This was a cute and cozy witchy romance! A perfect read for fall when the leaves start to change. The romance was adorable!!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. It grabbed my interest because it was marketed as “for fans of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic” but aside from being in a small town and there being a love curse, I wouldn’t think this book related to those show/book at all.
The writing was really chaotic. I found it inconsistent and it felt like the author was struggling to choose a central theme. I gave it a good effort but in the end I couldn’t waste anymore time on it and didn’t finish it.

This was an odd reading experience. It seemed like the book was almost trying to do too many things at once, covering all sorts of genres at the same time (family drama, cozy romance, small town story, mystery novel). This being the case, none of these were given the full attention that was necessary to make it shine. The writing was also overly flowery and length at times, using ten words where only one was needed. I also really didn't enjoy the romance.

I will say, I've seen several reviewers criticize the book's approach to witches and Christianity. I think these criticisms are a bit short-sited (also perhaps a bit forgetful of recent history when I think everyone would agree that it would be altogether better if Christians were a bit less concerned about witchcraft!). Instead, this take of mixing the existence of magic with faith makes sense to me. Usually, our understanding of witches does not involve a religious component. People are 'witches" simply because they can do magic. It's a talent or skill. A character's faith, however, is completely detached from these sorts of skills. It's like saying that someone who is a talented soccer star, can't have faith? There's no inherent conflict here, unless the reviewers are somehow agreeing that Christianity SHOULD hate magic?? Isn't this the right direction and one that should be praised? (I'm Lutheran myself, so no, it's not that "real Christians" would never be on board with this book's themes or whatever). That said, I do think the emphasis on not calling themselves witches left a fairly sizable question mark on the entire theme. What do they mean by "witches" if not magic users like themselves? I think there could have been some interesting conversations here, but as it stands, the book feels like it took this halfway, but didn't fully round out the topic.

3.75 stars/5, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book, but it was not without fault. For a fantasy novel, I was surprised to find that much of the book centred around Christianity and faith in God. I was disappointed.

This story follows our main character Sadie as she tries to navigate her life around the curse of four major heartbreaks that came with her magic. She has always stood by her belief that her magic was worth the price, until her third heartbreak, her grandmother's cancer diagnosis comes as a major shock. As this is revealed, she finds out her first heartbreak Jake has returned to town.
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The storyline was cohesive and enjoyable but the resolution felt incredibly rushed. We are given a time frame to find a solution to the book's main conflict, and in my opinion, it felt a bit forced. The romance between Sadie and Jake was also marginally unrealistic. I didn't enjoy their storyline, but I enjoyed their friendship funnily enough. I felt they would've been better off as friends.

The sense of community and family is very heartwarming. The feeling is throughout the book and feels like the glue holding the story together. The family was my favourite part of the story, the relationships were very well written and the development felt natural. Raquel her best friend was one of my favourite characters other than the grandmother, her wit and kindness made her a great addition.

All in all, the book was okay but I have heard the recipes were plagiarised. I am very disappointed. 2 stars.

Good feel good magic, small town, fallish vibes book. I loved the realistic nature of the characters and the big family aspect. Also, the recipes sounded delicious.

This feels like it could have stewed some more and had a couple good rounds of edits. There's lots of first novel markers, lots of telling and a bit of confusion about what's going on in the plot

The writer nails the cozy fall vibes through the small-town setting and beautiful descriptions of food, but unfortunately the book doesn't really know what it wants to be: romance, family drama, witchy mystery? There are also some very jarring tonal shifts and casual mentions of very heavy topics.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic was highly marketed on TikTok. It was described as being a crossover of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic-- but I didn't necessarily get those vibes. There's a lot going on in this book-- which might have been too ambitious for a debut.

I'm mystified by the syncretism of witchcraft and Christianity. These things don't usually go together, but here we are.

"Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls" is the ultimate tagline for me. I would buy any book that promised this. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite fulfill that promise.

I loved the magic aspect of the story, even as it got a little bit confusing with all of the animals and spirits. But I didn't quite see the Gilmore Girls quirk and fun in it. I felt like it took itself a little too seriously to be truly affecting.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but there was definitely some whiplash that happened for me. There were random animals showing up and a spirit who was supposed to be awful who ended up being the grandfather who was mentioned very little. I liked the relationship between the twins and between Jake and Sadie. I guessed that Bethany was faking the pregnancy. There was just a lot of whiplash and random things thrown in that I wasn't understanding.

