Olivia Dade meets A Knight’s Tale in this spicy new role-playing game romcom!
Morgan has felt left behind since her best friend moved away. On a quest for something more, she dreams of stepping out of her comfort zone and maybe becoming her own knight in shining armour.
Jack's life isn't going to plan. The small-town life he retreated into after a bad break-up is starting to feel less idyllic and more isolating.
Trying to write new, more exciting stories for themselves, they lean hard into weekly role-playing games with their friends and plans for a fantastical Renaissance Faire adventure. But as they embrace the magic of their alter egos, is it possible they might just be falling for each other in real life?
I don't know anything about dungeons and dragons, so I didn't really get all the referals to this game in the story. However this is only small part of the story. Morgan and Jack meet during one of the games and feel attracted to each other. They decide to do some other activities to get to know each other better, but what if they fall in love? This story has a slow built romance. Even though there isn't much depth to the characters, you'll get to know them enough. I feel like there could be a little more depth to them, however I still enjoyed reading the story.
This is a cute, romantic comedy book with a little touch of spice!
I must admit this book took a bit to get into BUT for me it is because I am not in to fantasy/cosplay etc but when I got my head around that I really enjoyed it!
We follow Morgan and Jack, two lost souls longing for adventure and love through the world of role playing! Jack is still dealing with the effect of a bad breakup and Morgan is finding herself after the departure of her best friend. Their weekly game role playing sparks a fire between them and can it blossom in the real life?
I was routing for Morgan and Jack from the get go and I got fully invested in finishing this book and seeing their HEA! There is also another super cute HEA for another little cutie!
Overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it!
This book was a bit of me! The characters, the outdoor adventures, the fantasy ... Vibes, vibes, vibes.
I loved the D&D angle. I have never played, so I hit up Youtube to watch some 'live' play to fully understand the setting. I haven't read anything similar (not just Dungeons and Dragons based, but 'as told through an alternate universe' simultaneously) and I have read a lot. It was brilliant!
I also loved the references to specific locations. As a fellow booklover, I have of course visited Hay-on-Wye. The Wye Valley setting made me laugh out loud, as my car broke down in Ross-on-Wye last week! (I had driven over the border to see King Arthur's Cave and, upon leaving the car park, my car broke down. Queue a long wait for the RAC and a tow back to Gloucestershire!)
This book would have been an easy 5 stars for me were it not for two things; Firstly, the pacing was off in a few places. I felt jarred by the amount of time (or lack thereof) that had supposedly past on several occasions. Secondly, whilst it was nice that their issues were so alike - because of which, they both understood what the other needed to do - we as the reader got two sets of the same issues (and several arguments on the same thing, albeit for a different character). All of the self-sabotage and their subsequent spiel became very hypocritical very quickly because of this. By 80% I started to find their situation a bit tedious and just wanted the HEA to hurry up. Amy said it best when she said, "you know you're both the bad guys here, right?" Speaking of Amy..
Amy's character has so much potential! Sequel with Amy and Phil as the love interests? *Crosses fingers and toes* Hell, every character in the friendship group was strong enough to have a story in their own right. I want Fatima's arc right here, right now.
To conclude...
If you know, you know. Great book. Read it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Slooooow burn. 3rd act break up. Kinda closed door romance. Ren faire annnnd D&D. I wanted to like the characters more but I felt like both needed to get their act together! At least Pablo got his HEA
This was a cute book! I loved the nerdiness of the characters because they played DnD which is something I have been getting into lately. I also am a fan of books set at a Ren Faire. It’s such a great atmosphere and brings a lot of fun to the pages.
The romance was decent, but I am just not a fan of the weird breakups that happen. Their miscommunication was a lot and it made them feel a bit childish with how they dealt with certain situations. It did feel like they rushed through things too and it just didn’t feel like a sturdy relationship from the get-go.
I did like them as characters though and thought they had a great friend group!
Overall, this was a good read.
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary earc to review!
