While this book started off strong, it slogged significantly in the middle and became very difficult to read. The character development was quite cyclical and it generally just became uninteresting. This could use some serious editing.

DNF @ 89%

Oh my gosh I wanted to love this book so much. I loved the plus-sized rep and the black characters. The small town feel was really cute as well and the spice was sizzling. However I found that I didn’t feel the emotional development as much. Since the author was trying to prove that they had a deep soulmate level connection I had an even harder time with how noncommittal Sirena was. I just really didn't buy that they were soulmates at all which was a shame because I loved both of the characters individually. They have very strong motivations and compelling backstories. I was rooting for both of them on their own but not necessarily as a couple. I also felt like the magical elements weren't tied into the story in a coherent way. They didn't feel like they made sense in the world which was frustrating. If you're looking for black main characters or plus-sized rep this might be worth a try. I just know it wasn't for me.

This was a cozy read perfect for the fall season.
It was witchy and cute.

A few parts didn't hold my attention well and were a bit hard to get through but altogether l'd recommend this one.

A cute and cozy romance, perfect for fall! Sirena finds herself stuck in a time loop, getting a second chance at the worst October ever—will this time be any different? With the help of Gus, a famed magician, there’s a chance she can rekindle her magic and add some fun to the mix! I found the overall plot and the magic system in this story to be so unique and enjoyable!

This was a cute book. I did feel that since I didn't read the other two books, there may have been a little back story that I was missing but overall I still think it could be a standalone book. This book follows Sirena who uses a little magic to get a second chance at repeating what has been a terrible month for her. She uses this opportunity to right some of the things that not go so well for her. Her magic has been wonky and overall things just haven't been great for her. While trying to right her life, she begin to fall for Gus. I did enjoy that this book kind of made so many characters magical but it was still a little confusing on who may or may not be magical and what their abilities may or may not be. This book moved at a good pace and was a classic case of he falls first and is trying to see if she feels the same way. Unlike in some books, I like that Sirena was open to exploring how deep her feelings were for Gus instead of fighting against them tooth and nail. Overall I'll give it 4 stars.

Everything they said is true: Deja Brew is one of the coziest reads of the season so far. And it gives a whole new meaning to “Second Chance.”
The story follows Gus and Sirena as they navigate the opportunity they have to repeat the month of October. What starts as a reflection on their respective careers, turns into a chance to figure out – and prioritize – love and happiness.

Although some of the plot points felt really rushed (which, in turn, left some of the magical elements difficult to follow and side characters difficult to connect with), there is no doubt Gus and Sirena have incredible chemistry.

The standout element to this book is its setting: the small town of Freya Grove. From the cast of characters to the town’s traditions, it was giving Stars Hollow in October vibes – which, as any Gilmore Girls fan knows, is Peak Autumn Reading Material.

Here’s what you can expect from Celestine Martin’s book:
- Low-stakes Magical Realism
- Second chance romance
- Time travel
- Friends to lovers
- Small-town fall, cozy vibes

Time travel books typically force a reader to reflect on their own life and choices made – and Deja Brew is no different. Though, I will say this one felt more “low stakes” than others in the subgenre – which, in this case is not a bad thing. Deja Brew is a fun, enjoyable read that’s not going to stress you out or rip your heart out.

My favorite thing was how Martin prioritized a multifaceted description of history throughout this work – not just the immediate history of the month of October and time-travel consequences, but also the longer-term history of the world in which they lived through the archival work at the heart of Gus and Sirena’s story.

Perfect for fans of Ashley Poston.

.

I am absolutely in love with this story! It is such a fun and unique twist on the classic "second-chances." Trope and a bit of a ground-hog day story. Sirena and Gus's story is just so dang cute. It's like the ultimate "will they, won't they." With a  magical twist thrown in. 

Their love story is one that is so unique and magical that it stands alone, even though this is technically the 3rd book in the Elemental Love Series. I was honestly not aware of the other two in the series but am dying to read more about the Caraway sisters and their magical lives.

On the spice level this book truly delivers and solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️ on the spice level. There's heat and passion and a whole lot of love. I could read about these two forever. When they finally figured out who they were for each other I totally did a little happy dance lol. This book has a good combo of Tropes:

🎃 Second Chances
🎃 Time Travel/Time Loop
🎃 Fated Mates
🎃 Mature MCs
🎃 Reformed MMC
🎃 Medium Burn

This is another perfect Hallmark holiday style book for the Halloween season. The town the book is set, Freya Hallow, is full of magical and paranormal creatures but they are enveloped into the story in such a way that you almost forget that isn't the norm! I really enjoyed all of the characters and the fact that there wasn't really some big dark evil lurking behind the scenes, other than Gus's mom.

