Wow, this was so not what I had expected. I thought this was a cosy small town romance with snappy dialogue (Gilmore Girls) and whimsical magical realism (Practical Magic). I got a story that was set in California, but read like small town southern US. The combination of Christian religion with magic didn't make sense to me, neither did Sadie's insistence that she and her grandmother aren't witches, they are just good Christian women doing magic.

The MC Sadie is 28 years old with the emotional maturity of a teenager - was this supposed to be a YA/NA book that was re-written to fit a wider audience? She's self-centred and makes some questionable choices throughout the story (like: using a truth-telling recipe without consent, stealing a dog and refusing to return it). She's also under a curse, which she repeats in a "woe be me"-way over and over. Though the reader doesn't find out what exactly the curse entails until far into the story.

The secondary characters are all so bland, I didn't care for them at all. Jake, the love-interest, doesn't have any kind of backstory. The reader is supposed to root for a second chance relationship because the two of them went out together over ten years ago?

I could go on about the cringe-worthy writing, the secondary characters and strange plot parts (the twin brother, the suddenly returning mother who was absent all the twins' lives, the ailing grandmother, the ominous ghost, the curse, etc).

TW: rape and victim-shaming, attempted suicide, actual murder, fake pregnancy

I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. But I kept going and ended up liking it.a lot. I loved the various siblings and their relationship with each other. It would be a good book for a book club. So many ideas, subjects, situations to discuss and evaluate. Highly recommend.

This book weaves a captivating tale of familial love and community support, portraying relatable characters grappling with insecurities, dreams, and the weight of their curses. The cozy, homely elements and the message of resilience against curses through love and togetherness truly resonated with me.

In this world, each member of the family has their own magic and their curse. Sadie's curse is that she will go through 4 heartbreaks in her life, each one worse than her last and with these heartbreaks, her magic becomes very erratic and unpredictable. Now, she avoids relationship with any guy to avoid this heartbreak and hence losing her magic. But now, her first ex is back in town while her life is also dealt with family issues and new secrets... and our poor Sadie has to deal with all that and come out better and stronger at the end.

While I found Sadie to be a compelling and relatable character, the predictability of certain plot points slightly diluted the impact of the story's twists. Nonetheless, the irresistible urge to witness the characters' happiness and resolution overrode this familiarity.

The narrative's pacing was also erratic, juggling too many plotlines, causing a lack of coherence and depth. The sudden introduction and rapid resolution of various subplots, like Bethany's arc, the strange involvement of animals, and the abrupt revelation about the mysterious spirit, left the story feeling disjointed and unsatisfactory.

The multitude of intertwined themes—ranging from grief, depression, and family to witchcraft and a complex curse—added depth but at the cost of a harmonious storytelling experience. Furthermore, the uncomfortable lack of deeper exploration into the darker themes, such as the mother's past trauma, left a sense of unease and a feeling of unresolved issues.
The story's conclusion felt rushed, leaving several threads hanging and an unsatisfactory resolution.

By the end, I really enjoyed the charaters and the enchanting familial bonds, but the convoluted and abrupt plot turns, coupled with unresolved themes, made for a reading experience that left me wanting for more clarity and cohesion.

Thank you for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. This is one of those books I only heard about through bookstagram and I was interested in it because of the author’s description of it as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. Unfortunately, I just didn’t like this book very much and I didn’t end up finishing it. I stopped reading at about 10% of the way in, which is usually earlier than I give up. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the book from the beginning and I couldn’t really get into it or find my way. I felt like I was missing details or backstory or something and I wasn't sure what was going on. I couldn’t connect with the characters and I didn’t like the writing. Since I have to give a star rating, I will be rating this book at 1 star.

Unfortunately, this novel was a DNF for me. I tried to pick it up a few times, but everytime it felt short. I even switched to the audio book to help but ended up stopping at 50%. The plot just felt so slow and nothing really hooked me. I wish I could have pushed through but life is too short. The way it was advertised as a Gilmore Girl Rom Com just did not fit the bill.

I am so sorry this was just not for me.

Small town, cute, magical novel. I don't necessarily classify it as a romance specifically as there are a few other genres this would a part of. I enjoyed reading this book and read through pretty quickly. I really liked the magic aspect of it. I learned a lot about the family and their history and I appreciated how they all come together in a time of need. This book was very slow-paced, but I feel like that made the book better. Gave me time to really connect with some of the characters before diving into the main ideas of the book. It fell flat for me in the romance area. I was not a big fan of Jake mainly because I thought his situation and his morals were off putting from the beginning. I saw Sadie as a bit self absorbed at times. She really made a lot of things about her and that drove me nuts. I 100% got Practical magic vibes, but not Gilmore Girls. There were too many things going on at once and I wish the author had focused more on one plot. The best part of the book for me was learning about her family history and what happened with her mom. I enjoyed reading that play out. I wish there was more to the romance or that I could have connected with it better.

