This book was a mix of being really into it and being bored with the story. I have to say that the premise is a good one, I just felt like some parts were way too drawn out!

This was my second book from Breanna Randall and it was another magical and entertaining story with intriguing characters.

The story surrounds the three Petridi sisters, Calliope, Eurydice, and Thalia. They have Greek ancestry in case those names weren’t a dead giveaway. They are from a long line of Lightcraft witches that have had a curse put on them by Shadowcrafters where they must sacrifice a memory each time they perform magic. They are also responsible for guarding and containing an evil magic that would be devastating if unleashed. Calliope, the youngest, is the main protagonist and has a bit of a wild streak but also some deep trauma stemming from the abandonment of her mother. When her path crosses Lucien, a powerful Shadowcrafter, at the same time the evil magic they must contain starts to be unleashed she struggles between distrust and the option that he may be able to help. And, of course, attraction between the two. All of these character along with the side characters compliment each other and provide both comfort and conflict to the story.

I absolutely love a small town setting and the town in this book is small and charming. It’s pretty tight knit and has the most charming shops in town. I’d love to take a trip there just to shop. The house that the sisters live in is a setting in itself! I could read chapters of just descriptions of this house that makes me feel like I’m living in it. It has a witchy, cozy, but museum like feel to it. I envision it being like if a dark academia type of library and a witches cottage merged together.

The magic in this book has a bit of mystery to it that makes it fun to read. The pacing is steady and keeps you engaged. I found the writing well done, however, there were some small things that took me out of the story. An example, after the sisters were introduced, specifically, Eurydice, after several pages instead of calling her Eurydice she was all of a sudden called Dizzy randomly. Which makes sense as a nickname but it wasn’t done in a way that made it obvious. I ended up having to flip back through thinking that I missed a character. There’s a few other things like wording that seemed a bit odd but overall the writing is easy to follow along and has some beautiful lines.

If you’re a fan of witchy stories, small town vibes, and romance I think you would like this! It’s a fun read with themes of familial love but also trauma, an enemies to lover type romance, with a bit of spice sprinkled in.

Thank you *Random House Publishing - Ballantine/Dell* for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this magical celebration of sisterhood, legacy, and lore oh so much! The small town, Practical Magic vibes were on point, and the queer rep fantastic. Love to see it! There was also a running message about what we inherit from previous generations, including our prejudices. It was inspiring to see the characters work on themselves to grow beyond what they were told was right, so they could help create a more empathetic world.

Romance is also a key aspect of the story, and while I liked where the relationship between our two MCs ended up, the journey there involved too much insta-lust for me. I also felt that the MMC's vernacular was straight out of the early 19th century. I get that the author was going for a Pride & Prejudice-style romance, but the old-fashioned language was distracting.

Aside from those small nitpicks, this was such a fun read! I’m thrilled to learn there’s a second book on the way, since so much world-building went into this first installment. I grew to really care for these characters, their town, and the magical world. Can’t wait to spend more time in Gold Springs with Calliope and her sisters!

I very much wanted to love this, but just found it okay. I appreciated the cozy/magic vibes and the LGBTQ+ rep.

Unfortunately I just didn't connect with the story or the characters. The pacing was uneven and I didn't care about the romance plotline. I made it about 2/3 of the way through and just stopped caring.

Recommended for readers who love romantic cozy mysteries with a witchy vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine for the ARC.

This was a lovely cozy magical mystery. I loved the sister bond aspect, and I especially adored Grim.

If you like
🔮Enemies to Lovers
🔮Sisterhood
🔮Magical Love

When I opened this book, I expected to pick up where The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic left off. This book starts afresh with an entirely different set of characters, and I loved it for that. While charming and with moments of writing that felt lyrical, this book asked hard questions about the importance and accuracy of memory and the power that family and the stories we tell have over us.

We meet Calliope and her sisters, Thalia and Eurydice. They all carry secrets, frustrations, and heartbreak. They each adhere to their version of family tradition and hatred. But when an unbreakable curse goes beyond their own family, they are forced to face their greatest enemy. And much like when any of us come face-to-face with that person or group we were told is a danger, a menace, the worst ever...they are often not any of those things.

If this review makes you think this book is too serious, don’t worry—there are club scenes, spicy open-door moments, and lighthearted moments between friends. This book started a little slow, but once it picked up, it was hard to put it down.

