This Will Be Interesting: A Novel

This Will Be

by E.B. Asher

Set in the same magical, madcap world as E. B. Asher’s USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun, this heartwarming, hilarious fantasy follows an unlikely band of heroes who must get to the bottom of an assassination plot gone wrong without breaking the one rule of do not fall in love with your questmates. 

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?

Filled with dangerous impersonators, the inimitable power of friendship, and the realm’s most infamous horseball championship, This Will Be Interesting is a slow burn, cozy, and hilarious quest romantasy featuring:

Sapphic friends to loversHero x villain romanceReluctant allies to loversFake marriageFound family

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Humor, Fiction, LGBT

464 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 24, 2026

About the author

E. B. Asher is the author of USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun and the pen name for Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Bridget is the author of several novels, including That Summer Feeling and Anywhere You Go. She lives in Los Angeles with her two cats. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are the authors of novels including The Roughest Draft and Reese’s Book Club pick Heiress Takes All. Married, they live in Los Angeles, where they continue to take daily inspiration from their own love story.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Bookish Thoughts
This Will Be Interesting returns to the same world as This Will Be Fun with the familiar crew back for quest adventure. It’s part sapphic romance, part quest fantasy adventure! I really liked seeing how Galwell adjusted to life after coming back. I would feel just as lost and disconnected.

While this book was just as funny, I did feel like it dragged more than book one. There were more “filler” scenes. But I still enjoyed it overall!

🩷 What to Expect
• Sapphic friends to lovers
• Hero × villain romance
• Reluctant allies to lovers
• Fake marriage
• Found family
• Magical quest
_ _ _

⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: March 24 2026
📝 : Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

EB Asher fans, it is time to return to Mythria! and this time we get to adventure beyond its borders. Beatrice and Clare are minor characters in this one, but we dive deep on old and new characters alike.

3 POV;
Queen Thessia, recently married to Hugh. He likes her but doesn't love her. Their honeymoon becomes a Quest.
River; a hired assassin who is planning to kill Galwell.
Galwell; back from the dead and 10 years younger than his former peers. Is he Galwell the great or Galwell the grateful?

EB Asher has singlehandedly (triple handedly?, lol) created the cozy romantasy genre. This book is Pixar's Onward meets The Count of Monte Cristo meets Pirates of the Caribbean. Expect laughter, a lot of camp, and a creative blending of feudal society and our modern culture. As someone who rarely reads fantasy, I can struggle with the world building and in being able to visualize and remember the creatures and characters. I find this book to be incredibly, even compulsively, readable. Low spice, high nostalgia, and all the fun.

Do you need to read This Will Be Fun in order to enjoy this one? No. But it will spoil it for you, so I recommend reading it first. I found this second book to be more adventurous, more mysterious and even funnier. It is a found family adventure for reluctant coworkers to lovers. The anticipation is real!

My Hollywood cast
Elizabeth Olsen, as River
Emma Watson, as Thessia
Chris Hemsorth, as Hugh
Noah Centineo, as Galwell
Alexandra Daddario, as Celine

thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. Book to be published March 24, 2026.

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this was so cute??? And silly?? And just full of tomfoolery and characters finding their true selves and bonding with their ragtag found family and I loved every second of it.

Galwell is alive and he's not sure what to do with that. Stuck in a world 10 years ahead of where he was, he's baffled by it. Thessia, the queen, is tired of the narrative that she will leave her new husband for her first love. And River, an assassin, is trying to figure out why someone wants Galwell dead.

Right from the start we get this sad sack of a hero, who's pondering the same thing Buffy did when she was brought back to life - was it better to have just died? Seems like people don't like being pulled from their supposed fates. Anyways, the action starts right away and I loved how the crew came together, as well as features from the first book's cast.

The characters in general are so unserious and silly, and I adore them. I would protect them with my life. They are precious.

I feel like this instalment was also stronger than the first. With a solid plot pulling them along, with sidequest romances, this book was fast-paced and engaging. There was a lot in here to work with, and I feel like the authors set up everything really well and wrapped it all up perfectly in the end.

I don't know if we'll ever see these characters again, but I adore them and I will definitely return to this series again in the future. It's truly so much fun!

TW: death, injury detail, blood, murder, violence, sexual content, alcohol consumption; mentions fire/fire injury

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Avon in exchange for an honest review.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful hug to the senses and such a FUN sequel to E.B. Asher's This Will Be Fun. I am a huge fan of this world, and it was a pleasure to return to see what would happen following the events of the first and to see what might happen to our heroes. I was very pleased that the POVs were different from the first (as much as I love the Four) and the addition of new characters felt like they fit in and added more to both the world and the existing characters. A strong piece of this novel lies in the POV of Queen Thessia as well as Galwell exploring his life now and his role in it. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC of this sequel.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked This Will Be Fun (another book by this author and with this vibe), so I was excited to read this one.

I did like the previous book better, I felt like I could connect with the characters in that book better.

This one also felt more like a cozy fantasy than This Will Be Fun. That one had a little more action to it and that definitely helps to keep me entertained and interested. This book focused more on the emotional journeys that the characters were going through, especially our hero guy.

