I would thank NetGalley for the eARC they gave me in exchange for my honest review, but in reality I wish they hadn't inflicted this upon me.

First and foremost, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic had absolutely no idea what it wanted to be. A small town fantasy? A small town romance? A novel about family relationships? A coming of age novel? A mystery? Bits and pieces of all of these different books are scattered throughout but the lack of an actual cohesive story is incredibly frustrating.

Out of all of these disparate book parts, by far the worst was the horrible excuse for a "romance," which might take the cake for the worst one I have ever read (that was not intentionally written to be bad). If you, like me, got about a third of the way through the book and thought to yourself "huh, this romance is making me feel a bit morally squicky," just you wait! It gets A Lot worse.

Not content to include parts of a million different books, this book was also horrendously overwritten. From descriptions of settings to appearances, it was just Way Too Much.

The recipes at the end of each chapter were cute, I guess, but not enough to redeem a book where (beyond all of the other stuff I've mentioned) the WITCHES are Christian?? I can excuse a lot of things in the name of fun, cute, fantasy, but a book where the ritual forming and spell casting witches are church going Methodists is too much.

I requested an ARC of this book because a combination of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls sounded like a blast! But this book was neither a combination of those nor a blast. Please don't inflict this on yourself. 1/5.

This is definitely giving Good Witch vibes. All the magic and small town feel, this was a fantastic witchy read. I quickly fell for Sadie and her journey pulled me along through this read. I love the constant presence of food and the recipes shared between chapters. I would love more from this family!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC! The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic offers the perfect blend of family relationship story and rekindled romance. Sadie Revelare believes her magic is attached to a curse of four heartbreaks (major emotional hurts). She believes she has weathered two of them, but that if she keeps love (in the romantic sense) out of her life, she may be able to weather or avoid the final two. That, of course, is when Jake McNealy, her first love and first heartbreak, re-enters her life. With her magic going haywire, and her grandmother (and Revelare family matriarch) revealing a cancer diagnosis, Sadie feels like everything is going wrong and that she (or her magic) won't survive the coming turmoil. With family secrets needing to be revealed, relationships needing to be mended, and a solution to the family "curse" needing to be discovered, this book packs a serious emotional punch. The romance, that is a key component throughout, just adds to the story. A fulfilling read that is as delicious as the recipes scattered throughout. This is perfect for fans of Practical Magic and Sarah Addison Allen.

This book swept me away from the very beginning. This heartwarming story of family, the power of our choices, and moments that call us to make sacrifices that will change the course of our lives, is one well worth readers’ time.

I just LOVED this book! Charming and gentle, the writer evokes such a strong sense of home and family with their incredible descriptions of the aromas and properties of food and cooking.
Our protagonist Sadie is connected to the earth and to her own form of magic. The whole family has their own form to carry and their own curse - to balance. Sadie’s curse is 4 heartbreaks and with her Gigi being diagnosed with cancer she knows a third is on the way.
I loved the coziness of this book. There’s no other word for it and I have described it to others as like a ‘hallmark Christmas’ witch story. It’s got nothing to do with Christmas of course but I get the same sense of peace and contentment when reading it as I do when settling down around December time.
I loved the way the author interjected with recipes throughout and will definitely be trying them!
Five stars.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

This was an enjoyable read about a Practical Magic-esque family and town. It's fairly light and fluffy, despite hints at a darker tone that I would have liked the author to explore more closely.

I loved the idea of each family member getting a unique form of magic and an equally unique curse. I could have used more backstory on some of the extended family members. If there is an eventual prequel, I would like to read it! I also really enjoyed the unique townspeople, especially Lavender and Lace.

The prose is a little purple (you will learn what food EVERYTHING can be compared to) but it's so charming it doesn't matter too much. I also enjoyed the romance. That being said, keeping someone's dog is not cute lol.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I really wanted to love this book, but the plot lacked substance. I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere of the book. I just felt like every time I thought the plot would move forward we were just introduced to another character. We met a wide array of characters, but they didn't do anything. The romance subplot was barely there and it entirely relied on the reader believing that the characters were in love in the past. Overall, this book is an amazing concept, but it missed the mark for me.

I really wanted to love this book, but it drags so much. I DNF it about 60% of the way through. It doesnt have any of the quirky and comedic timing of Gilmore girls. It does hit some dark points like practial magic. I may not have been in the right head space for this book, so maybe one day i will repick it up and try again. I did enjoy the recipes through out

I wanted to love this book. But I just couldn't. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a very tedious book to read especially in the first 30%, when it is the perfect time to try and hook the reader in. The MC is annoying and takes herself too seriously and while the town is charming enough, ad the food descriptions droolworthy, the male MC is intolerable. I just couldn't grow to care for anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It helped me out of my reading rut. Set in the fall of a small town, you meet Sadie and her family. Each member of her family has magic but also a curse that accompanies it. Sadie’s magic really spoke to me- it is infusing baked goods with the magical properties of the ingredients. I loved reading about what each ingredient brought to her bakes and at the end of each chapter there were recipes which I can’t wait to bake! Sadie has a dynamic story with a lot of nuanced relationships- with her family, friends, and old love interests. I definitely think the practical magic meets Gilmore girls description is correct!

4.5🌟

If you’re looking for a cozy, magic filled story about love, loss and family then this is the one for you.

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure to read from Breanne Randall and it has been such a pleasure. I’m so glad I found this one. I loved everything about this book from start to finish.

I loved the small town setting, I find it so snug and heartwarming. The idea of knowing everyone in your town and loving them for their individual qualities and quirkiness.