"Deja Brew" is a creative, magical read that oozes fall vibes just from the cover alone. There's a town fair, apple cider, Halloween parties, pumpkins, Thanksgiving dinner, leaves falling - all of that!

At times it was like things were pieced together without a flow or explanation. 🥴 This is my first romance read with magical/ fantasy elements to it. There's a witch, a magician, gnomes, spell books, fae, mermaids (& more) who live in Freya Grove. I felt a bit out of the loop on who was who. All these characters are mentioned & I had no clue who they were! Then "sister" & "cousin" are revealed. But even then, they weren't really memorable.

I also felt disconnected from the town's magic & everyone's different powers. I think I figured out (maybe!?) how Freya Grove works, but not enough. This may be because I didn't notice that this book is a part of a series.😬 I may at some point read "Witchful Thinking" & "Kiss & Spell" to see.

The spice happened in spells when I least expected! 🤭 I liked that Gus had a normal body - no abs! I didn't feel like Sirena & Gus really had a strong connection other than Gus not wanting Sirena's "second chance" of finding happiness to be a L. But it was cute.

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

I thought Deja Brew was a cute, whimsical, and steamy read. I enjoyed the Dual POV and the setting. I loved the small-town vibes and how the author described the atmosphere and the food. Very fall. I haven’t read many contemporary witchy books so this was a fun book to dive into and all the mentioned paranormal/fantastical characters made me want to read the other two books in the series. I liked that both main characters were rediscovering/affirming their identity and how they belonged. Moreover I loved how they were deeply supported by their family and friends through this journey. My favorite part was reading how much they supported each other, I loved how that dialogue and those moments were crafted. 

I very much wanted to love this book but had a hard time getting into it. I found the plot at the beginning of the book to be hazy. I thought maybe this could be attributed to it being the 3rd book in an interconnected series (although all outlets say it can exist as a standalone). However, as I continued reading, more of the backstory and character choices lacked explanation and were therefore confusing. Furthermore, some of their choices or ruminations were over-explained/repetitive. The detours, back and forth (reverting to friendship one too many times), and info-dumping detracted from the book for me but I hope to still read more of Martin’s work. 

If you decide to read this, I recommend the audio as I usually don't notice info-dumping/hazy plot points when I listen versus reading with my eyeballs.

Sirena Caraway’s October is a recipe for disaster. Her magical cooking skills are fizzling out, her job interview? Burned. And her Halloween party appearance? Let’s just say she left the town talking—about how not to wear a costume. Feeling like a total pumpkin-head, Sirena makes a midnight wish for a redo, and surprise! She wakes up the next morning stuck in a pumpkin-spice-scented time loop, forced to relive her chaotic month again… and again.

Gus Dearworth, an ex-reality star, is trying to heal his magic and his heart. His cool, calm exterior can’t hide the fact that he’s secretly crushing on Sirena.

What makes this book a delight is the sheer coziness it serves up, like a piping hot cup of cider on a crisp fall day.

Sirena and Gus’s banter? Absolutely on point

The Groundhog Day-style magic loop brings new adventures, laughter, and just enough autumn magic to keep you turning the pages.

If you’re craving a mix of second chances, charming romance, and all things fall, this book is your ultimate pumpkin-spiced treat!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC!

First thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Synopsis: Sirena is a chef who is having some bad luck lately. She asks to redo a really bad night but instead the whole n month of October is redoing.
Gus dear worth a former reality star has moved to the same town to start over and mend his broken heart. With sirena redoing the month they will have plenty of opportunities to meet with each and find that spark.

What I liked: this book has the perfect fall vibes. Siena is also a kitchen witch so there is some great magic too. I love the coziness that feel as you read it and thought the chemistry was great between sirena and Gus. Gus also falls first and who doesn’t love that. Gus is a historian and added to the charm of the story. This is book 3 of this series but I read it as a stand-alone. It was fine but think you might have a better experience reading all three. They are shorter books.

3.75 ⭐️ (rounded up)
2🌶

Sirena and Gus's story is a cute and cozy romance. It was perfect for the fall season; I loved reading about the witchy community. Learning about the different magics everyone had was refreshing and unique. Freya Grove was such a loving and cozy town! I wish I could visit! And those cooking scenes left me hungry!

Overall, I had such a fun time. The narrators did a wonderful job capturing the emotions of Sirena and Gus.

Read if you like:
-Slowburn
-Friends to Lovers
-Paranormal Romance
-Kitchen Witch
-Magic
-Fall Vibes

I received an ARC and ALC from Netgalley and Hachette Audio for an honest review!

3.5 stars.

