I adored this book! It was funny, romantic, emotional and everything in between. I loved the aunt and her weird quirks. I was rooting for everybody in this book to get their happy ending and when they did I loved this book even more!

*2.75*

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a romance book in the vein of Sliding Doors.
The main character, Gemma, has recently had a bad breakup and in order to forget about her ex, she decides to perform a spell she doesn't even believe in.
Except, it works out and she wakes up in a world where her best friend Dax doesn't have a clue about who she is.

I entered into this book with high expectations because on paper it had everything I could enjoy such as the friends to lovers trope (my favourite in romance) and some magic.
In the end, the friends to lovers it simply is not there, and I was aware of that since the plot specifically says that Dax doesn't remember her in another universe, but the moments of their friednship are simply non-existent and I was so sorry to notice that.
But what mainly took me out of the book was just that something that happened in the alterante reality was just not too believable for me, and the relationship between the two main characters was just too rushed, and in the end I didn't believe it.

There were also things I enjoyed such as the humor in this one, and it never bored me, so in that aspect it was a good read, I always wanted to pick it up, but up until the last chapters I hoped the book would end in a way that in the end just didn't deliver like I would have liked. Something about the ending was confusing, and too simple.

What I really enjoyed was the relationship between Gemma and her sister Kiersten. It was so heartwarming to see, and for sure my favourite thing in the entire novel. I'm an only child, and the sibling relationship always fascinates and moves me.

In the end, I'm sorry to say this novel didn't particularly work for me, but if you like romance novels with alternate universes, and a dash of magic, this could be the one for you.

3.5 ⭐️
This book was such an interesting concept and I absolutely loved Dax and Gemma as a couple!
Imagine waking up after doing a spell to find yourself in an alternate reality where you didn’t get broken up with but your best friend doesn’t know who you are?! I definitely would’ve thought I was going crazy much more than Gemma did. Can’t lie, I definitely would be questioning my sense of reality so much more.
There was one thing that I wasn’t a massive fan of which was how they met in the alternate universe, I feel like he got over her potentially stalking him very quickly? Like girl broke into his store and told him things she shouldn’t know about him and he was completely fine with that after a few days?
This book was so fun, it was a little predictable but if you want a fluffy paranormal (ish) rom-com it definitely does a great job. I read this as a palette cleanser after a heavy fantasy book and I couldn’t be happier with it.

This novel was right up my alley and didn't disappoint me at all. As many of you already know, I love themes about time travel, parallel universes and alternative realities.

In this book, Gemma regrets an old relationship and ends up wishing that the relationship had never existed, so she is taken to an alternative reality of her life that she didn't know she wanted. This book is about dreams, second chances and empowerment, accompanied by a heart-warming love story.

I read this book in no time, the writing is easy and very fluid, the narrative has plenty of rhythm. As for the story itself, I was completely captivated, I really enjoyed the narrative and the character arcs, ending up with some simple but interesting twists.

As for the romance and the characters, I have to admit that I was completely taken with both. I'm not much for Friends to Lovers, but this one won me over completely, I loved the development of the couple. As for the characters, I loved Gemma's development throughout the book, as she starts to gain more confidence in herself and to be more ambitious with her own life, as for Dax, I thought he was the cutest, I loved how supportive he was of Gemma throughout the book.

I highly recommend reading this book. It's perfect for anyone looking for a light, fluffy contemporary romance with a little twist.

This Spells Love is a fun in between read with fantasy and a tiny bit of magic. It is a book that you should not read with a critical eye.

We meet Gemma as she is nursing a broken heart. After a few years her boyfriend has broken up with her and she is having a hard time dealing with that. Enter her sister and aunt who pull her out of her appartment and into a girls night. And her aunt has just the thing for Gemma, a spell to forget all about Stuart. Except that it doesn't quite go as expected.

The romance, the characters and the writing all mostly worked very well. I read through this book very quickly and enjoyed myself. But once I closed the book, and started looking at the story more closely, I saw things that made this book easy to forget. Those were two main things for me, the magic and the depth.

Lets start with the magic. This book wants to use a little bit of magic for this story to work. Gemma does the spell and enters a life in which she has never met her boyfriend. That takes quite a bit of magic. You can't just throw in a magic book and a spell like a throwaway element. This part could have used a lot more work to flesh out. It didn't even have to be huge. In my mind her aunt is a witch and that book club she runs clearly is a club of witches. But that is where my mind went, not what was in the book. Just a fleshing out of something like that would have added a little something. And there would still be room for this to mainly be a romance.