This book is so good! I can't believe more people aren't reading this. It is definitely the perfect romance for those fantasy readers, because it combines the best of both. These characters are amazing and i absolutely love how you get their whole background and their whole personalities that perfectly explain later happenings. You understand exactly what happens and why it is happening and you cannot even hate them because you know why and that is why its so well written. Really really good friend group as well, a little found family for you. Absolutely recommend Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review
You’ve Got Chainmail by Samantha Parks is super cute and delightfully nerdy, and I really enjoyed the overall vibe. The fandom elements and geeky charm were absolutely my favorite parts and gave the story a lot of heart.
That said, the pacing dragged for me in places, and the book felt a bit too long for the amount of actual plot. The will-they-won’t-they tension stretched on just a little too much—more will they, won’t they… won’t they… oh wait, they will! than necessary.
Still, it was a fun, cozy read with plenty of charm, and I’d definitely recommend it to fellow nerds looking for a light, enjoyable romance.
I did really enjoy this, though I did skip the DND chapters after the first two, I hope they weren’t too important to the story but I found them a bit boring and I don’t know the game, I was rooting for couple but that many problems and such savage arguments after two weeks dating would be a no a from personally
2.75⭐️ A cute read but about half way through it started to feel a bit long. Also, the nerdy stuff didn't make sense to me so I actually skipped the D&D chapters once I figured out it didn't add to the story I enjoyed🫣
This was a pretty cute read, I really liked the chapters that flashed back to Morgana. (Actually, can the author write a high fantasy book next time??)
I really liked the sound of this book and was so looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't find the reality of it as good as the fantasy in my head.
There wasn't actually that much of the Renaissance fair as it seemed there would be based on the cover and the blurb, it felt like there was a lot of whining and I found most of the characters boring.
One thing I did really enjoy though was the fact that the characters pushed eachother to be better, to follow their dreams and step outside of their comfort zone. Sadly, that wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the book.
I found Jack mopey and boring and Morgan was just very bland and sad.
This was not the book for me, although I would probably give this author another read, with different characters, in the future.
Liked: -I really liked these narrators a lot. Especially the Male narrator. He does the most believable, non-forced, fully acted “female” voice I have ever heard. I hope he records more books in the future, especially dual POV romances, because he’s absolutely incredible. Honestly I might listen to the more dark-leaning romances that I normally wouldn’t (I’ve been burned before) because he’s just that good. - I really liked a couple of the campaign characters, specifically the DM and the character that makes the costumes. They were really nice and they were also really supportive of the FMC> The other couple I found a bit annoying, tbh. - There is a real theme of “finding where you belong” that I really resonated with and appreciated. I think is is more so successful with the FMC but I also think that she is more of the character with that focus. - I don’t love punny titles, but sure. Sure. There were so many talks about making lightweight chain mail. Sure.
Lamented: - My biggest critique of this book is that it is very easy to believe, based on the cover, the title, and the blurb, that this book at least somewhat takes place at a renaissance faire. It does not. The FMC dreams, pines even, to go to an American ren faire and that’s …kinda it. Yes, she’s also a part of the D&D campaign and so there’s still like a touch of the culture, but it’s still starkly different. And I was just disappointed. I really love the ‘Well Met’ series by Jen DeLuca and was hoping this would scratch that itch and it just let me down in that regard, unfortunately. - This book is LONG. Or at least the audiobook is. Nearly 13 hours?? Why?! THere so many swaths of the story where nothing seemingly happens. Oof. - The MMC’s narrator is the only thing I liked about the MMC as a character. He was so frustratingly immature and his back-and-forth unwillingness to commit just grated on me. He had the bones to be charming, but I just couldn’t get behind him. - I also don’t really get their like…dating/not dating trips? Like the hikes? I think I must have missed why they were doing them, but it felt flimsy and I needed more of a catalyst. - I genuinely ended up skipping the campaign chapters. I found them to be so uninspired and boring and added nothing. I also didn't remember who anyone but Morgan was playing as at any time. - This cover is…not great. It’s mostly that they’re in full profile so the proportions of their faces and necks look a little wonky. I don’t really have a problem with the watercolor-esque painting. But the characters aren’t the best. The follow-up books cover looks much better.
