This Will Be Fun • E.B. Asher

And fun it absolutely was. If you liked Legends and Lattes, you absolutely must read this.

Great story about what happens after the chosen one and his medley crew save the realm. Tugged on my heart strings in all the right ways, and I couldn’t get enough of this. The best kind of cozy fantasy vibes & this will be published right in time for your fall TBR.

Pub date - 9/10/2024 go add to your list now !!!

—

“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 former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.

But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and 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 of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them 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.

Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.

This time around, will their story end in happily ever after.”

Thank you to Net Galley, E.B. Asher, and Avon and Harper Voyager (Harper Collins Publisher) for this copy of This Will Be Fun, out September 10, 2024!

📜Quick Summary: “The Princess Bride” meets “People we Meet on Vacation” had me intrigued from the start. The book starts as four friends are defending the realm from darkness. Once their quest is complete, they don’t talk again… for ten years. When they are all summoned by an invitation to the Queen of Mythria’s wedding, they cannot say no. When things don’t go their way, and new challenges present themselves, how will these old heroes fare when they are needed to be defenders once again?

❣️Initial Feels: This seemed to be a quirky take on a fantasy/romance novel, and I didn't know if I would love it right away, but I eventually came around.

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: At different points in the novel, each character made me feel for them. For some reason, I enjoyed Clare’s character. Sure, they all went their own ways for ten years after their battle was won, but his demeanor for most of the novel I connected to. He was one of the Four to take advantage of being a hero, but also was stoic in his feelings and who he was deep in his core.

📖Read if you want: dual point of views, magical realms, romance, fantasy

💡Final Sentiments: Overall, this was a good read. It took a minute for me to get into, but I enjoyed the plot overall. There were definitely moments of humor, so I can see where The Princess Bride description fits in! The Four were all SO different, and each character brought a different personality. I wish there was a little bit more world building, more depth at points throughout, but for an intro fantasy reader, this is a quick read and easy to follow.

🌟Overall Rating: 3.5 stars


This novel was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The title of this novel does a wonderful job of describing my experience while reading it. After the huge twist from the very beginning of the book, the story takes you down a road filled with great characters, a well-developed plot, and a LOT of humor.
I will be recommending this novel to many people.
Thank you for the opportunity to preview this with an ARC.

Right off the bat I knew the humor in this story was going to keep me interested. The opening chapter sets the tone for someything epic then Bam 10 years later we were tossed into the other direction. I thought the author did a great job creating complex relationships and character storylines. I also think I need more books with this kind of pace :)

"This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher is an absolute gem that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and adventure! Imagine the nostalgic charm of The Princess Bride mixed with the heartfelt connections from People We Meet on Vacation, and you’ll get a sense of this cozy quest romantasy. The reunion of Beatrice, Elowen, Clare, and the absence of Galwell after a decade of silence is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. As they navigate their unresolved feelings and old rivalries, the story weaves in magical elements and personal growth beautifully. The banter, the romance, the danger—they all blend perfectly, making it impossible to put down. Plus, the magical Truth or Dare scenes and enchanted coffee shops add such a whimsical touch! If you’re craving a read that’s full of heart, adventure, and second chances, this one’s for you. Trust me, you’ll be rooting for these former heroes to find their happily ever after right from the start! I had so much fun with this one and I know you will too.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I feel like this book was a double edged sword for me. On one hand, the romance definitely did it for me, the yearning...jeez I can write a 10 page essay how romance books especially fantasy need to have more yearning in them and still have more to include. This book did it, the chemistry between these characters stood off the page. It is a second chance romance so you know the yearning is gonna go hard and she did deliver.

The other edged sword is that ....in terms of fantasy, this was way too modern for me. I mean theres cell phones, gps, and the internet but the worst part is that it introduces many aspects of modern technology but doesnt even put it to it's proper use, it feels like the author was just trying to throw in the use of technology to give the book an edge? I'm not sure if this a debut but it definitely has promise, I just dont think the world-building was fleshed out enough.

This was an interesting change of pace from many of the romantic fantasy titles I've read. I don't think I'd actually call it romantasy, as such. The setting was "generic fantasy world" in many ways, yet there was a campy overlay of "magic" that replaced cell phones and television and Starbucks in a non-subtle way. In spite of the trauma and emotional turmoil the characters have faced, I'd still describe it as gentle. It contains action, yet the action never takes center stage over the emotional lives of the characters and their interpersonal drama. I struggled to stick with this one, though I can't really say why.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I was interested in this book because of the title and cover, and the title of the book did live up to its promise, this book was fun. The characters were interesting, but my favorite was Vandra. The story was compelling and wasn't the typical the heroes saved the realm and won. I will say discovering that the author is actually three people was a bit of a surprise because it didn't feel like three people wrote the book. I will be recommending this to all of my friends who read.

I couldn’t get past the writing style of this book. Not for me. I couldn’t exactly tell where the story was going.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! Cozy, fun, romantic, and a little bit chaotic! This is such a fun, cozy fantasy read that I will recommend to all of my friends and anyone who is wondering what to read after Travis Baltree. I loved every minute of this book and desperately want another book just like it!

I don't have the right words to say home much I love this book. It has a top slot on my favorites shelf, and I rushed immediately to make sure I pre-ordered my own signed copy.

