Review by Booklist Review
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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Robb debuts with a whimsical contemporary romance starring Gemma, a 28-year-old woman who is mending a broken heart after being dumped by her boyfriend. One margarita-filled night, she performs a spell to erase her ex from her life. When she wakes up, she's in an alternate reality where her ex no longer exists, but other things in her life have also changed. Her handsome best friend Dax doesn't recognize her and thinks she's a disaster, but on the other hand, she now owns an amazing beauty store. Gemma has one moon cycle to reverse the spell, but as she waits, her decision to go back to her previous life or stay in this new one becomes uncertain. Robb has created a lovable protagonist who is enjoyable to watch grow as she deals with what it would be like to reverse one's life choices and have a second chance at love. Narrator Khaya Fraites has a smooth and believable voice as she portrays the various characters, and the banter she voices between Gemma and Dax is simply delightful and delicious. VERDICT Fans of Tessa Bailey's Hook, Line, and Sinker or Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation will devour Robb's debut.--Lacey Webster
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