My other complaint is perhaps a bit bigger and more important. At first glance it seems like Gemma and Dax are complex characters. Enough for this book to be enjoyable. But if I look at Gemma I mostly see love life and work life. Nearing the end she luckily realized that she also has a sister who is super supportive. Who is also a person and not just her emotional support person. But there is more to a person than that. And there is some hinting at what kind of life she and her sister grew up in but nothing more than that. Since it is being used as the reason she wants to go for safe all the time, more depth on that was kind of needed for that to mean something.

As for Dax, I kind of hated the line that first Dax was succesful and second Dax was unsuccesful. And I also see problems in the future for her relationship with first Dax since she technically fell in love with the second Dax. And they weren't quite the same person because of different experiences. That wasn't addressed.

I loved Gemma's aunt and her sister. Or rather I loved the idea of them because I made them bigger characters in my head (as seen earlier in this review) than was actually in the book. In the book they are just a prop for Gemma's story. And Gemma treats them like that. While that was slightly addressed, it certainly wasn't enough.

This book could have had depth and a more believeable magical idea and still be a romance. There was room. The bones are there. It just needed a bit more window dressing.

Having said that, I do think this can be great read if you aren't looking for anything too deep and just want something fun. It very, very softly touches some things. And if you aren't looking for something deep and just want the fun of a well written romantic relationship with a love interest who is soft and sweet, than this book is right for you.

Another great 4 star read!

This book was such a fun and light hearted plot. I expected tons of magic but got a fun rom-com with some fun ‘magic’ elements but it wasn’t half of what I expected at all, in a good way. I read this book in between some heavier reads and was so glad I got the chance to as I think it gave me a nice break from the fantasy and heavier topics!

Gemma FMC was actually really relatable. Going through a though time and with the help of some (unique) family members, her world is changed in a matter of moments.

I found all of the characters as a whole extremely fun and dynamic.

As for the plot, I found myself laughing out load and talking to myself at times trying to keep up. The type of romance I didn’t know I needed!

Overall an enjoyable plot. Not a Halloween book at all. A fun and easy read, highly recommend to romance lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this eARC!

I loved this book so much. The characters were so loveable. Every character had something special about them that had me rooting for them the whole time.

A fun plot that kept me interested throughout and towards the end on the edge of my seat.

This was very well written and easy to read and had everything I need in a romance book. Highly recommended!

This Spells Love by Kate Robb was an utter joy to read, and that’s it’s a debut blows my mind. It’s safe to say that I’ll be lining up to read whatever she writes next.

This Spells Love is a brilliant ‘what if’ type of romance. Following the end of her 4 year relationship Gemms both literally and figuratively wished away her relationship. When she wakes up the next morning she does so in a parallel version of her world. The great news is that Stuart, the ex, has been erased from her past, the bad news that so too has Dax, her best friend, of four years who she’d met the same night as Stuart. But in this world, Gemma and Dax don't have years of friendship history keeping them from becoming something more...

I love so much that this story was inspired by Robb meeting her husband owing to a last minute change of Friday night plans, and the idea that one thing can have such huge ripple effects. This is a story about choice, consequence and how sometimes we need to follow our heart even if our head says otherwise. There is so much to love in this book that I’m going to hit you with a list:

🪄 I really liked our FMC Gemma, who went on quite the journey in the book, both in terms of her own growth and in understanding more about those closest to her
🩷 Dax, our MMC, who was a bit of a dream, even when things were falling apart for him in the other world
🪄 the strong sisterly relationship between Gemma and Kiersten
🩷 the mysterious and amazing Aunt Livi
🪄 wonderful friends to lovers - you really want to root for them
🩷 slow burn build up with some good steam

Overall, I absolutely loved This Spells Love, the only thing I’d wish for (and this is me being greedy) would be to have some kind of epilogue to see what happened to other Dax and if ‘other’ Gemma found her way to him. I really liked Dax in both worlds and felt so sorry for him in the ‘other’ world as things being to crumble. Still, this one is a strong recommend from me.

Headlines:
Friendships that change
Walking in another's shoes
A splash of magical realism

I don't know what I expected from this book with that title, but the events that spanned out from the love spell were surprising to me. Once the characters found themselves after that event, this book really piqued my interest on another level.