It was a good read for this time of year, cozy vibes, and overall I am glad I read it.

This was a DNF for me.
I couldn't click with the writing style no matter how much I tried.

It seemed like it was cut off a lot where it wanted to be a full description or thought.

Ugh, I was really excited for this debut, especially with all the Practical magic/Gilmore Girls comps but sadly the poor reviews were not wrong. This was kind of a hot mess, all over the place sort of story. I enjoyed the family curse, second chance romance, small town witchy aspects but there was just soooo much going on and nothing ever felt fully explored.

There were mouth-watering recipes included with each chapter, the brother-sister relationship was complicated and relatable. I especially appreciated the mental health focus on anxiety and depression. But there was also grief related to terminal cancer and parental abandonment plus the 'romance' felt more star-crossed than hopeful or joyful.

Okay on audio narrated by Laura Horowitz. I would still read more from this author. I think her debut just needed better editing so it had a more cohesive plot/purpose. Recommended for fans of books like Midnight at the blackberry cafe or The magic of lemon drop pie. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

*4.5 STARS*

Sadie has always believed that the curse of the 4 heartbreaks would be worth the price of her magic. When her beloved Grandmother is diagnosed with cancer and her first heartbreak, Jake, comes back into town things begin to unravel. This thoughtfully and beautifully explores the walls we build around our hearts to retain our own magic.

This is the PERFECT spooky season reads if you love witchy vibes this time of year. It's lighthearted and fun but also deals with grief, family drama and you have a great romance in the mix as well. I found it very balanced between "deep" and "light" and overall really enjoyed it.

The recipes at the end of every chapter were such a special touch and perhaps my fave part of the book. I looked forward to each one as I read along.

Highly touted as "Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls" by media and the author, it mostly delivers. I got the same warm fuzzies and felt the drama and magic run deep. However, I missed the GG witty banter and there was some dialog that felt a little forced.

It seems like the author left it open for a sequel so I'm hopeful we have a little more Revelare magic in our future.

Overall, really enjoyed this one and if it's the only witchy book I read this season (it won't be) I would be satisfied!

DNFing this. I have no desire to continue. The main character is one dimensional and boring and I have no interest in seeing where the story goes. Thanks anyway for the arc.

This was not what I anticipated based on the promise of Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. I feel like I was waiting to connect to it in the ways that I have connected with both of those witchy, cozy, small town classics. I was hoping for a lighthearted cozy witchy read for the month of October, and was left disappointed.

We follow Sadie, a small-town baker with magical powers that runs a café. Sadie has a curse that says if she experiences four major heartbreaks in her lifetime that she will lose her magic. Sadie goes about her life keeping an emotional distance after already experiencing two heartbreaks. When her ex-Jake comes back to town with his new partner, Sadie’s feelings start to emerge once again.

There was too much happening in this for anything to be properly executed leaving many plot holes and grey areas. The romance was undeveloped and boring. We don’t know anything about Sadie and Jake’s past other than they have a past but are expected to believe how important they are to each other. As a main character, Sadie isn’t very likeable. She is immature, rather selfish, and complains way too much about her heartbreaks using them as an excuse for her behavior.

The lightheartedness and witty personalities of Gilmore Girls were not present, the inspiration must have been solely the small town. While Sadie and her family had magical powers, I didn’t make the connection to Practical Magic at all. Especially as there was a religious agenda being pushed in witchcraft?

My favorite part of the book were the recipes that are shared at the end of every chapter. That definitely added some charm.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie Revelare has always known she has the curse of four heartbreaks that comes with her magic. She’s already had two when her grandmother receives a diagnosis that doesn’t leave her much time. Then her ex, Jake, moves back home and her twin brother, Seth, returns home with family secrets and drama. Sadie has to figure out if love or Magic is more important.

I liked this one but it wasn’t quiet what I expected. I love witchy books and enjoyed the small town feel with family drama. I needed more romance though and I didn’t get an emotional connection to any of the characters. Overall a cozy read for this time of year. There are also recipes at the end of chapters which is cute and a fun detail:)

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for an arc for review.

I would probably have given this 3.5 but 3 feels WAY too harsh so I will go with 4.

I binged this book in a day and a half. Whilst it won't be a book that I re-read again and again, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Despite having some tough themes - the scenes dealing with grief were very touching and authentic - the book overall was lighthearted and fun.

If youre looking for a short, wholesome fantasy read - that doesnt have huge amounts of complex lore and world building - then this is a lovely short read.

Sadly, I found this book unfortunate…

2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️💫

Sadie and her family are magical. However, every persons magic also comes with a curse. Hers is 4 heartbreaks. This book follows Sadie as she goes through her last 2 heartbreaks.