I also don't tend to love second chance romances and this has one of those. I did like how it was done though. I think lots of past things were explored and explained and that really helped me to like it. (I don't like feeling like I'm missing information from the past with second chance romances, but I think this book combated that very well. I got the explanations I needed.)

I do think plenty of people will really enjoy this book. Especially if someone is looking for a cozier fantasy this winter. I don't know why, but cozy fantasies feel right for winter.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Gretchen Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to return to the world of Mythria. This story juggles not two, but three, delightful romances in this fantasy world with ever-so-slightly modern references. The romances mostly got their time in the spotlight (with plenty of spice to go around), but I did feel like Thessia's story did have a bit of a sudden shift into "now we have feelings for each other" and I feel like it missed some of the build up. That said, I loved the way things tied together at the end and I definitely cried a little during the conclusion.

[RoseGreyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more than interesting it was a DELIGHT! I am in love with this world, the characters and magic and everything involved.

Much like I loved the previous books perspective on heroes after they saved the day, I loved this perspective on a hero that had his ultimate sacrifice erased, and how that would inform his identity. In the same vein, we got to see people who identify as villains find their honor and heroic purpose… but my favorite plot was the perpetual damsel doing the saving and leading the way she was always meant to do.

I don’t want to give spoilers to the plot, because this was magical to watch untold, but I will say I LOVED that every breadcrumb had meaning, every plot line tracked to its rightful place, and every love story had me swooning. This book is everything I wanted it to be!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an Arc of "This Will Be Interesting."

Expected Publication March 4, 2026

I enjoyed the previous books perspective on heroes after they saved the day. The perspective in this book is on a hero that had his ultimate sacrifice erased, and how that would inform his identity.

Unfortunately I don't think this series was for me since I was bored most of the time but I would recommend this book if your looking for friendship in a more Romantasy cozy vibes.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin with This Will Be Interesting.

Honestly, the #1 way to tell whether or not you’ll like this book is whether or not you liked the first book. I thought the first book was kind of dumb but also kind of fun, and I think this book was pretty similar; bit dumber, a bit less fun, but, overall, much of the same.

The second book in the series picks up with a smattering of characters from the first book accompanied by a few new ones. Queen Thessia and, of course, the newly revivified Galwell are back to get up to a new quest in a different country. Joining them are River, an assassin hired to kill Galwell and the third and final POV character, Mona, an actually kind of interesting enemy turned ally, Celine, a reporter who is also there and occasionally does something, and Hugh, Thessia’s husband who does not love her and she doesn’t love actually but is also there (sometimes, not that often) and once or twice even did a thing (but not more than 3 times, let’s not get ahead of ourselves).

Reading through my review of the first book, for better or for worse, my review is much of the same. Overall, I found the way the book logically fits together to be completely lacking, perhaps even absent. It feels like chapters were written not based on telling a coherent part of the story so much as to fulfill a bullet-point list of plot plots (e.g. 1. Bridge some dramatic conversation with someone else on the quest; 2. Start a completely random and unconnected side plot that leads to a random out-of-the-blue Theme™ of the book, 3. Flirt with or have a disconnected tense conversation with or about the love interest, 4. Remember in the last 1-2 pages to actually move forward the main plot of the book). It results in a book that is just abrupt and ridiculous and, every so often, kind of fun? I’ve never been one for reality Real Housewives-style TV shows but I imagine them being a lot like this book: some drama played up for camera, some random nonsense, conversations that make no sense out of context and even less sense in context, and occasional moments of high stakes that may or may not last to the next chapter/episode (again, never actually watched these shows, I’m sort of just guessing on vibes). Sentence-per-sentence, the book is written well enough and has a fun goofiness to it; taken together, it never really feels like a coherent story.

I do think that this book was significantly hampered by the number of characters compared to the first. This Will Be Fun is a mere 50 pages shorter and has the same number of POV characters but one fewer couple, and thus only 2/3rds the number of characters. This is especially felt for Thessia, whose chapters both attempt to describe a lot of personal growth and cover a romance plotline. It results in her emotional development being more or less fine and her relationship with Hugh being entirely sidelined (there’s a moment at the end of the book where they call each other best friends despite having significantly better on-page friends and, no, they were not hanging out off page. They hardly saw each other the whole book). Similarly, River and Celine both end up being somewhat lacking as characters. River is fine, but her relationship with Celine falls flat on account of Celine having seldom little personality to speak of. Galwell has by far the most interesting chapters, and Mona is a fun, if inconsistent, love interest.

I was hoping to keep this review shorter, but I don’t think I can post it without talking more about Galwell. His storyline is the most compelling: having recently come back to life after 10 years of being dead, he’s now trying to find his place in a very changed world where he’s no longer the infallible, prophesized, manly hero that he and everyone else thought him to be. He doesn’t know how to be cared for by others, nor is he able to navigate the world on his own. This is accompanied by an extremely simplistic black-and-white worldview about good and evil, paired with a self-image that is entirely based on being good and strong and helpful. That’s legitimately a really interesting premise for a character! Like the first book, this story had rare moments where it did truly get to a thoughtful and interesting exploration of a complicated emotion. It didn’t always deliver, but I do have to give some props to the book for it even if I found the rest of the book to be rather silly.

