4.5 out of 5 stars.

I’ve read this book twice and absolutely loved it both times! So when I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, I couldn’t have been more thrilled!

Listening to the audiobook just made me fall in love with the story all over again. Even after reading it three times now, I’m 100% sure I’ll be coming back to it again and again—it’s just that good!

Once Charmed Twice Cursed by Shaylin Ghandi
ARC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a very chill and cozy romantasy book. While i was reading i did wish there was a little more world building especially when it came to fortuna and other charmed people but in hindsight this is a standalone romantasy book so maybe it’s for the best that it didn’t have super complicated and detailed world building. The romance was very sweet i love a forbidden romance and there was a couple of suspenseful aspects of the story that kept me listening. & it did have some spice!
This would be the perfect book to listen to while on vacation!

Tropes:
Forbidden romance
brothers best friend
friends to lovers
miscommunication

🌶️🌶️

I'm not sure how to rate this one. A lot of times the characters felt like they were YA or younger but then it was very open door, so that felt weird. The characters are definitely adults, but the writing felt like they should have been younger... it's possible for our female main character that her "charm" caused her to not grow up or kept her a bit immature. The overall story was fun.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed was a fun and addictive standalone romantasy. Standalones are very hard to write because not much time can be dedicated to worldbuilding and you have to immediately be invested in the characters for the story to work. Once Charmed, Twice Cursed kept me invested from the first to the last page. This book read like fanfiction in the best way. The writing was simple but very witty and flowed well. The worldbuilding was not extensive but I liked the concept of their luck goddess cursing some and blessing others. This mechanic created a simple world with built-in tension. The audiobook narration was also spot on! I thought Kimberly M. Wetherell's voice was a perfect fit for our FMC. She also did very well with her “male voice”. Sometimes this can really take me out of a book but hers was great! I really thought the audiobook was a great and immersive way to consume this story. I would recommend people listen to the audiobook! If you are looking for a romantasy that's fast-paced, spicy, and standalone this book is for you!

Thank you to Tantor Audio for the gifted ALC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

First off, Kimberly M. Wetherell’s voice is incredibly soothing and a delight to listen to. She has a great vocal range, and I really enjoyed her narration in this book.

The story was easy to follow, told from a single POV, with each character’s voice coming through distinctly. It didn’t take long for me to get hooked by the plot. I found it to be a satisfying read, though I do wish there had been a bit more romance. That said, it works beautifully as a standalone.

The world-building isn’t overly complex, but it’s well described. I like the characters.. the more you read, the more you care about them.

I felt anger, frustration, love, longing, and excitement. Exactly what you want from a good standalone fantasy romance.

5 🌟 for a great story and excellent narration. I highly recommend this audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this audio.

This was a cute story with a YA feel to it and some steamy scenes. It gave me cozy cottage vibes and I liked the two main characters. It wraps up nicely and the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. The narration was amazing. The story felt too much like a ya novel in the sense that it felt very easy and a little repetitive like I thought I heard the same line three times something like "but it was Weston!! 😱" I will say this book is not bad. It was an entertaining, short read, but it felt too easy. And the sex scenes felt out of place because it reads so much like YA.
If you were trying to do a rich fantasy like you have to explain all the marks which I have so many questions about.
I think that this is a very light fantasy with hidden identities. It was entertaining, Don't get me wrong it just didn't itch the scratch that I needed it to when I read a romance fantasy.
3/5

3⭐️⭐️⭐️(book) |
4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (audiobook)

This book gave me all the forbidden feels with its brother’s best friend, friends-to-lovers, romantasy mix. It's definitely more romance-forward, with fantasy as a soft backdrop. A light, slow-burn read for in between heavier books.

While I enjoyed the story, I found myself wishing for more world-building, more depth in the plot, and more of those beautiful, stolen moments that were mentioned but not fully explored. I wanted to feel their connection more deeply and see the tension build with even more intensity.

That said, the audiobook absolutely elevated the experience. The narration was full of emotion, vulnerable, honest, and immersive. It pulled me in and kept me there. Easily one of the best narrations I’ve listened to in a while.

Favorite quotes:

> "There's no way you don't realize I’ve been horribly, wretchedly, agonizingly in love with you since the day we met."
"Together but apart."
"I love you. In the permanent, branded-on-my-soul kind of way. I love you so much that I’d gladly take just half of you over the entirety of any other man."
"I’d choose half of you, too,” he says. “I’d choose your little toe, even, over any other woman."

A fast-paced, emotional read for romance lovers who enjoy slow burns with just a hint of magic.

This story gave me huge Princess Bride vibes—in the best way! I really enjoyed the unique lore surrounding the goddess Fortuna, especially the dynamic between blessings and curses. The plot was engaging, and the characters felt realistic and well-developed. I do wish Bria had been a bit less timid, though that’s more of a personal preference than a flaw. Overall, it was a fun and satisfying read with a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Once Charmed Twice Cursed is an adorable forbidden love story with humbling life lessons. Bria, was blessed with fortune, but sometimes having everything can be the biggest tragedy. Expectations from the people around you and their greed can make life no longer yours to enjoy.

Bria and Weston, two sides of the same coin, may be one of my new favorite book couples. Loving someone for who they are and not for what you can gain from them.

Subtle spice that makes this a good read for any older teen/young adult.

