Scan barcode
A review by pagewanderer_
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
When I saw that this was a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, I knew I needed to read this right away. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Although there was definitely a sense of community and cozy small time vibes, I didn’t think that it screamed Gilmore Girls specifically. I definitely saw the Practical Magic side of it, in the setting, family relationships, and main characters.
However, Sadie came off selfish and one-dimensional until the very end so it was hard to root for her but I did like her relationship with her grandmother. Jake, the love interest, felt bland and only there to create road bumps. I didn’t feel a connection between the two of them and it seemed like we were just supposed to accept that they had a really strong bond from ten years ago that carried over to present day and blossoms. I didn’t really get the point of the dog Bambi or the cat Simon..? I also didn’t really understand the plot until about 40% in because that first part was just Sadie reiterating that people left her. I know this is important but it seemed dragged out and repetitive. The last 50% was more interesting and I wished the entirety of the book was like that.
I liked the rest of the characters. They were lively and fun. Big families are my jam and I wished there was more of it! Their reunion and journey through grief was warm and heartfelt and hands down my favorite part about the whole book.
Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder were mentioned but almost as an afterthought and though I commend the inclusion of this representation, it just made it seem like therapy was the answer to all and that’s not always the case.
This also made me mad at Sadie when Seth admitted to her that he’s depressed and all this darkness he’s feeling and she can only focus on herself: on her curse and “fixing” Gigi and so unforgiving for him leaving even after she finds out this is what he was dealing with. He persists on keeping a strong face up for her, but she can’t even keep an open mind about why he needed to be away. She makes a lot of things about herself. And then they make up right away!
However, Sadie came off selfish and one-dimensional until the very end so it was hard to root for her but I did like her relationship with her grandmother. Jake, the love interest, felt bland and only there to create road bumps. I didn’t feel a connection between the two of them and it seemed like we were just supposed to accept that they had a really strong bond from ten years ago that carried over to present day and blossoms. I didn’t really get the point of the dog Bambi or the cat Simon..? I also didn’t really understand the plot until about 40% in because that first part was just Sadie reiterating that people left her. I know this is important but it seemed dragged out and repetitive. The last 50% was more interesting and I wished the entirety of the book was like that.
I liked the rest of the characters. They were lively and fun. Big families are my jam and I wished there was more of it! Their reunion and journey through grief was warm and heartfelt and hands down my favorite part about the whole book.
Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder were mentioned but almost as an afterthought and though I commend the inclusion of this representation, it just made it seem like therapy was the answer to all and that’s not always the case.
The kitchen/garden-magic system was fun, and the recipes at the end of each chapter were a nice touch, but there were so many similes that were food related. Or there would be too much description within scenes that you lose the feeling of it. Or there would be past/present mixed together in the same paragraph. All of which made the writing/pacing a bit awkward.
Overall, I think the premise is fantastic and the feels are there, but there were too many nuances that I couldn’t ignore to truly enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Breanne Randal for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness