The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is cozy, magical and heartbreakingly beautiful. It is a wonderful cozy read that made me feel a bit of everything. I loved the family dynamics and the friendships in the book.

Poppy Meadows was such a beautiful little town and the relationships between the main characters Sadie, Gigi and Seth and the people of the town was reminiscent of Stars Hollow. Sadie and Seth are twins with such a strong and magical bond that drive each other crazy at times (like siblings do) but it is truly rooted in love and unconditional support for one another- and their love for their grandmother Gigi.

Breanne Randall really takes you on a journey with incredible in depth descriptions of the cast of characters and their stories, the relationships, each moment of the book was thoroughly described that you could truly immerse yourself in the story and feel connected to what was going on and visualize where they where. Sadie and Gigi own a bakery and love to bake and cook for everyone and I loved that Breanne brought those recipes to the book and provided the meaning and significance of each recipe providing even more background to an already wonderful story.

The book has bit of romance, family drama, incredible friendships and a lot of family history to unfold.

If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls, Practical Magic and love cozy books this is the book for you! The perfect book for fall!


Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for my e-ARC. I truly enjoyed this book!

I really enjoyed this book. It's described as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls and I couldn't think of a better description.

It's a cosy book that feels like a warm cup of tea and it's full of wonderful characters who show growth throughout.

The recipes are a nice touch that make you feel even more connected to Sadie, Gigi and all of the other characters in the Revelare family and their friends.

If you're a fan of witches and cosy fantasy then this is absolutely the story for you!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this digital ARC

Unfortunately I didn’t finish this book. I just kept getting distracted and it just wasn’t keeping my attention.

This book... words can't even begin to describe how much I loved this book. It was like a warm cozy hug on a stormy night. It had me sobbing and blowing my nose like crazy. It was everything.

I related to this book on a whole other level. My grandpa's story was very similar to Gigi's. It was like I was reliving my past because I also lived with my grandparents at that time. Gigi helped bring me so much comfort that I'm actually fighting tears while typing this (like what??).

I also think it was the most brilliant thing ever to have recipes at the end of every chapter. I LOVED IT, and squealed when I realized it was a thing. Ugh, I just love this book so much. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this to everyone.

It" is a captivating and emotional story that delves into the complexities of love and sacrifice. Sadie's journey, navigating her grandmother's illness and rediscovering her first love, is both heartwrenching and hopeful. With well-developed characters and a touch of magic, this book offers a compelling and satisfying read.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC I’m exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This book had a lot of pros but also some cons for me. First the pros, this was a sweet, cozy story. If you like cozy fantasy, this book 100% fits the bill. The town is sweet and cute. Most of the problems in the book are tied up nicely. The main character is lovable enough. The themes of family and love are written beautifully. And the recipes at the end of each chapter are the perfect touch.
Now for the cons, I needed this to be a little longer so that I could have more details about the family’s magic. I sort of felt like I stepped into a story where I was already supposed to know certain details but definitely didn’t. The romance in the story was fine but something about it left me wanting more.
All in all, I really did enjoy this sweet story about magic, love, and family.

This book was really sweet. I thought the recipes inserted in the middle were a fun addition. Sadie isn’t a perfect character, but that’s what makes her endearing. I thought there could’ve been more character development with Jake, but I liked the plot twist of him being engaged and potentially a new father. It’s a fun witchy book I think those who like Halloweentown would like.

3.5 rounded up for the lovely cover.

I adored the practical magic, the kitchen magic, and the actual magic. The recipes at the end of each chapter were a nice touch.

But the writing style (forced sounding prose?) isn't my thing, none of the characters sparked for me, and I felt no connection between Sadie and Jake.

If you're looking for a witchy romance, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for a story filled with family drama and forgiveness sprinkled with magic, you'll probably love this one.

This one was not written for me and that's okay! I can think of several friends who will adore it and will be recommending it to them.

Content warnings: death of character, grief, suicide attempt

Fans of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic will enjoy this cozy read. The protagonist, Sadie, is a blend of people pleasing, family focused Rory Gilmore and has the magical green thumb, but cursed love life of Sally Owens from Practical Magic. Sadie runs a bakery with her grandmother in the small town of Poppy Meadows. For GG lovers, imagine if Stars Hollow and the townsfolk were sprinkled with magic.

Baked goods and recipes are like their own character throughout the book. I loved the sweet touches of the recipes and what certain ingredients conjured. It would be fun for book clubs to make them and enjoy together.

The overall feel of the book straddles the line of YA. There were quite a few bible references throughout. So much so, that I wondered if this was considered Christian fiction. Some parts felt a little saccharine and somewhat predictable, but those are the things that help make it cozy and safe. Sometimes you want an easy read that feels like a warm cup of tea, and that’s this book. It would make a cute Hallmark movie.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this so badly. When I saw it described as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, I was so excited for a cozy read. What I got was unfortunately not that.

Summary: This book begins with Sadie, a witch with a curse to endure 4 heartbreaks before losing her magic, finding out her grandmother is sick at the same time her first heartbreak returns to their small town. There are other dynamics that play out throughout the book, but I don't want to spoil anything.

