A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to netgalley for the arc! This was absolutely adorable!
I loved the characters, the story, the whimsy and the chaos.
If you are looking for a cute rom com to read I would recommend this one 100%.

Very light hearted close door romance, spice was minimal with more buildup to the kiss which was a nice change from open door. Characters took time developing, was a sweet story line and characters had a quick make up.

Love Potion Number 99 is a heartwarming romantic comedy brimming with heart, humor, and just the right amount of magic. The story follows Brooke, a woman struggling with the recent loss of her beloved grandmother, who was famous for her “magical” teas and smoothies. In an attempt to keep her grandmother’s memory alive, Brooke recreates one of her grandmother’s most famous recipes—the "Love Potion Smoothie." Little does she know, it will lead to an unexpected connection with her reclusive, brooding neighbor, Ethan.

Ethan, a firefighter recently diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, is grappling with his diagnosis and the loss of his dream career. He's turned inward, spending most of his time working out in his backyard where Brooke and her friends can't help but ogle him. After an accidental encounter involving Ethan’s dog destroying a garden planted by Brooke's grandmother, the two are hardly on the best terms. But when Ethan unknowingly drinks the potion at Brooke's Halloween party, his behavior shifts dramatically—showing her kindness and attention that she begins to wonder might not be entirely genuine.

As Brooke and Ethan work together on her grandmother's dream project—opening an animal shelter—their romance slowly blossoms. But Brooke is torn, unsure if Ethan’s newfound affection is the result of the potion or something more real. Their slow-burn romance is sweet and tender, with plenty of playful banter, heartfelt moments, and a tender exploration of vulnerability.

Love Potion Number 99 is a charming blend of romance, personal growth, and a touch of whimsy. Fans of sweet, closed-door romances with a dash of magic will love this enchanting story about healing, second chances, and finding love in unexpected places.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Daphne James Huff for giving me the opportunity to read a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

First of all I want to thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Love Potion Number 99 was such a fun and heartwarming read! This charming story mixes sweet romance with just the right hint of magic, making it a delightful escape from reality. The chemistry between the characters felt natural and engaging, and I loved the whimsical touches that gave the story its unique flavour.
The magical element added an extra layer of intrigue without overpowering the romantic core of the story.
It felt like a modern fairytale, perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good read with a sprinkle of enchantment.
I genuinely enjoyed every page and would absolutely recommend it to fans of cozy romances with a magical twist!

3.5 stars

This was a cute story! I loved the small town setting, and the ambience of Brooke opening an animal shelter. Things start off pretty quickly with a "meet-ugly". Brooke approaches things logically, and Ethan is all about signs. And when Ethan drank the "love potion" at the Halloween party, it made me giggle with the second guessing that ensued! (How I loved Gran's reason for not drinking Brooke's potion. *sniff* )

I have to say, about 30% of this novel (possibly more!) is the main characters' descriptive reaction to every single touch or glance: a touch sent electricity through him, his hands brushed against hers with a sizzle, every touch tinges their cheeks red. When he simply grabbed their cups, she wasn't able to breathe. When he grabbed her arm to steady himself from a shove, she experienced a mini explosion of fireworks along her skin. So many zings and not enough plot. Ethan had been in love with Brooke for weeks by Thanksgiving, but they only got to chatting during the Halloween party! It felt rushed.

Also, what was up with Jerry???

The ending was perfect:

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Dnf’d at 15%.
This book wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into the book at all. The pacing was so slow and I even skipped ahead a bit and ended up not being interested in where/how the story was progressing.

I enjoyed reading Love Potion Number 99 by Daphne James Huff. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

A funny and magic story , Brooke and Ethan are neighbors and the first time they met was because his puppy was misbehaving and they fought . One year later she is trying to open the animal shelter that was her grandmother wish at her will and Ethan is the fire inspector who was inspecting her shelter . When Ethan drinks at her halloween party a love potion and he acts like he is in love with her what will she do ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read.
This was a wonderfully written romance story.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, fun and engaging read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cute story idea, but fell short in execution.

The writing felt too simple, unnatural, and got repetitive. The pacing was confusing to me. The story starts off at Halloween and the bulk of the story happens in the weeks between then and Thanksgiving. In that time, they open an animal shelter, run out of money for the shelter, plan and execute two impromptu fundraising events for the shelter, fall in love and break up. What timeline are we working with here? There were some side plots that didn’t get wrapped up, which was disappointing. Why was Jerry so mean to Ethan all the time? And what was up with his weird comment about Brooke’s mom? Who started the fire at the shelter? What was up with Krista at the auction? All of these go unanswered.