Gemma in the inital parts of this book was a little muted, she was low in mood and she wanted to break out from the funk she was in. The Gemma we got after the spell was full of spark and came out of herself. I really enjoyed seeing who she could become with her business and her relationship with her sister and aunt were endearing. But...all eyes were on that friendship-to-be with Dax.

Dax was a man of phases in this story and once you read it, that statement makes sense. I liked early Dax, then he hit his own life funk and his zest for life and Gemma was dull. The Dax we got to at the end was perfect.

This Spells Love was a clever concept with characters that it was easy to get invested in. Overall, an enjoyable contemporary romance with light but impactful feels.

Thank you Viking Books for the review copy.

A wonderful debut featuring love, passion, humour, whimsy and a little bit magic. I loved the friends to lovers vibes, the spice was so sweet and sexy at the same time, The main characters were so relatable yet very captivating too!
I really enjoyed the whole notion of wishing things were slightly different in your life and then having to actually deal with the consequences of that wish in a very real way.
Special shout-out to the inclusion of curling! It's my favourite sport to watch every time the Winter Olympics roll around, so it was great to read about in more depth here!
The resolution and how everything came together was great, I can't wait to see what Kate Robb writes next!

(My review will be posted on 7th December 2023 on my Bookstagram @rosesmagicalreads

I love the idea of soulmates, that your person is your person regardless of what timeline you’re in and that no matter what happens you’ll always find your way together. It’s so beautiful and comforting and one can only hope it’s true, so when I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint.

I LOVED seeing Gemma realize she was in love with Dax in the second timeline - the way they connected from the moment they met there (even though he didn’t know her before) and how Dax inevitably fell in love with her as they started spending time together and then went on showed her what they could have. I also loved the butterfly effect aspect of all of this, the way the tinniest change can make a huge difference and the subsequent dilemma that Gemma faced when she had to chose between her dream and the dreams of those she loved, and how she grew more confident in herself as the story progressed and the choice ended up being much easier than she thought it would.

However, as much as I love this type of book, the magic realism and the untreatable connection between soulmates, one thing I find they often lack is development when the MC comes back to the “og” timeline. These books are generally really focused on one of the timelines, which takes up most of the chapters and then when they return to the “real world” things tend to be really rushed, which I don’t love. I would have loved to seen more (even if only a little bit) of Gemma and Dax’s lives when she returned and that’s honestly the only reason why I’m not giving this book 5 stars.

Overall, I loved this book and had the best time reading it. I was really invested in the characters their stories, and the unbreakable connection connection between Dax and Gemma and couldn’t put it down.

4.5/5 Stars

A big thank you to Penguin General UK and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review💙

I enjoyed this book. It was like a will they won’t they type of book.

Gemma has just come out of relationship and is dealing with the breakup. Her Aunt, sister and her decide to do this spell will anything happen. Gemma has been friends with Dax for the last four years. Gemma wakes up in a parallel universe and realises over the next few weeks she feels differently about Dax. Will Gemma stay in this universe or go back to her one where she came from only time will tell.

The book was a sweet book and was quite light hearted I enjoyed the concept of it.

It kept my imagination going wondering what would happen.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This was a lot of fun to read, a sort of 'what if', Sliding Doors scenario. I do have to confess I thought there might be a more witchy, magical aspect but aside from the spell at the beginning which erases FMC Gemma's entire history with best friend Dax, there's not really any magical element.

All in all this was an easy, quick read. I wish I'd connected to the characters a bit more, but that's more a 'me' problem and not the book itself. I think when I go in expecting one thing and getting something a little different then it colours my experience reading it.

I mostly read fantasy and romantasy however I do tend to pick up the odd contemporary romance now and again, and I needed something light and fluffy to lighten my mood while rereading so many emotional books and this spells love delivered 10 fold!

I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through this one, and let’s just say Daxon has made it onto the book boyfriend list! It’s was the perfect blend of sliding doors, when harry met sally and a sprinkle of practical magic thrown in there too! It doesn’t specify the time of year it was set but it definitely gave me autumnal vibes, so perfect to read around this time of year.

Read this if you love:

💕friends to lovers
💕slow burn will they won’t they
💕sister relationships
💕witty banter
💕just enough spice 🌶️(perfectly executed)
💕great character development and well thought out side characters
💕coffee and doughnuts 😂(I was seriously craving doughnuts the whole time reading this)

I was given an ARC of this book by net galley.

This is a lovely friends to lovers small town romance.