The premise was full of promise and I eventually got hooked into the plot about halfway through the book when a new problem is introduced. The author also makes a point to advocate for mental health throughout the story, and I appreciated those conversations.

I really didn't enjoy the writing and the overuse of curse words. I'm not one to clutch my pearls, but the grandma calling her grandkids "pissants" and "shit asses" every time she spoke to them just didn't come across well to me. At least, it didn't portray the cozy, magical vibe I expected. I also thought the interactions among the characters were so strange. Between Sadie accidentally stealing but then not returning Jake's dog to a few other "reveals" in the second half of the book, the way the characters interacted and the secrets they kept from each other didn't seem realistic.

I have seen some other very positive reviews, but this book wasn't for me. I appreciate the eARC from NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.

adorable, funny, and so entertaining. Loved so many of the characters in this book. The recipes sprinkled between each chapter were a cute addition. Breanne Randall did such an amazing job with the banter she created among all of the characters and all the small messages about mental health. Definitely agree with the gilmore girls meets practical magic sentiment !!

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a contemporary witchy romance that will transport you to a world filled with enchantment and emotional discoveries. Written by an emerging talent, this novel captures the essence of beloved shows like Gilmore Girls and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches while offering its own unique charm.

From the first pages, the mellow-paced narrative gently draws you in, wrapping you in a warm and comforting embrace. The author's ability to create an atmosphere that exudes coziness is reminiscent of the familiar small-town settings of Gilmore Girls. Each turn of the page reveals delightful tidbits of magical elements effortlessly woven into the everyday lives of the characters.

What sets this novel apart is its focus on the emotional journey of the characters. The author beautifully captures the essence of heartbreak, weaving it together with the healing power of magic. The exploration of human connections, both romantic and platonic, is heartwarming and relatable.

While the pace of the book might be considered mellow, it only serves to enhance the immersive experience. The unhurried narrative allows readers to savor the enchanting world and truly connect with the characters. The author's attention to detail shines through, creating a vivid tapestry of scenes that come alive in the reader's mind.

Touted as a mixture of Gilmour Girls and Practical Magic this book certainly has a cosy small town feel to it where everybody knows each other and indeed each other's business ! Sadie comes from a long line of those who have magic but has kind of locked her self away fearing ultimate heartbreak and loss. Yet change is inevitable and those who she never thought to see again return but can Sadie forgive them and more importantly can she survive the pain that's still to come ?
This was certainly a cosy witchy tale with a strong feeling of family running through it. At times I struggled to sink completely into it but I feel that's because it's primarily Sadie and what she's experiencing that drives the narrative. However I did without a doubt love her grandmother and she stole every scene she was in so yes the author certainly tugged on my emotions as this story progressed. As for the romance well honestly it wasn't for me and felt superfluous as personally I'd have kicked Jake to the kerb ! This story ends with a feeling of hope which clearly we all need and best of all has a recipe at the end of each chapter so what could be more satisfying than that ?
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

As much as I wanted to like this book, I really struggled with the majority of it. Generally speaking I didn't enjoy any of the main characters, especially Sadie. I liked the close knit family feeling, and all the cooking and baking. But I was irritated by Sadie for most of this book.

A big thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I was so excited for the adventure this book would take me on and it did not disappoint.
I’m living for the small town vibe and the practical magic! Oh and the small pinch of spice, of course. I will definitely be reading a sequel!

This book is a story about family, friendship, love, forgiveness and sacrifice.

The Revelare family is quirky and chaotic and so likable. The book was easy to read and the drama paced well. I barely found myself skipping sentences and paragraphs in this book.
It is my opinion that the magic hits the almost-perfect balance of being explained without info dumps. It’s like you know that there are rules and that the magic follows those rules, yet the rules are laid out for you.

Oh and did I mention the recipes in this book? I will be testing all of those at a later date. Promise.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic combines interests in cooking and baking, magic, fictional family drama, and a little splash of romance. It is a bit of Practical Magic meets a cookbook.

This story follows the Sadie Revelare who at the heart of it all is trying to figure out who she really is and what she really wants. She is bitter from having her first love Jake, her twin brother Seth, and her mother all abandon her at some point in her life. However, she has an abundance of magic that helps her feel the earth, and bake treats that keep the whole town drooling. As the story unfolds, those that have left her return only for her to have to figure out if she can forgive, and further finding out she is at risk for loosing a whole lot more as magic comes with a cost and in her case, a curse.

I recommend this for readers who like realistic magic books like those from Alice Hoffman, bakers, or readers drawn to stories about families working to come together. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really did give Gilmore Girls/Practical Magic vibes! I enjoyed this one so much. I can’t wait to reread during the spooky season!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc of this book.

Very enjoyable read. Will be easy to recommend to many different kinds of readers. I’d like to read more from this author.

This book had everything I wanted in a cozy book. The author described it as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic and I could not agree more. It was a surprising find and I'm glad to have gotten the chance to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for sending me this ARC. I didn’t know what to expect with this read, and I couldn’t be more pleased! This book truly gave me Gilmore Girls/Practical Magic vibes. The way it is written is wonderful and easy to read. This book is going to be added to my collection for sure and I can’t wait to re read in the fall during spooky season.