Oh this was such a fun read! Far better than I expected and I expected a really good cozy witchy read but this was far better! Loved it!

Sweet purple peonies, what a read!
🔮 Forced Proximity
🔮 Opposites attract
🔮 Paranormal Romance
🔮 Forbidden Love
🔮LOL banter and wit
🔮Small Town Shenanigans
I devoured Cursed in Love by Emily Colin in one day- it was too good to put down. What I thought was just going to be a paranormal-romcom had me sucked in with so many twist and turns!
Rune is a graphic designer who lives in the small town of Sapphire Springs. She’s had a troubled past and has grown up a bit of an outsider. It doesn’t help that she’s cursed. Rune has premonitions of death but unfortunately is also cursed to have no one believer. (Alexa play The Albatross and Casandra by Taylor Swift).
Rune is typically WFH but has been called into the office for an urgent project where she’s paired with Donovan Frost, a data engineer. It’s immediately clear that Rune and Donovan are opposites on so many levels but with her career on the line Rune does her best to win over Donovan.
Unfortunately for her, her curse goes into overdrive.

This book was SO fun and literally had me laughing out loud. The romance category can often be predictable, but I truly did not see where this book was heading. The small town shenanigans were so funny and I love the idea of a group of little old ladies spreading gossip and havoc across town. Our characters definitely go from zero to “I’d catch a grenade from ya” but it works for this books plot. If was being super critically, I think the FMC exclamation of “Sweet purple peonies” was a little overused, but it still didn’t deter me from using it this post and photo.
#steamyinthesprings #fatedmates #donorune #ronovan

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!

This book just wasn’t very good from my perspective.. The characters went from strangers to obsessed with each other within 24 hours. I’m not a fan of insta-love, and they had barely spent time together for that to even be a possibility. The whole book takes place within a week, which also makes it more unbelievable. There were a lot of repetitive phrases within the book that were very cringe-worthy.

I found the main character, Rune, to be a bit immature and annoying. I will say that the author is very descriptive in her writing, especially about her characters, and that is always something I enjoy. I really wanted to love this one because I love a cozy, witchy, romance. However, this just didn’t do it for me. I would be interested to read something else by Emily Colin to see how her style differs within her other books.

A cute rom-com type read. The story was fun & I really enjoyed it. It really did give me stars hollow vibes which I'm absolutely here for.

And we all love a grumpy/sunshine romance right? A low stakes, easy read that I really did enjoy.

Cursed in Love is set in a wholesome small town and follows the story of Rune, a funny woman who has the gift of seeing the future. She was adopted, unsure of her parents, and throughout the book is forced to face her past. Quirky town members (the Sinsters club literally has me keen to be old and join a raunchy smut book club) make the book so fun.

It’s full of romance, yearning, will they won’t they, enemies to lovers, and also takes many twists and turns. It’s Gilmore Girls wholesome town vibes with a dark twist that you will not expect.

It’s a mix of fantasy/paranormal and romance. There were times there were repetitive words and sentences that took me out of the book but besides that I enjoyed it.

I found it’s a good palette cleanser between big series reads as it’s a one off and I was hooked in to wanting to know everything that was happening.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, wholesome witchy read that turns quickly to more dark themes that will keep you on your toes the whole time.

Do you like romance? Do you like witches? Then you will love this book!! From the very start I couldn’t wait to pick it back up and read what happened next! It’s nothing like I have read before! Rune( fmc) and Donovan(Mmc) are undoubtedly meant for each other! The way this book layers the story together and wraps it all up in a beautiful bow at the end, chefs kiss! You won’t regret reading this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this arc

"Sweet purple ponies", that will live in my head for the next few months for sure.

What I expected: a cozy paranormal rom com, with paranormal references. What I got: A witchy rom com with a while high stakes paranormal main plot. What I initally THOUGHT was going to the the plot as per the blurb: cute with seer abilities meet grumpy "normie". Cue premonition of his death, and Rune trying everything to change fate so they can live happily ever after. What I got was a small town that's actually not-so-normal, hiding two covens of witches, one good, one bad, Rune and Donovan end up being at the very center of the whole damn ordeal and everything turns into an epic battle against the bad witches, sprinkled with a side of murder mystery ("Who killed Rune's bio family and why?").

That was one HECK of a wild ride and I LOVED every second of it. I would definitely recommend this book, it surprised me in a very good way.

One teeny tiny bad feedback would be to re-process the editing (which I hope they do between the ARCs and the final release) because there are still a few grammatical and punctuation errors here and there, but they are very minor.

Also if I don't become a Sinster by the time I hit 60, I will have tragically failed at life. Those ladies are GOALS.

This review has been posted to Goodreads, Fable and Story Graph, links included!

Cursed in Love by Emily Colin is an interesting mix of genres, being a paranormal rom-com. It has a good deal of scary and spooky moments, while having less romance (more insta-lust) than I would expect from a romcom. Cursed in Love follows Rune and Donovan, who are polar opposites that end up having to collaborate on a project for work. Rune is a chaotic, funny main character while Donovan is cold and brooding. Rune seems to have something constantly going wrong, partially but not entirely due to her curse.