This book was such a pleasant surprise—equal parts cozy and emotionally layered, with just the right amount of magical realism to keep me hooked. Breanne Randall has a really natural, engaging writing style that made it easy to fall into the world she created.

The story follows a girl named Sid, who’s sent to stay with family she barely knows after her mom dies. Right away, you can feel there’s more to this small town than meets the eye. There’s magic, yes—but it’s more subtle and emotionally driven than flashy spells, which I loved. It’s less about magic-for-the-sake-of-magic and more about legacy, grief, and finding your place when everything feels broken.

The characters felt real and raw, especially Sid. I appreciated how Randall didn’t shy away from the messy parts of grief or identity. The romance was sweet without overpowering the story, and the friendships added warmth and depth.

It’s the kind of book that feels like curling up under a blanket on a rainy day—comforting, a little bittersweet, and quietly powerful. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys introspective YA with a hint of magic and a lot of heart.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a magical coming-of-age story with a moody Southern setting, a hint of mystery, and a spellbinding mix of witchcraft and self-discovery. Breanne Randall weaves a tale that’s both whimsical and emotionally grounded, where teenage angst meets ancient secrets. The magic feels organic, the characters are richly drawn, and the story moves with a steady, immersive pace. I absolutely loved it—and I can’t wait to share it with everyone I know. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in and stays with you long after the last page.

3.5 stars rounded down

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC. I thought that this was a cute cozy story about sisterhood, breaking generational curses, and combating old prejudices. The magic being linked to memories was very unique, and I enjoyed the reveals and twists. The romance was a little lacking to me. Also, the spicy scenes seemed a little too spicy compared to the tone of the rest of the book. I loved the queer characters and look forward to seeing what the set up is for the rest of the series!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall is a cozy, witchy small-town romance with just enough mystery to keep you hooked and just enough heart to make you ache.

Calliope Petridi is one of three magical sisters living in Gold Springs, where casting a spell costs you a memory. For Calliope, that’s a fair trade — she’s got plenty she’d rather forget. But when an ancient evil begins to stir, her magic starts to fade, and her sisters begin drifting apart, she’s forced to confront the very things she’s been trying to erase.

Then there’s Lucien — moody, handsome, and part of a rival coven. When Calliope accidentally binds herself to him, things get complicated… and very emotionally charged.

Tropes you’ll find:

✨ Small town magic
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Sibling dynamics & family secrets
✨ Found family

Final thoughts: A witchy, atmospheric romance that’s as much about healing as it is about hexes. If you love magical towns, emotional depth, and enemies-to-lovers tension with real heart — this one’s a must-read. 🧙‍♀️✨

Randall's work in this book is ok. I enjoyed it but didn't love it. I couldn't figure out why the FMC would care about using her memories to do big stuff yet have no care in the world about losing a memory to change the color of her shoes. I also got hung up a bit on exact sentences from Pride and Prejudice, could a paraphrase or even rewording have worked instead, yes. I often had to put the book down and come back to it later, which means it took me much longer than expected to read this book.
Overall, the plot of trying to protect the tree, the romance, and the importance of family for some and the importance of breaking from family for some comes through clearly.
I will probably read the next one just to see what is going to happen.
If you like cozy, predictable romance with a touch of magic then this work is for you.


Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Dell for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to love this book far more than I did - I absolutely love Breanne Randall and was so excited for this book, but something was just seriously missing for me. This book is marketed as Pride & Prejudice meets Charmed which sounded entirely intriguing but it was just a bit too much on the Charmed side and felt like an episode?

The descriptors were just too numerous and it was really wordy that I felt like I needed to skim more than reading just due to how mundane it become at one point. The unintentional binding felt a bit strange, but I have to admit that the romance that followed was really nicely written and had some really good elements that I wish the rest of the book had.

Super grateful that this is just the beginning of a trilogy and am hopeful to see what comes next.

🖤Witchy vibes
🖤Shadow daddy
🖤Cozy Romantasy
🖤Enemies to lovers
🖤LGBTQIA+ representation

This book totally gave me Gilmore Girls but witchy vibes! There were a couple moments with some abrupt code switching- from cozy vibes to serious pretty quickly. But other than that, I very much enjoyed this read. I love witchy books and this itched that scratch for me.