Longed For: - Actual Ren Faire content. - Trimming the book down with another edit or so. - The MMC to not be a big man-child.
(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : This dude has such a fear of commitment that he will absolutely cut and run at some point down the road.
Will I read the next one? : I…don’t think so. I did check to see if James Joseph is narrating the next one and he is not and that would have been a big reason. We’ll see if I read it with my eyes.
Books with Similar Vibes : - 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca - 'Love and Other Conspiracies' by Mallory Marlowe - 'Under Loch and Key' by Lana Ferguson - 'Morbidly Yours’ by Ivy Fairbanks - ‘Roll for Romance’ by Lenora Woods
3 1/2 stars - I enjoyed it a lot, but I wanted more. It's definitely got me going though, because I barely use this account, let alone leave reviews!
I liked Morgan and Jack, and how messy and complicated they are. their relationship was believable, even if it was really, really frustrating to watch them both *react* to what they thought the other person was saying rather than properly talking it out - it was a realistic frustration! I enjoyed the indecision and the difficulty of their choices and the overwhelming-ness of life, and I liked how they discovered that just caring for each other, however deeply, wasn't enough on its own - even though that was pretty painful.
But damn, I'd really like a sequel focusing on others in the friendship group. They all had so much potential, but none of them was really fleshed out - I adored them as a group, and want to know more! I feel like I barely know Grey or Chloe or Fatima, and while Phil had a bit more to him, I really want to follow up on how he's doing with his nan <3
I don't know quite know how I feel about the Cara storyline. On one hand, the fact she never appeared in the story after the first chapter, not even as a text, really made me ache for the friendship they'd once had. On the other, again, I'd super like to know her pov in all this, and am so curious what happened to her, because as much as she didn't seem as invested in Morgan from what we know of her, ghosting your best friend of 6 years is really quite a big deal!
Bonus petty frustration - this friendship group TOTALLY needs to go LARPing. The Ren Fayre plot unfortunately felt a bit silly to me, since I just couldn't help thinking how much money they'd save going to Milton Keynes rather than America where they could have a similar (though different) amount of fun at Empire. Especially as it wasn't, like, a life-long dream but just something she'd recently discovered and thought looked cool! It's a silly annoyance to have but especially when one of the first things we learnt about Jack was his love of camping! Like, come on! 😅
To finish on a high though: I saw other reviews being like 'meh' about the random D&D inserts, so I wanted to say that I really liked them. Maybe bc I'm used to RPGs, but I found it pretty easy to keep track of who was who and although at first it was a bit strange to have them disconnected from the story, it was a nice little escape into their fantasy world, and it was fun to imagine what was happening in their real life as they played. And I thought it was some damn good writing to get invested in their story with so little space given to it, and I loved the foreshadowing up to Jack sacrificing his character. That was really neat.)
***Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for an advanced e-reader copy of You've Got Chain Mail by Sam Parks! All thoughts are my own!***
Morgan is learning how to be alone after her best friend moves away for a new job. She dreams for something more, so she goes on a quest to get out of her comfort zone and experience things for herself. And maybe she can become her own knight in shining armor.
Jack comes back to his hometown after a bad breakup. His life then becomes planned for him to take over the family construction business. But he starts to realize after being isolated, he needs to take his life and his career into his own hands.
So first things first, finding out that this book focuses on D&D and Ren Faires, I was immediately sold. The topic itself gave me 5 star vibes. They are literally two of my favorite things in the whole world. And it's set in the UK, which was very intrigued by. I absolutely fell in love with the friend group who made up the D&D party. They seem like the type of friend group you want around all the time and make up a great D&D party.
I loved the Captain Morgana Silversword chapters, where we found out what actually happened throughout their campaign.
My favorite parts of the book were, of course, when they got to the Ren Faire and the good time they had. I loved the montage of the making of their Ren Faire costumes. But my absolute favorite part was when Jack and Morgan took the hiking trail into the bookshop town in Wales and picked out a book for each other that reminded them of the other. I was kicking my feet and squealing; it was so adorable!
