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A review by sarinaslibrary
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
I really really wanted to enjoy this book, it's marketing on TikTok was crazy and I was super excited when I got approved to read a proof. Sadly it didn't hit right for me.
I didn't find myself liking any of the characters, the grandmother was a bit mean to me, the FMC was a bit of a pushover & people pleaser, also a bit dumb and annoying. The rest of the characters were also quite annoying as well, the only one I really liked was Seth, the FMC brother who went away and came back after a couple of years.
The FMC just didn't sit right for me, especially when she came to find that the dog she found and took in was her ex's and refused to give it back to him because at first she's petty, then she wanted a part of him with her when all the drama was going on. He kept asking for it back and she kept refusing, and as a dog owner myself it really made me angry.
Seth's story was just more interesting to me because there was a bit of mystery and he didn't want magic because it was hurting him and making him depressed, but in the end of the book the FMC gives up her magic so he can keep his - why not have Seth give up the magic he doesn't want to his sister that does want it?? Everytime he said he didn't want magic his family (even the FMC) just dismissed his feelings and saying that he can't run away from it. That's not a good message.
There's a strong message of family in this book that doesn't hit right, there's a line basically saying that family will hurt you but you have to forgive and love them in the end because that's what family is all about - I'm sorry but no. Families can hurt you and you have every right to cut them out and keep it that way, some things families do are unforgivable and it remains that way. It left a bad taste in my mouth for personal reasons and I almost gave up the book around this time, but I kept going.
The romance in this wasn't good either, FMC's ex comes back into the town (the one she refuses to give the dog back too), turns out he's engaged which he tried to tell her (which by the way comes not far from the end of the book) but she kept dismissing him, turns out the woman he's engaged to fakes her pregnancy - all of this was really unnecessary.
It wasn't a cosy witchy book at all, all the magic was food and drinks and it contained some triggers that I didn't expect. There's also a lot of cheesy paragraphs that didn't need to be there - oh and the grandmother forcing the FMC to attend church also didn't sit well with me.
Overall I was disappointed in this book, I really love cosy witchy books but this one just didn't hit the mark.
I really really wanted to enjoy this book, it's marketing on TikTok was crazy and I was super excited when I got approved to read a proof. Sadly it didn't hit right for me.
I didn't find myself liking any of the characters, the grandmother was a bit mean to me, the FMC was a bit of a pushover & people pleaser, also a bit dumb and annoying. The rest of the characters were also quite annoying as well, the only one I really liked was Seth, the FMC brother who went away and came back after a couple of years.
The FMC just didn't sit right for me, especially when she came to find that the dog she found and took in was her ex's and refused to give it back to him because at first she's petty, then she wanted a part of him with her when all the drama was going on. He kept asking for it back and she kept refusing, and as a dog owner myself it really made me angry.
Seth's story was just more interesting to me because there was a bit of mystery and he didn't want magic because it was hurting him and making him depressed, but in the end of the book the FMC gives up her magic so he can keep his - why not have Seth give up the magic he doesn't want to his sister that does want it?? Everytime he said he didn't want magic his family (even the FMC) just dismissed his feelings and saying that he can't run away from it. That's not a good message.
There's a strong message of family in this book that doesn't hit right, there's a line basically saying that family will hurt you but you have to forgive and love them in the end because that's what family is all about - I'm sorry but no. Families can hurt you and you have every right to cut them out and keep it that way, some things families do are unforgivable and it remains that way. It left a bad taste in my mouth for personal reasons and I almost gave up the book around this time, but I kept going.
The romance in this wasn't good either, FMC's ex comes back into the town (the one she refuses to give the dog back too), turns out he's engaged which he tried to tell her (which by the way comes not far from the end of the book) but she kept dismissing him, turns out the woman he's engaged to fakes her pregnancy - all of this was really unnecessary.
It wasn't a cosy witchy book at all, all the magic was food and drinks and it contained some triggers that I didn't expect. There's also a lot of cheesy paragraphs that didn't need to be there - oh and the grandmother forcing the FMC to attend church also didn't sit well with me.
Overall I was disappointed in this book, I really love cosy witchy books but this one just didn't hit the mark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Minor: Murder