Member Reviews

I was given an advance reader copy. Opinions are my own.

At first the title of the book caught my attention. As the story unfolded, you felt like the characters were real and you had a first hand look into their lives.

Sadie has lived with her Grandmother, Gigi, all her life in a small town called Poppy Meadows. She has experienced heart break twice in her life and a third would cause her curse to come true. Sadie has guarded her heart for the past ten years to her best to keep from the curse to take affect. However, when the bad omens start, she knows things may just end up worse than she thought.

Magic, family, acceptance and a dash of romance. This was a great read and can't wait to read more her books.

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I was immediately intrigued by this book when I saw it described as a cross between Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, and I would say that description is pretty spot on. I went into this expecting a romance, and while there are romantic elements in the book, the story centers much more on family dynamics.
I enjoyed this book just as much as I thought I would and it will definitely be on my recommendation list.

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Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I really wanted to love this one. I tried really hard but I found myself distracted by the very drawn out descriptions of everything and the massive size of the chapters. This is my first DNF of the year sadly.

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Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available for purchase Sept 19,2023.

Okay this was a cute cozy book with sadness and just life. Yeah it was like reading a slice of life book. It is being marketed as a practical magic meets Gilmore girls type of book and I can see that but to me it was a days read into the quiet life of Sadie being turned upside down by the cancer diagnosis of her grandma and the return of an old love. There is magic in this and it reminds me so so much of books and shows where it is set in modern times so it is not flashy like fantasy magic. It just is. I really really enjoyed this book

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Such a warm and cozy read! This book was advertised as practical magic meets Gilmore girls and I have to say it was pretty spot on.
I normally don’t read too many magical realism books, but this one pleasantly surprised me and drew me right in. I loved the small town aspect and the recipes given every chapter were such a cute touch. You will be falling in love with the main character Sadie as she navigates grief, heartbreak, and self-discovery with magic along the way.
This book lost a star as I did not find myself rooting for the love interest in this book. I did not find him endearing or their story “meant to be” and found myself not enjoying the romance story plot as much as the main story.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this release!

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This book was absolutely adorable. Highly recommend. Though there's some dark elements, it's not over the top. The book overall is very PG13, which makes it a light and easy read. I loved all of the characters, literally all of them and Breanne tells you enough to get you hooked on the characters but not too much to take away from the book itself. I couldn't put it down once I started.

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My Rating : 3.75
This book is everything it promises to be mainly in the fact that it's very much is reminiscent of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls. You get the green magic from Practical Magic and the cutest small town of Gilmore Girls!
To describe this book in a few words: adorable, warm, whimsical.
There are times I feel like the writing felt odd and scattered ( especially dialogue) and there's a trope at the end I'm not too fond of. I overall enjoyed the book! While it lost me at some points it was so whimsical and warm I couldn't stop reading.
Plus this book comes with some yummy recipes ( I baked a few)! Each recipe is like a special treat! There is a lot of reading about baking so if you don't like that it may not be your favorite thing in the world.. but I love baking so I enjoyed it!

Overall: I would definitely recommend this book if you like Practical Magic or Gilmore Girls, whimsical and cozy fantasy!
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book

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This was such a lovely cozy read. I went in basically blind but had been drawn in by the description and the cover. I am so glad that I did because this isn’t what I’d usually pick up, but it truly delivered.
The magic in this was lovely and intertwined really well with the real-world setting without feeling contrived. I do wish we had gotten more about the other “founding families” and what their magic was, we got a slight idea towards the end, but it would have been nice to learn more about their powers so it made more sense when it came more into play.
The love story also felt real and had the angst. My small gripe was his story about coming back, I didn’t love that characterization, it gave the whole “big city bad, small town good” vibe. I think I would have personally preferred just a quick like ‘it didn’t work for me and I was drawn back’ over the back story we got. But, even with this, I don’t have enough of an issue with it that it detracts from my review.
The book is written in third-person which I’m not personally used to, but it worked well for the story and I didn’t feel like you were losing any of the feelings the characters were feeling or losing any of their motivations.
Another really sweet touch are the recipes, which I am excited to try a few of them! They all looked delicious and I love how they fit into the story.
Overall, this was a sweet cozy book that deals with some real world feelings. Also be warned you may cry at around the 60% mark, it truly brought out the emotional side of the relationship you have with loved ones. I think this is a perfect fall read!

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4.5 stars
Let me just start off by saying this has been one of my most anticipated reads for months! I’ve been following Breanne on tiktok since last year and it was so fun to follow along during this process with her. As soon as she described her book as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic I just knew I needed to read it and let me tell you it absolutely did not disappoint. This was truly everything I hoped it would be and it was such an enjoyable book to read.
We meet Sadie Revelare who contributes to her town through her enchanted bakery, adding a little bit of her magic into her recipes. Sadie has such a bright personality however she’s also very guarded due to a curse of four heartbreaks.
When her grandmother falls ill, her brother returns after abandoning her, and her first heartbreak is back in town, Sadie’s life is flipped upside down and she has to navigate through all the chaos and make the decision of what is more important; love or her magic?
Breanne wrote an amazing book, in my opinion, with the way she set the scene, the recipes she included, and the way she wrote each character so perfectly. I just absolutely loved every minute of this book. I do think it was a bit predictable, but in an almost comforting way.
I’ve already preordered my copy and I can’t wait to have this book on my shelf. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, cozy read with those perfect fall and witchy vibes.

Thank you so so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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I really enjoyed this book, it's so hard to describe how it made me feel. I was up all night trying to read it in one shot because once I got started I could not put it down! I loved Sadie's story, she's coming to terms with a curse on her life that threatens her magic and her grandmother's sudden failing health. I will be completely honest, this book hit me in the feels and reminded me of how I felt when my great grandmother fell ill.
I really recommend reading this book, I have no regrets!
5 Stars!

