love it for me !

The premise has a lot of promise, I loved the idea of magic being woven into Sadie's recipes, but it felt like jumping into a story in the middle rather than starting at the beginning. The pacing felt off and the explanations around characters' backstories and motivations were lacking.

I love a cosy witchy romance, and this book did not disappoint! Set in a small town with plenty of fun side characters, it was a quick and warm read for an autumn day. Definitely one I'd pick up again!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Has anybody else been completely hooked in by @houseofrandall’s marketing for The Unfortunate Side Effects Of Heartbreak And Magic???? Because I completely was and ran to @netgalley for early access. I was incredibly lucky to get this one early and it did not disappoint! #gifted ☕️

The concept, execution and scene setting of this novel was absolutely perfect. I adored the cosy cottage core witch vibes throughout and I couldn’t get enough of Gigi and Sadie from the beginning!!! When the secrets and magic began to unravel, this novel stepped up a notch for me. The romantic elements entered the chat and I was completely obsessed!!! 😮‍💨 🥹

For all it’s cottage core vibes, this book covers a lot of intense and emotional themes, including death, grief for relationships and mental health issues. The amount of depth in this novel allowed me to connect with the characters, root for their journeys and enjoy their surroundings. @houseofrandall is a master of scene setting and the recipes interspersed with the novel enhanced this even further! I just loved this read so much. 💛

Quick and cozy read! Kept me hooked until the end. It had a little bit of Practical Magic vibes, which I love. This was the perfect book to read to ease my way into Autumn (witchy) season. :)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

A good cozy read, perfect for the coming fall weather. Grab a warm beverage, your favorite baked good, and curl up under the covers to enjoy this witchy read. Set in a charming small town with a cast of clever characters, there is certainly no shortage of heart.

I overall enjoyed the book, but did find the writing to be a little overly descriptive. My brain eventually navigated directly to dialog to avoid unnecessary “filler.” A bit predictable, and a confusing mashup of genres. There was a lot going on, but also not enough time spent in one lane. With that being said, it was a feel-good read with a touch of fantasy, a dash of romance, and an air of mystery.

Synopsis promised a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, and while I can maybe see glimpses of that vibe, it just didn’t quite meet that expectation for me. If I hadn’t been promised that, I wouldn’t have come to that comparison naturally outside of “magic in a small town.”

The recipes with each chapter added a sweet (pun intended) touch, and reading the authors note that the book was a tribute to her late grandmother was very heartwarming, especially given the love of family felt in her writing.

Pick this up if you’re into magic and superstitions, small-town vibes, botanical cooking/baking, and a strong family unit. A good Hallmark-style book with a witchy twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.

Sadie is dealing with a lot - her beloved grandmother is dying, her first heartbreak has returned to town, her estranged brother shows up unannounced, and she is struggling to keep control of her magic.

This was very reminiscent of Alice Hoffman's books for me. The writing style there is not my favorite, but I think fans of those books will enjoy this one. I was pleasantly surprised to find there are recipes sprinkled throughout! There is a wide variety from food to a healing salve to hot drinks (like tea and coffee). I can't wait to try some of these out!

I wanted to love this book so much! Gilmore Girls + witchy vibes sounded right up my alley. The sweet GG charm factor didn’t really come through for me though, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

Synopsis: This story revolves around a sister and brother (twins) with magical powers who have been cursed. Along with family they come together to find a solution.
Pros and cons: I loved the idea of this story, in theory. My biggest issue was the pacing. The chapters were extremely long and there wasn’t a lot of action so the story was very slow.
There was also a romance woven in to the storyline, and I honestly didn’t think it was necessary because the main story centered around family.
One thing I did enjoy was that the female lead was a baker, so at the end of each chapter there was a recipe. Very cute!
Overall I wanted more magic, more witchy-ness and holiday vibes. While certainly not bad, it just missed the mark for me, but see what you think when it’s released September 19! Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for this advanced copy.

Okay, I’m a sucker for magical reality. But Sadie and Gigi just captured me in Breanne Randall’s novel with the charming and intriguing title. Sadie comes from a magical family. They don’t consider themselves witches in the organized coven sort of way. But each comes into her or his magic at a particular age, and with it learns what the curse is that comes with the magic. Sadie’s curse is that she will have her heart broken four times.

After having her heart broken once by handsome Jake, Sadie determines that she will never allow love in her life again. She would rather keep her magic. But handsome Jake is back town and has joined the local fire department. And to make it worse, it seems he is sorry and wants her back. To add insult to injury, she’s just learned that her crotchety but beloved grandmother Gigi has cancer. And Sadie’s not ready to let Gigi go, even if Gigi is ready to go.

Sadie’s second curse (there are four predicted) is that her twin brother left town a year ago without telling her and hasn’t answered her letters or calls. Now Seth is back too. And pretty soon Gigi’s daughters (all except Sadie’s mother, who has disappeared) start showing up. And, yes, you guessed it, Sadie’s mother eventually shows up.

