Scan barcode
A review by missluciereads
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
1.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this was a complete miss for me. I have made the decision to DNF at 35% which is earlier than I would like but I can no longer slog through a book that is clearly not for me.
I was drawn into this book by the pitch of Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, two of my favourite things. It seemed like the perfect nostalgic, cozy, witchy read. For me, it failed miserably at living up to that huge promise.
Please note that the below review was a stream of consciousness while trying to negotiate with myself to finish. It is harsh, but absolutely truthful.
—————
Sadie is an absolute nightmare. She has the emotional maturity of a 12-year-old. She is selfish, neurotic and toxic. She is constantly complaining about how Jake and Seth broke her heart by leaving but she has no concept of other people having agency in their lives. She seems to think that every decision everyone make should be based around her even though she pretends to be self-sacrificing. She wants to stay, but they want to leave and they are the bad guys. I honestly don’t blame either of them for leaving without telling her, because she seems to be the type to enforce her will on the people that she “cares about”
She has zero redeeming qualities. She literally kidnapped Jake’s dog. She admits to using what amounts to a truth spell on Jake without his consent, while claiming she loves him. She’s keeping secrets about malevolent spirit of some sort waging attacks on her home when her grandmother just told her that there is a curse that will kill either her or her brother.
The book itself is full of plot holes. Seth is a couple inches taller even though he’s only been gone for less than a year and he’s 28 years old. Raquel is at the hospital but then she’s at the house in time for Sadie to get home to hug her.
It’s over written in the sense that the setting descriptions are extremely long, which is a failed attempt at emulating the Practical Magic vibe. But it’s under written in the sense that the characters are one dimensional and underdeveloped.
The pacing is so painfully disjointed with these detailed, flowery, setting descriptions but plot developments are rushed through, and major shifts seem to happen in a matter of sentences. It’s giving me f***ing whiplash.
The attempt to make Sadie seem quirky and fun seems to be the link to Gilmore Girls, but the dialogue is completely flat, and quite frankly intolerable.
This book just seems like it’s trying way too hard to be something it’s not, and in the process has become some sort of tedious experiment.
Actual quote from me while reading “this is so incredibly juvenile”
Also, why does this book seem like a caricature of a southern small town and Southern Magic but it’s set in California?
Unfortunately this was a complete miss for me. I have made the decision to DNF at 35% which is earlier than I would like but I can no longer slog through a book that is clearly not for me.
I was drawn into this book by the pitch of Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, two of my favourite things. It seemed like the perfect nostalgic, cozy, witchy read. For me, it failed miserably at living up to that huge promise.
Please note that the below review was a stream of consciousness while trying to negotiate with myself to finish. It is harsh, but absolutely truthful.
—————
Sadie is an absolute nightmare. She has the emotional maturity of a 12-year-old. She is selfish, neurotic and toxic. She is constantly complaining about how Jake and Seth broke her heart by leaving but she has no concept of other people having agency in their lives. She seems to think that every decision everyone make should be based around her even though she pretends to be self-sacrificing. She wants to stay, but they want to leave and they are the bad guys. I honestly don’t blame either of them for leaving without telling her, because she seems to be the type to enforce her will on the people that she “cares about”
She has zero redeeming qualities. She literally kidnapped Jake’s dog. She admits to using what amounts to a truth spell on Jake without his consent, while claiming she loves him. She’s keeping secrets about malevolent spirit of some sort waging attacks on her home when her grandmother just told her that there is a curse that will kill either her or her brother.
The book itself is full of plot holes. Seth is a couple inches taller even though he’s only been gone for less than a year and he’s 28 years old. Raquel is at the hospital but then she’s at the house in time for Sadie to get home to hug her.
It’s over written in the sense that the setting descriptions are extremely long, which is a failed attempt at emulating the Practical Magic vibe. But it’s under written in the sense that the characters are one dimensional and underdeveloped.
The pacing is so painfully disjointed with these detailed, flowery, setting descriptions but plot developments are rushed through, and major shifts seem to happen in a matter of sentences. It’s giving me f***ing whiplash.
The attempt to make Sadie seem quirky and fun seems to be the link to Gilmore Girls, but the dialogue is completely flat, and quite frankly intolerable.
This book just seems like it’s trying way too hard to be something it’s not, and in the process has become some sort of tedious experiment.
Actual quote from me while reading “this is so incredibly juvenile”
Also, why does this book seem like a caricature of a southern small town and Southern Magic but it’s set in California?