I just wish Morgan and Jack had better communication throughout the book. I felt like they were constantly fighting and not talking through their issues, not feeling fulfilled in their respective careers, and their fears of leaving each other. I think they needed to talk more and stop breaking up after every argument.
Overall, I really enjoyed You've Got Chain Mail and it made my nerdy heart happy!
You’ve Got Chain Mail by Sam Parks Rating: 4/5 Release Date: 13 August 2024
In this charming romantic comedy, two souls yearning for adventure find love through the unlikely world of role-playing games.
Morgan, feeling adrift since her best friend's departure, longs to break free from her routine. She dreams of becoming her own hero, ready to write an exciting new chapter in her life.
Jack, disillusioned with his small-town existence after a painful breakup, finds his once-peaceful retreat increasingly stifling.
Seeking escape and excitement, both Morgan and Jack dive headfirst into weekly role-playing game sessions with their friends. As they plan an epic adventure for an upcoming Renaissance Faire, they begin to embody the bold, magical personas of their characters.
But as Morgan and Jack lose themselves in fantastical realms and heroic quests, something unexpected begins to take shape in the real world. Could their in-game connection be blossoming into a real-life romance?
“You’ve Got Chain Mail” is a heartwarming tale that blends the whimsy of role-playing games with the charm of small-town romance. Perfect for fans of geek culture, Renaissance Faires, and love stories that celebrate embracing one's true self.
This fun rom-com offers: - A celebration of geek culture and role-playing games. - Two endearing protagonists finding their way to each other. - A charming small-town setting. - A sweet, slow-burn romance with a dash of spice.
This is an cosy romcom, that is absolutely delightful, a story that you can easily lose yourself in, a story where fantasy and reality intertwine, proving that sometimes the greatest adventures - and the truest love - begin with a roll of the dice.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter, and the author, Sam Parks, for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Trying to work out how I feel about this book is tough.
Writing is great. It did take me awhile to get my he’s around the D&D scenes…ok at some points (read most points) I didn’t get how it ties in with the story going on. Some you were told… I got those ones. Having never played D&D myself, maybe that’s where the struggle is from.
Characters are lovely - a nice mix, representing a lot of different backgrounds (great for further stories in the series with each character…?) but I always find that some stories the characters are such a mix that I ask myself “are there really friendship groups like this?” I have a mix of friends, but also we’re so similar. The differences are just our upbringing (our parents & family life) and traumas (family, school , relationships etc). But not such a mix of different looks, personalities, etc… but hey-ho. Sometimes I think the mix of friends is to try make sure all are represented in a story. Sometimes though it’s not needed.
But the story…. I didn’t really fall for Morgan or Jack. Both were just stuck in their ways and refused anything from the other tbh. Any change. Ok, Morgan did get more adventurous thanks to Jack, but that was also Morgan’s choice - she asked him. But how it all fell into place for them both? How she won’t go spread her wings all because she found a job in that town so she can be with Jack? Feels like she gave up stuff for him, whether she wants to believe it or not. But he didn’t give anything up for her - Jack has his house, his job (and future job) in the town he wants to stay in, near his parents and all his friends…. Whereas as I feel Morgan should be off doing something somewhere else for herself rather than choosing things because she’s safe where she is.
Maybe I’m projecting. Who knows!!
I did enjoy the book! Took me a while to read thanks to illness and reading slumps. But I did enjoy it :)
I mostly really enjoyed this one. It has fun summer vibes with scenes from the characters DND game intercut between. The friendship group is a delight, especially watching Morgan grow to be a part of it and I love some slow burn, especially watching feelings grow over a series of sweet little adventure.
I really enjoy romances where both halves of the couple help each grow as people and in the process grow into better people for each other and this was almost entirely built around that premise. I also enjoyed both characters separately and seeing them learn to overcome their own challenges and become who they wanted to be was satisfying. They clearly rooted for each other for the most part which was nice to see.