Finally, a note on the worldbuilding: it’s…not good. Like the first book, there’s not all that much development of what it really would mean to live in a world where most (all? Many? I’m legitimately not entirely sure if it’s everyone or if the main characters not a representative sample) have one pretty powerful innate magical power such as reading minds, teleportation, super strength, etc. Constantly, magical creatures made up for the book are namedropped but with literally no description. The politics of the realm where most of the book takes place are hilariously simple. People turn to and from evil or overthrow governmental powers based on one person’s verbal account of something that happened. I won’t get into specifics because it’s a spoiler, but a moderate portion of the party’s problems could be overcome if the governments employed one (1) person with the magical ability to tell if someone is lying which, like, given the sheer range of powers that exist is definitely something they could do. The end result is a book that is deeply silly in a way that does detract from the book. To be clear, I’m not saying that this book needs serious worldbuilding or anything else of the sort. The book is very clearly aiming for silly goofy rom-com and that’s an aspect of the book I do appreciate (I’ve read too many books with awful worldbuilding who insisted on trying; I can commend a book for not even bothering). Mostly, I bring this up to say that, like the first book, don’t bother thinking critically. This book requires complete suspension not only of disbelief but also of critical thinking. I don’t think actually that’s a bad thing to be honest, not for this book. It’s what the book is going for, and I wouldn’t suggest even picking up the book without accepting that fact.

All in all, I can only recommend this book to enjoyers of the first book. It’s a dumb book, and it’s up to each reader whether or not they find that fun. I enjoyed the first one more but overall can say that this isn’t the series for me. At the heart of it, my biggest gripe is that I just didn’t care for the romance in this one, and I did generally think the romance from the first book was at least cute even if not always coherent. It made this book drag more which, paired with overall less compelling characters, caused this book to be less charming than the first one. I’m giving this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars; rounded up because, like, I definitely can’t claim to be surprised this time. It’s not the series for me and, even considering that, I know the authors can write a book I enjoyed more. That being said, I do appreciate the effort to bring silly queernormative fantasy romantic comedies to the world.

Thank you to Avon for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never been happier to come back to a universe than opening this book and getting back to Mythria.

💭 Quote 💭

“Death doesn’t scare me.”


📸 Main Characters 📸

Galwell True
River Pricemark
Queen Thessia of Mythria




🫶🏻 Tropes 🫶🏻


Sapphic friends to lovers
Hero x villain romance
Reluctant allies to lovers
Fake marriage
Found family





🦋 Blurb 🦋

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?




🤩 Did I love it? Thoughts? 🤩

Oh my God this book was so good. I loved the first one more than I ever thought I could but this one, having new characters and old characters and characters that we met, but didn’t really get to spend much time with, was the greatest. Oh my goodness, I could not stop reading this book. I loved everything about Galwell. I loved getting to really meet him and understand him as he goes through coming back from the dead and where that puts him in life because he was a hero who sacrificed himself but now his sacrifice didn’t happen or it didn’t stick so like who he is now.

Then getting to spend time in Queen Thessia’s point of view I loved her so much and her journey of trying to find herself and accept her life as queen and find happiness and then her happiness with Hugh, oh my God. I was devastated to find out it was fake because I really loved him but to see their love grow to become real. Oh my God so wonderful so happy

Meeting River and seeing her growth become who she was always meant to be and finding herself. Falling in love with Celine and her story and then meeting Mona, Claire’s sister, Mona and Galwell’s relationship and oh my gosh Prince Ario and I loved Benjamin too. I just loved this book so much.I have probably said this too many times already but it is true. I enjoyed everything about it. I am so sad it’s over and I need more from this universe and these people. I want to go on a quest with all of them because it just wasn’t enough. I loved having Clare, Beatrice, Elowen and Vandra all back in this story too even as more side characters than the main ones. Having Clare and Beatrice being in charge of the country while she was out of town I loved King Clare oh, I can’t. The portrait of Wiglaf.

🩵 Would I recommend this Book? 🩵

I was so excited to get a copy of this arc and I am so grateful to be able to have read this in advance because it was so great and I am telling you now I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy when this book comes out in 2026 because I want this in my hands. I want it on my bookshelf so that I can look at it every day and tell all of my friends that they need to read the series because it is so so so good I love it. I have nothing but great things to say. This is probably a series of six stars. It’s a god tier series for me which blows me away because I did not expect to love these books as much as I do. The authors do such an amazing job with these characters. I’ve loved every single character that they give me and I’m just so grateful that I got the chance to read this so thank you you Netgalley , EB Asher and Avonbooks for the opportunity to read this book in advance because it was amazing


Enjoy reading! 🤩

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heat Index: 5.5/10

—actually truly laugh-inducingly funny

—Princess Bride vibes

—threeee different romances

—found family

The Basics:

Legendary hero Galwell the Great is fresh off being (sort of) resurrected by his friends, and he's a bit... aimless. Until mysterious assassin River reveals there's a bounty on his head (mostly because she tried to collect on that bounty). But why? The only way to find out is by going on a new quest, and Galwell is roping River—and her childhood crush, scribe-with-a-photographic-memory Celine—in on the mission. Not to be outdone, Queen Thessia, his supposed former love, jumps in... alongside her new husband Hugh, with whom she has a rather complicated relationship. And what about Mona the Merciless, the seductive villainess Galway's been sent to seek out for help? It's a QUEST!