Brooke, as a character, was very hard to root for. She was rude, judgmental, and immature - especially for someone in their 30’s. For having a year to get the shelter running, Brooke feels ill-prepared to actually run a shelter, nor does it feel like she actually wanted to do it. I’m fairly certain she doesn’t even like animals and is simply doing this because it was her Gran’s dream.

Ethan felt like he had a little more depth to him. Having recently moved to town and receiving a life-altering diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa. He works hard to fit in while adjusting to his new life. But he is so passive, just letting this happen to and around him, letting “fate decide”, rather than actually trying for anything. If he even catches a whiff that something isn’t going right, he immediately bails out because that must mean it isn’t “meant to be”. This got old and frustrating very quickly.

Overall, the story was missing the whimsical and cozy vibe I love about books with magic/magical-realism.

Brooke and Ethan have the opposite of a meet-cute, and a year later are still not speaking, even as next door neighbors. When he turns up at her Halloween party and accidently drinks a supposed love potion, will she be able to take him seriously when he then start to show an interest in her? A great read, I liked how it was told from both points of view and look forward to the next book in this series.

Such a cute quick read. I loved the small town setting and the animals from the shelter. The romance was sweet and it made me smile. It started slow but then the pacing was better. It is a quick and light hearted read.

This romance book is one of those heartfelt ones with a little grief, a little healing, and also a little fluff. It is all around a sweet and magical read with two incredible characters and a love of animals.

Brooke es una mujer práctica, con los pies bien puestos en la tierra y el corazón lleno de amor, que intenta cumplir el último deseo de su abuela: abrir un refugio de animales, incluso si eso significa dejar de lado sus sueños.
Ethan, por su parte, es un exbombero recientemente diagnosticado con una condición que lo obliga a dejar el trabajo que amaba. Su filosofía de vida, más resignada y fluida, choca con la necesidad de control de Brooke… y eso queda claro desde su primer (y desastroso) encuentro provocado por un cachorro travieso.


La relación entre Brooke y Ethan se construye de manera lenta y sincera, con una química que crece con cada página. Lo hermoso de esta historia es que no se basa solo en la atracción, sino en la construcción de una confianza mutua, en el espacio que ambos se dan para sanar y evolucionar. Sus heridas emocionales, miedos y mecanismos de defensa están bien explorados, y aunque a veces sus acciones pueden frustrar, también se sienten reales. Hay momento donde dan ganas de sacudirlos por ser necios, pero al final es ambos aprenden que cada uno tiene su forma de ver las cosas y aprenden a comunicarse.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

✨ Review: Love Potion Number 99 by Daphne James Huff ✨

This book was such a cozy, heartwarming surprise—with just the right mix of magic, romance, and emotional depth. Love Potion Number 99 isn’t just a fluffy rom-com (though it has plenty of swoony moments!); it’s also a story about grief, healing, and finding connection in unexpected ways.

The main character really resonated with me—she’s navigating life after loss, still grieving her grandmother in quiet, tender ways. Her use of “magic” feels like more than spells and potions—it’s her way of staying close to someone she loved deeply, and it adds a beautiful emotional thread throughout the story. I loved how her connection to her grandmother is felt in the herbs she blends, the little rituals she keeps alive, and the comfort she finds in the magical traditions they shared.

The love interest, too, is going through his own struggles, and what I really appreciated was how their relationship gave him space to open up. There’s a softness in their bond—not just chemistry, but real trust being built. Watching him learn to accept support, find his footing, and discover who he is in the wake of his own challenges was just as rewarding as the romantic arc.

Daphne James Huff does a lovely job balancing the lightness of a magical romance with the realness of grief and growth. The magical elements aren’t flashy or dramatic—they’re gentle and grounding, just like the tone of the book overall. It made me smile, it made me tear up a bit, and it left me feeling comforted.

If you love stories with heart, healing, and just a little bit of enchantment, Love Potion Number 99 is a warm, quiet kind of magic you won’t want to miss.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This cozy, small-town romance has grief, healing, and unexpected connections that bring an aspect of slow burn that feels genuinely

Brooke is dealing with the loss of her grandmother, and has her world turned upside down when Ethan’s dog destroys her grandmother’s garden. Their first meeting? Emotional and messy. But a common love of animals will bring, Ethan, a local firefighter.

