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inuyasha's review against another edition
1.0
dnf at 35%
idk maybe this is super unfair but I feel like if a books cover, title, marketing and synopsis is going to be around a ren faire maybe it shouldn't take a third of the book to actually get.... to the ren faire setting? there's even an on the nose dialogue between two characters about how they worry the "rehearsal period" (where the book takes mostly place in a small town high school) takes too long.
also I'm just weary of family trauma stories, especially in romance books after my last few reads. this just wasn't anything I expected and everything I didn't want, maybe I'll try again later.
idk maybe this is super unfair but I feel like if a books cover, title, marketing and synopsis is going to be around a ren faire maybe it shouldn't take a third of the book to actually get.... to the ren faire setting? there's even an on the nose dialogue between two characters about how they worry the "rehearsal period" (where the book takes mostly place in a small town high school) takes too long.
also I'm just weary of family trauma stories, especially in romance books after my last few reads. this just wasn't anything I expected and everything I didn't want, maybe I'll try again later.
heyitsbee's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very charming read. May be a bit frustrating for folks who dislike miscommunication tropes or female main characters who can be naive or self conscious.
gabreadsbooks1's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet RomCom Perfection!
I loved everything about this! The characters, the setting and the writing.
I found this to be very witty and funny. The Renaissance Faire setting was so unique and entertaining.
It’s definitely an enemies to friends to lovers romance with some slow burn added in.
Pacing was great and the characters kept me wanting more. Can’t wait to dive into book two and three!
Would definitely recommend this if you liked Witch Please, Tools of Engagement or Battle Royal.
I loved everything about this! The characters, the setting and the writing.
I found this to be very witty and funny. The Renaissance Faire setting was so unique and entertaining.
It’s definitely an enemies to friends to lovers romance with some slow burn added in.
Pacing was great and the characters kept me wanting more. Can’t wait to dive into book two and three!
Would definitely recommend this if you liked Witch Please, Tools of Engagement or Battle Royal.
erin1066's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, this one started slow for me and I did NOT like Simon and thought this might be one I’d push through and then re-sell. But....then the actual Ren Faire started and it really took off. I ended up finishing it that same night and loving Simon, with all his complications. I’m now looking forward to the sequel and eventually rereading this one. Staying on my shelf for a reread automatically gets a book 5 stars.
jana_rae_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book! Such a cute, happy ending romance! I love that it’s set at Ren Fest as well, if you love that time of year as much as me, you’ll appreciate this story pulling you in.
•It’s an adorable romance with spice.
•Rivals to lovers.
•A Finding of oneself.
•Learning appreciation for the people and plot twists thrown into our lives.
•Lovable characters who now feel like friends, and who I wish were apart of my day to day life!
•well written
•a little bit of found family
I hope you enjoy this book as much as me! I can already tell this will be a reread for me when I’m missing Ren Fest during the long winter!
•It’s an adorable romance with spice.
•Rivals to lovers.
•A Finding of oneself.
•Learning appreciation for the people and plot twists thrown into our lives.
•Lovable characters who now feel like friends, and who I wish were apart of my day to day life!
•well written
•a little bit of found family
I hope you enjoy this book as much as me! I can already tell this will be a reread for me when I’m missing Ren Fest during the long winter!
piratebar's review against another edition
2.0
This one did nothing for me. I was told you didn't really have to care about the Faire aspect to enjoy this book but I think it helps A LOT if you like that type of stuff. I personally didn't give two shits so although it was well written, I didn't enjoy anything about this. Simon wasn't likable to me even when his back story was explained, the side characters were interesting but I really think my lack of enjoyment of this book was more a ME problem than the book's problem.
readwithmesashamarie's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this novel. Regardless of the way I acquired the novel, the thoughts, opinions, and views stated in this review are completely unbiased and one hundred percent my own.
I am a sucker for anything historical, so the fact that a majority of this story takes place during a Renaissance Faire had me hook, line, and sinker.
