This was an okay read. I do wish that the world-building had been more developed. A cozy romantasy is a good description of this book.

*3.5
ARC Reader- thank you NetGalley!

I LOVED the concept of this book- silly goofy, princess diaries & Shrek vibes (think Far Far Away- modern things exist in fantasy land due to magic substitutes). The execution of said concept fell a bit flat.

We're thrown into a group of friends that saved the realm 10 years ago and ended on bad terms, attempting to reunite for a wedding. They refer back to their quest saving the realm 10 years ago so often to inform the reader, but it honestly started to feel like I was missing a prequel book or was left out of an inside joke.

The plot was a bit slow... it takes the first whole 40% of the book to get to the wedding, and the plot does not show itself until after that point.

It is a cozy well written read, I really enjoyed the characters and the vibes- it was just a bit too slow/drawn out. The ending finally had all the pieces coming together with action and emotion, and I was glad I didn't dnf for that ending.

I loved so many parts of this story! I loved the representation in this book, and that they took modern things like soap operas and uber and dropped them into a fantasy setting. I really enjoyed the banter! It was a super cozy story, to the point where at some points it felt like there wasn't much going on, but still an enjoyable read!

In the famous words of Chandler Bing,
"Y'know what? We're not sad, we're not sad, we're just not 21 anymore. Y'know?"

So you and your friends defeated evil and saved the world, no literally, in your 20's. It was grand, you're a hero! Or, are you? The night the world celebrated, your own world fell apart. Now, ten years later- the Queen summons you.

The banter and the wit were perfect 👌 There were some parts I felt that were supposed to be deep and meaningful, but honestly I skimmed. The vibes mimicked those of ASSISTANT TO THE VILLIAN & DREADFUL (my reviews for those are up too) Although, the steaks are super high in this book, the characters didn't seem to take it seriously and so neither did I. It felt like a bad high-school reunion- in the best way.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for sending me an e-arc of This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher! All thoughts are my own!***

*3.5 stars

Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.

Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the Four former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, grieving the lost of one of their own, Galwell.

But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . It's a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return to society, and of her former flame, the cunning Vandra. All of them are lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.

I was really optimistic about this book, hearing it had Princess Bride vibes. It is definitely a cozy fantasy, but it's very slow. The book spends a lot of time talking about the characters and what happened since the day everything changed for them ten yeads before. Once we actually got to the action of the quest of finding the queen's fiancé and learning the Order was back, the pace increased. But it took half of the book to get to castle and then be given a new quest. I liked the characters; they felt like a D&D party. The magic system was very interesting, I enjoyed seeing how their abilities were used throughout the book. I just wished the book was a little faster paced, it was boring me at times.

This Will Be Fun is available October 29th!

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher [Frenzy Books #NetGalley]

What happens when a happy ever after doesn't happen at the end of a quest? This is where we start in This Will Be Fun when a group of close friends and questmates have not seen or talked to one another since the end of the quest that took away one of their own. Each of them have their own guilt and regrets to deal with and when they are drawn back together because the kingdom needs them again, they will have to confront their past in order to ensure the future of their kingdom. I really enjoyed the context and humour of This Will be Fun.

Every now and then you need a comedic and cozy happily ever after with found family and second change romance to lighten the mood. I can see where The Princess Bride inspiration pulled in. I'd place this with Travis Baldree's Bookshops & Bonedust and Legends & Lattes on my shelves. Solid 4/5.

I personally enjoy feudal settings that mix in tasteful modern day elements like this story does with things like chain coffee shops (Starbucks), gossip pages (Tabloids), and carriages for hire (Lyft/uber). The initial quest where the Four lost Galwell was certainly more epic than the quest the remaining Three/new Four/Five (six?) go on, but I liked the dynamics of them falling apart and then coming back together. The character development point that I liked the most (as it was the most relatable) is that after 10 years Clare, Beatrice, and Elowen had aged and gone through things and didn't try to pretend that they were still young twenty somethings. They have self-care routines, backaches, wrinkles, and baggage which makes them relatable.