This was a good read to start off spooky season. It had a little romance, some magic, and plenty of curses. It showed how leaning on our family during tough times is necessary and what is meant to be will be. I also thought the addition of the recipes at the end of chapters was a nice touch. This was a good choice for audio because I would never have made it through the VERY long chapters.

This romantic comedy is a joy to read! With quirky characters and a fun plot, it’s filled with laugh-out-loud moments and tender scenes. The relationship develops in a believable way, and the ending leaves you with a smile. Perfect for anyone looking for a light, uplifting read!

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic was one of the books I was most excited about in 2023. I pre-ordered it along with several members of my book club before being approved for the ARC.

This book had several lovely and heartwarming moments. I enjoyed the small-town feel and Sadie's relationship with her grandmother. I also loved the magic woven through Sadie's family and the premise of a heartbreak curse. I did overall enjoy the book; however it was heavily marketed as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls, which I don't think it quite met. I could see the underlying tones of Practical Magic; however, I don't feel like the charm and quirky dynamic of Gilmore Girls came through as much as expected, especially with that small-town charm vibe the book does have.

While I think this book did lack some of the charms it was fully capable of holding, I would suggest this book for cozy, witch/magic vibes with a touch of romance and family drama.

"For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls" is what drew me in however I don't think that really held up. While the premise was intriguing, the book left me a bit disappointed. It felt like the story was trying to juggle too many elements at once, almost like several stories rolled into one, and unfortunately, none of them felt fully fleshed out. The writing was a bit clunky. It had potential, but it just didn’t quite come together for me. DNF.

This was a mixed experience for me. On one hand, the premise- a witch dealing with the heartbreak curse tied to her magic- felt unique and had echoes of Practical Magic that I really wanted to love. But at times, the story felt a bit slow and droll, which made it hard to stay fully engaged.

That said, there were definitely heartwarming moments that stood out. Sadie’s relationships, especially with her grandmother and the returning Jake, added a touching layer to the story. The family dynamics were rich with secrets, and the magic woven throughout the narrative provided that whimsical touch that made it more enjoyable.

While it wasn’t a standout for me overall, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic still has its charms, particularly if you enjoy a blend of magic, family drama, and romance. It’s one of those reads that wraps you in a cozy, witchy vibe—even if it didn’t fully cast its spell on me I still found it enjoyable.

“But there’s a difference between being happy and being fulfilled. Happiness you feel in your skin. Fulfillment you feel in your bones.” 🙌🏻

“You don’t need a partner to complete you. But it sure as hell is nice to have someone to lean on.” 💞🙏🏻

“And then Sadie felt the pull as they neared Poppy Meadows Bookstore. She heard pages fluttering, calling to her. It was a siren song, one she usually couldn’t resist.” Umm YEP 📚

A book that is sprinkled with yummy recipes for sweet goodies?! Yes! Yes please. It is mid August now so I am ready for witchy reads and this one did not disappoint. There is magic, sure. But it is mostly about family, forgiveness, letting go, and letting people in. So heartfelt and a perfect way to enter the ‘ber months!

Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

*The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic* by Breanne Randall is a captivating blend of romance and fantasy. The novel explores the intersection of magical mishaps and emotional healing, following a protagonist whose love life is as unpredictable as her magical abilities. Randall’s writing is both enchanting and poignant, making for a delightful read that balances humor and heart. While some plot elements may feel familiar, the engaging characters and imaginative setting make it a standout in its genre.

when i was approved this book i was in awe!!
i can't believe i read it in one setting.
it was super good , the writing is amazing.
can't wait to read more by the author

The Unfortunate side effects of Heartbreak and Magic is marketed as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic. I was so excited to receive this arc but I was sadly very disappointed.

I don't like leaving bad reviews, but the story just did not make sense. The curse was overly explained but not explained enough. Why did everyone in the town know about the curse but not the love interest? Yes, he left the town for a few years, but that doesn't mean he was a complete stranger.

This book was like ordering Dennys at 2 am...it sounded like a good idea at the time, but it wasn't.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Writing Style: The writing style did not resonate with me.
Unsatisfactory Opening: The opening chapters did not provide a compelling hook to draw me in.
Lack of Relevant Content: The book did not meet my expectations based on the synopsis or genre.
Personal Preferences: The book did not align with my personal interests or tastes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 56%