I also liked the DND and Ren Faire aspect - although the Faire only appears in the last 15% or so. I think the cover makes it seem more than that so I was a tad disappointed by that. I was definitely anticipating more dressing up and silly displays.
The only major downside of this book is how they were as a couple. Good god, these two acted like barely a month of being with a person is grounds to decide how that person is going to live their entire life. They literally don't have to answer to each other at that stage in their relationship I'm sorry.
I think both characters did recognize that this was perhaps not a great moment which is why I was able to rally while reading so I'm not saying it's a deal breaker and I am still giving this a four star overall but yeah that did frustrate me. However their final reconciliation was pretty great. Very romcom vibes.
Overall it's a fun, cozy read with found family and summer romance and a lil bit of spice.
Morgan trabaja en una organización beneficia para animales, dicho trabajo no le satisface, sin embargo, su razón de estar en ese lugar fue quedarse cerca de su mejor amiga, pero cuando dicha amiga se va del país y la deja sola tiene que enfrentar todas sus decisiones. Poco a poco se da cuenta que se enfocó en no perder su amistad que quedó aislada y ahora no tiene a nadie, pero una compañera se da cuenta y la invita a jugar calabozos y dragones para que conozca gente.
En el grupo de juego se encuentra Jack un carpintero que trabaja en empresa de construcción familiar, ella cree que le cae mal a él, pero lo que él intenta es que no se sienta incómoda con su grupo de amigos y le crea oportunidades pata no estar con ellos, las cuales ella las ve como una manera de deshacerse de ella. Todo un malentendido
A lo largo del libro vemos como se van aclarando los malentendidos, se conocen íntimamente, él la ayuda a ciertas cosas, se vuelven amigos y finalmente se enamoran.
Spoilers ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ Le iba a poner 3.5⭐️ pero no me gustó como se trató la parte final. Sentí que Jack la ayudó a encontrase, le dió su tiempo y espacio, sin embargo, cuando fue el turno de ella para apoyarlo no lo hizo y hasta condicionó lo que él debería hacer para que ella lo aceptara.
Estoy muy enojada con Jared por el tiempo que le hizo perder a la pobre de Fatima. El tipo sabía que no quería quedarse en un pueblo, aun así se quedó con ella sabiendo que ella no se iría a ningún lado y sólo hasta que consiguió el trabajo en otro país, decidió dejarla, cobarde.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Title: You’ve Got Chain Mail Author: Sam Parks Rating: ★★★★
An enchanting blend of Olivia Dade’s warmth and the adventurous spirit of A Knight’s Tale, all wrapped up in a spicy romcom that left me grinning from ear to ear.
Morgan is feeling adrift since her best friend moved away. She dreams of stepping out of her comfort zone and maybe even becoming her own knight in shining armour. Enter Jack, whose small-town life has become more of a cage than a refuge after a bad breakup.
Seeking to write new, more thrilling stories for themselves, Morgan and Jack dive headfirst into their weekly role-playing games and make grand plans for a Renaissance Faire adventure. As their alter egos revel in the magic and camaraderie of their fantasy world, real-life sparks start to fly between them.
This book is a delightful romp through the fun and fantasy of role-playing games, with a heartwarming romance that blossoms amidst quests and adventures. Morgan and Jack’s journey from friends to something more is filled with humour, charm, and just the right amount of spice! Their chemistry was on point, and their shared moments both in and out of character was too adorable!
"You’ve Got Chain Mail" is a cute and captivating read that’s perfect for fans of romcoms, RPGs, and anyone who loves a good Renaissance Faire. It’s a feel-good story that will have you rooting for Morgan and Jack from the first page to the last.
Thank you to The Publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter, the author Sam Parks & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
I liked this but it wasn't a stand out for me. The inclusion of the Dungeons and Dragons campaign at the beginning of the chapters was kind of fun, but I would have expected it to tie into the main plot more. It really just read as a stand alone thing which had no reference to or impact on the main plot. I also wasn't interested enough to keep track of which person was which character so it got a little confusing. Luckily it didn't matter.