I don't know if this is a standalone or if the authors plan to carry it on like B&B/L&L. I would be interested in a more Galwell focused story where he navigates being plucked from the past and finding himself ten years in the future where his betrothed is now Queen, married to another man, and the realm itself has changed. I'd also loooooove to see how Thessia reacts to his return!

Thank you Avon/Avon & Harper Voyager, E.B. Asher, and Netgalley for the eARC!

3.5/5

I can definitely see the Princess Bride comparisons in this book. And that is so much fun, the Princess Bride is a classic! But sadly, this was a bit lackluster for me. It wasn't as action-packed and attention-capturing as I would have liked for it to be.

I didn't find there to be much character development and I didn't find that the characters were that interesting to begin with. And as a character-based reader (I care about interesting characters over interesting plot), I found that disappoint for a fantasy. The characters could be kind of whiny and immature at times, and had so much potential to be so interesting and captivating, just based on the premise of the book alone. The characters have a past together and need to work together again - that could be so good and fascinating and dramatic! But it fell a bit flat.

I do wish that the fantasy world was built out a touch more, but I really enjoyed some of those fantastical elements that it had. There's a magical sword! That's so cool, I'm into that. And magical games!

Overall, this was a fun little fantasy romp! And it definitely had those cozier fantasy vibes. If you're looking for that type of fantasy, I would definitely recommend this. I think, for me, knowing it's more on the cozy side before I start reading would really help.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This landed on the wrong side of cheesy for me. It’s a second-chance romance twice over, with two different couples who seem better off apart. The writing is clunky, particularly in scene and POV transitions. Hopefully that will be improved a bit before the final publication. I often like to read new authors unawares, but had I looked up the three authors behind the pen name I would have known ahead of time that this wasn’t for me.

The Princess Bride reference is totally accurate. I really enjoyed it. thank you NetGalley for early access.

Rating: 2.5

I liked this at first, but I started hating it at about halfway through. The amount of noncommunication was ridiculous and annoying.

This book was really cute! I loved watching the main characters as they each embarked on their own mental journeys while simultaneously working together to save Myrithian. If I had one complaint, it was that the epic fight scene was incredibly brief. Extra details would have really helped to solidify the story. Otherwise, really great read! I can’t wait to see them again in another installment in the series.

As the title promised, this was indeed fun! "We saved the world and now we're a mess" is such a great and underutilized trope, and this book pulls it off really well. Both the couples were very entertaining, and I really enjoyed the development of the three main characters going on a journey not only to (reluctantly) save the realm again, but also to heal from their past largely self-inflicted wounds. Overall a very enjoyable read with some wonderfully humorous moments!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Perfect? No.
Fun? Absolutely!

Once upon a time, The Four— Beatrice, Clare, Elowen, and Galwell— saved Mythria from a genocidal maniac powered by dark magic. They were lauded, memorialized, and became the most beloved people in the whole queendom. Buuuut saving the world comes with immense trauma and without mandated therapy, so their lives fell apart pretty quickly after that.

Ten years later, the queen's wedding forces them to reunite (largely against their will) and in the midst of it all, a new threat looms large over Mythria. Who better to save everyone than the nation’s beloved heroes? If they don't kill each other first, that is.

Starting on a down note, but I gotta wedge this in there somewhere: The title of this book is just… horrendous. To the point where it almost kept me from reading this despite multiple ARC offers. I know the vibe is cozy, light, and well… fun, but the title is just a smidgen too tacky. I hope it doesn't throw off too many like-minded people because it IS an enjoyable read.

While this book isn't the first to do it, I love a “former young Chosen Ones make for especially messy adults” narrative. The generation that grew up on books with heavy Chosen One narratives is now writing books deconstructing that trope and flipping it on its head! This Will Be Fun really enjoys messing with the concept of beloved heroes and what would become of them in a world with Shrek-style medieval-meets-modern worldbuilding that's rather humorous throughout.

