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Verdict: A cute, chaotic witchy fake-dating romcom with excellent world-building — and one of the most divisive miscommunication plots on our cozy list. Messy potion maker Morgan fake-dates champion elemental witch Rory at a witches’ festival, then becomes convinced she has accidentally dosed her with a love potion. Readers love the magic and the festival; many were frustrated that Morgan won’t just tell the truth.
Best for: Readers who love witches, festivals and fake dating — and can tolerate a long misunderstanding.
Heat level: 🌶️
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.2/5 — a 3.41 Goodreads average across 2,164 ratings, 3.39 on StoryGraph from 1,189 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 105 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Fake dating, witches, love potion, opposites attract, found family, miscommunication.
This Spells Disaster is Tori Anne Martin’s 2023 paranormal lesbian romance from Berkley. Self-proclaimed “messy witch” Morgan Greenwood, who works in her family’s potion shop in a small New England town, is sure she was hexed at birth — and she has just drunkenly offered to fake date the woman of her dreams.
It holds a 3.41 average across 2,164 Goodreads ratings, with 44% of them four or five stars, 3.39 on StoryGraph from 1,189 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 105 Amazon ratings.
What Is This Spells Disaster About?
Rory Sandler, a spellcasting champion who walked away from competitive magic to tend bar, accepts. As they prepare to fool everyone at the biennial New England Witches’ festival, things feel less and less fake.
Then Morgan realises she may have brewed Rory a love potion instead of a relaxation potion — breaking a sacred Witch Council law. To undo it, she decides she must prove how incompatible they are.
What Works in This Book
- World-building: Readers praise a thoughtful magic system that coexists with the modern world — scrying works, but so does Google.
- The festival: Readers love the witchy festival setting.
- Characters: Impulsive, loyal Morgan and clever, kind Rory win fans, along with Morgan’s family and friends.
- Social anxiety rep: One reader found the anxiety representation very good.
Book Synopsis
A messy witch fake-dates her crush at a magic festival — then fears she’s given her a love potion.
The only cure is the truth.
My Review
The first half is fun, chaotic and genuinely witchy. It takes consent seriously, which is admirable for a love-potion plot.
The second half is where readers split. Many say the book falls apart once the potion mix-up takes over: Morgan avoids Rory, behaves badly on purpose to push her away and refuses to simply talk, and one reader notes the irony of a book about consent that ignores communication. Others found it unremarkable among witchy romances, and one called the characterisation bland.
My honest note: If miscommunication is a dealbreaker, skip it; if not, the magic is charming.
| Element | In This Spells Disaster |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Morgan Greenwood (potion maker) & Rory Sandler (elemental witch and bartender) |
| Core tropes | Fake dating, love potion, opposites attract |
| Setting | A New England witches’ festival |
| Heat level | 🌶️ |
| Length | 368 pages (paperback) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Consent, magical drugging, loss of control, anxiety, self-medication (author’s note) |
How Spicy Is This Spells Disaster?
Mildly; one reader calls it not very smutty.
The author flags consent discussions, magical drugging, anxiety and self-medication; StoryGraph users add toxic relationships and panic attacks.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a witchy, funny autumn read. It is on our cozy lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: miscommunication drives you up the wall.
In short: Great magic, frustrating misunderstanding.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 13% five stars, 31% four, 38% three, 13% two and 2% one — heavily mixed. On StoryGraph, 77% tagged it lighthearted and 61% funny.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): World-building first. Second, the festival. Third, the characters. Fourth, anxiety rep.
What readers argue about and complain about: The miscommunication, above everything. Second, Morgan pushing Rory away. Third, a forgettable execution for some.
The comparison worth making first: Martin’s Witch of the Shadow Wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there miscommunication in This Spells Disaster?
Yes, a lot. Morgan believes she accidentally gave Rory a love potion and, instead of telling her, tries to prove they are incompatible. It is the most common complaint in reviews.
Are the leads bisexual?
Yes. One reviewer notes that both Morgan and Rory are bisexual and asks readers not to shelve it as lesbian-only.
What content warnings does it have?
The author’s note flags discussions of consent, magical drugging, loss of control, anxiety and self-medication.
How spicy is This Spells Disaster?
Mild. One reader found it not very smutty, though StoryGraph users flag some sexual content.
Is This Spells Disaster on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $4.99.
If You Loved This Spells Disaster, Read These Next
Try Witch of the Shadow Wood or the monster romcom How to Get a Girlfriend (When You’re a Terrifying Monster). Browse our cozy list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
This Spells Disaster sets out to be a magical fake-dating romcom, and the world is a delight. What holds it back is a miscommunication plot many readers couldn’t stand. For witchy-romance fans with patience. Check This Spells Disaster on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, This Spells Disaster ranks as a fair witchy romance — charming, frustrating.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★☆☆ 3.2/5
- ✓ 3.41 average across 2,164 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 44% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.39 on StoryGraph from 1,189 reviews
- ✓ 4.0 stars across 105 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Fake dating
- ✓ Sweet leads
- ✓ Heavy miscommunication
- ✓ Pushing away
Characters ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Chaotic Morgan
- ✓ Kind Rory
- ✓ Good families
- ✓ Bland for one
Writing ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Fun first half
- ✓ Strong magic system
- ✓ Second half drags
- ✓ Funny
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3.1/5
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 77%
- ✓ Anxiety rep
- ✓ Frustrating
- ✓ Consent themes
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
- ✓ Mild
- ✓ Not very smutty
- ✓ Some sexual content
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Truth comes out
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Late
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ $4.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Autumn read
- ✓ Audiobook available
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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