This is a cozy fantasy that is also so much fun that you can definitely tell the author had a lot of fun writing. The characters and plot were a bit chaotic at times but overall it is a lighthearted, humorous novel.

I had so much fun with this~ I enjoyed the writing and the development of the characters. This author just made my must read list.

This one is a bit ridiculous but also a bit fun.

It follows 3 of the 4 heroes from years ago. After saving the world 10 years ago, they each went their own way. They are summoned back to the castle to celebrate the queen’s marriage. They are then put to the task to save the realm again.

This book is a weird mix of past and present. It’s old times, but with hints of current too (i.e words that are so clearly current - road trip - and having a coffee place that is Starbucks). I feel like you very much need to suspend all disbelief to buy into this one.

And in terms of the characters. I was intrigued by them, but also not fully invested. I felt like there were times they felt very immature in how they interacted/behaved. This made me not fully root for them.

Overall, this one is a pretty quick read. I definitely skimmed some as I read because there were times when I felt like chapters could have been edited down.

Thx Avon for an early copy.

Friends that quest together, don’t always stick together. After saving the realm and losing their fearless leader, Galwell the Great, the group splits apart in a flurry of misunderstandings, grief and hurt.

Beatrice decided to settle for a safe, secure, and quiet existence in the lap of luxury that she never had before by marrying into nobility, despite never really caring for the man in question. After years of detached, loveless marriage and her husband having plenty of dialances , her husband divorces her leaving her with nothing once again.

Clare stepped into the spotlight trying to fill the gaps of his questmates’ disinterest in heroes and live up to the role of “Clare Bravehart”. He lives the empty life of celebrity, where everyone knows of him but no one knows him finding peace but loneliness in anonymity .

Elowen lives in isolation, a location quest-worthy to visit, to prevent her magic of picking up others' emotions from deceiving her again. The only socialization she gets is the weekly heart healing sessions (therapy) and the anonymous internet chat after the latest installment of a soap style conjuring performance (TV).

Vandra, as the assassin tasked with waylaying the heroes on the original quest, hasn’t exactly had a place in the spotlight the others have had. But she moved forward, gaining more prestige and recognition for her quiet work in the shadows never quite forgetting the feeling of being with Elowen and in the orbit of the group during the first quest.

Each lives in a world shaped by their own unhealthy coping mechanisms for 10 years, until Queen Thessia wants the three heroes to come to her marriage. Their begrudging reunion gives them the opportunity to heal old wounds and determine the person each wants to be on the other side of this trip across the realm. Of course, the complex interpersonal relationships are even more complicated by the lingering feelings between Clare & Beatrice and Elowen & Vandra. Both couples were brought together during the original quest, but left the promising future behind for survival in the present, until it has stolen too many years.

Once more on a quest for the good of the realm, they have the opportunity to right the wrongs from the past.

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I thought the premise of a medieval fantasy style “let's bring the band back together” story was going to be so captivating and compelling, and unfortunately it ended up feeling a little flat for me.

I had such a hard time getting to grips with the world and cast of characters, I ended up having to write notes for the first 5-6 chapters to keep all the details straight. What doesn’t help is that the story is written in 3rd person from 3 character’s POV. This style choice made it really hard to keep track of whose POV was being shared in the chapter. Then I also had to keep track of details of the background for a unique (not in a good way) world. This world is supposed to be “medieval” but with the twist that magic allows for further cultural development and expansion. So there are brew (coffee) chains, conjurings (TV, video chat, etc), and other clashing elements to a more traditional medieval fantasy setting. I think if you are just getting into fantasy, this type of world is very easy to adjust to, but as a seasoned fantasy reader, the “modern” elements felt disjointed.

One other thing to note, the first 50-60% of this story is character driven. You spend a lot of time in the characters’ heads battling inner demons, poor decisions, and ruminating on the past. As someone that prefers a plot driven story, this focus on personal development made the first half of the book a hard slog to get through to get to the quest focused plot. But, if you enjoy character driven plots, these aspects were well written and well thought out.

