Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius Pages: 368
Published by Macmillan, Swoon Reads on May 12, 2015
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Love & Romance, Young Adult
In the tradition of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, one girl chooses to change her fortune and her fate by falling in love.
Love is real in the town of Grimbaud, and Fallon Dupree has dreamed of attending high school there for years. After all, generations of Duprees have successfully followed the (100% accurate!) love fortunes from Zita’s famous Love Charms Shop to happily marry their high school sweethearts. It’s a tradition. So she is both stunned and devastated when her fortune states that she will NEVER find love.
Fortunately, Fallon isn’t the only student with a terrible love fortune, and a rebellion is brewing. Fallon is determined to take control of her own fate—even if it means working with a notorious heartbreaker like Sebastian.
Will Fallon and Sebastian be able to overthrow Zita’s tyranny and fall in love?
I feel like it has been so, so long since I have had a 5 star book read. But I am super happy to add Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius to my list of favorite 5 star books. This book made my heart smile. It got a little hairy and crazy at the end and I almost took .5 stars off my review rating, and then I about slapped myself. (That is a case of one of those times when I am thinking through my reviewer hat and letting it over weigh my emotions about a book, and I didn’t want to do that here.) I just loved this book too much to give it anything less than 5 full stars.
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters is set in the magical town of Grimbaud. I love the cover of the book because its whimsical feel helped me imagine Grimbaud with the same touch of whimsy. Does that make sense? The town also reminded me of the Kissing Town from the tv series The Tenth Kingdom (which is an amazing mini series if you have not watched it yet, you need to!) So the entire time I was reading, I was imagining the kissing town with love in the air, everywhere.
In Grimbaud when you get to high school, you can go to Zita’s love shop and get your love fortune. And these fortunes are always right. Always. And with a town whose main focus is on love and finding your soul mate as early as possible, it should come as no surprise that everyone rushes to get their love fortune. So when a small group of teens get fortunes that in some way, shape or form say they will not find love, they band together to try and change their fates. I can’t adequately explain how utterly, cute and fun this book is. I even have a perma-smile on my face just sitting here typing this review. I loved Fallon, I loved loved loved Sebastien. I was dying to find out what his fortune was because I knew he was a big softy underneath his flirty exterior. And I loved the two of them together. I want to see more books set in the town of Grimbaud. Please, please please Kimberly Karalius. Tell us what Hiriju does next!
Swoon Reads is a hit as far as I am concerned. I have read about 3 books from them now, and I have loved them all. Their idea of crowd sourcing the YA book before publishing them is genius. Love Fortunes and Other Disasters is a book that I want to share with everyone. I love the idea of these love fortunes, and charms and really just a town that is in love with the idea of love. I loved the characters and the writing was downright enchanting. Kimberly Karalius needs to write her next book ASAP because there is a real possibility that I will just mope and re-read Love Fortunes and Other Disasters over and over again until she gives me something new to read. Read Love Fortunes and Other Disasters- and I will say you are welcome in advance.
Note: Now I am obsessed with finding a book about love spells or charms. Love Fortunes and Other Disasters kind of banned the use of love charms that were not created by Zita, so they didn’t play a huge role in the story for the main, main characters. But I do want to find a book- preferably new adult or adult, that does make use of a love spell/charm. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Let me know in the comments below your favorite love spell book.
@BookBriefs 5 Star #favorite - Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius @kkaralius @SwoonReads Click To Tweet
While you are here
Have you entered these giveaways?
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
kindlemom1
Glad this was such a wonderful read for you, yay for those stand out five star reads! I love books about spells and charms as well. I’m trying to think of something specifically with a love spell in it and my mind is blank! Gah! I know I’ve read some..
Hmm, do you like books about witches? I know a great adult series by Barbra Annino that is seriously underrated, the Stacy Justice series, I suggest trying that one. It does have crazy spells in it but I don’t remember there being a love spell but it is a really fun read.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I am adding the Stacy Justice series to my TBR right now! Thanks Ali 🙂
sherry fundin
I love to find a 5 star read. The cover is so cute and the blurb reads as if it is right up my alley. Happy reading,Michelle.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Sherry, I hope you get a chance to read this one. I just loved it. It is one of those reads that made me smile and feel so happy. Gotta love those!
jazmen
When I seen this I had good feelings about it, and now I’m excited. Five stars? Yes, please. Great review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Jazmen, I hope you get a chance to read this one. I just loved it. It is one of those reads that made me smile and feel so happy. Gotta love those!
Lekeisha
This one is on my wish list and I can’t wait to read it. Great review!! I can’t think of a book that is similar to this one. YA or Adult.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I know, it is pretty unique. I hope you get a chance to read this one. I just loved it. It is one of those reads that made me smile and feel so happy. Gotta love those!
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
I’ve had to stop myself from dropping my rating a time or two as well Michelle, it’s hard to snap out of my review mindset sometimes and just appreciate the story on an entertainment level. So glad this was such a winner for you, I’ve been dying to get my hands on it since I saw that adorable cover. Really looking forward to this one, even with the craziness at the end:)
Michelle @ Book Briefs
It is hard to change out of my critical mindset. But then I told myself, Michelle you loved the book the whole time you were reading it. You kept telling people on phone calls and at work how cute it was, so give it the rating your emotional side will want. I think you will really like the town of Grimbaud Jenny 🙂
kimberlybuggie
I am so glad you loved this one too! I really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to read something else by this author. I think the town was so magical and cute. 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yes! The author said that there will be more in the town of grimbaud. I am so excited 😉
Jessica Jackson
This book sounds so adorable and fun! I love you’re review and I can’t wait to pick this one up!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Jessica, it is so cute! I hope you get a chance to read this one. I just loved it. It is one of those reads that made me smile and feel so happy. Gotta love those!
Emma
Glad you found a five star read in this book – I personally find a five star read very rare and I definitely get excited when I do find one.
Your review definitely made me think this one was worth a read – shall be adding to the TBR pile. x
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I hope you love it as much as I do Emma. 5 star reads are kind of rare for me too. Sometimes it feels like I am reading a wonderful book right after another (those are the times that I really love) but sometimes I will go quite a while before finding a book that I really love.
Sajda @ Across the Words
This book sounds so adorable! It’s been on my TBR for ages but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Hopefully, I can pick it up soon since it seems to be a fun Summer read. Great review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yea I had this book sitting on my shelf for probably 5 months before I finally picked it up and gave it a read. And I am so glad that I did! I hope you get a chance to read it Sajda 🙂
Amy
I saw your review of this on Amazon. I think the cover is sooooo cute! I love the 10th Kingdom. I remember when it first aired on TV and was thrilled when I found it on DVD. I’ve added this book to my wishlist!