The book is fun, campy, and full of heart, but also seamlessly incorporates real depth of character and background for each of the characters. Having 4 different POVs could have made this muddled or superficial, but instead it made each of the characters so much more complex and real. Having them be in their 30s, I felt that I knew each of them so well and understood their baggage and choices so much better and they felt their age rather than just not being 18 year-olds. I also appreciated that the friendship difficulties were treated with the same importance as any of the romance related problems. And on top of all of this trauma and angst this book is still so funny, enjoyable, and just a delight. The world building felt so unique - I found the mix of the general medieval style fantasy with the more fun fantastical elements to be so charming and whimsical. I definitely fell the Princess Bride comparisons.

This whole book just felt like that joyful kick-your-feet fun that I never wanted it to end. Books like this remind me why I read and the sheer joy that happens when you find just the right book. I hope there are more books like this to come!

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

Three of the heroes acted like whiny teenagers for a lot of the build up. They get overly dramatic and overwhelmed by their emotions and then also get really horny. Vandra was the most sensible one, and thus my favorite. Regardless, the underlying story of what's going on was interesting enough. The ending should have had some consequences that could have at least been hinted at, if there's going to be another book. If it was supposed to be just a way to tack on a happy ending, it could have been better, especially since it kind of undermines any growth the characters had in coming to terms with the past.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. When I heard about this book, I was honestly intrigued. You always hear about the heroes on their journeys. Sometimes, you get a prequel for the heroes or some aspect of the realm where they're from, but this? Ten years after the big quest? Repercussions for actions? It's not as common, and this was, in fact, fun. Can't wait to see it hit shelves!

Overall I enjoyed this book much more than I expected especially when reaching the 20% mark and onwards. However this last 25%-30% disappointed me and I detested the ending. This book did give Princess Bride vibes like I was told and has a stunning cover..

3.5 stars.

This was indeed a fun read!

*This Will Be Fun* centers three former friends who cut ties with each other after their last quest resulted in the loss of the fourth party member, the beloved leader Gladwell. When a wedding turns into a rescue mission with Queendom-ending stakes, the three must reunite to save the world. It’s not easy—each character harbors their own baggage, misunderstandings, and (maybe) unrequited crushes.

The start of this story was sloooow. I truthfully almost dnf’d but wanted to stick it out so I could write a review. I’m really glad I did! I enjoyed the second half of the story a lot and had so much fun reading. I loved that there is a sapphic romance and a m/f romance, and both couples received ample attention from the authors. The characters grew to be super lovable to the point where I don’t think I could choose a favorite (but if I *had to…* it would be Clare <3). Still, if you’re looking for a plot-forward read, this might not be the book for you. There isn’t much fighting or adventuring in the typical fantasy sense. If you want a fluffy story with some surprising emotional depth, if you need a palate cleanser after a heavier read, or if you simply want a romantic romp in a medieval fantasy with modern amenities, this book is for you!

*This Will Be Fun* releases on September 10, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Personally I found this very predictable. That's not always bad but it didn't grab me.

Good for fantasy lovers, those who play DandD or similar games may it enjoy it more due to the character dynamics.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

This Will Be Fun was a delightful read. This book is marketed as The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation. The story follows a group of friends who haven’t spoken for 10 years because they had a big falling out after their last quest. They are brought together to face a new adventure. The story is a mix of the present and each character’s reflections of what went wrong in the past.

This Will Be Fun definitely has the quirky humor and royal vibes like Princess Bride. The characters are compelling. There is love, romance, and a bit of spice. While there are some serious elements to the plot, overall this is a cozy fantasy. Some of the whimsical descriptions of the setting and magic was reminiscent of Caraval for me.

If you like fantasy but want something a bit more lighthearted and fun, this is a perfect read.

Thank you to Avon (Harper Collins) and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From publisher Avon: 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 former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.
But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and all of them 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.
This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?
****************
My review: I love a magical story and unraveling a past quest. This book requires some patience, some characters who have magic, some who don't, many who were allies in the past, some who seem to be enemies now.
As the story progresses the mystery of what happened to Galwell and exactly if anyone is to blame becomes to focus as they embark on a new quest. Clare is a fun character, loved his teasing, wanted him to find happiness, Beatrice needed to find peace, and I enjoyed Elowen's angry introvert personality. Some of the characters' magic could have been explained more clearly as it was confusing at times.
It took a while to get to the bottom of what happened in the past and some parts dragged but overall the book kept me interested. I love the idea of magic: head, heart or hand magic--it kept me thinking about what different characters could or did know about others. And by the finale my crush on Clare was complete. Sometimes being yourself is hero enough.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This Will Be Fun follows a group of once-close friends, who, after the drastic personal consequences their prior successful run at saving the kingdom, are brought back together again to celebrate the upcoming wedding of the queen, This book would be ideal for fans of Drew Magary’s voice who want to lean more into the fantasy genre.

I will state up front that I did not finish this book - I made it to about 20% before I put it down. The two main reasons that I chose not to continue are as follows:

1. I struggled to connect the author’s writing style with the desired plot. This is more of a personal taste “complaint” than a true criticism of this author. The lackadaisical voice of the third person POV made it challenging for me to engage with the story.

2. I found that while I could see where the author wanted to provide relatable elements of humanity for the characters, their descriptions and actions/reactions didn’t provide enough of a hook for me to feel attached or compelled to keep reading,

I appreciate the chance to read this advanced copy. Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and E. B, Asher for an advanced copy of This Will Be Fun!