What if one spell could change your life? After a bad break up Gemma drunkenly decides to erase her ex from her life but accidentally ends up in an alternate timeline where her best friend Dax doesn't know she exists. That description had me hooked, and whilst I found it a little difficult to get into at first, it really warmed up after a couple chapters. Gemma starts off messy, self-centred and afraid of being bold and she goes through some good character development. I also love that the alternate timeline was all those what it's and wish fulfilments. Strong themes around making the most out of life, which I enjoyed.Dax was sweet and caring, though he got over their first meeting in their alternate timeline too quickly for my liking! No spoilers. The romance was cute friends to lovers/ strangers to lovers and the spice was mild. There are a couple of sex scenes and some sexual innuendos, so if that's not for you, maybe best to skip this book. I was expecting maybe more magic, but it didn't feel missing. Overall this was a cosy romance that I would happily recommend.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a fun lighthearted read about how life can be different based on the choices we make. The characters were fun, though they could have been developed further. The story being set in Canada was a deviation from my usual reads and I really liked that. The pacing also didn’t feel off with the time jumps like it can in other stories as it was well written.

Gemma and I have one thing in common... we love a margaritas - and for that reason I was instantly sold! I'm not usually a friends-to-lovers girlie but I ate this up!

Absolutely perfect! That’s what this book is.
I can’t believe this is from a debut author, the writing, plot and characters were that of a seasoned pro.

A sliding doors-esque book which explores the what ifs with relationships: what if you could say no to the ex-boyfriend? What if you said yes to your best friend? What if you could a do-over?

Gemma just split up with Stuart and now all her plans are falling apart: marriage, safety, security. Dax is Gemma's best friend, but originally met her the day she met Stuart, could he be in love with her? One drunken spell changes everything and maybe even gives her everything she thought she'd lost.

This was… okay. Enjoyable but not perfect or memorable.

The premise was very intriguing and it did deliver on some aspects. However, I didn’t particularly like our main character, Gemma, and the writing was not really my cup of tea.

I truly enjoyed this book, I have fallen in love with the authors writing, and I will be keeping my eye out for future releases of hers for sure! A very pleasant surprise reading this one.

this had so much promise but i couldn’t get into the writing and the layout of the book was awful and all over the place. there were also numerous typos and letters missing, which i’m guessing is because of the format and hopefully it’s better now that it’s published

What a glorious book. So funny. So romantic. I just loved it. Gemma and Dax are best friends. When she breaks up with her boyfriend, she wishes she had never met him and her wish somehow ends up becoming true. The only problem is, the night she met her ex is also the night she met Dax. In a new version of her life, she tries to reconnect with him but realises he is much more than a friend to her in the process.

Just a totally solid and gripping plot, with such an interesting moral dilemma. Gemma is the most likeable FMC I’ve read in a while. This is also so swoony. The angst, the longing, the hall pass to get it on with her best friend. Too good. This also has such a perfect ending. When they kiss in Gemma’s real timeline and it’s so right and Dax says it didn’t feel like a first kiss 😭

Side note- this book really made me wish I had a sister. The portrayal or Gemma’s relationship with her sister was so endearing ❤️

What to expect:

- friends to lovers
- alternate timeline
- lols
- he falls first
- quite spicy

Great concept, one wish changes things for Gemma and her friendship with Dax. Romance, friendship and family dramas all rolled into one. When things are going great for Gemma , they aren't for Dax. Does true romance win?

This book is so underrated in the romance/romantasy community!

I loved this sliding-doors style story! The relationship between the characters was adorable and I loved the hint of magic throughout the book.

The story was highly captivating and made me feel like a was living in the story.

3/5 stars! I really liked the cover of this book and the premise was entertaining. The book isn't exactly original and doesn't do much to add to the magical contemporary romance genre. But it doesn't detract from it either. It kind of reminded me of 13 Going on 30. I enjoyed it and Dax was a cinnamon roll. I think it's an enjoyable book that could have benefited from a bit more depth of the characters.

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

A friends-to-lovers dream! I loved Gemma and Dax's relationship and the added sprinkle of magic just intensified my like for this novel. Such a fun romance.