Beatrice is freshly divorced and over-imbibing as she tries to cobble together this new phase of life. Meanwhile, the gossip magazines are still desperately trying to link her back to Clare, despite the fact that they never actually were together. Clare has made the most of his good looks and charm by becoming a popular spokesperson and influencer, gaining quite the following along the way. Elowen has completely dropped off the map, living in an isolated treetop home with no real connections outside of her favorite show. However, her self-inflicted isolation won't stop one person: Vandra, the former assassin turned queen's guard tasked with getting Elowen to the wedding as they both try to ignore their sordid history.

I really enjoyed the tone of this novel— It’s light, it's goofy, it's having a good time. You're not meant to take the characters or the world super seriously! I think understanding and expecting that tone is key and if you do so, this book will charm your socks off. The main characters are different shades of morallIy gray, but it's presented with humor and sympathy. If you're looking for dark and brooding, this isn't for you. Though it is an adult novel, it also isn't for the BookTok girlies because it is only lightly ~*~spicy~*~ (urgh, I hate that word in this context.)

While the tone and worldbuilding shine, the actual plot leaves a lot to be desired, which is why my rating is middling. This story FEELS like it should have nonstop action and peril, but it doesn't. The plot just kind of happens around the characters with no real stakes until the final showdown, during which they just kinda deus ex machina their way outta trouble. I appreciate character-driven stories, and these characters were wonderful, but I do wish the plot had more stakes.

E.B. Asher is a pen name for an author team— and I won't spoil who's on that team, though I know it's out there on the Internet for any curious souls— and having read books by 2 of the 3 authors, I know this an irregular foray into fantasy from writers who usually do straightforward contemporaries. So really, the lack of adventure makes sense. They just wrote a contemporary, but in a fantasy setting that involves some magic.

This Will Be Fun is a breezy read, but it's not particularly hard-hitting. The book's description as a simple, cozy fantasy is apt and if that's what you're looking for, I think you'll be pleased!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 2.5/5*

I can definitely understand why people like this book, but unfortunately, it's just not really for me. The comparison to The Princess Bride is appropriate, and it reminded me a lot of the D&D movie too--it's fun and lighthearted and reads very whimsically. It's full of silly moments, and the world-building especially is very reminiscent of both. All the magical versions of modern technology were particularly fun.

Tone is the main area where this book did not work for me, personally, but probably works just fine for others. Overall, it's very light and breezy, which suits the story--it's just that the story also attempts to weave in more serious topics, and because of this tone, it's all either glanced over, treated unseriously, or otherwise poorly incorporated. It felt like the author didn't entirely know what they wanted this book to be--if they wanted the book to deal with heavy topics, they needed to incorporate them better. I think this comes down more to personal taste than anything, though.

The pacing is off, too. The main quest/external conflict does not appear until right around (I believe shortly after, even) the 50% mark. As a result, the middle section is slow; it drags once you realize the main plot still hasn't started yet, and then drags once the quest plot does start in the way it usually would at the beginning of a book. I think this would have been better executed had the quest plot either been introduced 20% sooner or if it had been removed entirely and remained focused more on the characters. That being said, credit where credit is due--I breezed through this book, and aside from the middle 30%, it was pretty easy to overlook how weirdly paced the actual plot was.

This Will Be Fun lost me entirely with the ending, unfortunately. I'm trying to keep this review brief so my issues with the ending don't color the entire review, but I hated the ending. It destroys any character growth that occurs in the story and makes it so the characters' arcs since the first quest ended were for nothing. Additionally, the story is not equipped to deal with the emotional consequences of the end action, and so it simply.... doesn't. The thing happens, there is a chapter of wrap-up, then the book ends. On one hand, at least the author doesn't try to say everyone involved was just fine, but on the other hand, the emotional impact is just ignored entirely, so.