There a complex backstory about why Sadie and Seth’s mother left, and there is a lot at stake upon her return—-life and death quite literally. There’s enough tension in this novel to keep it moving but there’s enough magic to make it fun. I hope Breanne Randall has more up her sleeve. I’ll be waiting for her next novel.

I love books with a small-town feel where good friends and neighbors are abundant. The romance and magical realism, along with the family drama, really make this book an enjoyable read. Thanks to author Breanne Randall, Alcove Press, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Such a fun, whimsical, witchy story for fans of atmospheric-readers, especially those who love any fall reads, halloweenish, witchy, spooky, and romantic comedies. Highly recommend!

3.5 ⭐️

This book gave me cozy fantasy vibes and it gives me such fall vibes! As usual, there are TW so please search before proceeding! This is the type of book that has some drama and fantasy cozy vibes smashed into one and you probably need to order a strong coffee drink. The magic system was cool in terms of how the foods and stuff can control your behaviors/emotions. The writing itself is easy to get into and if you like Magic that has cozy vibes then you should read this!

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press , for this e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Magic and Heartbreak
Thank you to NetGalley and for the eARC! Much like many others, I was drawn to this novel by the author’s tiktok marketing description of “Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic”.

The story is very interesting and the vibes are INCREDIBLE. If you’re looking for all vibes no plot look no further. Truly though, the plot is there and it’s intriguing, my main issues were the lack of development and how heavily this book relied on its similarities to the aforementioned pop culture staples to help the reader fill in the blanks. At it’s a heart it’s a beautiful story about family, sacrifice and grief. I think this would be an excellent mini series and certainly is a perfect Autumn read, but it could have been much improved in terms of plotting, development, and pacing. The recipes were fun additions and sounded so good!

3.5 stars!

I was captured by the description of this book, and it lives up to its description! We are dropped into Sadie’s daily life, just as everything is being turned on end. From old flames, to estranged family, Sadie’s experiences are relatable, sometimes frustrating, and heartwarming. I read this at a fortuitous time, and some of the messages were needed in ways I hadn’t realized until reading them in someone else’s words. 4/5

The only thing I knew of this book before reading it is that it had Perfect Magic vibes and was immediately sold with that statement. I have to say now after reading it is very much on point despite the story being different. The story carries that family togetherness but dysfunctional element, along with the darkness that magic can bring in spite of the beautiful gift it is.
Story gave me cozy vibes. Perfect read for the Fall. I found the beginning to be a little slow, but It quickly caught up and the rest was just pure magic.
The recipes between chapters was *chefs kiss* amazing! Gonna need to try 3 or 5 of those.

As the daylight gets shorter and mornings are cooler, I start craving "Witchy" books. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic was billed as the perfect blend of "Gilmore Girls" and "Practical Magic". For me it was a little more "Hallmark movie" and Practical magic, but it was a great read for someone craving fall vibes. Sadie Revelane comes from a long line of witches, and lives with her "Gigi" (grandmother) in a small town where Sadie bakes magical treats for their cafe, "A Peach in Thyme". One morning going to work, Sadie feels the winds of change, and knows that something wicked is brewing. Her first boyfriend, Jake, is back in town - and Sadie is determined to keep her heart off limits, although she sparks at the sight of him. When her grandmother announces that she has stage 4 cancer, Sadie feels like her world is tumbling down. Set in a cute, quirky, and magical town, Sadie learns about sacrifice, love and family. There are a lot of Revelane family secrets, and Sadie and her twin Seth will be the key to the family's ability to thrive. Forgiveness is a theme that runs through the book, and the belief in one's dreams. Oh - and recipes are included with every chapter! Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

I picked up this book hoping it would be a cozy fall read. I loved the aspect of magic and the baking in this story however I felt like the actual storyline wasn’t as intriguing as I hoped it would be.

I did feel like it had a cozy fall vibe to it so if you’re looking for a quick read with magic this is a good choice. It did give off some Practical Magic vibes which I loved. I also loved the detail of the recipes after each chapter.

The pacing felt a little off to me and I was a little bored at times. I have been reading a lot of fantasy lately so that may have contributed since this isn’t a full on fantasy book. Overall, it was cozy, just not exactly what I thought it would be.

I was really intrigued by the magic system in this one, Sadie and her big family all have different kinds of magic that give them different abilities. Sadie has the ability to infuse feelings into her bakes which obviously gave me the urge to eat and bake constantly throughout the book. Not only that, but every chapter ended with a delicious sounding recipe. Honestly, just thinking about it makes me crave all the sweet treats!

It was a little hard to get into at first as the writing is super descriptive and I found I had to concentrate more. But overall, it’s a sweet cosy read that deals with some real world feelings. It’s got all the cosy autumn vibes, the family feelings and magical cures similar to Practical Magic and all the yummy recipes you could wish for!