Publishers Weekly
07/03/2023
In this quiet, witchy drama, debut author Randall explores the courage it takes to deal with grief and dare to love. Each member of the Revelare family is blessed with magic, but their gifts come with a curse. In heroine Sadie’s case, the curse states that after four heartbreaks, she’ll lose her magic entirely. She’s already had two broken hearts, so she keeps herself closed off and her life carefully structured, infusing her magic into her baked goods and the remedies passed down by her folksy grandmother, Gigi. But then her first love, Jake McNealy, returns to town after 10 years away, and Gigi reveals she’s dying of cancer. Toss in some devastating revelations about Sadie’s family history, and her comfortable life spirals out of control, as she resists the urge to fall for Jake again, desperately seeks a way to heal Gigi, and tries to protect her heart. Despite the ominous deadline looming over Sadie, the emphasis is on internal, emotional complexity, rather than external threats. The accompanying romance plays as a necessary part of her maturation and growth, allowing her to blossom. It’s an intimate portrait of an understandably guarded heroine learning to let down her walls. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Irene Goodman Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic:
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“Debut author Randall explores the courage it takes to deal with grief and dare to love.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Equal shares of romance, magical mystery, and delicious descriptions.”
—Booklist
“Deftly blending contemporary romance with urban fantasy . . . a fun and memorable read from first page to last.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Fans of magic, family, lost loves and intrigue will enjoy this novel.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“An enchanting tale of love and loss, heartbreak and hope that bewitched me from get-go! Breanne Randall combines exquisite prose and vivid worldbuilding to create an utterly charming novel filled with magic, mystery, and mouthwatering recipes. If you’re in need of a bit of magic and a heaping dose of hope, look no further than The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will flock to this enchanting novel. Breanne Randall’s magical debut is sure to cast a spell on its fortunate readers.”
—Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany
“Heartbreaking and enchanting in turn: readers will want to climb into this book and never leave!”
—Hazel Beck, author of Big Little Spells and Small Town, Big Magic
Hazel Beck
Readers will want to climb into this book and never leave!”
Red Carpet Crash
Fans of magic, family, lost loves, and intrigue will enjoy this novel.”
author of One Tuscan Summer Lori Nelson Spielman
Is sure to cast a spell on its fortunate readers.”
New York Times Bestselling Author Lori Nelson Spielman
An enchanting tale of love and loss, heartbreak and hope.”
New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman
Breanne Randall’s magical debut is sure to cast a spell on its fortunate readers.”
NOVEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
Laura Horowitz brings a charming narration to the small-town life of Sadie Revelare. Sadie wants nothing more than to bake, garden, and practice helpful magic for the people she loves, but too much abandonment has left her heartbroken. The letdowns continue with the return of her ex, Jake, and her twin, Seth, which coincides with her grandmother's dire medical diagnosis. At the same time, dark magic from her past comes back to haunt her. Horowitz gives Sadie a gentle yet sorrowful delivery and smoothly shifts to the grandmother's tough-as-old-boots tone and gravelly timbre. Horowitz matches the script, making the characters sound groggy or passionate when called for, and providing distinct voices for the many characters. S.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