The Review:

This Will Be Fun, the book preceding this one (I'd recommend reading it first, as there's some character overlap and it is where Galwell begins—but it's not strictly necessary) was indeed fun, and this was indeed interesting! And fun. And hilarious. And kind of sweet at points. Basically, a really solid cozy fantasy romance. Is cozy really the right term? I mean, it's full of adventure. You just know the stakes aren't ridiculously high, because you're laughing throughout.

Once again, we get multiple romances (all with HEAs), and I enjoyed each other. Galwell and Mona give you a bit of brother's best friend, a bit of hero/villainess, a bit of... well. Galwell is, for all his heroism and super strength and good looks, quite inexperienced, as it turns. And Mona is NOT. She might be down to corrupt a hero in more ways than one, while he's there to be besotted and decent and show her the horrifying prospect of a man with a heart full of love.

River and Celine, on the other hand, are a classic case of childhood friends separated by circumstance, now quite different and a bit at odds. River very much wants to play the hardened assassin, but the reality is that Celine is adorable, relentless in chasing the scoop, and absolutely has her number. Where I think Asher went very right here was in making Celine much more complex than she initially seemed, taking her off her pedestal and giving her hard stuff to bond with River over.

And then there's Thessia and Hugh. Our sort of convenient, sort of outright fake married couple, putting on a show for the public while very much never intending to have a real union. Hugh has his damage. Thessia has her duties,. It's clear fairly on that he's actually completely smitten, and she can't possibly comprehend someone like him breaking his personal rules to love her—and what does it mean if he does?

Everyone is rather delightful and unique. There's also a prince who absolutely DELIGHTED me, with a companion whose identity I can't possibly spoil because it's one of the funniest gags in the book. I won't lie: The quest itself is kind of neither here nor there. Not because it isn't interesting, but because it isn't the point. The point is getting all these characters together, shaking them up, watching them fall in love with their respective partners, and learning to confront their emotional fears and evolve.

The world remains delightful. There are clubs. There's a scene with men dancing in cages that reminds me SO much of the "Off with His Shirt" sequence in the forever missed, incredibly great sitcom Galavant (everyone should watch). Galwell (hey...) may have been my favorite, because I do love a deeply confused, noble good boy gone (a tiny bit) bad. Mona REALLY does a number on this guy, and you love to see it. But there's truly something for everyone here.

And God. We could use a little joy.

The Sex:

As with the first novel, the sex scenes are on the page but pretty tame and lightly described. Galwell doesn't even know what fellatio is. He does find out. Every couple gets their moment, but it's not very intense.

The Conclusion:

Another wholehearted, hilarious romp of a romantasy. I'd recommend reading it if you enjoyed the first, but also if you're new to this world and want something to cozy up to like a hug.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚This Will Be Interesting
✍🏻E.B. Asher
Blurb:
Set in the same magical, madcap world as E. B. Asher’s USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun, this heartwarming, hilarious fantasy follows an unlikely band of heroes who must get to the bottom of an assassination plot gone wrong without breaking the one rule of do not fall in love with your questmates.

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?

Filled with dangerous impersonators, the inimitable power of friendship, and the realm’s most infamous horseball championship, This Will Be Interesting is a slow burn, cozy, and hilarious quest romantasy featuring:

Sapphic friends to loversHero x villain romanceReluctant allies to loversFake marriageFound family
My Thoughts:
This Will Be Interesting is just as fun. It's cheeky and campy and we follow the love stories of not one, not two, but three couples. I really loved the trio of POVs, each of the characters have such a great arc. This novel is full of such heart, true action and absolute irreverent silliness it’s impossible not to fall in love with this cast of found family. I truly laughed out loud at times. There is such joy in this novel, even when there are heavier moments. I thought all three main characters were equally intriguing and brought their own nuances to the story. They all experience a profound sense of change over the course of the book (even the side characters!), which made me appreciate them all the more. Galwell might have stolen the show with his profound internal reflections, but Thessia stole my heart with her quiet strength that only grew louder with love.
Thanks NetGalley,, Harper Collins Publishers and Author E.B. Asher for the advanced copy of "This Will Be Interesting" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#HaperCollinsPUblishers
#E.B.Asher
#ThisWillBeInteresting
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Sexual content, Violence, Blood

[Rynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

The title and cover for This Will Be Interesting by E.B. Asher seemed intriguing enough, and I felt I had done my homework to determine this was a standalone novel... only to find out when I went to read this the first time that this is technically a sequel. But it's also not a sequel-- it's all very confusing as it takes place in the same world as This Will Be Fun which I did not read. Goodreads indicates that this is book two in a series, but I can't find the information elsewhere. So at the end of this confusing journey, I just decided to go in.

Well, the good news is anyone can follow along because you don't really need the information from the first book to immerse yourself in this one. The bad news is, while the title implies it is interesting I feel it is a little too interesting. Something about the writing style was trying too hard to explain every little minute thing. All the characters felt the same because we knew them inside and out, as well as the jokes. Nothing loses its luster faster than a joke that is explained to death.