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This book held my attention throughout it. I loved that the lead character baked for a living, for stress relief and to express love. Her food seemed symbolic of the challenges she had expressing and risking deep emotions. The relationship of magic and the curses was a new concept to me. The secondary characters were so well thought out and meaningful that they never seemed less significant. The title was representative of the storyline and the cover is beautiful. Readers will want to curl up with a cup of tea and get lovingly lost in Sadie's world.

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This book had my attention from the very first page, didn't want to stop reading it. Would totally recommend it to my friends and family plus anyone else who is an avid book reader. Once you start reading you will not want to stop, you will feel like you are part of the story.

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This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Five positively glowing stars.

This was well-written, heart-felt, and bingable from start to finish! Endearing and clever characters, Sadie and Jake, plus a splash of magic make for a cozy and enjoyable read. Marketing this as 'Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls' is perfect. That is the exact vibe I came in expecting and Breanne delivered.

Breanne, I'll buy anything you put pen to paper for, forevermore.

TYSM for letting me be an ARC reader for this. (I will be giving away a copy of this book on my tiktok @hauntedhousebooks during release month to help promote it. I'd love to be added to your permanent ARC list if you need me!)

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I couldn’t get around my perceived “tone” of the language throughout. It’s like when you watch a movie set in the south & the actor, who’s never spent any significant time here, gives this over the top, horrific interpretation of the dialect. Truly tried so hard to get past this cause it’s totally my own head, but I could not.
Received this eARC from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion. Thank you.

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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Ahhh this book was cozy, charming, heartfelt, and emotional. There was a little bit of everything: magic, paranormal activity, family drama, heartbreak, love, and small town shenanigans. The addition of recipes after each chapter was cute and well tied into the story!

Sadie's magic is accompanied by a curse to be revealed after four heartbreaks. She's suffered two in her life: with her first love leaving and twin brother, Seth, disappearing. When her first love Jake returns and her beloved grandmother reveals her cancer diagnosis Sadie's world is turned upside down. As dark family secrets are revealed and her magical family returns, Sadie will have to use her mind and strength to save her heart and the ones she loves.

Sadie and Jake were the epitome of right person, wrong time. I do wish we had a bit more explanation of why he left in the beginning, but their reunion story was beautiful nonetheless (even with the emotional warfare inflicted by another character). I will admit there were times I was frustrated with Jake (probably because my heart hurt for Sadie more than him being a bad guy) and I wished Sadie gave him a harder time, but overall he was a kind and sweet character. I am glad they got their happy ending!

Final thoughts, I highly recommend! I would love a sequel and am hoping the ending is the author's hint that one is in the works *fingers crossed*

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"The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" by Breanne Randall is a delightful and heartwarming novel that blends elements of romance, magic, and self-discovery. The story follows the journey of protagonist Ivy Heart, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads in her life after a devastating breakup.

Randall's writing is engaging and witty, with well-drawn characters and an entertaining plot that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The use of magic and fantasy elements adds a unique twist to the traditional romance genre, making for a fun and entertaining read.

The character of Ivy is a relatable and likable protagonist. Her struggles with heartbreak and self-doubt will resonate with many readers, and her journey towards self-discovery and acceptance is both inspiring and empowering. The other characters in the book are also well-drawn and interesting, each with their own quirks and motivations.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the portrayal of female friendship. The bond between Ivy and her best friend is a refreshing change from the often toxic or competitive portrayals of female relationships in literature. The friendship is supportive, uplifting, and a true highlight of the story.

Overall, "The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" is a charming and engaging novel that will appeal to fans of the romance and fantasy genres. Randall's writing is witty and engaging, and her characters are well-drawn and relatable. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and uplifting read.

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Sadie owns a cafe in a small town with her grandmother "Gigi". She comes from a long line of witches and she loves her magic. However, that magic comes with a price...the curse of four heartbreaks. Because of that, she has always been guarded and careful with who she lets get too close.

Suddenly, Gigi is diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. Sadie's estranged twin brother, Seth, comes back after abandoning her. To make matters worse, her ex and first heartbreak, Jake also returns to town after being away for 10 years. Sadie's world has been flipped upside down. Just when you think it can't get any worse, Gigi tells Sadie and Seth about a huge family secret that changes everything. Now Sadie has a choice to make. Love or magic? Which will she choose?

The author did an amazing job of setting the scene and creating the coziest vibes. This would be a great fall read actually! Food is a big theme since they own the cafe and adds to the overall warmth of the book. I thought it was a cute touch to put recipes at the end of some of the chapters.

I loved all of the characters. Gigi was my favorite. She was so feisty and called everyone "shit asses" and "pissants". She reminded me a lot of my grandmother...stubbornness and all. When all of the aunts and uncles came into town, that's where the fun really started. They all had their personalities and their different magic. That's where I got Practical Magic vibes the most.

This book was predictable but I think that's what adds to the comfort of it. You pretty much know how it's going to end and what Sadie is going to choose. I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend this book if you love cozy, witchy reads.

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3.75/5 stars! The cover of this book was so cute. I really liked the idea of four heartbreaks in exchange for magical strength. The premise was great and I liked the majority of the characters. Unfortunately, I didn't love the romance aspect. Jake seemed kind of like a dick and I didn't buy into his relationship with Sadie. But a cute story otherwise.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

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I DNF'ed at 30%. I found myself to be bored and it seemed like there was no focus in the book. I wish that the magic was explained more and there was zero world building which left me more confused than intrigued.

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This was a good book and it was a good idea that it's coming out in the fall! I liked the writing style as well.

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