The concept had a lot of promise—magic, secrets, a mysterious past, and that small-town-with-a-history vibe. I went in expecting something kind of cozy but also a little eerie and spellbinding (pun intended), and to some extent, it delivered. There’s a definite charm to the setting, and the magical elements were interesting, if a bit familiar.

The main character had her moments, but I didn’t feel super attached to her or anyone else, really. There were a few scenes that sparked my interest, especially when the plot started to peel back the layers of the mystery. I just wished it would’ve leaned more into the suspense or the magic—it felt like it played it a bit safe.

Writing-wise, it was easy to get through, and there were definitely lines that made me pause and appreciate the vibe Randall was going for. But overall, it didn’t totally stick with me. Like, I don’t regret reading it, but I probably wouldn’t reread it or shout about it from the rooftops.

3.75 stars

I love how this story focused on the bonds between the siblings and romance second. I liked the idea of light crafter vs shadowcrafter but it wasn't developed or built up enough. I also think the author was thinking of power of 3 that is seen in hocus pocus, charmed etc but it could have been developed a bit more.

I didnt know this was part of a series, and we are left waiting for next one.

Overall I liked this story and can't wait to see where it goes

I loved the overall message of the book about love and acceptance and healing from generational trauma, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the rest of the series. It’s just not for me, but I am interested in seeing what else Breanne Randall writes because I loved The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.

In Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, both of the main characters felt significantly underdeveloped and 2D to me. I never wanted to root for them as individuals or as a couple. Both of them annoyed me through the first 80% of the book. I almost DNFd it about four times. If the first 3/4 were as good as the last quarter, this might’ve been a five star read for me.

This is the second book I've read by Breanne Randall, and I am a huge fan of her writing style. I really liked the way this story focused more on the bonds between the sisters, and how important it was for Calliope and her sisters to repair their relationship, than it did the rising attractions between Calliope and Lucien.

That being said, some areas could have been a little better. I think the magic system of LightCrafter vs Shadowcrafter has very "Jedi vs. Sith" vibes - and I feel like it could have been more fleshed out. It also feels very heavily inspired by Charmed, and the arc with Cole, but I have to say I much prefer the way Lucien was portrayed.

The book does end on a cliffhanger, so I am looking forward to the next to see how everything plays out!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this arc for an honest review!
Some themes in this book are: magic, cozy, witches and small town vibes! All the themes I love! This book was fun! This book is about light and dark and how there is a cost when you use magic,
precious memories. What happens when a witch strings her self to a wizard but they have opposite magic systems? Chaos! I like the small town vibe and the sisters keep the secret the are witches. If you like early 2000's witchy movies then this book is for you!

Calliope Petridi must sacrifice her memories in order to practice her witchcraft. A curse that was bestowed on her family years ago, that no one knew how to break. Another thing that was bestowed on her family: all shadow crafters are bad. However, when Calliope accidentally finds herself bound to one - she must either learn to trust him or risk losing her family forever.

The good: I loved the storyline between Calliope and Lucien. I also loved that he called her "Little Muse" and his banter with her.

The bad: I did not like that Calliope did not seem to ever have a problem with sacrificing her memories. She gave them up easily and willingly instead of ever working to find a solution.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things had a concept that immediately caught my attention—magic, lost memories, and a mysterious family history—but unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired.

The pacing felt off from the very beginning. The first half of the book dragged, weighed down by constant repetition. We’re told again and again that the main character's mother left and that memories were sacrificed, but these elements were hammered home so often that it became tiresome rather than impactful.

The main character herself was difficult to connect with. I found her unlikeable and flat, which made it hard to care about her journey or relationships. The magic, which should have been the heart of the story, felt rudimentary and fake—it never really pulled me in or felt convincing in the world Randall was trying to build.

Then came the "bad boy" love interest, who felt pulled straight out of a YA enemies-to-lovers template I’ve seen far too often. Even the pet name and his signature scent gave off déjà vu from another book I’ve read. It was formulaic in the worst way.

And just when I thought I had a handle on the tone, the steamy scenes arrived—jarringly placed and at the most inappropriate times, completely disrupting the flow and mood. It was like the book couldn’t decide what audience it was writing for.

On top of that, the witchy elements felt more like tired cliches than creative worldbuilding. There were so many missed opportunities to make this story shine, but in the end, it read more like a disjointed YA novel with misplaced spice and underdeveloped magic.

This had the bones of something special, but it ended up being a frustrating read with little payoff.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.