Halfway through the novel I felt that the authors--of which they are three and honestly that explains a lot--were trying to emulate Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams in this hot mess and let me tell you... they do not know why the humor worked in these novels but not in This Will Be Interesting. Although those books also happen to follow multiple characters and plot lines, they were actually edited to be enjoyable reads.

The three main perspectives in this novel just did not work. There was little to no differentiation between each character's voice which made it feel like you're experiencing only slight variations of the same story. Plot lines were way too rushed for what the authors wanted to attack, especially with the sex/love scenes. Once again, I have to say, sex does not equate to love but you wouldn't know that in this facsimile of a D budget romcom. I did not care for any pairing as it followed tropes and caricatures to set them up. There was no yearning, no real connection, outside of body language and the copious amounts of sex scenes that took away what little plot we had going. A more focused approach with the POVs would have fixed this glaring issue, but with three voices having a say in the final written result I can't say that it would have been better.

Overall, I feel This Will Be a Hot Mess would be more of an appropriate title. There's some interesting elements but they definitely do not feel cohesive together. Maybe as a film this would have been more successful but as it stands, this was a flop.

[M. K. French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galwell True was the perfect hero who sacrificed himself to save the realm. Now that he was resurrected, he feels more like "Galwell the Lost." Assassin River Pricemark is tasked by her guilt to kill him, but her ambush is interrupted by reporter Celine Hazelton. Worse than her looking into why someone wants Galwell dead is the fact that Celine is River's childhood crush. To further complicate matters, Queen Thessia of Mythria decides to turn her honeymoon with King Hugh into a rescue mission. Galwell has the criminal Mona Grandhart with him, who is just as determined to corrupt him as help him. He's put forth the rule that there will be no romance on the team. But who's going to listen to that one?

This is in the same world as This Will Be Fun (read my review - it's the last one in the list). In that book, Galwell was brought back to life with Beatrice's magic. (There's a short summary in the beginning if you missed that book, but seriously, go back and read that one, it really will be fun!) He's out of sorts because he's not a hero anymore, really. The kingdom is calm and settled, and the queen has a new husband. That part's fine; he had no romantic feelings for her, but he has no purpose. He decides to go to the neighboring kingdom on the queen's honeymoon ship for something new to do, as well as keep safe from the assassin guild; when River fails, others are sent after him. Celine is on the ship to document the honeymoon, and none of them are aware that the marriage was of convenience, with no expectations for feelings.

If that sounds like a zany setup, it absolutely is. The group doesn't expect Mona or the spy master to be who they are, or that the kingdom of Vestriya has significant concerns of its own. There are misunderstandings and actual understandings, mistaken identity, and the race to reveal the truth. This world has its own version of sports and talent competitions, and the motley group tries hard to save the kingdom as well as themselves. It's a fun play on well-known tropes, including fake marriage, only one bed, grumpy/sunshine, and influencing each other in complementary ways. We have three couples, each getting a fitting happily ever after. It was a fun read, and it looks like there's the potential for another book as well.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Galwell humphed. This was, he reckoned, not his finest questing party. His ex-fiancée, the assassin who sought to kill him earlier this week, and a gossip scribesheet reporter. Have fun saving the realm.”

After returning from the dead, a dead Galwell the Great was okay with, well as okay with death as one can be, Galwell has to reckon with his legacy. What legacy, what claim to greatness, can a hero have after his gallant sacrifice has been revoked. He also has to deal with the fact that his formerly betrothed, Queen Thessia is newly married. Oh and did he mention there are assassins after him? Queen Thessia is grateful Galwell’s back but she didn’t love him and she doesn’t love her new husband Hugh, a marriage of convenience, in fact Thessia’s not sure she even loves being Queen. What she would love is a vacation across the sea to Vestriya. Also aboard, River, an assassin who failed at killing Galwell, (because why did the guild ask her to kill him anyway?) and Celine, a scribe with impeccable memory. As an unlikely group sets sail an even more unlikely questing group is created as they set off to unearth assassination plots that have bigger implications for the realm and their allies.

This Will Be Interesting is the second installment in writing group EB Asher’s This Will Be series and I adored it as much as the first. These books are filled with fun, compelling romance, dynamic characters, and interesting plots. I am so glad a second installment was written, while book one could absolutely be a standalone, I’m thrilled we got to dive into Galwell and Thessia’s stories. These are absolutely comfort reads for me amongst the more dense fantasy books I normally go for. While not quite ‘cozy’ (there are stakes and some heavier themes) these books are packed full of joy and humor and love and friendship and are a feel-good read for fantasy and romance readers alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the arc. This Will Be Interesting by EB Asher is set to be published on March 24, 2026.

