I went into this book expecting a cute fantasy witchy romcom and while it was part of that, it also got quite dark.

This is the story of Rune and Donovan and they are a forbidden couple who are destined to be together and at the same time, he will die if they are.

A lot goes on in this book, featuring a cute small town with some great characters, lots of magic, a workplace romance, and a cat named Valentine.

There are dark topics discussed in this book and the end of this book with the final meetup between the witches does end in quite a bit of bloodshed.

All that being said, I found the romance lacking in this book. Yes, Rune and Donovan are destined but it was more told than shown. Yes, they have great chemistry together but it was very much instalove and I didn't love that so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.

Spice Rating: 2 Chili Peppers - few brief steamy scenes, 1-2 explicit

Cursed by Love took me on a fun, wild ride.
We have Donovan a grumpy, iceman, who is very particular about.. well everything. And Rune, a woman with premonitions cursed so that no one believes her and she attracts chaos like a moth to a flame. Which created a lot of fun moments between them.
They are thrown together at work, with an instant attraction on both ends. However, some forces don't want them together, and other forces do. So throughout the book, we have this will they, won't they, push/ pull attraction thing going on. The sexual attraction was on point, and I loved the mystery element. Their interactions had me laughing out loud, and rooting for them to make it to the end.
Once we reached a certain point towards the end everything kind of ramped up and I was thoroughly invested again and couldn't put the book down until I reached the end which I really enjoyed. I will definitely read more by this author.

The town of Sapphire Springs is full of quirky characters that make the story even more entertaining. The romance is a slow burn (but worth it), and the banter between Rune and Donovan is really well done. The magical elements add a fun twist, and while the book has a lighthearted feel, there are also some emotional moments that make you really root for the characters.

If I had to nitpick, the ending felt a little rushed after all that great buildup. But overall, this was a really enjoyable, cozy paranormal romance. If you like small-town settings, a bit of magic, and a romance with great tension, this one is definitely worth picking up!

This was a somewhat quick read although I read it a bit more slowly because life happened.
I loved the chemistry between Rune and Donovan, and their enemies to lovers vibes. I do wish there had been more scenes between the two of them, especially of the steamy kind.
I don't read a lot of books that are fantasies or that have paranormal characters, but I really enjoyed that whole aspect of this one.
The plot kept me going and kept me wanting to know more!

I found this an enjoyable quick read. It held my interest and I liked the FMC and MMC; Rune has some deep wounds in her past and Donovan has a complicated family dynamic. There were times that the paranormal aspect of it got a little muddy and I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on, but overall I really enjoyed reading it.

This book does an amazing job blending humor, romance, and a bit of darkness. Rune and Donovan’s dynamic is everything—you’ve got the brooding, logical guy and the quirky, intuitive woman who can see the future but has a hard time getting anyone to believe her. I really loved how the opposites-attract trope played out, especially with the tension and chemistry between them. Rune’s curse adds this extra layer of drama, and even though it felt like their love story was doomed from the start, it kept me totally invested.

The small-town setting in Sapphire Springs gives the story a cozy vibe, and I really enjoyed the quirky characters and funny moments that balanced out the heavier themes. There’s a lot of heart in this book, and while it’s emotional and has its darker moments, it never feels too heavy. It’s a fun, unique paranormal romance that kept me hooked all the way through, and if you’re into a love story that mixes magic, fate, and a bit of a challenge, you’ll definitely want to check this one out!

I thought this would be a straight up romance with a touch of magic but it was more about magic which is fine, just not as advertised. However, I enjoyed this. I loved Rune as a lead. I loved the town and its inhabitants. Rune and Donovan had a very cute journey but I think things with Donovan’s arc and not believing went on longer than it needed. Easy read. Cute.

I really enjoyed this book because it was cozy, witchy, and an easy, fun read. It had the perfect balance of magic, romance, and humor, making it a great escape. The story reminded me a lot of The Ex Hex, so if you enjoyed that book, you’ll definitely love this one too. The sense of community in the story was heartwarming, and the Sinsters made me laugh with their banter and unwavering support for Rune. The book was also well written, with engaging characters and a storyline that kept me hooked from start to finish.

** Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **

I am not a huge paranormal romance reader but let me tell you, I was a huge fan of Rune Whitlock and her chaos. This was such a cozy read and an unexpected amount of action to counteract the cozy. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this eARC.

Stars Hollow meets Charmed is correct, and exactly how I would describe this book! Such a fun and captivating story. I did not want to put this book down. 400 pages seemed like a lot, but it honestly flew by. Great book.

I don’t think I’ve read a “paranormal” or magical romcom like this. I love this version of grumpy sunshine to include some instances of social anxiety. The fmc is such an intriguing yet relatable character and this romance really warms the soul.