Spoiler Thoughts:

The one thing I will say, the role of Galwell the Great in this story was hard to figure out. Since the prequel was in his POV, it felt like he was never really gone. I was waiting for some kind of reveal that he wasn’t really dead or something of the like. So in the conclusion when Beatrice was able to bring him forward in time, it felt a little bit too convenient and expected. Not to rewrite the story, but I have qualms about the feasibility and structure of bringing Galwell back, especially at that point in the story.

In general, this is a fantasy book that relies on the “because magic” logic a little too heavily, has an unequal balance between character development and plot, and therefore struggles with pacing and length, in my opinion.

This was fun indeed. The book transported me into a fantasy world with very unfamiliar things but some strangely familiar things too. (There are several LOL moments).
10 years ago, Galwell and his 3 companions saved Mythria and its princess from the evil Fraternal Order. Even though they are now considered heroes and are loved and admired by everyone, they paid a high prize that cost them their friendship. They each went their own ways and dealt with their fame differently. Now, 10 years later, they are invited to the royal wedding and are meeting again. Turns out, they have to go on another quest together to save the groom. An opportunity to think back and overcome old demons.
As we accompany the heroes on their journey to the wedding and then the second quest, we learn what happened in the past through three of the heroes’ POV’s. I loved how the characters developed and found each other and ultimately themselves again. There is a weird combination of modern and old time elements in their world which is confusing but at the same time hilarious. This is a story of grief, friendship, second chances and love. Altogether a great mixture of adventure, fantasy and romance with a lot of humor.
Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books and the author for letting me read this fantastic ARC. I recommend it to fellow fantasy and romance lovers. 4 stars

This Will Be Fun is a cozy fantasy that invites readers back into a realm where friendship and adventure intertwine. Set ten years after a group of friends saved their queen and kingdom, the story focuses on the three surviving members of the group as they navigate the complexities of their past during a wedding invitation that brings them back together.
This book was well written, with excellent world building and character development, however, the infusion of modern elements - like a wagon ride-share program akin to Uber and food delivery services reminiscent of DoorDash - created a contrast that I felt detracts from the overall fantasy experience.
Overall, there were aspects I enjoyed - notably the themes of relationships and forgiveness - and things I enjoyed a little less. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of This Will Be Fun in exchange for my honest review.

When I read the description of this book, I was intrigued and put in a request. Who doesn't love anything that is like "The Princess Bride"? It seems like a really fun concept, but when I started reading it I realized this was not a book for me. There were some fun things, but I didn't like the placement of modern things in this story. If you do "modern", then do a modern fantasy type novel where it makes sense. On top of that, it felt like the focus wasn't so much on the plot itself as it was other things and the characters were all over the place, it was a bit of chaos. It wasn't until I started writing a review that I saw other people mention that it was written by three people and now that makes sense. So not my favorite read, but it could just be my opinion.

Mythria still cherishes the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, ex-bandit Clare, and their fearless leader Galwell the Great once stood against the darkness. But for the heroes themselves, that victory came at a price they’re still paying. They’ve gone their separate ways, the weight of what they lost keeping them apart. Now, a royal wedding invitation pulls them back together. Clare still longs for Beatrice, who’s carrying guilt over how it all ended, and Elowen isn’t ready to face the memories stirred by her past with Vandra. As they reunite, old enemies resurface, and Mythria is threatened once again.

For me, this story has a cozy, almost playful fantasy vibe, but with some heavier, more serious parts. The heroes, armed with old skills and fresh scars, must navigate a mix of past loves, undead enemies, and the hope second chance at happiness. Though the villains seem formidable, they’re dealt with surprisingly easily. After Galwell’s sacrifice, the others drifted apart, only to be brought back together by the queen’s wedding. It feels more like a romantic drama—Clare and Beatrice’s unresolved feelings, Elowen and Vandra’s complicated history—than a high-stakes quest, almost like a soap opera with a magical twist. The blend of ‘real world that we live in’ mixed with magic that feels a bit to seperate at times. I think its perfect for a light, sweet, and a bit whimsical read! I found this to be a charming, if not thrilling, adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the eArc read! 🪄📚✨

This was a new take on a romantasy world and I enjoyed the balance between action, romance and good dialogue/humor. The issue I had with this book was it felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story vs. a stand alone novel. So for the first 30% of the book I was confused on the history, the powers, etc. But once I had more of an understanding of what was going on I enjoyed this story.