Gemma ends up in a parallel world where she hasn't been with her horrible ex. Her best friend Dax doesn't remember her either

*3.25

This was such a quick, fun, fast-paced and easy read. I read this in near enough one evening and really enjoyed it.
The plot was fun albeit a little rushed in the final chapters when wrapping things up and Gemma was trying to get back to her normal life.
I think it could have been executed better.
The characters I liked but Gemma was definitely OTT! She had some certain cringey one-liners I just didn’t like and it ruined the more tender moments between her and Dax.
I liked Dax but he didn’t feel like the typical manly love interest I usually like in books and swoon over but he was very sweet and caring of Gemma which I liked!
The writing was good but very wordy.
I like the sister, Kiersten!
I just wish the end wasn’t so rushed but I’d be interested to read more from Kate!

Gemma has just had her heart broken by her long term boyfriend and the only cure is margaritas with her aunt, her sister, and her best friend Dax.
She’s so heartbroken that when her slightly quirky aunt suggests a spell to go back and make it so that Gemma has never met her ex, Gemma agrees without a second thought. Mostly because there’s no way it will ever work. Right?

After many margaritas, a magic spell and a kiss from Dax to seal the deal, Gemma wakes up in an alternate universe where she never did meet her ex, but that also means that she never met her best friend, Dax. To reverse the spell, Gemma must get Dax to kiss her again which is proving difficult since again, they’ve never met. Gemma has also found that, from a career standpoint, this version of herself has everything she has ever wanted, so does she really want to go back?

This book was sweet. I definitely related to Gemma’s analysis paralysis when it comes to big decisions and sometimes making the riskier one. It would be nice if I could try a few of them out in an alternate universe before applying them to my real life.

I am generally not a fan of a friends to lovers trope however this one worked. Gemma was clearly in denial of a lot of things in her life in fear of change, good or bad, so the denial of her feelings for Dax was believable. The banter was cute and silly and in general it was a very enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a a sweet, funny, friends to lovers romcom, this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin UK, and Kate Robb for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Practical Magic Meets Scrooge

This Spells Love
Kate Robb
Penguin Random House
Release date: 7th Dec 2023

Sometimes what you want, isn’t what you need.
Gemma Wilde is recovering from a breakup with the help of Nana’s Old-Fashioned Doughnuts followed by a night with Aunt Livi’s margaritas and the company of her best friend Dax and sister Kiersten.
When the three get together, it’s time to roast Stu, the predictable and consistent – aka boring – ex, a little like Midnight Margaritas in ‘Practical Magic’.
Aunt Livi lives above her quirky, crystal and incense filled bookstore. Which is where they all end up; looking for a ‘love cleansing’ spell in a book, also ironically called ‘Practical Magic: A Complete Guide for the Modern Mystic’. It’s an old brown-leather-bound book with yellowed pages and old handwriting. And you know that means mischief is afoot.
In erasing Stuart, the ex, she’s somehow extracted Dax from her life, which is an utter and total catastrophe. He’s her best friend, her confidant, her – well, he might just be the most important person no longer in her life.
There’s some great little ‘Easter eggs’ in the book, such as referencing ‘Big’, ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ and the fact that Gemma met Daxton at a ‘dive bar’ called ‘The Prince and Pauper’.
This is very much in the vein of 13 Going on 30 and similar ROM cons, in which one stupid decision – or ridiculous spell – turns Gemma’s life upside down whilst also showing her things she’s only dreamed of.
It’s sweet, funny – hilarious even – emotional, sexy and adorable.
Kooky Aunt Livi is one of the highlights of the book, as is Dax the guy who has pined for years remaining a steadfast friend.
This is the life and love eye-opening experience that she needs, and makes her realise the high powered job with the big salary isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
And everything she wanted was there all along.
Swoon.

So this was a friends to lovers story done in the best way. I’m not really a fan of the friends to lovers trope but here it made such sense and was done in such a fun way that allowed for the character to learn new things about themselves and that’s what made it interesting.

The magical elements were really nicely woven into the story and Gemma and Dax just had the sweetest moments. I will say her aunt was definitely one of my fave side characters but her relationship with her sister was very sweet too. It was an all around nice read.

This book was provided as an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t realise this had a Groundhog-Day trope in it. and unfortunately I’m just really not a fan of them.

Such a cute romantic story. A nice quick and easy read. Will definitely help you get out of a slump, definitely recommend if you would like an easy romcom