Member Reviews

Deja Brew was all of the cozy, witchy fall dreams I could want in audiobook format! I hope there’s another one out next year for spooky season!

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I enjoyed this little magical book. I listened to it as an audiobook and it was still just as descriptive as I imagine the book would be. I felt emersed in their little world of a mythical New Jersey and found myself longing to be there. As I always say we all know how much I love a kitchen witch situation so I loved this storyline. I do have to say though that one of my favorite parts was Lucy and Alex jumping over the broom at their wedding! As a black woman who also jumped the broom at her wedding I felt very recognized haha. Overall this was good, the audio is great and I really enjoyed this!

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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.


The dual narration was very enjoyable and honestly kept me listening to the audiobook longer than I intended to because I really enjoyed Sirena's narration especially. If you have the chance to get this book in audio I would definitely recommend it.

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Deja Brew is a delightful and quirky tale that will leave you craving a cup of coffee. With her signature wit and charm, Martin weaves a captivating story of friendship, love, and the power of a good latte.

The story follows Anya, a barista who is struggling to find her place in the world. When she accepts a job at a mysterious coffee shop, Anya discovers a world of secret societies, magical brews, and a handsome barista who might just steal her heart.

Martin's writing is both witty and heartwarming, creating a charming and inviting atmosphere. The characters are quirky and endearing, making it easy to root for their happiness. The magical elements of the story are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, adding a touch of whimsy and wonder.

If you're looking for a lighthearted and fun read that will leave you smiling, Deja Brew is a must-read. It is a truly delightful story that will make you want to grab a cup of coffee and dive into the world of Anya and her magical friends.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ALC!

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Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This was the perfect book to kick off October with. A paranormal second chance romance between two people who couldn't be more different, but who, somehow, complement each other so well.

This book felt like a warm, cozy hug and I really enjoyed watching Sirena and Gus fall in love. Their chemistry was off the charts (SEVERAL spicy scenes!), and the way they supported each other was so sweet.

I loved the relationship between the 'Caraway Girls' and how they cared for one another. Female relationships in books always get me in the feels.

I will say the ending did feel a bit rushed and I wanted the characters to go just a little deeper with each other, but overall this was such an enjoyable read and I'd love to read more from this author.

Here's some of what you can expect:

- Soulmates/Fated
- Paranormal Romance
- Second Chance
- Cozy, Fall Vibes
- He Falls Hard
- Small Town

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Book Title: Deja Brew
Author: Celestine Martin
Narrated by: Marissa Hampton & Christopher Hampton
Format Read: Audiobook

Deja Brew is a cute and easy magical, autumnal romance

Sirena Caraway is a magical chef witch who seems to have lost her culinary magic. She drinks a magic tea and makes a wish only to find herself reliving the entire month of October. Enter Gus Dearworth, a former reality TV star and celebrity magician, who's now working at a historical society in hopes of settling down and leaving his flashy past behind. He vows to help her find her magic and become more fun, and she'll help him with some cookbooks at his historical society.

I’ll admit, I picked up this book because the cover screamed cozy autumn romance, and I was totally on board for some pumpkin spice vibes. The title had me expecting something fun like pumpkin beer or lattes—but within a few minutes, I realized I had stepped into a paranormal romance featuring witches and magicians. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not what I was expecting.

While the magical setting is integral to the explanation behind the time loop, I felt that the world-building wasn't as developed as I’d hoped. I almost felt like I could connect with the characters more if they weren't magical. The book juggled a lot of elements—soulmates, family drama, career struggles, ex-relationships, and of course, the time loop. It made the story feel a bit scattered, as if there wasn’t a clear goal or focus for the characters.

That being said, I really loved the scenes at the historical society! Having worked at one myself, I couldn’t help but cheer when Gus started talking about the provenance of magical items—it was such a fun detail that resonated with me.

Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton both did a solid job bringing Sirena and Gus to life. Their voices worked well together, and they added a nice energy to the story. It was easy to listen to and enhanced the cozy vibe of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced reader copy.

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Deja Brew had a really interesting universe that drew me in right away. It was the witchy read I was looking for to get into that magical fall mood. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. While the setting was enchanting, I didn't feel as invested in the characters or their journey, which left me a bit detached from the overall experience.

It was still enjoyable in parts, especially for the atmosphere, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression for me in terms of character development or emotional engagement.

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This book has all the elects that would make it seem like the perfect read for me but I found it to be just ok. There’s a distinct possibility that I wasn’t a fan of the narration. I don’t know but it was just an ok read nothing really special.

