Okay, I feel silly saying it since heartbreak is in the title, but this book made me cry way more than expected! It was definitely cozy and sweet, but phew! Lots of tears!

Encanto meets Practical Magic, each member of Sadie Revelare's family has a unique form of magic, and a unique curse. Sadie is cursed to lose her magic after four heartbreaks. She's already had two, so when her ex comes back to town and her beloved Grandmother shares her cancer diagnoses, Sadie does everything within her power to keep herself and her magic intact.

Despite the tears, it's a cozy read with lots of cooking (recipes break up each chapter!), magic, and family. It's best accompanied with a pot of tea and a plate of cookies.

Actual Rating: 3,5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a very solid debut novel.

Plot

When Sadie Revelare's grandmother passes away from cancer, she experiences four heartbreaks and a major turning point in her life. When Jake McNealy, who caused her first breakup, reappears, her life falls apart. Her estranged twin brother Seth brings with him family secrets and poses a threat to Sadie's entire life. Sadie must choose between love and magic when her affections for Jake resurface and her grandmother's health worsens.

The plot of the book was fine. I think the only thing I didn't like was the pacing. The pacing was really off. Some of the chapters dragged a lot and were more longer than necessary. However, I still enjoyed the story and the ending was a open end, so if the author wants she can write a sequel.

Characters

Sadie Revelare

Sadie was a really good character. Because of her curse, she never lets people approach her, because she doesn't want to have another heartbreak. However, she is really intelligent and the reader can see how much she loves her grandmother. She does everything she can to save her. I love the growth she has during the novel. For a standalone, the character grows a lot.

Seth Revelare

For me, Seth was the opposite of her sister. Sadie is way more serious than Seth, but Seth also suffers a lot, because of his magic. He is still a great character, that truly loves his family. I really loved the banter between him and his sister.

Jack McNealy

Jack is the first boy that Sadie loved. He was a really sweet and funny guy, but I wish the author could have given him more depth, but I still enjoyed this character.

Gigi Revelare

Gigi was Sadie and Seth's grandmother. She was such a great character. She was really funny and sarcastic in the beginning of the novel, which I really loved. She is a strong and brave woman, who truly loves her family, especially Sadie and Seth.

Florence

Florence is Sadie and Seth's mother. She was a very mysterious character. At the end of the novel, I still don't know her very well and I still have a few questions about her, but if the author decides to write a sequel, I think she would be a very important character.

Writing

For a debut novel, I really loved the writing style. It was really good and the descriptions provided by the author were really amazing.

World-Building

I think the author made a good job in the world-building. Every witch has their own magic and their own curse. It was really interesting and I think the author explained this part very well.

Romance

Sadie and Jack were cute together. They have some sweet and cute moments together, however, I wish the author could have developed their relationship more than she did. I had a problem with the pregnancy and the fiancé plot, because I think this wasn't necessary and it was just there to create more tension between the characters.

Final Thoughts

As I said, I think it was a good solid debute and if the author decides to write another book about this characters, I will read it.

I LOVE that this book is like a mix of Practical Magic + Gilmore Girls + When In Rome by Sarah Adams! It's giving all of the witchy fall vibes that we want year round PLUS the small town that we learn to know and love! I really enjoyed getting to see Sadie, the FMC, use her magic to interact with the family home, her garden, and her café! I don't know that theres a lot of things better than a small town book with all of the adorable side characters, shops, and sense of community!

Also the mixture of a slow burn + second chance + small town romance is AMAZING! But, I also loved that the romance seemed to be more of a subplot, giving the readers more space to focus on the magic and family and everything else happening in Poppy Meadows! BUT was the romance an amaizng addition and something I REALLY wanted to see play out? OF COURSE! But I was also equally/more intrigued in what was going to happen to Sadie because everything in the beginning of the book was pointing to something baddd happening!👀

This was a really fun read and I can't wait for everybody to enjoy this book while relaxing in the chill fall air with all of the leaves on the ground, it will be perfect!

Imagine having magic but being followed by a curse. I mean, things have to have balance. Right?

Sadie was a Revelare, which meant she belonged to one of the founding families of their small town. It also meant that she had magic in her blood. Her magic came with four heartbreaks, which she always thought was a fair price to having magic.

Back to her family... I love them all. Gigi, her grandmother, is stubborn but loves all her children and grandchildren to pieces. Her multitudes of aunts and uncles that have their own brands of magic. Magic that ranges from knowing how to fix anything just by touching it to inviting whimsey and wonder into your life(aka sparkles). Sadie's talents lie in food. Something she bonded with her Gigi with as they shared similar magic. The many relationships that Sadie has throughout the story were well thought-out and written. I enjoyed each interaction.

Speaking of relationships, there is Jake. Her young love. Her first heartbreak. He returns back to their hometown and that stirs a whole lot of emotions for Sadie. This isn't the center conflict in the book, but some romance is happening in the background.

The story focuses on Sadie and the secrets that Gigi laided upon their family as she succumbed to cancer. Some of those secrets threated the life of those she loves the most. Sadie has to navigate this all while holding everything together and making sure everyone else is taken care of. The plot is more character driven than anything else, but I enjoyed the layers to each character and exploring them throughout the book. It was a joy to watch Sadie grow and to lean on the people she loved. The whole vibe is very Practical Magic and a little The Very Secret Society of Witches. So if you loved either of those vibes, I am sure you will enjoy this book.