I don't understand why the ex-best friend was mentioned so much when she didn't appear in the story at all. It was a bit overdone.
I mostly liked the writing style but at some points there was too much focus on irrelevant details which was annoying and caused me to skim read through quite a bit. For example, this from when the MMC arrives at the FMC's house early and waits in his car: "I leaned over to read the parking sign to make sure I’d be okay whilst I waited, and then looked around." Why should I care that he looked at the parking sign? I don't. On it's own, sure not a problem, but this kind of description was sprinkled throughout the book and was just tedious.
The final thing I found weird was the fact that the author included a non-binary character in the friend group but this is the one character I didn't think was really described at all. At least with the others in the friend group you get a bit of a sense of who they are, but this character felt like they were included just for the sake of having non-binary representation. Which, fine, but at least give them some kind of personality. It just felt a little token.
It was so funny to have read this right after reading Going Bicoastal and The Adventure Zone, as there are elements of both of those stories in this one. Not in a repetitive or imitative way, just a fun coincidence! Obviously the D&D aspect is shared between TAZ, but Going Bicoastal also features someone exploring graphics and art as a possible career path and getting started on that path by designing logos.
I appreciated that they both did growth on their own before coming back together. I usually hate the third act breakup, but I actually didn’t mind in this case. I especially loved that Jack knew he could survive without Morgan - he just didn’t **want** to. There was a point a bit earlier in the story where I got concerned because he seemed to expect his significant other to be the absolute be-all-end-all, which always feels a bit dangerous to me and a lot of pressure to put on someone. I found it a bit melodramatic but in a bearable way that was fun rather than frustrating. The bonding and relationship development before they jumped into a romantic partnership was delightful. And though there’s no smut until after halfway through, and even there there’s really only a few sex scenes, what’s there is well crafted and **very** spicy.
In this fun modern romance, readers follow Jack and Morgan’s relationship from both of their perspectives. Part of the same D&D group and living in the same small town, Jack and Morgan begin to spend more time together when she decides to step out of her comfort zone and take control of her life. Jack, on the other hand, feels stuck in his life, especially since he retreated after a disastrous break-up. As they spend more time together and challenge each other in the game and in their adventures, Jack and Morgan grow closer in their real lives. Alternating between their perspectives and brief forays into the game as told by Morgan’s alter ego, this novel has a lot of heart and some serious emotional rollercoasters. Morgan and Jack are very different from each other, but they both have complex personalities and realistic flaws that make the will-they-won’t-they more drawn out and satisfying. They balance each other well, and the alternating POV makes their relationship more complex. The side characters and the individual storylines for Morgan and Jack are complex and satisfying, and Park has created a fascinating, charming, steamy, and heartwarming romance novel that fans are sure to enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the advance copy.
I should probably preface this by saying I don’t have a ton of experience reading romance novels, but overall I found this a reasonably enjoyable read. I think that’s mostly though because I like D&D, and I go to the Ren Faire in NC every year and usually dress up. If you aren’t into those aspects of “nerd culture,” you may not enjoy it as much. I found the characters reasonably believable, but I would be curious at how many times the words “golden” and “chiselled” were used to describe Jack. I found the plot to be pretty predictable but moreso in a way that made it a comfort read, not a boring read.
My biggest cons: I think the beginning falls into most of the stylistic stereotypes I’ve seen in other romance novels, and then ending felt a bit rushed. Ren Faire is supposed to be such a big part of the book, and it’s so glossed over in the rushed ending. I also continue to find the title a bit cringey, and I am not satisfied with how Morgan’s best friend completely ghosting her is never explained or followed up on. Like was she just a truly terrible friend?
Again, I did enjoy reading this and read it very quickly. It contained a lot of references to things I personally enjoy, but it may be a bit niche for a more general romance-reading audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What I liked: I'm not usually a fan of stories within stories, but the DnD campaign was fun! I loved reading Morgan's character development (and as a former graphic designer, her journey into becoming a graphic designer was also fun). I liked the book overall, and while there are parts that weren't great, I think the author will only get better from here on because it has a lot of heart. I would love to read the next books in the series if there are more coming.