Without giving too much away this book has a lot going on. Some really great (family coming back together, small town vibes) and others not so great (rape, suicide attempt, death of a family member). I almost wish the romance in this book was left out. The family aspect was so much more beautiful.

Overall, I felt like the book dragged and I ended up skimming a lot.

My review is a bit unfortunate…

I wanted to read this book because of the description that it was a mix of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls. I got the Practical Magic vibes, but I didn’t see much of Gilmore Girls happening. I wanted more quick wit from the characters which is my favorite aspect of Gilmore Girls, but I just didn’t get that.

My favorite part of the book was the recipes. Other than that, the story fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t care for any of the characters. I thought that Sadie was whiney and annoying and I’m not really one to like second chance romances.

Another thing that felt odd was that that these witches were…religious? I’m not knocking religion but, I wasn’t really sure why they went to church. It just takes away from the witchy vibe and felt like the author was probably wanting to push their beliefs on the reader?

I do not think this book was billed correctly. It was described as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, but that was not the vibe. It felt like I was dropped into a story that was already happening with little explanation. The characters were fun but there were too many of them.

Wanted to love this one. It’s got so many rave reviews. But it just fell flat. And in a book steeped in magic, the most unbelievable thing was a positive church experience at a southern Baptist church as a magic wielding witch.

Sadie owns a bakery, and each of her recipes are spells. Really, a recipe is the very definition of a spell if you think about it. Her Rum-Soaked Peach Muffins with Walnut Streusel Topping is known to "incite euphoria and preserve only happy memories", so don't indulge too frequently or it could be worse for you. I love how Breanne Randall finishes her chapters with a recipe to coincide with this. Some of them sound utterly delicious, others are so comforting they're like a hug from Grandma. Either way there are more than a handful I will be trying for myself, such as Orange Balsamic Marinade, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Athena's Tea, Orange Honey Vanilla Scones, and Fried Chicken "Just because it's damn good. Your hands will get messy, your clothes will smell like grease, and it'll all be worth it. The only magic here is good food.".

When Sadie's estranged twin brother returns after they learn that their Grandmother is dying, he brings back with him deeply buried family secrets that could bring Sadie's work crashing down around her. She must ultimately choose between love and her magic.

Perfect for fans of Practical Magic, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I know I’m definitely in the minority here, but this one just didn’t grab me. From the description, I genuinely thought I would absolutely love it. It very well could be one that I need to try again at a later date and maybe then it’ll click, but for now, it was not for me.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic has a witchy recipe for every soul
I cried sad tears, sweetness overload tears, and happy tears while reading this beautifully witchy story. The book is cups of love, hope, resiliency, and strength mixed in and sprinkled with a healthy dose of magic.


When we first meet Sadie in The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall, she is not having a good day. Bad omens are everywhere, and her usual protections are not working. She knows bad news is around the corner. The signs tell her someone from her past might be returning, and they are right. Jake, the man who one day left her without explanation and she never stopped loving, is back in town.

But Sadie cannot afford another heartbreak. She has two under her belt, and her magic will run out after the fourth. That is the curse that balances her blessing—she can help people through her magic, but if she wants to do it indefinitely, she needs to protect it. Sadie refuses to let anybody in because she needs to preserve her magic and her heart.

And now Jake, her first heartbreaker, is back in town and seeking her out. Meanwhile, she still carries the heartbreak of not knowing anything about her twin brother, who split one day without explanation. Even worse, Gigi, her grandmother and family matriarch, is dying. Are heartbreaks three and four looming around the corner and impossible to avoid?

“She wanted to go back to the way things were. She wanted her brother before he’d abandoned her. Gigi before she’d shared her secrets. Jake before he’d broken her heart. Life before the threat of death.”
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is not just about heartbreak. It’s also about love, family, and the magic that surrounds us all the time in the little things—the acts of love we gift, the moments (and the food) we share with the people we love, and the decisions we make to protect them. It’s a story about processing grief, and it’s full of sorrow, but it is also cozy and hopeful. I loved reading about how Sadie uses food and gardening to channel her magic.

“They made jars of orange-infused honey that would bring joy back into the lives of those who ate it, sachets of snowdrop tea to give hope, and hard-candy wood sorrel drops to help new mothers. There was olive oil infused with rosemary and black pepper to encourage adventurous love, and yellow rose petal jam to make the eater forgive and forget.”

I think a big part of the reason I loved The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall is that, as an aspiring coffee shop and bakery owner, I believe food is magic and can cure any ailment of the soul. But also, what is not to love about a book dedicated to the magical bond we have with grandmas and siblings? Have I mentioned it also includes some mouthwatering and potentially healing recipes? I will most definitely be trying some of those.

Side note for Breanne, I’m really going to need you to post that honey lemon pound cake recipe. My soul needs Gigi’s take on this already favorite.