Plus, the recipes at the end of each chapter are to die for and the correspondence for what each recipe is for is a nice magical touch. I definitely recommend the peach and walnut muffins. 10/10

The book’s description really appealed to me and I was excited to read as I love cozy, witchy books with family and a little romance thrown in. At first, I really liked the feel of the story and writing but as it went on, I started feeling like there was too much going on and I couldn’t always follow what felt like a scattered storyline. I also had a hard time with the whole Jake storyline. I didn’t feel the connection there so it was difficult for me to get behind them as a couple. There were times as well, where the description was a little too much.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a fun book filled with lively information about magic, spells, herbs, and recipes. The characters are intriguing and the story is a solid family drama with some surprises. I scored a point down for the unnecessary language that detracts from the story and makes one of the characters seem quite verbally abusive. Not my favorite way for grandparents to talk to and talk about their grandchildren.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed every part of this. It’s a very cozy read with a very interesting witchy world attached to it. I love that it ends each chapter with recipes that I am dying to try!

If you’re searching for a book that will transport you to a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, where love, loss, and self-discovery intertwine with enchantment, then this is the perfect read for you. Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey through the highs and lows of life, sprinkled with a touch of magic and a whole lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this book. If you are looking for a book to read, that is really cozy, and has wonderful elements of magic and witches, then I would definitely pick up the book. I will be reading it again as we get closer to the fall seasons just because of the vibe that it gives. Definitely a wonderful story!

I was immediately intrigued when I saw it was a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic story, but unfortunately it was not a favorite of mine. I really struggled with really getting into the story and holding my interest. I think my favorite part of the whole book was the recipes.

The Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic blurb is so spot on. This was a cozy little fantasy read, and I can't wait to make some of these recipes! I liked the representation with things like disability and bipoc characters throughout, but I hated that there was a harry potter reference and wish we could move past Jkr. This was definitely a good and enjoyable read.

When this author came across my FYP on TikTok teasing her upcoming book that she claimed was a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic I had to stop my scroll and find out more.

I was hooked.

Signed up for the preorder and as soon as the ARC requests were open I put in for one. So glad I got accepted and got a chance to read this early.

This book had the feeling of a long time favorite on the first read through. I can already see myself in a chunky sweater, by a fall fire, eating one of the delicious recipes from the book. (Side note the Carrot Cake cookies are a favorite in our home already)

Even though I just read this, when my copy that I preordered arrived I will reread. It was that good and I want to go back and take the journey with my new friends again and see if there was any nuance that I missed in the first read through.

This is a MUST read for your fall TBR. Put in your preorder today if you haven’t yet.

DNF. I’m sure there’s people who will love this book, but the pace was far too slow for me and I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. I love third person POV, but something about the prose just didn’t vibe for me.

You had me at Practical magic meets Gilmore Girls
he Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic was a cozy, magical read with a story set in a small town. The main characters lived in a quirky, magical house that had a beautiful garden. The magic in the book elements with mastery, binding them with tea, oilments, perfumes and, most of all, baking. Fort the most par tI liked the book, the story was a bit slow at times and the romance was ok. I found the main character to be frustrating.

I would definitely recommend this book if you like Practical Magic or Gilmore Girls, whimsical and cozy fantasy

This is a cozy read to curl up with on a rainy day beside the fire. There is lots of witchy, spooky writing and the characters are well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book

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

I DNFed at 15%. I couldn't get into this and didn't like that it was told in 3rd person. This is promoted as being cozy and it definetly is with the description of the town and stores and magical baked goods. For me though it just felt like way too much description and I couldn't get interested in anything.

Fair warning: there were no trigger warnings, but there should have been for: depression, attempted suicide, and cancer.

This book kind of made me feel like I got hit by a bus. There were so many things happening all the time that I felt myself speeding up my reading in an attempt to feel like I was keeping up. I was overly unimpressed with the FMC; in my opinion, she was overly dramatic and angsty. The MMC we barely saw - and I wasn't really impressed with him either. At one point, Sadie uses her magic to force Jake to confess his feelings for her - and then gets mad he leaves. Another point, Jake comes back and spends 3/4 of the book trying to tell Sadie he's buying the house right next to her - but he's engaged and is going to be a father. Then, at the end of the book, they somehow find their way back to each other? Literally, I can't with either of them.

To me, it felt like we spent the majority of the book being bombarded with information, and then the story ends, but not really? The story ended on a pretty big cliff hanger without the promise of there being a sequel, which is frustrating - because I would have liked knowing that prior to reading it. It was all just extremely unsatisfying.

All in all, it was okay. I didn't hate it - but I didn't love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to review this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: September 19, 2023

Rating: 2 stars

Reading the synopsis is what originally drew me in. A mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic; sign me up! Unfortunately, this book and I ended up not getting along. I was expecting more magical elements rather than the "magical" properties of plants. I felt that this didn't fall into fantasy plus I was hoping for more banter like what you would find in Gilmore Girls.

The characters were just told to me as a reader rather than shown so I found myself struggling to stay connected to the story. I did give a full star for all the mental health representation! Overall, I DNF early in the book unfortunately and have dubbed this book as not a fit for me as a reader.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic was a beautiful and heart-warming book, this witchy, spooky story has plenty of witty dialogue and heart felt scenes. I found the MC Sadie incredibly relatable, her relationship with her grandmother is adorable and the plot is a real mix of fun, romance and laughter.

This small town romance is definitely one that I would read again preferably in Autumn! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall is a cozy, witchy book that's perfect for a vacation read. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of magic, love, and family legacies and would read more by the author - particularly if it were a sequel to this one!