📖 Name of the Book: Once Charmed, Twice Cursed
👤 Author: Shaylin Gandhi
🗣 Narrator: Kimberly M. Wetherell
📖 Genre: Romance with a touch of fantasy
⭐ Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
🌶 Spice Rating: 🌶🌶/5
💭 My Thoughts:
Overall, this is a sweet, emotional romance with just enough magic to add a little sparkle. Highly recommend for fans of character-driven stories and anyone looking for an easy listen!

🫶 Thank you to Shaylin Gandhi and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

What I Loved:
One of my absolute favorite moments was the cabin scene (if you know, you know!). The chemistry and tension there were on point, and it was so satisfying to see Weston finally start letting his guard down. By the end, both hers and Weston's character growth really stood out—they became people I genuinely rooted for. Also, major points to Weston for not being your stereotypical “emotionally stunted” hero. I loved seeing a love interest who’s allowed to show real feelings and vulnerability.

What Didn’t Quite Hit:
My only wish was that Bria’s growth would have started sooner. She took a while to come into her own, and while the payoff is great, an earlier shift would’ve made her arc even stronger.

Romance & Tropes
Romance takes center stage here, with friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and “touch her and die” all done really well. The “brother’s best friend” angle didn’t fully land for me, but it didn’t ruin the vibe. The fantasy elements are pretty light—think a sprinkle of magic, not a full fantasy world. That didn’t bother me, but it might not be what hardcore fantasy fans are looking for.

🔊 Narrator Review:
Kimberly M. Wetherell’s narration is spot on for this story. Her pace and tone make it really easy to get lost in the book—she’s expressive without being over the top or distracting. While there’s not a ton of difference in the voices for each character, I still had no problem knowing who was speaking. The narration definitely enhanced the experience and kept me engaged from start to finish.

This book had its moments, but certain aspects felt unnecessarily overcomplicated. It leaned heavily on overly descriptive language, with nearly every scene padded by elaborate paragraphs. While I appreciate vivid imagery in fantasy, these details often overwhelmed the story, making it harder to stay engaged with the core events.

What I Enjoyed: ♥️ The exploration of societal differences—this was handled in an intriguing way. ♥️ The forbidden love trope, which brought an emotional depth I always appreciate.

The concept of people being charmed yet cursed stood out as fresh and compelling. The pacing was smooth and made for an effortless read, but the execution left much to be desired.

This book has all the ingredients for greatness, but it didn’t quite deliver the magic it set out to create.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my review!

First, this story is just such a well written “short read”. Sometimes when a book is on the shorter side, it seems like it’s difficult for the writer to have enough time to world build and make you love the characters too. This story did not have that problem; she managed to make me love Bria and Weston almost right away. Further, the slow burn spice was written perfectly. I was kicking my feet listening to it. Since I read the story via audiobook, I will also say I loved the narrator. Sometimes when there’s just one narrator, it can be odd hearing them narrate both female and male voices. The narrator for this one did it so well, and it never sounded forced or cheesy. Loved everything about this book.

Two people with opposite curses, one with fortune (charmed) and one with misfortune can never touch or their lives will change forever. Bria, who is charmed, has become an object: something to be used by everyone who enters her life in an attempt to get a piece of her good fortune. The result? Her life being dictated by her fortune and what it can do for her family. Weston, with his misfortune, is Bria’s brother’s best friend. The opposites attract, brother’s best friend, and forbidden romance make you absolutely devour this book, leaving you wanting more. Weston goes out of his way to save Bria, despite what the fates have given the two of them. Absolute must read for any romantasy lover!

Initially this book grabbed my attention and I enjoyed the premise.
The story takes a strange turn in my opinion and the middle book seems to be the same conversation between the FMC and the MMC happening over and over.
It improves towards the end and is a quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to listen to this ARC.

This was a cute little romance, not much happened tbh, but the magical tattoos and love story was nice. Brother's best friend trope done well. The only thing is I wish the identity of Jack was held a little longer to build up the shock of who he was.

This gave me HUGE Princess Bride vibes! I enjoyed the unique lore surrounding the goddess Fortuna and her blessings vs curses. The story was engaging and the characters felt realistic. I wish Bria had been less timid, but that's more personal preference than anything. Overall a fun story with a HEA.

The narration was solo and the narrator did an excellent job of representing each character. They kept the story moving along smoothly and made it more entertaining.

The story had potential with its magical setup and cursed intrigue, but I honestly found the main character a bit insufferable—she always seemed to be waiting around to be rescued instead of taking charge. It got frustrating fast.

BUT what totally saved this for me was the narrator, Kimberly M. Wetherell. She brought so much personality and emotion to the performance that I ended up sticking with it just to hear how she handled each scene. Her narration gave the characters more life than the writing did at times.

So if you’re curious about the story, I’d say go for the audiobook. Kimberly really elevates the whole experience.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.**

I enjoyed this book - it's light hearted and predictable enough to allow for it to be really flown through without having to pay too much attention to the details. There's not much world building in it and the magic system isn't incredibly detailed. But if you're into paranormal romance, star crossed lovers, and a bit of spice... but not too much spice so that it's overwhelming... then this book will be great for you!

This review is for the audiobook version of this title. The narrator was spectacular and really contributed to a good flow in the story and her voices for other characterswere great. While I found the plot for this book to be a bit predictable at times, there were definitely parts that had me hanging on to the edge of my seat! I'm a sucker for the forbidden love and brothers best friend tropes and this definitely delivers.