Love the way that this story is written and how the love story between the two main characters evolves.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I am not usually a fan of this type of romance, however; I found this to be a sweet and light-hearted romantic comedy. The story had an extra touch of magic thanks to the witchy family. I particularly enjoyed the friends-to-lovers plot, and I was rooting for the characters from the very beginning.

However, I noticed several typos in the ebook, which made it difficult to read. Words with a double "f" were missing one letter, which affected the overall reading experience. I hope the publisher will note these errors and fix them before the publication date.

Despite this issue, I still believe that this book's storyline is a faultless, enjoyable read with a touch of romance that is well worth checking out if you are a fan of this genre.

Unfortunately, I do not see myself going out of my way to read more of this genre.

I really wanted to love this book. I get so excited whenever a story incorporates elements of time travel into everyday life. Sadly, I never quite gelled with Gemma so I didn’t find myself that invested in her journey. She was a rom-com cliche: messy and chaotic but quirky and beautiful. I think I could have glossed over this formulaic characterisation if she wasn’t so self-absorbed. I get that messing with the space-time continuum can make a person a little egocentric for a while, but Gemma constantly put herself and her needs before others, particularly her supportive sister Kiersten and of course Dax.

Gemma could also be annoyingly slow to pick up on things, especially when they concerned Dax. This made it harder for me to root for her and their romance. It was obvious that Dax (in both timelines) adored her, so it was frustrating to watch Gemma fight so hard against the idea of catching feelings for her best friend.

Despite the novel’s exciting premise and some moments of fun, the heroine let me down. She could be annoyingly ignorant and self-absorbed, often to the detriment of those who supported her.

A broken heart, a spell book and a few too many margaritas. Gemma has just got out of a 4 year relationship and is struggling to get over it. On a drunken night with her sister and her aunt, the three of them cast a love cleanse. Only problem is the cleanse requires a kiss to be completed. Enter Dax, Gemma best friend. After the kiss, Gemma wakes up in a whole new world. A world where her ex and her never got together. Only problem is, Dax doesn't remeber her either. Gemma begins to realise all the things her relationship brought her and needs to find a way to fix it. But is this new world better than hers? Does she really want to go back to her heartbreak?

I absolutely LOVED this book. After a recent reading slump I stormed this book in 3 days. It is so heartwarming and family oriented. The relationship between Gemma and Dax in both worlds is beautiful. Gemma sister and Aunt also play amazing roles in the book and add to the cozy vibe. Very lucky to have received this as an ARC and will definitely be buying a physical copy!

A break up has left Gemma heartbroken and missing her unsuitable ex Stuart. Aunt Livi invites Gemma over to her magical home an eclectic bookshop, for a night of margaritas to comfort her with her sister Kiersten and her handsome best friend Dax.for company. Whilst the margaritas are flowing Aunt Livi performs a spell to erase the night Gemma met Stuart, the only problem is it’s also the night Gemma first met Dax. The next morning Gemma goes to see Dax and soon realises nothing is as it was before the spell and her best friend Dax has no memory of ever meeting Gemma.

This is such a cute book, I loved the friends to lovers troupe ( they were perfect for each other ), the alternate reality of a changing timeline plus a sprinkling of magic✨.This is a perfect heartwarming read to devour in one sitting and to help ponder the what ifs .. very sliding doors romance.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb is a delightful romcom that weaves humor, romance, and a touch of magical realism into a captivating tale. Gemma, reeling from a painful breakup, takes a whimsical journey with her sister, eccentric aunt, and best friend Dax to erase her ex from her memories through a love-cleansing spell. However, the spell works a bit too well, transporting Gemma into an alternate reality where her past is unrecognizable, and Dax has no memory of their friendship.

Robb skillfully crafts a story filled with warmth, personal growth, and charming characters. Gemma's journey of self-discovery and her evolving relationship with Dax are heartwarming and relatable. Dax, the cinnamon roll book boyfriend, adds a swoon-worthy element to the narrative, making readers root for their connection.

The writing style is engaging, drawing readers in from the start with a unique and intriguing plot. The blend of humor, banter, chemistry, and a hint of magical elements creates a perfect concoction for a feel-good romantic comedy. The secondary characters are equally captivating, leaving readers hoping for a potential series to explore their stories.

Kate Robb's debut is a page-turner, combining elements of romance and magical realism in a way that feels fresh and enjoyable. This Spells Love is a must-read for those seeking a heartwarming and charming romantic escape. I devoured the book in a day and found myself enchanted by the story's warmth and coziness. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a delightful romcom with a touch of magic.
Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!