This was a disappointment for me, The blurb sounded great but it was overloaded with characters which didn't allow for a full development of the characters. I really disliked the romance element, it felt forced and Sadie forgave Jake way too easily. Who runs into the arms of someone who hurt them as soon as you see them again years after?

I think the author has potential but she threw all her ideas at one story and it is very clear how influenced she was by Practical Magic. The book would benefit from an editor going back over the story to help it. I received an early advance so it is possible changes will be made before actual release.

This book was a miss for me. I do see high ratings from others but I couldn't see the appeal.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanna Randall

Thanks to Head of Zeus (Aries & Aria) for my Netgalley copy of the book!

This book was pitched as Practical Magic meets The Gilmore Girls and whilst I’ve only seen snippets of The Gilmore Girls (don’t come for me!) I LOVE LOVE LOVE Practical Magic. And so this was a must buy for me.

I really enjoyed this book. And it is most definitely filled with heartbreak and magic.

I really enjoyed the character of Sadie and her deep love of her magic. I loved how each of the characters surrounding her understood her and tried to nudge her in the right direction and how she clung steadfast to her magic and her avoidance of another heartbreak.

I loved how magical explanations were infused into everything and the explanations for each recipe shared and what they were for. It made me want magic of my own 🥰

The recipes in the book are simple to follow and add so much to the book - I feel like a separate mini book is needed as an accompaniment so that I don’t splash ingredients all over this lush story 😍

Overall if you love magical realism then I cannot recommend this book enough. Perfect for the autumnal season and will make your heart swell with love.

Described as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls I was keen to read this. That been said, it didn't really vibe with me in quite that way.

Ok, there is small town vibes, family and magic but the family sure is dysfunctional and the magic played down.

I rounded this up to 4 stars and enjoyed this as a quick, cosy read with witchy vibes but found it had rather too many aspects I was not keen on to want to read again.

I found the main character rather annoying, and disliked that she took so rubbish from everyone in the story. 8 would have like to have seen more of the romance background story in this book. 10 years apart and not much background seemed a little way beyond second chance romance to me. And I wasnt overly keen on the whole ' I forgot to say I'm engaged' storyline.

Over all it was an ok read with elements I enjoyed

I was excited to read this based on the Gilmore Girls x Practical Magic comparison, but it quickly became apparent this wasn’t for me. I loved some of the secondary characters - Gigi was excellent, and i wish Lavender and Lace got more air time. I liked the sensory aspects of the descriptions and enjoyed the setting. I just wish the story had been a little more straightforward as I found the magic system / curses a little hard to follow.

Having seen many early reviews for this book, comparing it to Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls I couldn't wait to read it.

In The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic we follow Sadie, and her witchy ancestral line that is cursed, doomed to heartbreak if they use their magic. The setting of this is so cosy, and I enjoyed all the cafe scenes, this is a perfect autumnal read and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the chance to read The Unfortunate Side Affects of Heartbreak and Magic.

It is a cosy, small-town magical tale with an emotional mix of curses, heartbreak, magic and romance. Sadie's viewpoint immerses the reader in her fears, grief and hopes. There is detailed world-building, an authentic family dynamic and a sense of community and magic. I like the distinct small-town North American vibe with echoes of 'Charmed'.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Actual review 4.5 stars

I was super lucky to get to read an ARC from Netgalley of this novel and I’m so glad I applied for it. I definitely recommend if you’re a fan cozy magical reads!

I feel like this book nurtured me. The descriptions alone brought me back to my childhood and memories of helping my mum cook. Plus the themes of grief, death, and sacrifice are all themes I try to explore in my own writing.

I really loved the unique family members and the way they interacted with each other. I teared up throughout the book and genuinely liked our main character Sadie and especially her relationship with her grandmother Gigi. This is a very cozy yet important book which helps you explore yourself as the story drives forward.

i did enhoy this story but it isnt up there for me. i loved the characters however they definitely could have been more diverse as i feel like this genre of cozy fantasy has really brought together a community who wants to read about a diverse range of characters in their stories.
i loved the kitchen witch vibes, ive definitely been enjoying these cozy, kitchen/cafe boojs after reading legends and lattes

This is a cute and cosy Autumn read, described as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic. I've seen this all over social media, and maybe it was the hype that left me slightly disappointed that some of the main characters weren't all that likeable, but overall a great read for a cosy night in with all the recipes you could want.

Cute, cozy, witchy, packed with warmth, family love, and yummy food references.

I totally got the Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls vibes of this book, with the quirky family of witches and the town setting being similar to Stars Hollow.