[SW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Will Be Interesting is exactly what its title promises—fun, chaotic, and brimming with charm. Set in the same delightfully absurd, magic-infused world as This Will Be Fun, E.B. Asher once again proves they know how to balance humor, heart, and high fantasy in a way that feels refreshingly self-aware yet surprisingly tender.
The novel kicks off when Galwell True, once a legendary hero, is resurrected ten years after his noble sacrifice—only to find the world (and his self-confidence) very different than he left it. From there, Asher assembles a quirky, lovable cast: River, the assassin sent to kill him; Celine, the nosy reporter with a sharp quill and sharper questions; Queen Thessia, the ex who refuses to stay on her honeymoon; and Mona, the glamorous criminal with a dangerous smile. Their adventures bounce between court intrigue, magical mayhem, and a horseball championship that’s as ridiculous as it is riveting.
Asher’s writing sparkles with wit and timing—think The Princess Bride meets Legends & Lattes, but with more flirting and fewer rules. The “no romance on the quest” vow, of course, is a running joke that pays off in both comedic and emotional ways. Beneath the banter, though, the story carries an unexpected emotional core about second chances, self-worth, and finding meaning after legend fades.
If there’s a critique, it’s that the plot occasionally feels overstuffed; the momentum can wobble under the weight of its own antics. Still, the warmth of the found family dynamic and Asher’s razor-sharp humor more than make up for a few meandering chapters.
⚔️💘 Hilarious, heartfelt, and delightfully chaotic, This Will Be Interesting is a magical romp about friendship, redemption, and the impossibility of keeping your heart out of the adventure.
This review was given freely book was provided by NetGalley and Publisher.

[Gwen :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰✰ / 5
[Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review]

Unfortunately I really disliked this book. While I loved the friendship dynamics and banter of the first book, this sequel felt highly forced and lacked the charm of This Will Be Fun.

Personally, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters in this book. Thessia and Galwell felt like completely different characters from who we were introduced to in book one, and I didn’t love our new characters Celine, River, and Mona. While the heroes in This Will Be Fun were grappling with grief, guilt, and ruined friendships, the characters in This Will Be Interesting were wining about their jobs and trying to find their ~purpose in life~. The characters felt one-dimensional and too focused on one problem, compared to the complexity of the first book.

It felt like the authors leant too far into the whimsy and ‘fun’ of this world and its characters, losing what is at the heart of the story. The connections and romances felt forced, and I found myself rolling my eyes at how quickly characters ~fell in love~. The second-chance romances of book one were far more compelling (and up my alley), and here I just felt that people were thrown together, with lust and some generalized love speeches to hold them together. And the smut scenes were bad.

As with many a cobbled-together sequel to hits, this fell flat. Unlike the first book, which explores the lives of those who were meant to be heroes but are really just human, this installment explores the lives of people who are human but strive to be heroes, and I found that less compelling. This book lacked the complex and compelling character dynamics I loved from book one, and the overarching plot of a corrupt royal family was stupid. Stick to just the first book.

[Natalie Younger · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Mythria! Well, actually, to Vestriya...but FIRST to Mythria. The gang (E.B. Asher) is back together and this time they are putting together a new gang, with some new faces alongside some familiar friends from This Will Be Fun. And also we're leaving the door open on the spicy shenanigans. (The latter wasn't a problem, just surprised me after the suggestive but demure Book 1.)

Gotta love when a sequel gives you more of what you loved from the first:
-- Adventure
-- Intrigue
-- Magic
-- Banter
-- Found family
-- Reluctant lovers
-- Sapphic lovers
-- Strangely poignant dum-dums
-- The question of 'What it means to be a hero?'
-- Emotionally stunted/challenged characters learning to embrace their feelings and use their words

But this time with:
-- Marriage of Convenience shenanigans
-- Snail side kick
-- ON PAGE SPICE
...and more

Basically, I had a great time. The journey/adventure was a little less straightforward in this one, which at times made some moments feel muddled or maybe not wholly necessary, but all-in-all led to, I think, a more twisty-turny tale than the last. We get to dig more into the magic system and world of the first too just by nature of it being a sequel, but never in an overwhelming way -- very non-fantasy-fanatic-friendly. The spice is mild, but, as I said, it is on the page this time.

Cozy, cute, swoon worthy AND swashbuckling. Adventurous but lighthearted. Suspenseful without being stressful.

I already find myself wondering who we'll follow and where we might go if there's a book 3.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

[Lisa Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)
This Will Be Interesting is the second book in E.B. Asher’s This Will Be series, and I found myself enjoying it even more than the first installment. This cozy fantasy adventure shifts focus to a different set of characters while continuing to explore the quirky and unconventional world established in the series.
Galwell, recently returned from the dead, now has to grapple with what it actually means to live when he is no longer in the middle of saving the realm—and how to move forward in a world where life continued on without him. Meanwhile, Thessia must confront the reality of ruling and discover what it truly means to be queen rather than simply serving as a symbolic figurehead.
We’re also introduced to some engaging new characters, including River, another member of the Guild of Assassins, and her childhood crush Celine, who adds an entertaining dynamic to the story.
As with the first book, the story leans heavily into its playful blend of fantasy and modern elements. Magic slugs, harpies, and assassins coexist with lattes, talent shows, and other contemporary touches. This combination gives the series a very distinct tone, but it can also feel a bit chaotic at times and may not work for every reader. However, beneath the humor and whimsy, the story explores more heartfelt themes of love, identity, self-worth, and the blurry line between heroes and villains.
By the time I started this second installment, I knew what to expect from this author trio’s playful narrative style, and I found myself enjoying the ride from start to finish in all of its strange, cozy, and slightly ridiculous glory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this E-Arc, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Shannon Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading the first book, This Will Be Fun, before this one. It picks up after the events of book 1 end, and there are big spoilers if you haven’t read the first story.

