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 :)

This was adorable and fun and just what I needed! Sam's writing was immersive and this romance had me giggling the entire time.

This was such a fun and unique romance! As a nerdy person myself it was nice to see people with similar interests as me interact in fiction. I think the added D&D aspect was perfect for little hints of character growth, and the author really hit the nail on the head for some of the experiences Morgan and Jack participated in. As a lover of Renaissance festivals, I felt like I was right there with the group when they saw the festival for the first time. There were some points where I felt like the conflict between the lovers was a little too drawn out, but overall I loved this!

Loved the characters in this story, I have never played D&D but I have always been interested in it. I was worried the book would be just about that. I wasn't though. Morgan is my spirit person! She is trying things outside her comfort zone, and I want to do the same so bad, so I lived through her character literally

A very sweet and swoony romance! It was a quick, fun read that has the cutest cover to match. Highly recommend.

Ah this is such a charming and romantic read! A delightful quirky romance that embraces all the nerdy hobbies out there and adds a spicy element to them.

I wanted to love this more than I did, it wasn't bad, I just didn't love how slow burn it was, and the third act break up was just so annoying. The miscommunication was a lot and it felt so childish how they dealt with some of their issues. I think if I played D&D I also would have enjoyed it more, and felt a bit more of a connection to the story and characters.

Reading this just in time for Ren Faire season>>>

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.

Soooo adorable! The cover was cute and the book was even cuter! A must read romance for this year. It was sweet and swoony. You will love this!

I love Ren Faire and I was so excited for the premise of this book! Parks delivers, with fun characters, good growth arcs for said characters, and interesting, believable conflicts. I was hoping for more Ren Faire, as a rennie myself, but was amply rewarded with an ongoing D&D campaign that included mini-chapters, putting the sessions into a fictional format.

I found Morgan a fresh, compelling heroine. She is faced with the fact that she doesn't make friends easily yet allows herself to be easily pulled into the lives of those friends she does have without considering what she wants for herself. Meanwhile, Jack believes he's created a very independent life, but really isn't pursuing his drams either. I like that both characters had similar areas of growth, which put them as allies and sometimes adversaries as they realize what they want in life may not be as compatible as they hoped.

I found the plot compelling and fun, and I just loved the D&D grew and the secondary characters there. I hope we get more books in a serious based on "You've Got Chain Mail!"

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

A cute romance for tabletop gamers, ren fest fans, and all around nerds that love love. Something about the writing just didn't hit for me. It was good, just not my preferred style.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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.

First off - I feel like the man on the cover doesn't match up with the description or vibe of Jack (mmc) in the book. Maybe it's just my interpretation of him, I don't know.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC! I was approached by the Publisher with an invite to read it and I'm glad I did! I enjoyed it. The chapters from the POV of the D&D characters was a fun addition! However, it was definitely more D&D focused than it was really about renaissance faire stuff, though they do end up at one at the end of the book/end of 3rd act break-up.

Dual POV
+Chapters for D&D Campaign-play
Lots of banter
Idiots/friends to lovers
Found family
Slooow burn
Closed door (mostly)
Small-town in the UK
Bi-rep
Queer side characters

Excerpt from highlights:
“I want you so badly,” he said, his voice so low and gravelly that it could only be described as a growl.
The romance girlies were right – growling was fucking hot."

Overall I enjoyed it! I did get frustrated with both MC's though, but I guess that was probably the point lol. I really like the group of friends and hope to see some of the side characters pop up in other books.

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.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Sam Parks for the arc!

This is a dual-point-of-view story between Morgan and Jack. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes! I like that it references DnD in this book.

You've Got Chain Mail is a delightful romance that draws readers into the world of RPGs, offering a charming blend of gaming and love. The story revolves around a group of friends deeply immersed in their RPG adventures, and as the game progresses, two of them find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

The way the book integrates the RPG elements is both immersive and fun, making you feel like you’re part of the game right alongside the characters. The romance is sweet and develops naturally, adding an extra layer of cuteness to the story that’s hard to resist.

Overall, You've Got Chain Mail is a light and engaging read that combines the excitement of RPGs with the warmth of a budding romance. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys stories that blend fantasy gaming with real-life emotions, and it’s sure to leave a smile on your face.

I really tried many times to get into this book, but by 36% I had to give up and skim to the end just to see how it turned out. There’s a lot that I liked - the setting, the characters being DnD-type players, opening yourself up to new people and experiences, the death of a close friendship that fades out. But I just couldn’t get into it. It was too slow for me. I also found Jack’s push-pull with Morgan irritating. He ousted after her but then would remind her they were friends. I had a lot of sympathy for his character but it was crappy behaviour and meant the book’s pace just got slower. I think if the author cut out a few scenes of their excursions and cut out the inner lusting until a bit later that would’ve worked for me. I’d rather the characters be less aware they’re attracted to each other so early given he was determined to be single.

Thanks to One More Chapter And NetGalley.

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.