The story was packed full of different elements, with romance, mystery, heartbreak, and comedy all mixed together, resulting in a plot full of elements that put the main character, Sadie, through the ringer. She seems to go on such a journey through the book, as she navigates the events unfolding.

This is the ideal book to curl up with infront of a fire this Autumn, as you get a little lost in the magic. At the end of every chapter you have a recipe that reflects what you've read, which all sound so yummy -- I definitely saved some to try later!

Overall I give this book a 4⭐, and would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this arc in return for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Um what the heck, this was friggin adorable. It was so cosy, and the witchy small town vibes made me so happy. There are actual recipes!! Such a delightful touch. I adored this book.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, Breanne Randall
Rated - 4 / 5 ✨

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Aria Fiction for the copy in return for an honest review 🫶🏻

It took me a few chapters to truly get into this book, however once I was in, I was captivated by it, I went through every emotion, and it was done in such a beautiful way. I cried, more than I’d like to admit.

This book was full of small town, witchy energy, it followed Sadie through her personal journey of four heartbreaks following a curse from her younger years, the return of the one who broke her heart first, but also the realities of life, grief, denial, being unable to control everything. Things we all go through.

I adored the family dynamic in this book, in fact I loved the Revelare family, especially Gigi. The support, the love, the magic from them all was so infectious.

One thing that was such a lovely touch was the recipes at the end of every chapter, each one put a smile on my face.

This book truly has heartbreak, in all forms, but it also has joy, in the most magical way. It truly was a gorgeous witchy autumn read ✨🍂

Light and humorous with a real sense of Gilmore Girls style, this is fun reading, especially with the wonderful magical realism woven through. It's clear why it's a social media favourite and hopefully reaches a wide audience who will fall in love with it.

Rating 4 Stars
Spice 0

I would like to thank Aria and Aries, as well as Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful ARC.

If someone asked me to describe how this book feels, I would answer, “it feels like receiving a warm hug from the sun on a cold winters day with a coffee”. This book is so cozy and I am here for it.

Sadie and her grandmother Gigi own a cafe in town selling scrumptious cakes, breads and pies that are spellbound. These goodies have the ability to give clarity, confidence and take away stress. Sadie’s magic is everything to her and it brings her close to the community through her baking.
Ps her recipes are in the book as well :)

Sadies’ magic is what makes her Sadie, or so she believes. When not one but 3 events tilt her world on its axis what will she do?

Breanne Randall sucked me right into this book. It is the perfect book for fall with its cozy, witchy vibes.

I really wanted to love this book but sadly it wasn't for me. I can definitely see the appeal, however I guess I was expecting more from the advertising of Gilmore Girls meets Practical magic and I felt it fell short of both of those things. The recipes slotted between the chapters was an incredibly cozy touch and the descriptions of baking in the kitchen and gathering in the garden were cozy, but the story overall left me with a deep sense of anxiety that shouldn't be so prevalent in the genre of "cozy fantasy". This book is much more high stakes than "cozy fantasy" actually is. The story is all meant to be hopeful but even half way through the book, there was nothing but sadness for the main character, and the romance seemed a bit forced and inorganic to me. I know that other people love this book and I am no way saying you shouldn't read this. However, I am saying that you should know this isn't "cozy fantasy" when you pick it up, more so "magical realism". You are in for a fair bit of pain before the main character gets any happy moments.

This book is a captivating journey through the depths of imagination. Its rich storytelling and well-developed characters kept me engaged from start to finish. With its thought-provoking themes, it transcends genres and offers something for every reader. A must-read for anyone seeking a literary adventure.

So the premise of this story was intriguing to me and honestly it rang true. It is kind of like practical magic meets Gilmore girls. It was funny and wholesome and painted such a picturesque portrait of their small town and it’s quirks. It really drew me in while being incredibly easy to read.

I loved Sadie’s love of magic and cooking and how the two connected - I guess cooking is a type of magic the results of which can be comforting.

I enjoyed the set up of the family dynamic and how the family past and backstory were brought up. I did feel that some parts were rushed under the guise of information that the reader got about past events but overall it was cute read about family, love, sacrifice and figuring out who you are.

This book was kindly provided as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5

I was expecting similar vibes to Legends and Lattes but I found the story lacked the essence to make it a comfort read. The main character wasn't particularly likeable and I felt everyone was jumping through hoops to please her with minimal character development. A predictable plot with a couple of surprises along the way. I believe the main reason I did not enjoy it as much as I wished to was due to the 3rd person's POV as I always felt at a distance from what was going on.

"It's a curse of four heartbreaks, sugar."