I really liked how much this novel focused on the challenges of starting over, and creating a space for yourself in a new place. Our main character, Emily, deals with a pretty nasty, possibly traumatic, breakup that leads her back to her sister and niece, who live in a very small town. After being persuaded into joining the Renaissance Faire, our MC finally begins to integrate herself into a community she can call her own. The insecurities she’s left with after the break up rear their head periodically throughout the novel, making Emily’s journey way harder than it ever needed to be. But I’m sure we’ve all been there at one time or another.
I loved so much about the setting and the characters of this book. When we weren’t interacting with wenches, pirates, or men in kilts at the Faire, we were setting up a bookshop and taking book orders from the local English teacher. I swear, all of these things are so on brand for me I could have written this novel myself (but I’m very thankful to Jen for writing it for me to devour instead!). I thought the romance was paced incredibly well, and the chemistry was off the charts!
I did find myself getting frustrated with how naive and damaged Emily was, which I admit isn’t fair at all. Things seemed very obvious to me the reader, but those same things would take Emily hearing the explanation from another character before she could catch up to what was actually going on. I’m not sure if that was an intentional character trait or not, but it felt like Emily was really emotionally underdeveloped for her age. Her trust and abandonment issues, while initially annoying, were spot on for the trauma Emily had experienced from her ex leaving her. While I found that quality annoying, I had to concede that it was an accurate representation of someone trying to form new relationships post trauma.
Overall, this was an incredibly fun book. I laughed out loud reading this more than I have reading anything in a very long time. It was so adorable, and left me incredibly nostalgic for the Renaissance Faire I missed out on last year in my own home town. I’ll definitely be going this year, and who knows. Maybe I’ll find my own pirate this time.
I am a sucker for anything historical, so the fact that a majority of this story takes place during a Renaissance Faire had me hook, line, and sinker.
I really liked how much this novel focused on the challenges of starting over, and creating a space for yourself in a new place. Our main character, Emily, deals with a pretty nasty, possibly traumatic, breakup that leads her back to her sister and niece, who live in a very small town. After being persuaded into joining the Renaissance Faire, our MC finally begins to integrate herself into a community she can call her own. The insecurities she’s left with after the break up rear their head periodically throughout the novel, making Emily’s journey way harder than it ever needed to be. But I’m sure we’ve all been there at one time or another.
I loved so much about the setting and the characters of this book. When we weren’t interacting with wenches, pirates, or men in kilts at the Faire, we were setting up a bookshop and taking book orders from the local English teacher. I swear, all of these things are so on brand for me I could have written this novel myself (but I’m very thankful to Jen for writing it for me to devour instead!). I thought the romance was paced incredibly well, and the chemistry was off the charts!
I did find myself getting frustrated with how naive and damaged Emily was, which I admit isn’t fair at all. Things seemed very obvious to me the reader, but those same things would take Emily hearing the explanation from another character before she could catch up to what was actually going on. I’m not sure if that was an intentional character trait or not, but it felt like Emily was really emotionally underdeveloped for her age. Her trust and abandonment issues, while initially annoying, were spot on for the trauma Emily had experienced from her ex leaving her. While I found that quality annoying, I had to concede that it was an accurate representation of someone trying to form new relationships post trauma.
Overall, this was an incredibly fun book. I laughed out loud reading this more than I have reading anything in a very long time. It was so adorable, and left me incredibly nostalgic for the Renaissance Faire I missed out on last year in my own home town. I’ll definitely be going this year, and who knows. Maybe I’ll find my own pirate this time.
briipearl's review against another edition
4.0
A tad cheesy but I can still dig it. Fun chemistry and the "steamy pages" were SUPER well written! Enjoyed them thoroughly and didn't eye roll a single time. Only thing I was sad about was - I didn't like the overall conflict. I suppose I understand why it was necessary to tie it all together. All in all: Cute read!
bsanderson0427's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars! I really enjoyed this one! Predictable and cute, but nevertheless a fun read!