I really liked all the characters in this book, I found Sadie to be such a relatable character. Always doing things for others and doing things to make others happy. I felt so heartbroken for her throughout most of this book. She went through the most and came out fighting. I loved that she managed to get back all the things she once loved. The second chance romance is a trope that can be either really good or really bad but this was done so well. I loved Jake, he was so patient and kind and he really did love Sadie. I was devastated when he finally told Sadie the truth. I’m so glad that in the end it all worked out. The only reason why this story didn’t get 5 stars was because I would’ve liked a bit more Sadie and Luke but I understand that romance was the main plot line of this story and because even without the romance, this story would still be great.

I also loved the addition of the recipes at the end of the chapters. At first I thought it was random but you soon realise that they are grandma Gigi’s and I thought this was very clever.

I want to thank @Netgalley, @houseofrandall and @Alcovepress for this ARC. Make sure to add this to your TBR’s ready for the spooky season. The Unfortunate Side Effects Of Heartbreak And Magic releases on the 19th September.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic had me instantly enthralled. I love a little witchy magic, and found the story of Sadie trying to balance her magic with the curse it brought to her to be the perfect cozy comfort read. Full of slow-burn romance, delicious recipes, and engaging characters, I want to move right into the small town where Sadie lives and enjoy all of the magic it has to offer!

4.5 stars. I thought this was such a comforting, witchy read. Others have described it as cozy and I'd have to agree. The recipes at the end of each chapter were the perfect touch, they were such a simple way to include the reader and add to the comforting element. I'm not big on love stories but I think there are so many other love stories being told in this book: self, familial, and friendship in addition to the romantic love described in the synopsis.

This cozy, witchy book is the perfect fall read! Family, baking, magic, romance…what more can you ask for?! Despite some of its heavier themes, this book feels like cider and a warm hug throughout and I found it hard to put down just on vibes alone. And the icing on top? There is a recipe to try yourself at the end of each chapter! If you thrive on the fall vibes like me and are interested in magical realism, this is the perfect read for you.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is compared to Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, but I actually feel like Under the Whispering Door is a far more comparable story. It follows Sadie Revelare, a talented magic user who owns a bakery in the small town her family has lived in for generations. However, all magic comes at a cost and Sadie is destined to lose hers after 4 heartbreaks. When her grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Sadie knows her passing will be the third heartbreak. But as Sadie soon learns, there is far more than her magic at stake.

I really love all of the characters in this book! Though I find Sadie a bit irritating at times, she is a realistically flawed character who is very relatable as she tries, and often fails, to navigate a very difficult time in her life. Each of the other characters is quirky in their own way and I love how their magic (for those that have it) match their quirks perfectly. Randall really excels at showing how these various personalities interact and allowing both tension and love/comradery to exist at the same time. Though I wouldn’t fully call this a ‘character’ book, these characters and their love for each other definitely form the heart of the story.

Despite the fact that I devoured this book like it was a piece of pumpkin pie, it definitely has its flaws. There was enough repetition in the writing that it started to earn some eyerolls from me towards the end. I never really got annoyed with it, but it did start to undermine the stronger storytelling elements. There were also a few elements that I wished had gotten a little more meaningful development and/or tied together better by the end of the book. This obviously didn’t stop me from loving the book, but it did make me hesitate to give it top marks.

Thank you Net Galley for providing this book and allowing me to read it in advance. I was unable to personally get into this book but that is the power of reading. There’s books for everyone. I know someone else will adore it!

Really enjoyed the atmosphere in this novel. The descriptions of coffee, herbs, and other food and magical items were delectable, and I truly enjoyed all of the characters. It was a cozy story with a strong, loveable family at the core.

I love witchy books, and this was no exception! When I heard it was practical Magic meets Gilmore girls I had to read it immediately.
The writing style is so good, and made me want to be part of the world. Plus who wouldn’t want to be a witch right. The magic system is so unique, and again so well done.
If you’re looking for a great witchy read, with cozy fall vibes. I can’t recommend it enough!

A rollicking good story! In her debut novel, Breanne Randall has managed to create not only an interesting, dynamic protagonist, but a whole town of interesting characters - which made for a truly fun read. The underlying dilemma did not quite work for me, and I never quite understood a few of the magical happenings. Also, I’m not typically bothered by profanity, but its quite liberal usage in this book struck a wrong note for me, seeming quite contrived and at odds with the characters and otherwise cozy tone. But I nonetheless enjoyed this ultimately uplifting tale!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was well written, bingeable, and heart felt from start to the very end. It really was a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic. The coziness of this book is a great book to read approaching the fall season. I really enjoyed the family’s dynamic and how they all gathered together. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a feel good read full of magic and love.

This debut was an enjoyable story of magic, family, heartbreaks and ultimately trust.

Sadie, who owns and runs a bake shop with her beloved grandmother, is part of a magical family. Unfortunately, her magic comes along with a curse of four heartbreaks in her life. As she has suffered three of those already, she is not looking forward to a fourth. Her twin brother’s abrupt departure has left her angry and adrift, her teenage love returning to town after 10 years away is making her anxious and second-guessing, and her grandmother’s illness is leading her to desperation and hopelessness. Oh, and there’s also a malevolent spirit who wants payback.

While overall I enjoyed this story, I did have a couple of issues with it. First, I found the male lead (Jake) a bit arrogant and pushy at times and also felt that Sadie was a little too easily led into forgiving him of the pain he caused in the past. And actually, her returned twin was not an endearing character through some of the book. And secondly, Jake was also guilty of hiding something big in their present day…not one of my favorite kind of heroes.

Sadie’s grandmother and various extended family members were wonderful and evoked a warm sense of family love, support and humor.

All-in-all a good, well-written story.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing the early arc of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic for review. The opinions are strictly my own.