Review by bookishvicky - Give Me a Shot

bookishvicky 's review for:

Give Me a Shot by Gia de Cadenet

3.5

emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Pub Date: 5.6.25

Rating: 3.5 stars

Huge thank you to Penguin Random House for a galley of Give Me a Shot!

To preface, I haven’t read any of Gia de Cadenet’s other books in this “series,” so I can confirm you can read this without having read the other two. This book was heavier than I expected despite its light-hearted cover and promise of a romance blossoming over planning a Renaissance Faire.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the story, though– I think this is a unique book among the romance genre that gives a lot of agency to its characters while still being flirty and fun.

I loved the vulnerability and intimacy of the main couple. The author handled Mo’s neurodivergent extremely well, and gave him agency and character beyond it. I found Mo so, so loveable and I loved learning about him and Jess, watching them learn to love each other. Jess’s plot of grieving her sister was heavy, but I think it was also done well– showing how the body will grieve even if you don’t let your mind mourn.

The pacing was a little off, however, as they instantly fell in love and we saw more of their own problems than we did the plot outside it. The Renn Faire we were promised is wedged at the end, and I wish we would have seen Mo and Jess at their respective archery and blacksmithery practice more. I do LOVE her calling him her Hephaestus, though just so cute. I loved Mo if that wasn’t clear.

Overall, I recommend this for a sweet romance between stories of grief and life as a Highly Sensitive Person. I wouldn’t go for it if you want some light Renn Faire romance, however.

Content Warnings