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Deja Brew by Celestine Martin is the PERFECT book for the start of spooky season! Sirena is a down-on-her-luck celebrity chef and kitchen witch who has had a horrible month - just before October ends, she puts a plea out into the world for a second chance. She gets her wish and gets to redo the month all over again. This time, though, she ends up spending much more time with Gus, who has a secret crush on her.

I absolutely loved the magic threaded throughout the story and I had read the previous books in the Elemental Love series, so it was great to see some of the same characters. It was fun to see a male witch in the story, too!

Marissa and Christopher Hampton did a lovely job with the dual narration. Clear transitions, no distractions, and clear diction. I saw that some readers had difficulty with the speed, but I thought it was a pleasure to listen to.

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Great fun read! I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Although this comes from a series this was the first I read and it did well as a stand alone. The narrators did a great job bring the story to life for me.
The "love scenes" didn't seem to fit the style of the writing and I found them to be a bit much and therefore 4 stars instead of 5.

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3.75 stars (rounded up)

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.

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I wanted to LOVE this, but for me it was just good, not great! 3/5 stars.

What I liked :
- fall/cozy vibes
- the characters were easy to like/root for
- the magical town/people was an interesting world!
- the overall story
- dual POV

What I didn't love :
- super cheesy writing at times
- I usually like a slow burn, but their relationship just felt off to me at times and I feel like it kept going in circles
- the narrators overall did a great job, however - I felt like the speeds were off (at 1.25x speed the male narrator still sounded way too slow but the female narrator seemed too fast)

I would still recommend this book to readers looking for a cute/cozy fall read

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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. 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, Hachette Audio, and Forever for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

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Quick Overview:
Sirena, a kitchen witch, wakes to find herself in a time loop, reliving all of October again. She hopes to use this second chance to change the outcome of things through the month.

My thoughts:
This was a fun, cozy October read. The romance was cute, there was light spice, and I always love a fuller-figured mc. There were themes of family bonds and expectations, as well as learning to be the person you want to be. This was a dual POV book, and both narrators absolutely knocked it out of the park with the audiobook!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the chance to listen to this!

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I really thought this would be the perfect witchy fall book, but it's not grabbing me. The writing style is not for me, the third person pov isn't working for me. It's just bland and boring to me. I couldn't continue on.

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I just finished Deja Brew by Celestine Martin, and I can’t get over how adorable it was! Even though I haven’t read the first two books in the Elemental Love series, this one works perfectly as a standalone, so you can jump right in without missing a beat. The characters were so lovable—full of heart and warmth, which made me root for them right from the start. And then there’s Chapter 14… OMG, it was EVERYTHING! Seriously, that chapter alone deserves all the stars. The unhinged sudden spice was crazy!

The narrators did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Their voices matched the tone so well, and it made the audiobook experience even better. I could feel the cozy witchy fall vibes throughout the whole story, and it was exactly what I needed for this season. If you’re looking for a sweet, magical romance with time travel, witches, and all the autumn feels, Deja Brew is perfect. 4.75 stars from me, and I’m excited to check out the rest of the series!

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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.

Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton were well-cast as the narrators for the audiobook. This one is dual, not duet, narration. I enjoyed the narration for both POVs but should note that the chapters from Sirena’s perspective are narrated at a bit of a quicker pace than the ones told from Gus’s. I found myself toggling between different speeds with the changes in POV.

I especially liked the way Marissa Hampton captured Sirena’s warmth.

I received an advance copy the audiobook from Hachette Audio. All review opinions are my own.

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Witchy rom-com with POC main characters, we love to see it. Welcome back to Freya Grove, with Gus & Sirena. After losing her confidence Sirena makes a wish for a second chance and when you’re a witch anything is possible.
What ensues is a cute bargain between friends who are definitely destined to be more. Cozy up, you don’t want to miss the 3rd book in this series.

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Perfect for fall, this romance is exactly what I wanted! A witch brews a wishing tea, around the same time that a magician who meddles with time is looking for a change. They find each other in their small town, working together to plan events, and try to have a little more fun. It’s magical, fun, lighthearted, and sweet, with just the right amount of spice!

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Deju Brew is such a feel good, witchy romance that had me ready to grab a comfy blanket and settle in to enjoy. Sirena is a kitchen witch who can't connect with her magic and starts to doubt herself. I felt that Celestine Martin did a really good job resenting those feelings authentically and respectfully. Gus is so sweet and I instantly fell in love with his sweet and sensitive heart. Their love story was a fun strangers to lovers with forced proximity and it is a perfect romance for fall. I know this is the third book in the Elemental Love series but it can definitely be read as a standalone.

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