Gigi shook her head almost as if she were angry. "Each one will be worse than the last. They'll be so deep they'll rend your heart in two. And if you're not careful, when all four heartbreaks come to pass, the curse will follow you like storm clouds, leaning forward towards you like wheat in the wind. Love only as you are willing to lose your magic."

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall is fantastic! I finished it in one day because it was so good I couldn't stop until I had finished it. It is the perfect seasonal read, described in marketing as a cross between Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic. I can't come up with a better description than that as it perfectly describes it.

The Revelare family are blessed with magic, but with each person's magic there is a curse.

"The curse was the most mysterious part of their legacy. All the Revelares had magic, but they also had a curse to accompany it. For nature demanded balance, and that was its way of keeping things in check."

For Sadie the price of using her magic is that she will suffer four heartbreaks, the last of which will lead to her magic leaving her. Sadie grew up with her grandmother Gigi after her mother abandoned her and her twin brother Seth. Seth took of with no explanation, and her first love Jake left breaking her heart in the process. The only way Sadie can stop herself falling apart is to carefully control every aspect of her life, including who she lets into her heart. If they can't get in then they can't leave her.

"Long ago , she let herself dream of her own house, a pair of toothbrushes, maybe even water spots on the mirror from a child brushing their teeth too close.

But her curse made that impossible, and she'd given up on romance too long ago for it to make a difference now."

Then Jake returns and she learns that her beloved grandma is terminally ill. Both discoveries lead to Sadie losing control of both her magic and her emotions. Sadie feels herself yearning for Jake once again but is her magic more important than love?

Gigi reminded me of my grandad - a storyteller who loved to cook. It made me love the book even more to learn that the book was a tribute to her grandmother and Sadie's grief for her grandmother clearly is based on real feelings, and made me think of my own thoughts leading up to and after my grandad's death.

"Her voice was scratchy and Sadie had an instant urge to record everything she said so she could have it forever. Why hadn't she ever been better at taking photos and videos? Why hadn't she journalled all of Gigi's stories, recorded all her funny sayings and typed out recipes so she'd never forget them?"

Gigi is a perfectly written character who smokes like a chimney and swears like a trooper, but she also has a huge amount of love for her family and for the community of Poppy Meadows.

The recipes and descriptions of food in this book made me constantly hungry and I enjoyed that Sadie's magic was combined with her love of cooking. Her cafe sounded like a dream come true.

"The glass case brimmed with orange-essence croisants sprinkled with candied zest, the card in front reading, 'will cause enthusiasm, encouragement and sucess.' It's neighbour, the fruit and basil tartlets that glistened like a long-forgotten dream read, 'use for good wishes, love and serious intent.' And the cinnamon streusel cake that some locals swore would turn your day lucky, had a card that simply said, 'Stability.'

Generations ago, the townsfolk would have rebuken or shunned such blatent displays of magic. Now, even if they didn't understand it, they welcomed it with relish and a rumbling stomach."

I am not a fan of romance books on the whole, but if that book is combined with a witchy theme then I am all for it. I enjoyed the storyline that played out between Jake and Sadie, it was there in the story but I never felt that the actually plot of the book was sidelined by it. The romance was a welcome addition, a side dish to compliment the main event.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic contained a number of characters with some form of mental health condition and I felt the author dealt with the topics sensitively without making them a gimmick. Excellent work.

The Revelare family are not soon going to leave me, including the extended family, and I hope I read about some of them again.

"A legacy without love ain't worth a damn, sugar"

2.75 ⭐ rounded up to a 3

Thank you NetGallery and Breanne Randall for this ARC!

I had high hopes for this book as the blurb and cover really drew me in but I was left feeling a bit flat. The book did have the cosy autumn vibes that I was looking for at this time of the year but the story and characters didn't hit the spot. I was very close to DNFing this book at around 30% but I powered through to see if it would get any better but sadly it didn't.

There was a lot of characters in this book to keep track of which made me not develop any strong attachments the main characters. I didn't really like Sadie, the main character, and as the book continued she actually started to annoy me. She acted very immature and held grudges that were not really justified.

The chapters were way too long for my liking, they could have definitely been shorter. At first I liked all the referencing to cooking and baking but that did get old very quickly as the book continued, way to much of it by the end. The build up to all the drama in the book (the romance, the curse) was very flat throughout the whole book, I was never overly hooked and then when it got to the ending, I felt it was rushed and the story was over just like that. I did find the recipes at the end of each chapter a nice touch.

I'm sure some people will really get on with this book but for me it just wasn't what I hoped for. There is hints of good in this book, and I felt like it had a lot of potential but sadly it wasn't meant to be for me, the title and cover are still great though.