I was so excited to return to the world of Mythria, and I was not disappointed in this second installment. It was similar to the first, but at the same time fresh with a new setting in the world. There was a great combination of new characters to spice things up, and returning characters for those that have read This Will Be Fun.

I was drawn to this series due to the fantasy almost D&D like premise, and fell in love with how well they keep the story simple while still making it exciting. I also really love the romance, and this book has a ton of it for one that started with a “no romance in the party” rule. It’s been a while since I read the first book so I was surprised it was spicier than I remembered, although on the whole while adult I find the spice to be mild.

I don’t want to include direct spoilers but with the ending I am hopeful it will lead to more books, as I would love to see more stories with these characters. Also I did not realize until reading this ARC that three people are behind the author E.B.Asher. I am even more impressed how they can combine 3 individual’s ideas and writing into a cohesive story that I assumed was written by one person.

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I do have a physical copy preordered. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an exciting but easy to read fantasy. Big thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me the chance to read and review this book before release.

[whiskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review !

If I were Galwell I would've started chewing on the bars of that cage trying to get to Mona.

Having just finished the audiobook for This Will Be Fun I was very excited to continue on with the series, though I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy it without Elowen and Vandra. Vandra, my beloved! They were both in this story, and Vandra even had a nice part given her past partnership with River- will be listening to the audiobook once it comes out since I do love her voice.

I did find another new favorite character to love in this story, though sadly not within the sapphic ship. River and Celine were lovely, but I was immediately obsessed with Mona and need her in ways that are concerning to feminism tbh.

This whole review is just becoming a thirst post for Mona bc it is that serious for me.

For a cozy fantasy, it's as goofy and entertaining as one would imagine. I wish there would've been more focus towards River and Celine, but I found that their romance and story was unfortunately overshadowed by Galwell/Mona's and Thessia/Hugh's. The twist at the ending did surprise me... though I wasn't actively trying to solve it while reading so maybe it was an obvious one lol.

Had a fun time in the end and will definitely be following along if there are more books written in the series (if there's a sapphic romance in them ofc)!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a book with a quest, and This Will Be Interesting had a great one! It was heartfelt and fun; fast paced and full of magic. I enjoyed the first book, This Will Be Fun, and was excited to dive into this new adventure.

In this second book, Galwell the Great is not doing so great and struggling to adjust to his return to life. We meet River, an assassin who is beginning to question her career choice. This book also lets us get to know Queen Thessia of Mythria better as she also is trying to find herself in the role she plays.

It was great to be back with the group from the first book and fun to get to know some new characters. I’d forgotten how much I love the medieval twists on modern things, like scribes (reporters). I enjoyed the different characters, the settings, and the various magical abilities. As their quest continues their merry group grows in number, each member with something to add.

The story took a bit of a turn half way through. It got steamy in a way I wasn’t expecting and didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the book. I also don’t remember this much steam in the first book. I also felt that the pace also slowed down and started to feel like it was dragging. Overall, it felt that the book was longer than it needed to be.

Thank you to the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, authors E. B. Asher, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Will Be Interesting by E.B. Asher

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This Will Be Interesting has a great quest and is an excellent read overall! Fun, heartfelt, and fast-paced, This Will Be Interesting is full of magic, adventure, and coziness!

Galwell sacrificed himself to save the realm, however his friends unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling lost. When River Pricemark is tasked with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks within the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil. Her ambush is interrupted though by Celine Hazelton, a reporter who questioning why the Guild is targeting Galwell. Queen Thessia of Mythria just married King Hugh and is supposed to live happily ever after, but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her honeymoon into a rescue mission. Galwell now must rely on his questmates to survive.

This Will Be Interesting is a cozy, slow burn, and funny romantasy! It’s fantastic for readers to be reunited with the group from the first book and also to get to know some new characters! The setting, magic, medieval vibes, and all of different characters make this such an exciting and entertaining read! Adventurous, lighthearted, mysterious, and cozy, This Will Be Interesting is an enjoyable and endearing read!

[Mystyc Metrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first novel in this series, and the sequel did not disappoint. Introducing a second group of questmates - Queen Thessia, who is tired of being the damsel in distress and would like to save herself, Hugh, the king in name only, as he still mourns his lost love, Galwell the Great, returned from the dead but looking for direction, River, the assassin whose guild no longer stands for the ideals she joined for, and Celine, the scribe whose powers may not be what she says. The group heads to Vestriya for Thessia's and Hugh's "honeymoon" but find themselves embroiled in a royal conspiracy with a poet prince and his snail, an assassination at a horseball tournament, and Vestriya Now, a talent competition! This group of characters was just as lovable as the first, and readers will love the complex dynamics and relationships that sprout between the group. Despite Galwell's caution that there be "no romance on the quest," quite a few pairings develop over the course of the story. The action is fun, and this reads like both a fantasy story and a parody of one. Filled with humor, action, and a lot of heart, readers will eagerly be turning pages until the end to see what happens. I hope that this series continues, because the exploits of Mythia's heroes are wildly entertaining!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I read Asher's first book, This Will be Fun. This book is the sequel. Asher is actually three writers who create together. So, fun and interesting.
Interesting picks up where Fun left off. Galwell of The Four continues with a new quest, who wants to kill him? He is a hero of mythical proportions after all. This time he is accompanied by a new group of questers, all with their own reasons and needs.
The magical world of Mythria is fun. Equal parts, magical, modern, and heroes who might duel to the death. Romance abounds in this book as well. Queen Thessia (Galwell's ex) is in a marriage of convenience with the remarkable Hugh but wants real love. River the assassin and Celine the reporter have a past and neither wants to admit, maybe a future.
Galwell says "no romance" on this quest, but that's not happening when he meets Clare's villainous sister Mona. While the group works to find who wants Hero Galwell and the royal prince of a nearby realm dead, hijinks ensue between the reluctant allies and friends.
Another fun read. Some parts drag a bit and like in the first book some of the magic and myths get confusing. But I enjoyed it and of course, magic, spells and romance always win me over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance digital copy in to review. These views are my own.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation of sorts from This Will Be Fun, This Will Be Interesting picks up when Galwell the Great comes back from the dead... just in time for his former fiancee's wedding. Speaking of Queen Thessia, she's feeling sick of always being the distressed damsel, especially after The Four have returned from another quest. And introducing the new entry to the storyline, River is an assassin that gets tasked with killing Galwell for the second time. But her guild has always gone after villains, so why was one of her country's heroes in her crosshairs? Take all of that and you have the start of a good story, and yet another quest on the docket.