What I didn't like: This took me a long time to read. It's not bad, but I was ~35% in and I was like "Geez, what else is there to the story?" Like, I enjoyed it but if it had been shorter, I would have liked it a lot better. The main couple were not great together. I liked them separately well enough, but Lord, the moment they were a couple they kinda turned into assholes to each other. Idk, I don't see myself ever talking like they did to my SO. It almost seemed like they only liked each other physically because their moments together that were supposed to build their relationship were kinda meh.
When I saw this ARC, I can't tell you how quickly I smashed that Request button! I'm a huge Ren Faire and D&D fan and I'm always looking for romances featuring those interests! I was doubly excited when I realized the Renaissance Festival the characters would be traveling to was my home faire - Carolina Renaissance Festival!
Things I loved about this book: -The main characters are so easy to relate to -The segments written in their campaign are a perfect representation of D&D -The friend group is so endearing and lovely and it feels like they could be real life people -The brief amount of time spent at the Renaissance Festival
Things That Weren't My Favorite: -Minor spoiler, it takes a LONG time to get to the Ren Faire, there's way more D&D than Faire. I wanted more. even if it was just a bonus chapter or something. -The argument between the couple had me STRESSED. I think the snarky remarks are probably very realistic, but I didn't see it coming from these people I cared so much about as a reader!
Overall, I think if I had better expectations about how little time we would spend at the renaissance festival, this would have been a 5 star read for me, but because I felt a little mislead, it bumps to a 4.5. However, I will recommend it with that caveat!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read. I love that D&D is becoming a more popular subject in books. I liked how the author went back and forth between the characters’ real lives and the D&D campaign to contrast their lives. I did find myself a little annoyed at first because there didn’t seem to be much of a conflict; the characters obviously liked each other but talked themselves out of believing it. The conflict did become more believable as the story went on though. The way the characters talked about America was a bit odd to me but I guess it’s always odd to hear people in another country talk about yours like it’s foreign (which it obviously is to them). Learning that the author was American adds another layer of confusion. I was also a little disappointed that the You’ve Got Mail reference was in title only, not actually in plot. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Okay I’m really torn on this book, it started of well and it’s really fast paced and intially loved the romance and the characters. I loved parts of the story and was really excited to read on… also I loved Pablo. I got emotional in one part and some of the spice was good. It was a fun read and I read it so quickly and didn’t want to put it down even though at times it was a car crash. I loved the outdoor adventure vibes too and wish there was more of this
But there are a lot things I didn’t enjoy. I loved the geeky nerdy stuff but didn’t like the cut aways to the D&D storyline. They didn’t add to the story, but als they were hard to follow and always felt really random timings when they popped up.
Also some side characters were great (see Chloe, Phil, Amy) but some I barely got to know and then 3/4 through they pop up and you are supposed to know about them them.
*SPOILERS - maybe? *
Then there is the romance. The MMC’s constant emotional whiplash, the toxicity… honestly I wanted them to end up apart by the end, I lost my patience with them.
Morgan has been feeling lonely. Since her best friend moved away and isn't really answering her calls and texts, she is on her own a lot. She wants to be more adventurous but doesn't really know how to do that.
She started going on weekly D&D games with a group of people who are quickly becoming her friends. They even agree to go to the Renaissance Fair in the States together.
Jack's life is very carefully planned out. There is no room for romance or change. After his bad breakup, he gave up on that and kind of dedicated his life to just staying as it is.
As he takes Morgan out on their little adventures, they get closer and closer, but he is nowhere near that and the change she is about to bring into his life. He makes her more adventurous and she forces him to face his emotions-a perfect match...
They make each other better, but they both come with baggage that threatens to keep them apart.
Is such a sweet story, of letting go, of taking a chance and letting yourself go. A slow-burn romance, but totally worth it!