Low stakes, fluffy, and cute, "Deja Brew" by Celestine Martin is the perfect magical, cozy read for spooky season. By far, the best parts of this book involve Sirena and Gus. They had such adorable chemistry with one another! I love that Sirena is a plus-size protagonist and that Gus falls in love with her first. Their banter is top-notch, witchy, and magical. The small-town shenanigans of Freya Grove are also very fun, too. The steamy scenes were excellent as well. The cooking content made my mouth water and made me hungry for some delicious fall food. Wonderful descriptions! My one complaint is that this book goes on too long for what happens content-wise. It just sort of continues, on and on, without much pizzazz or fanfare. A lot is going on within the plot, but not a lot happens if that makes any sense. Many people said this could be read as a stand-alone novel, but I wish I had read the other two books in the series before I read this one. The first few chapters make it seem like we should be familiar with the other sisters and Freya Grove, which I feel put me at a disadvantage reading this story. I must say, I adored the audiobook narrators here. Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton bring these characters to life in an authentic, fun way. This was a wonderful early October read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Celestine Martin, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I really like this book. I cannot describe it as a second-chance romance with Groundhog Day vibes. Sirena and Gus are so cute, and the story is a really fun read. I’ve read the first two books in the series and they all are so good. I highly recommend it. I recommend your favorite red wine or pumpkin-flavored beverage.

former reality star, Gus moved to Freya Grove to rebuild his reputation and heal his broken heart, but his restless magic is tempting him to return to the spotlight. And his secret crush on Sirena is making him want to try something dangerous like fall in love again
1200 strikes and and she makes a wish !!

I am so sad this series has come to an end! This has become my yearly fall comfort read. I love going back to Freya with the Caraways to get me right into the fall mood. I have been looking forward to Serena's story from book 1 and it did not disappoint. This might be my favorite one in the series. The writing got better with each book. This series are romances that happens to have magical creatures in it and in book 1 I had a problem with it however by book 3 I'm used to it. The world gives me light heart charmed mixed with halloween town (add in some R rated spice scenes on top). I loved the slow burn between Gus and her, it was just so sweet from the start. The storyline of Serena getting a October do-over was fun and I loved how she took advantage of the time that she got back. I loved getting glimpses of the other caraways and Lucy's wedding to Alex. I would not be mad if there were short stories latter on Ursala's and Serena's weddings in the future. Hope this is not the last we get to see from this world.

This one is a cozy, witchy book perfect for reading curled up under an afghan with a cup of apple cider in your hand.

It seems like everything in October went wrong for Sirena Caraway, so just before bed on Halloween night, she pours herself a cup of tea and wishes for a do-over. She wakes up the next morning on October 1, with a chance to make things right.

This new version of October has her crossing paths more and more with magician-turned-town-historian Gus Dearworth.

The more time they spend together, the more things seem to click between them.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Kitchen witch with her powers on the fritz
- Reality TV star magician turned historian
- Time loop
- Small town
- Fall festival
- Second chances
- Workplace romance
- Soulmates
- Plus size heroine
- Very involved family members (that can be both a help and a hindrance)
- Open door

This is book 3 of the Elemental Love series but can be read as a standalone.

I received advance copies of the book from Forever. All review opinions are my own.

This is delightful enchanting Halloween romance set on the Jersey Shore. I was excited to return to Freya Grove and was not disappointed. Sirena is a kitchen witch who has lost her mojo and after a month of everything going wrong, she jumps on an opportunity for a redo. Gus is famous magician who came to Freya Grove to regroup and has found him place at the historical society. Jump into this magically delicious story.

If you, like me, are all about an October, Halloween *vibe* but don’t love all the scary things that come with this time of year, then Celestine Martin’s latest, Deja Brew will scratch that Practical Magic meets Hallmark with more than a dash of spice itch just right.

The story follows Sirena, a down on her luck kitchen witch who, after a disastrous October, makes a wish to a cup of wishing tea that she could get a fresh start. Lo and behold she wakes up the next day with the month of October having started over again, and with the chance to right all the wrongs of the month. During her do-over, she grows closer to Gus, the town’s resident historical society steward, and the son of a prominent magician family. The two pair up as Sirena gives herself the month to rekindle her lost spark when it comes to her magic, and sparks of a different sort begin to fly.

I know it’s the third book in Martin’s Elemental Love series, but it was the first that I read, and I never felt out of step with the story, though the ensemble characters did make me want to go back and revisit what I missed. Deja Brew was, in short, the perfect fall read. It was light, breezy, with lovable leads and the right kind of vibe for this time of year.

Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me. I made it up to 20% and had to stop because everything felt very dragged out and not much appeared to be happening with the two main characters. There was a lot more telling than showing when it came to scenes and I wasn’t really interested in continuing further. There were also quite a few typos in the book.