I enjoyed the first story This Will Be Fun and also had a good time with this one. Watching each of the characters grow and change and getting to spend a little more time with the characters from the first book was great. For me, the pace struggled a little in the 60-75% range, but the end went by quickly. I'd recommend this if you like a story about a group of friends that each have their own problems but come together for the greater mission, if you enjoy bad poetry and snails, or if you like books with light magic, a bit of romance, and some villainy mixed in too.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication!

[Daniela807 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you NetGallery for an advanced digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will try to avoid spoilers when possible. That being said....

This book was a complete waste of time. If I could have given it zero stars, I would. If I was able to DNF, I would have. This Will Be Interesting was most certainly not.

For background, I read book one for the first time before reviewing this sequel which honestly was not even needed. Book one was decent, not something I would purchase for myself, but the ending was horrid and practically ruined the experience - only there so a second book could happen. Queue in book 2. While there are three authors credited to this novel, you will not convince me this was anything other than AI. The writing is repetitive, boring, and lacking any soul. If I read the word "passion" one more time, I would have screamed. I actually felt happy when I put down the book and did not have to go back to it.

Also, if you are uncomfortable writing "spice", please don't. These scenes were embarrassing at best.

Honestly, skip this one. There are other novels out there that are written by authors and not a soulless AI bot.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this sequel to "This Will be Fun," Galwell the Great has been resurrected and is struggling to reacclimate to the life he had 10 years ago. Now, with an assassin trying to kill him, Galwell starts a new quest with new allies, but has one rule: no romance. Well, I'll let you figure out how that goes.

While I loved the first book, this one was not as exciting for me. I was definitely missing all the characters from the first book and I was really hoping to have more interactions between them and Galwell. Considering in the first book The Four spent the majority grieving and trying to move on from Galwell's death, I thought it was a missed opportunity to see how they handled having him back in their lives. Don't get me wrong, that was addressed, but I wanted more. Also, I wasn't too fond of the new quest mates because I just kept thinking that I wanted Clare, Beatrice, and Elowen to be there instead. However, I loved the side story with Thessia and Hugh and giving Thessia more to do than be just a damsel in distress. Overall, it's still a fun read and I do hope they continue the series with the old characters coming back.

[Samantha Bilodeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn't read the first book, This Will Be Fun, but had heard good things about it being very lighthearted and, yes, fun. This second book was said to be a standalone in the same universe, so I assumed I could start with it.

I feel that is likely still all true, but because characters returning from the first book spend the bulk of this one lamenting over what happened in the past enough that I feel I know quite well what happened. Unfortunately, they feel more like they are wallowing and also like I was supposed to already know them well to care about them.

There are some characters that are fleshed out a bit, but it all just fell very flat for me. I feel like the overall tone is going for a Douglas Adams style of whimsy, mixed with some Monty Python, but is missing the nuance that succeeds at that. Which just makes it uninteresting and a bit ridiculous (in a less fun way).

I also didn't expect deep world building, but had so many questions about things that went unexplained that would have made this interesting!

So, unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is 100% my own.

[L & J Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in this cozy romantasy series was even better than the first book, which was also a great read!
Galwell, the heroic leader of the quest against dark forces in “This Will Be Fun” was supposed to die but Beatrice’s magic instead transported him ten years in the future. When he appears ten years later, he hadn’t aged but his friends have and in the meantime many things have changed such as advances in magical technology , and his betrothed, now Queen Thessia has married one of his friends, Hugh. Galwell now has to struggle to redefine himself. In the meantime, the Deathrose Assassins Guild, who are supposed to only kill evildoers has ordered one of their members to kill him. Why? To save him, his friend Clare sends him to Vestriya, where he hopes his sister Mona the Merciless will protect him. So many questions remain-will Thessia ever find some who will truly love her? Will Galwell be able to redefine himself? Will the assassin, River, discover why the Guild has become corrupted?
This is a great book for those who enjoy an over the top romantasy with a HEA.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.