What starts as a tense encounter shifts into a friendship, and then into something more. The slow burn between them is done so well and it didn’t feel forced or rushed. Just real. I found myself rooting for them.

That said, while the beginning of the book was full of detail and emotion, the back half moved quickly….almost too quickly. The situations felt a bit rushed in comparison to the layered buildup. It left me with that “almost-satisfied” feeling, I needed something more to fully scratch the itch the story created.

The cozy, emotional, and deep parts of this book made this a heartfelt and easy read.

This charming and heartfelt story blends light magical elements with real-world emotional stakes in a way that feels both whimsical and grounded. The dynamic between Brooke and Ethan is full of tension, humor, and reluctant chemistry, sparked by an unforgettable first encounter and a series of unfortunate, slightly enchanted events. The accidental love potion twist adds a clever layer to their growing connection, forcing both characters to confront what’s real and what might just be the work of fate, or magic. The result is a delightful slow burn that plays with the idea of destiny while still rooting itself in the very human struggles of loss, change, and second chances.

What really makes this story shine is its balance of humor and heart. Between a spirited puppy, a stubborn heroine trying to honor her grandmother’s memory, and a hero learning to redefine his future, there is plenty to root for. The world is cozy and full of gentle enchantment, with just enough mystery to leave readers wondering whether magic is truly at play. Add in lovable side characters and a strong theme of hope, and you have a feel-good romance that is as sweet as it is satisfying. This is a perfect pick for anyone craving a clean romance with a bit of sparkle and a lot of heart.

Love Potion Number 99 is one of those rom-coms that doesn't take itself too seriously and that’s what makes it so fun.
Brooke and Ethan’s first meeting is gloriously awkward (shoutout to the out-of-control puppy), and their second meeting is even worse. I liked that both characters were dealing with very real struggles, and yet the story kept things light and charming without ignoring the emotional undercurrents. The magical tea/potion element was cute and added just enough whimsy to keep the “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic from feeling too familiar. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was rooting for them because of the potion or in spite of it, which I think was kind of the point. And the banter? Surprisingly sweet, with just enough bite.

REVIEW: ☆☆☆/5
This was my very first ARC and was so happy to be accepted for it.

Overall, this book was a very cosy and sweet read. I liked it more than I thought I would as I'm quite a critical person when it comes to books.

The book has a bit of a magical premise. The plot revolves around Brooke and Ethan, and is written in 3rd person, with a dual point of view: Brooke's and Ethan's. It focuses on their love story and their lives. Brooke is a down to earth personality that likes to have control over what's happening in her life and hates uncertainty, while Ethan is the exact opposite, and due to his trauma his preferred coping mechanism is to go with the flow and accept what happens in his life as fate's doing. At times it gets quite irritating. Both have suffered trauma, and Brooke has a complex of wanting to keep up a facade that her nan has built and is constantly trying to fill her shoes, but that's just how some people are I guess. The book tries to address the trauma a bit and it has quite a satisfying resolution at the end. The little group of friends that Brooke has was such a sweet point and I loved reading about them and their dynamic.

I loved that the characters were quite mature and their thoughts seemed reasonable for most of the book, with a just a few instances where they didn't add up. I loved how Ethan's diagnosis was researched and presented.

The pacing was mostly alright, but didn't like how slowly it progressed till like the 60th 70th % of the book and then just speeds up a lot from there.

I am not a massive fan of repetition in books as I pay quite a lot of attention and then can easily come back and re-read something I forgot about, so when I had to read repeatedly about how big and muscular Ethan was, and how his arms were great and his legs were great, I wasn't best pleased.

The whole Jerry situation was not fleshed out very well and was hoping to find out what his problem was with Ethan, as it didn't make a lot of sense. I understood that Ethan was a bit awkward but he even says that he tried to be friendly with the people, but they were just awkward back at him. We can also see that he is perfectly fine working other jobs, and having a great time with the firefighters even though he pushes them away at times.
I didn't understand why he had to be super friendly for an inspector job, and why Jerry was making up weird rules then getting upset randomly.

The magic for me was a bit funny because it makes no sense coming from Brooke and Krista, 2 pretty logical women, and then it doesn't get resolved either, but it's pretty obvious which way it should go, as it's a dual point of view and you can see really well if it's there or not.

I can't help but think that this book really feels like one of those games on your phone where someone inherits a mansion and they have to restore it and complete quests related to it.

I would still recommend it for the good parts I've mentioned, and also for it being quite a wholesome read.