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.

A magical romance? An automatic yes for me! I loved the characters and the plot. So good!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

This magical romance novel gave major Hallmark vibes, if Hallmark movies were allowed to curse.

I both am and am not a fan of those cutesy novels that feature a young man/woman who lives in a small, quiet town and owns a bakery… or a flower shop… or a bookshop. It’s sweet. It’s cute. I desperately want to live that life… But it needs ~something~ more. I liked that “The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic” had a magical spin to it, making it less of a basic romance novel.

I didn’t find myself obsessed with this book, but I believe that is purely due to my personal reading preferences, not anything to do with the content or writing. I felt it was written well, the plot was solid, and the lessons on family and friendship were golden. I really LOVED when the extended family made an appearance and we got to see some of their magical abilities. I also liked the herbal information and the symbolism that different plants can hold. This book made me want to curl up and sniff essential oils and eat a lemon poppy muffin.

While overall I enjoyed the read, I think there were too many times the author chose to describe smells in a symbolic way. For example, I read phrases like “...that smelled like promise” too many times to count. I appreciate this aromatic symbolism in writing, but it can be overdone. On the flip side, the main character, Sadie, is a baker. She is always surrounded by different smells and tastes, so it makes sense to have several of these phrases in the text. I guess it just kind of got old for me.

I would recommend this book to people who love a cozy romance and appreciate a rural small town. This hit the nail on the head.

I rate this 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.

Such a cozy read. I found the author Breanne Randall on TikTok and was instantly drawn in to this book just by saying that it was Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. While that is not inaccurate, but it gave me different expectations. With that being said I still went in pretty bling to the story. I really enjoyed the story and the relationships we see. I also loved that there were recipes included in the book. Always so fun when authors do things like this. I cannot wait for this to be released and everyone can have the chance to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and the Author for the ARC in return of an honest review.

3.7/5 stars, this book was written for those of us who need help accepting the pain that love brings with it.
I sought this book out because I am dealing with the death of my own grandmother, and I am so lucky to have been allowed to get an ARC of it.
This book's witchy small-town clean romance vibes are immaculate. I did have some qualms with a few writing quirks and flaws, but the beautiful way it explored grief and choosing vulnerability over distance far outweighed any problems I had with the writing's technical aspects. I'd give it a solid 3.7 out of 5, and the 1.3 stars taken away all on writing techniques and story choices. But like I said, the message far outweighed them all, so don't take the 3 stars too seriously.
Everything from the recipes at the beginning of ever chapter, to the gentle examination of what makes love worth it, made this book exactly what I needed. Vulnerability is scary, and, it is one of the most integral aspects of love. It is required to make the recipe work. You can't have cookies without the eggs and milk (lovely vegan replacements nonwithstanding) and you can't have love and connection without first allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
Halfway through, I got the courage to open up the letters my grandmother sent me, in her half-cursive scrawl on the golden-edged stationary. I read her letters, and cried, (good cry), and I accepted that love had brought pain into my life, and that I was glad that I had the love anyway. This book helped me reach that point.
Vulnerability and pain are part & parcel with love, and I needed to be reminded that, more now than ever.
Thank you. I will be purchasing my own physical copy.

Thanks to netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Upon hearing about a book described as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls, I knew I had to read it. And over all I think it delivered on that promise and made for an enjoyable read but I have a few major critiques that kept me from truly loving it.

Pros:
As a sucker for cozy fantasy I Immediately loved the vibe of the book and I think the first few chapters do a great job setting up the background and magic system while leaving you with enough questions to hook you. And I thoroughly appreciated the characterization of the whole extended family. They each felt vibrant and individual and I would gladly read more about any of them. Lastly I was obsessed with the inclusion of recipes in between each chapter and I can’t wait to try them for myself. I think they added to the atmosphere the book was creating in a creative way.

Cons:

One minor disappointment was that I would have liked to see more interesting dialogue and more banter/quips. It nails the Practical Magic inspiration but it was missing that iconic fast pace wit of Gilmore girls that I adore. However, that was not the main issue that kept this from a much higher rating in my eyes.

(Spoilers Ahead)

I was initially too annoyed by the ending to write this review until a couple days later. This might be a personal issue but I am sick of books where the female main character has to sacrifice her magic or herself for a man/a kingdom/the world. Don’t get me wrong I understand that of course she would choose to do so in order to save her brother but I hate that that was the solution to this “riddle” in the first place. I was further frustrated that I immediately knew that was going to be the answer when presented with the curse.

At several points during the book people told Sadie that she was being ridiculous by being scared of heart break and that losing her magic isn’t that big a deal in a way that feels callous and untrue. Magic in any book almost always functions as an integral part of a person and it is especially true in this book. Sadie had to give up one of the things she loved the most, a crucial part of her identity, and a important connection to her grandmother, and she had to do so after already losing her grandmother. I know they say Florence is searching for a way to get her magic back but that feels like a cop out, and leaves me wondering that if there was a way to get it back wouldn’t that defeat the magic of saving the brother? The only thing worse would have been if she gave up her magic in order to be with Jake.