This book is basically a cross between Practical Magic and Simply Irresistible, two movies I always enjoy…but the book just wasn’t doing it for me. But what do I know? If you’re looking for a light and charming-ish romance, it may still be for you. Sadie Revelare has inherited a form of the magic that runs through her family – the food she cooks can actually affect the eater. The herbs and ingredients she uses can make people happy or honest or lustful. But her magic comes with a curse. After she experiences four heartbreaks, she’ll lose it forever so she’s kept herself very guarded, always helping others instead of thinking of herself. But when, all at once, her former flame comes back to town, her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, and her estranged twin brother returns, all the heartbreaks are catching up to her and the fortress she’s built around herself threatens to crumble.
The curse itself seemed convoluted. It was somehow overexplained while also not explained enough. It just didn’t fully make sense. That’s complaint number one because it’s pretty important for the plot…though at the end of the day, they’re trying to make this a romance so it also doesn’t really matter whether or not you understand this central plot point. It also bothered me that it seemed everyone knew about the magic, but somehow the love interest was completely blind to it. And how does he seemingly know nobody in this tiny town that he grew up in? If it’s really a town where everyone knows everybody’s business, him leaving for a few years wouldn’t render him a total stranger. It also really irked me that the grandmother talks almost exclusively in old Southern adages…but they’re in California. I get that they were going for small town quirk (and, honestly, it almost reads like it’s set in the New Orleans area…but it’s not), but it came off as hokey and out of place.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
Pair with: Hot chocolate that’s far too sweet – you thought you wanted it, but it just doesn’t hit
Peaches to Apples 