After the death of their leader and friend Galwell, while saving their realm a decade ago, three friends are torn apart by guilt and grief. Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare are then reunited for the wedding of the queen of Mythria. As they battle their memories of the past and their negative feelings towards each other, the force that took the life of their friend returns with a vengeance, once again threatening the survival of the realm. They are forced to work together or face death alone.

This story reads like a fantasy / romance novel hybrid. It's has some of the best of both worlds, but overall, there was not enough of either, and really needs more time to grow both sides of the story.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of This Will be Fun in exchange for my review.

I felt the title was misleading, it was not very fun, for a good part of the book they all felt sad and guilty about what happened 10 years ago when their friend died and kept making decisions because they didn’t feel they deserved happiness, I don’t know I had to stop reading because it was making me sad.

From romance authors you know and love, This Will Be Fun is a heartwarming story of adventure, friendship, family, and love that will have you laughing, crying, and unable to put it down from the moment you begin. Originally marketed to me as "The Princess Bride" meets "Shrek" meets "People We Meet on Vacation," This Will Be Fun is the best part of all of those stories and yet its own unique and incredible creation. With Beatrice's similarity to Buttercup, with her own independence, power, and influence over the story, Clare feeling like your perfect Wesley, and Elowen with her reclusive "Shrek"-like personality will have you so invested in their story from the moment you begin, With multiple points of view, you can really understand and feel for each of the characters from their internal dialogues. The plot is like nothing I have ever read before, while still following your basic questing narrative arc. Overall, this book will suck you in and keep you hooked until the very end as the perfect cozy questing romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyagers for approving my request to read This Will Be Fun by E.B.Asher. This was a really fun, farcical fantasy quest tale with a lot of heart, but maybe just too much “modern” elements thrown in for humor. There’s fantasy versions of Uber, Starbucks, TV Soap Operas…and while I think other readers will find those aspects really cute and funny, it felt like too much for me. Other than that, this was a really fun read, great for readers who like Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett, but again, more farce than satire on my opinion.

thank you to netgalley and avon and harper voyager for this eARC!

i enjoyed this book! it was fun to read! that is to say, i liked it. it was definitely well written; they got me tearing up over galwell in the first 3 chapters when i had barely met him. i really liked the way grief was written, it had a lot of depth.

overall i liked the romance, but parts of it felt a bit weird to me. elowen and vandra’s relationship felt a bit rushed (vandra as a character i also definitely cared the least about; she felt a little flat and was a bit weirdly written). they jumped into it really fast, and i think they either needed to draw it out a bit more or add more background about their relationship. how quickly elowen let down her guard about it didn’t really match up with how self-isolated she is as a character. similarly, it felt like beatrice gave up on hating clare for basically no reason; she was really passionate about never forgiving him/getting over it and then just did all of a sudden. i think that could’ve been solved with some kind of moment of realization beyond them arguing and having “revelations” about what happened at galwell’s funeral. it just didn’t feel like she actually had a reason to change her mind.

i liked the plot, but the pacing was weird. most of the book was spent on exploring characters and their relationships—which is totally fine, but what it seemed like the authors wanted to be the main plot of the book wasn’t character driven—and sped through the “evil uprising.” i also feel like the past wasn’t explored enough for me to feel the fear and anger the characters felt about the antagonists. there was a past relationship that clearly affected their interactions, but beyond them being the people that killed galwell, i just didn't feel that heaviness. lastly, i didn't like the way they "won." there wasn't any set up for it (barely any hinting at there being more to beatrice's powers [at least none that jumped out at me], etc.) and it felt like kind of a cop out.

i think if you’re a fan of romantasy you’ll probably like this. it’s not a super complex high fantasy, but it has fun characters and a fun plot and it’s a fun read. i’ll definitely recommend this to people!