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

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.

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!

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!

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.

Good read!

Enjoyed the story! Easy read and loved the characters. Makes me want a sequel. I need to look up if she has written anything else

Don’t fall for the hype

This book was over promoted. It was so built up only to cause disappointment. It was not at all what it was promised to be. Cute story but the magic was lacking and all the recipes was a bit overkill.

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!

Loved it

This book kept me company and was such a pleasure to listen to. I need the print version now though. I won’t give spoilers but you’ll want the print version too, I’ll bet!

Hallmark movie meets Practical Magic

If you like the sound of a wholesome witchy, heartfelt story, this one’s for you. So good.

Kinda predictable, yet entertaining.

It was an okay listen, I particularly loved the recipes, nice little bonus, and some education about what different herbs and foods are good for. I love that they call their grandmother GiGi cause that's what my grands call me! <3