Who wants to be cursed anyway?
This is not my typical genre to read but I am so hooked reading it. There is just something about mystery and magic that pulled me into this novel. I love how the book started with chaos, which truly magnified the book title itself. But beyond the chaotic scenes, there is that tension between the MCs, the small-town vibe of Sapphire Springs along with the funny Sinster ladies that add humor in between.

I was a bit confused in the beginning and then started being suspicious of the danger that the FMC is in. Eventually, I got hooked in learning more about her history and the witches. To be honest, I didn't expect that it would turn into witches ' rivalry, but I was kind of stressed with Rune when she decided to settle things on her hand. I was like, THINK first! But thankfully, Donovan, oh this man is such a surprise! He turned out to be not just a typical cold man, but a shy but very persistent man.

4.5⭐
What I expected was a cute paranormal rom-com. What I got was much better with much higher stakes. From the outset, I enjoyed the voice and character of Rune, the misunderstood weird girl whose "cursed" because no one ever believes her about her premonitions. While leaving for a work meeting, she somehow, almost accidentally, saves a guy from getting killed, only to get arrested. And the day goes down from there. The small town is cute but the neighborhood Facebook gossip page is lit. And Rune keeps landing on it with the guy she is assigned with to a project...the grumpy to her sunshine. All I know is that I want to be back in this world again. The Sinisters rule!

Emily! I absolutely loved this book. I have posted my Goodreads post below. My little family got hit with the Flu and I plan on making a post on Instagram also! Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this book early! I really enjoyed the Sinsters and loved them so much!!

This book had me hooked by the first comedy filled chapter. The characters were perfectly written and are very relatable. This book starts off one way then completely takes a turn that will shock you. I loved everything about this book and I wished there was more of it to read!

I usually don't read witchy books, so I was excited about this one! It was a good book, I liked the style of the writing, and the story line was so interesting. I was getting frustrated on behalf of the FMC, when no one would listen to her, but I guess that makes sense seeing as she was cursed (obviously). It was cute, and interesting and a little cult-y, but not in a bad way. I would for sure read more from this author.

The first chapter didn’t get my attention, but I found myself eating it up once through. It was enjoyable and easy after something heavy. The tension was hot!

In the town of Sapphire Springs, Rune Whitlock has always felt like an outsider. Gifted with the ability to see the future but cursed to have no one believe her premonitions, she’s accepted that romance isn’t on the cards. Working as a graphic designer, a loyal best friend, and a sweet rescue cat called Valentine, how can she be lonely?
When she meets Donovan Frost, the brilliant and brooding data engineer, he is everything she is not but has to accept this, especially as they have been put together on a work project. Rune’s gift reveals a chilling truth: they are destined for each other, but their love story is doomed to end in tragedy on their wedding day. To protect Donovan, Rune must push him away, even if it breaks her heart. But the harder she tries, the more entangled they become. Rune must unravel the mystery of her curse... before it’s too late.
A sweet paranormal romance that is fairly fast-paced given that the events are meant to take place over a week. I must admit to finding the ‘instant love’ a bit difficult to sit with, but I found the relationship enjoyable. It is to be expected with any paranormal romance that there are elements that have to be accepted, so I just went along with the story. There is plenty of banter, and the chemistry between Rune and Donovan was electric! An enjoyable read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review - and trust me, I genuinely loved every page. This book was such a fun, fast-paced, well-developed romp. I love the small town and the characters - both the supporting and main characters are super compelling, and I hope there’s a second book because I can’t wait to return to Sapphire Springs! I would recommend that readers heed the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book - there is trauma, and the protagonist deals with dark humor like many of us do. But if you’re able to read this book, I think you’ll really enjoy it. Rune is a delightful protagonist and I found her incredibly relatable, and her relationship with Donovan is absolutely perfect. Just the right amount of spice for me, and the fantasy elements of the book are compelling and well-developed, not just shoehorned in for window dressing for the romantic aspect. Loved the magical system that was able to be developed. All in all, one of my favorite witchy rom-com books yet (and I’m a deep devourer of all things witchy rom-com!).

Reviewed on Bluesky (@katniceverdeen), Goodreads & StoryGraph.

2 stars

In theory, I was supposed to like this book. cozy fantasy, witches, Gilmore Girls vibes. In reality, I didn't like anything about it. Many times I asked myself "What tf am I reading?", which is never a good sign. I didn't like the main character, the story was so ridiculous I rolled my eyes every two pages, and the romance came out of nowhere.

The only thing I liked was the magic system, but not enough to give it more than two stars.

I'm really bummed about this because I really wanted to like it.