This Spells Love

Starred review from September 1, 2023

DEBUT After being dumped by her boyfriend of four years, Gemma Wilde gets inebriated and takes her quirky aunt's suggestion to try the instructions in an old mystical book to wipe away her painful memories of her ex. When the love-cleanse spell actually works, Gemma finds herself in another timeline where she owns the clean-beauty and health boutique she's always secretly dreamed of, but her best friend Dax, who helped her with the spell by sealing it with a kiss, doesn't know her. As Gemma embarks on her unexpected alternate path, she grows into a main character to root for. Knowing how important Dax is to Gemma, fans of the friends-to-lovers trope will fall in love with the abundant romantic moments between the two as they rediscover their deep connection. Alongside enjoyable witticisms and banter, the well-characterized supporting cast and essential sisterly support are all present in both timelines. VERDICT Offering a satisfying slow burn that transforms into delightful heat, the dazzling chemistry in this life-altering rom-com shows how love that transcends dimensions is worth the risk. This debut is an essential purchase for romance shelves.--Hazel Ureta

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 2, 2023
Robb’s enchanting debut offers an endearing heroine a second chance at picking a path in life. Practical Gemma Wilde has always craved stability, as evidenced by her well-paying but much-hated job and her safe boyfriend. Then said boyfriend breaks up with her. When her eccentric but lovable Aunt Livi suggests that she, Gemma, and Gemma’s hunky but strictly platonic best friend, Dax McGuire, do a “love cleanse” spell to wipe all memory of the relationship from Gemma’s mind, she agrees without much faith that it will work. The next morning, however, it’s like the relationship never happened—but that’s not the only thing that’s different. She’s living in a basement apartment, doesn’t have her job, and—worst of all—Dax and she aren’t friends. What at first seems like a tragedy leads to surprising opportunities: Gemma takes a risk on her dream career and, when she meets Dax this time, their connection is decidedly flirtatious. Could her best friend be her true love? The spell gives Gemma the chance to reevaluate her life and the effect she has on others, and she learns that bad decisions and past failures often prepare one for something better. It’s a valuable lesson, enhanced by indomitable Gemma and swoonworthy Dax’s undeniable connection. These two are made for each other. Agent: Bibi Lewis, Ethan Ellenberg Literary.

October 15, 2023
A young woman accidentally propels herself into an alternate reality where she falls in love with her best friend and has to figure out which life she prefers. The book opens with Gemma Wilde wallowing in self-pity over a recent breakup. She's spending an evening at the home of her quirky Aunt Livi along with her sister, Kiersten, and best friend, Dax McGuire, as the three try to cheer her up. When Livi suggests using a spell to excise the terrible ex from Gemma's heart, nobody resists. Unfortunately, Gemma's a bit drunk and she misses a few steps. When she wakes up the next morning, everything's different. She's in an apartment she doesn't recognize belonging to a man she doesn't know. Her job no longer exists and she apparently owns a beauty boutique in town. She hurries to contact Dax for help, but when she finds him, he doesn't know her. Gemma realizes that the one thing she can't stand to lose is Dax. In order to reverse the spell, she needs him to kiss her, but she's got to win him over first. As the two grow closer, their relationship turns romantic. Gemma's never been happier, and she begins to wonder if she should just stay put in her new reality. Told in the first-person, the book follows Gemma as she gets reacquainted with Dax and also makes enlightening discoveries about herself. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable and grows increasingly compelling. Despite its lighthearted tone, the novel deals with deep issues such as self-doubt and lack of professional direction, lending it heft and grace. Unfortunately, once Gemma makes up her mind about what to do, the story wraps up so quickly, with so little angst, that it undermines the impact of all the prior meaningful moments. Even so, the charming personalities and adorable moments make this story worth reading. A quick-witted friends-to-lovers exploration with just the right touch of magic.

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Starred review from September 15, 2023
Gemma Wilde's world is turned upside down when Stuart, her dependable if unexciting boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her seemingly out of the blue. Gemma's eccentric aunt enlists Gemma's older sister and Gemma's handsome best friend, Dax, to help perform a spell that will make Gemma completely forget Stuart. But the next morning, Gemma wakes up to find that her whole life has changed. To her horror, instead of owning a swanky condo, she lives in a basement apartment. But to her delight, instead of working a boring corporate job, she owns her own beauty supply store. So it's a mixed bag, but the worst part is that Dax has no memory of her. After a disastrous new ""first"" meeting, Gemma has to work hard to re-create her connection with Dax, only to find the attraction she feels for him forcing its way to the surface, along with the discovery that it's mutual. This makes her question whether she should reverse the spell and even try to return to her old life. A sparkling, winsome debut.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.