The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

A Novel

By: Breanne Randall

Narrated by: Laura Horowitz

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a debut novel that explores the shields we build around our hearts to retain our own magic.

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel.

With the news of their grandmother’s impending death, Sadie’s estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie’s world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn’t sure she’ll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together.

As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?

Listeners who love the magic of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and the sense of community found in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will enjoy this warm, witchy novel.

©2023 Breanne Randall (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Fun Read

This is such an enchanting book. It was fun snd easy to read and I ‘felt’ when the characters ‘felt.’ I love reading!

In love😍😍😍

Now, one of my favorite books, it takes you into this beautiful town makes you fall in love with each character. Specially the grandma makes you feel what each character is feeling. It’s amazing.

Great narration!

Reading the reviews that it’s somewhat like Practical Magic is accurate. It’s like a magically warm hug. What was nice for me was the narrator made it enjoyable. I have gotten some audibles that I can’t finish because of the horrible or boring narrator. I know have been looking for other books she has done!

Letting go is magical too

She wrote this I know from experiencing loss of someone close. I know because I felt it too. This book is cozy and magical and all the things the heart needs to heal. It is more than a book but a true testament of love everlasting. That after all is true magic isn’t it? A. BookWitch

Predictable

It was good but just very predictable. Like a holiday hallmark movie with witches. Wasn't a fan of some of the narrator. I never understood when people said that before this narrator but I get it now.

AMAZING

I was smiling and crying along with the characters! What an amazing story! I hope there is more in the future

Easy Listen

The story was sweet and comforting. The reader was a little lack luster, but didn’t job just fine.

The grief, love and family

I read a few reviews and they seemed bothered by the story lines and shared thoughts on perhaps picking one. Really what is life without many story lines including grief and love.

Amazing

Couldn’t “put this one down!” I found this book through Laura Horowitz on TikTok. Amazing story and amazingly read by Laura! Keeping “hope alive” for a sequel or book 2 of this one!

feels like a young reader book

The theme of the story is drilled into every paragraph, with very little variance. It made me feel bored quickly. I actually jumped 10 chapters and didn't seem to miss anything in the storyline.
I also had to listen to the book on 1.5x speed, because the voice of the narrator was so slow. She seemed to rely on changing the speed of the characters' voices to show differences between them. But she kept each of the characters' voice at the same pitch/tone, which was difficult to listen to.
Another annoying thing for me was the narrator made the main character's voice sound juveline and whiny. I found myself annoyed with Sadie's personality because of that.
I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it was a better narrator. But the story definitely feels like it was meant for a young reader. Kinda reminded me of listening to Twilight Audiobook.