Rune and Donovan start out as office enemies, and while I do love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, this one just felt a little out of place. They both outwardly dislike each other, going so far as to criticize each other's character, and then suddenly the story jumps to them making out in Donovan's office. I could have missed some cues that there was a mutual attraction building, but the romance felt very out of left field. I think Colin is a good writer, and I definitely enjoyed parts of this novel, but the development of the romance left something to be desired. I greatly enjoyed the setting of Sapphire Springs, it felt cozy and magical and I can see the inspiration drawn from Gilmores Girls. I also really enjoyed the Sinsters and their individual characters. I feel that Cursed in Love has great potential, but the mixing of genres felt very uneven to me. Colin did a great job of writing a paranormal novel, but I was disappointed with the rom-com side of things.

All in all, this was a decent read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a great paranormal novel. However, I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for a rom-com with a dash of magic. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Orchid Books for allowing me to read and review this e-arc of Cursed in Love by Emily Colin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Orchid books for the eARC!

This was such a good book! I loved both main characters (and the side characters too!). Sapphire Springs is such a cute town - I really hope Colin thinks about setting another story here.

I loved the way the story unraveled - there was so much I didn't guess, but the puzzle pieces fit together so well. Rune is a great character - I liked the way we learned her backstory. And her chemistry with Donovan is off the charts.

I really appreciated Colin's use of the forbidden love trope. It never got to be too much - she handled it beautifully.

I eagerly look forward to Emily Colin's next book!

I went into Cursed in Love expecting a cozy romcom with a dash of magic, but Emily Colin delivered so much more. While the book is packed with charm, humor, and swoon-worthy romance, it also has serious stakes and emotional depth that took me by surprise. Rune’s backstory is tough (the content warnings are definitely there for a reason), but these moments never detract from the magic of the story—they only make it richer.

Rune is an amazing protagonist: quirky, fiercely independent, and endearingly awkward in a town where Big Brother-scale gossip blogs ensure she can’t so much as slip without everyone knowing. (I could never live in Sapphire Springs, but the town is certainly a character of its own.) Her “curse” is fascinating—being able to see the future but never be believed? Perfectly woven into the plot. And then there’s Donovan Frost. Imagine Henry Cavill as a grumpy data engineer with a spreadsheet obsession, and you’ve got him. The chemistry between Rune and Donovan? Absolutely sizzling. So honestly, I couldn’t blame the town for shipping them so hard.

What I loved most, though, is how the book constantly kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Colin threw in a twist that had me gasping. And when it all came together at the end? Wow. Brilliant!

As a longtime fan of Colin’s romantasy (The Sword of the Seven Sins trilogy, Fate and Fury), I was curious to see how her signature style would translate to a contemporary setting, and she nailed it. This book has her trademark elements: magical curses, badass female leads, unexpected plot twists, and moments of awakening. Somehow, she’s packed all the essence of romantasy into the quirks and chaos of “real life,” and it’s pure magic.

Cursed in Love has everything: romance, magic, high stakes, low stakes, and a heartfelt story about a woman learning to come into her own power -- all while falling for the grumpy coworker. Highly recommend for fans of Charmed, quirky small towns, and love stories that’ll make you laugh, cry, and believe in magic.

This book is an interesting mix of genres. Sometimes cozy and sometimes creepy. It feels like half workplace rivals half paranormal suspense. It was marketed as Stars Hollow meets Charmed, and I definitely see the Gilmore Girls inspiration in the town and the abundant pop culture references. The plot itself is very compelling and I was very interested in Rune’s premonitions and the impending sense of danger you get throughout.

The story has a lot of potential. There’s well-loved tropes, a promising opposites attract office romance, and intriguing setups with likable characters, but I don’t think the writing was strong enough to support the plot. A lot of descriptors or phrases are repeated to the point that it became distracting. The pop culture references already felt a little bit dated so I can’t imagine readers younger than millennial age will be familiar with them. Even when the story is hitting its marks, things feel a little flat.

I do think this will appeal to some readers. It deals with heavier subjects without ever feeling heavy and it was pretty easy to read. Hardcore Gilmore Girls fans specifically will probably enjoy this more than most as it does a good job capturing the nosy, quirky, small town spirit of the show.

This book was so fun! I really enjoyed the setting of Sapphire Springs and the cast of supporting characters. The Sinsters? Iconic. Rune was a compelling main character and I liked the mystery element of the magic and how it evolved as the story progressed. Her chemistry with Donovan was electric and swoon worthy. The ending was great and definitely kept me on my toes!

Favorite read of 2025 so far. Absolutely devoured this. Read it in a matter of 12 hours— could not put it down. The characters were completely lovable. The storyline was rich and enticing. I was kicking my feet, giggling like a school girl with a crush the entire time. I already know, this is going to be one of those constant go-to comfort reads,

Perfect for fans of paranormal romance, especially the witchy kind, and of charming small town settings. There was a lot of information about the types of witches and some chaotic moments in the storyline, which could overshadow the romance aspect at times, but which did add to the story. I did struggle to warm up to Rune and Donovan in the beginning but I ended up liking them and their dynamic. I would’ve liked to have seen more about their lives after the end events, which is a sign of a good story for me!