Thank you Avon for the ARC.

I freaking loved this book. I just wish I could say more but everything I want to say spoils something so I will just say READ THIS BOOK … NOW!

There are a lot of fun elements in this book, and I especially appreciate the emphasis on friendship to make this romantasy more cozy. That said, it felt like all the different elements didn't come together cohesively for my tastes. I think the book summary is very accurate to WHAT the book is about, so if it appeals to you, it's worth giving a try to see if the HOW (it's tone and execution) works better for you than me

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for sharing this ARC!

This book had a lot of promise and a very intriguing premise but I don't feel that it delivered. The world building was essentially nonexistent and it took what felt like forever for the plot to get moving. It was cute, it was cheesy, but ultimately I don't think it was as good as it could have been.

this book turned out not exactly as I had anticipated, but creative nonetheless. I liked the development of each of the characters, and LOVED the ending, it tied everything together perfectly.

I would read anything that E.B. Asher wrote. This book was extremely fun and good.

I took this book to read on a friend's bachelorette trip, and it was the perfect beach read. The description of it being like the Princess Bride was spot on, so kudos to y'all for drawing that parallel. The only thing I have to say about the book is that I wished that I wish we could have gotten Vandra's point of view. I think part of why I loved Beatrice and Clare's relationship so much was getting to see both sides of the story, to see both of them simp over the other while believing it not to be reciprocated. I think especially given that Vandra fought on the other side of the initial quest, seeing her perspective not filtered through interactions with Clare or Elowen would have really rounded out the story and her and Elowen's love story to me.

I think this had genuinely one of the most unique and well-used magic systems I have ever read about. I loved the differentiation between Head and Heart magic, and the evolution of Beatrice's magic throughout the novel.

I hope to see more books in this vein in the future,

tldr: I have never tried fantasy / am a typical contemporary spicy romance girlie and I LOVED THIS!
Immersive, but easy to follow. The idea that a fantasy world lacks our typical social constructs is so lovely to me - particularly the way Vandra and Elowen could be openly gay without consequence! Characters were expertly crafted with wit, vulnerability, and strength. The magic felt reachable, but fascinating. Rather than just flashy theatrical tricks for their magical powers, the authors crafted each character's particular magic skill to further the emotional connections within the stories in a compelling way. It is uniquely difficult to make a triple point of view where all the characters feel equally attended to, and I think the authors nailed this! I know why the synopsis references this being for Shrek lovers - it splendidly captures the way animated childrens' films weave in nuggets of pointed adult humor!

This book was a bit outside my typical genre but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the themes of belonging, growth, and discovery throughout the story. Thank you for the copy!

Well I had fun.

This book is in an extremely silly world and lets you know that immediately, think strong Ella Enchanted vibes and with hints of Shrek(pumpkin spice brew is canon). The tone matched the plot in the same way The Princess Bride technically had high stakes BUT rolls down hills, can be mostly dead, and "as you wish" somehow means "I love you". For a short romcom fantasy the world building was exactly what I expected.

The characters and their relationships felt fleshed out, you see reasonable emotional growth, and their actions make sense even if you don't like all of their choices. This book is an emotionally driven as it has very little spice and I would argue the theme of friendship is equally as important or more than romantic love.

ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon/HarperCollins, the author, and NetGalley

I won’t lie the description including “for lovers of Shrek” threw me a bit but this was FUN. I loved this book, it’s honestly one of my favorites this year. I loved the dynamic between all of our key players and that it was both entertaining while being engrossing. Will keep an eye out for this author after this.

I'll admit, when I first started reading this I felt like it was slightly more sapphic version of Shrek. We've got the girl who wants to stay in her protected tower, the quests, the oh-so-convenient magic. But ultimately I found myself delighted by this light-hearted story of grief and friendship. Does it wrap up with a nice little bow in the end? absolutely. Am I mad about it? no -- I'm really not. Will recommend to all those looking for a little quest adventure read.

Was this book good? No. I've stepped in puddles with deeper world-building. Was this book fun? It was indeed. I enjoyed it immensely.