For me personally, this was a three star read. I am giving it four stars because the main reasons it's a three star are very much me things.

Things happen super quick. I love a fast-paced story, but the entire book takes place in less than a week. The first 1/3 takes place over two days. And that brings me to the insta-love, not a favorite trope of mine.

The other issue that was a me thing was the obviousness of it once being a serialized story. When reading as a serial, having gotcha moments at the end of each chapter makes sense. Not so much when you're binging the book on a lazy weekend. Again, a me thing.

I did like the characters and the plot itself was fun with some genuine laugh out loud moments. But overall, this one wasn't for me. But a definite maybe/leaning yes for someone who loves the insta-love trope.

I received an online ARC for my review but my review is still an honest representation of my thoughts.

TW: References to childhood abuse, violence, arson, foster care placement, mentions of suicide, and parental death before the start of the story. I always want to pass along any TW that have been provided by the author, or publisher before anyone gets to the review so it any of the TW are an issue they know to use their best judgement.


To be blunt I loved the book and hated the description of “five chili peppers hot”, it was too TikTok for a description. I guess you can say the author was aiming for funny, or relatable but if the only way to do that is by using TikTok slang to get her point across it’s a big miss. I really wanted to love this book, and I think for the most part I did. There were a few hiccups, like their names feeling uninspired, but I think if you push past that all in all it’s a decent read.

The atmospheric story telling is worth taking note of in my opinion as Colin’s does a great job of bringing the town to life. I think some things get lost in translation, like how they went from enemies to, for lack of a better word, lust because I didn’t feel the build up for their romance. I didn’t feel the love, but there was lust. It’s really sudden and out of place because one second Rune hates him and the next she’s thinking about kissing him. I really think the author thought she was clever with the last name Frost and then making a bunch of comments about him having icy eyes, calling him ice man, “sexy as sin, but cold as ice,” it’s not witty, charming, or funny. I think a lot of people misinterpret how to do the banter of Gilmore Girls because this is not it. Also why does Rune (while receiving help from Donovan) decide the best approach to getting and maintaining a cordial working relationship with him think the best way to go about that is to insult him and demand to know what his problem is? To me Rune comes across as immature and Donovan as rude. Also why does Rune always say “holy bananas” it’s not funny or quirky. I think the author was trying to go for a Luke and Lorelei vibe with the chaos that is Rune and the grump that is Donovan. Personally I think there were a lot of elements that could have made this a very good book but too many other things dragged it down for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this Arc
I was unsure after reading the blurb if I would enjoy this story but it soon won me over!

I was intrigued to see how Rune dealt with the problems coming up in her life and how her and Donovan were thrown together in the mix of it all!

This was a mix up of small town and witchcraft and had me wanting to carry on reading to see what would happen next.

I’m really not much into the rom-coms or romantasy craze that’s going around, but that doesn’t mean I don’t try one once in a while because I do find some of them entertaining. This is the latest I’ve tried. This is definitely a very cute and rom-com-y with paranormal elements book, and while I didn’t love the characters (I did like them), I did find them perfect for each other and fun to learn about. Rune is like Cassandra of myth who can tell the future, but no one will believe her, and Donovan is a very straight-laced and down-to-earth programmer. I thought it was interesting why Rune’s curse happened, Rune and Donovan’s race to find out about what Donovan’s brother is up to, and their romance finally happening. This is definitely a well-written, fun, romancy, and interesting book, and fans of this genre will find this book very satisfying and well worth reading. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I thought this was going to be a lighthearted, cozy paranormal romcom so I wasn't expecting this plot-heavy and emotional paranormal romance. I was pulled in initially by Rune and the increasingly painful situations that she found herself in with Donovan, and by her connection. The curse was so intriguing and before I knew it, I was devouring the book. It was so fast-paced and I knew I couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.

The side characters, particularly the Sinsters, were amazing, and they (along with Rune's bad luck!) brought the romcom humour - their social media posts had me laughing out loud. But Rune and Donovan really were the heart of the book, and I loved that it got into deeper subjects as well. I can't believe how well balanced it was, but I loved how everything came together!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Cursed in Love is a fast-paced romp through the town of Sapphire Springs. Impetuous, clairvoyant Rune is paired up with sulky, handsome Donovan for a work project and hijinks ensue. Magic, small-town gossip, and near-death experiences await readers.

Things I liked: This book is quick, the events of the whole thing happen over the course of four days. The action and intrigue were enough to have me read this in one sitting. Emily Colin does a great job of helping us understand Rune's inner motivations and her backstory, allowing us access to Rune's most private thoughts. The will-they-won't-they-of-course-they-will banter and chemistry kept my attention the whole time. This is a great book for: the beach, planes, trains, your morning commute. Fans of Charmed and Gilmore Girls will enjoy.

Things I didn't love: I got confused in some of the action scenes, unable to really figure out what was happening. The book ended pretty abruptly.

Overall, I enjoyed Cursed in Love, it was cute, funny, compelling, what more can a girl ask for?