Premise was so very intriguing, but having had no actual experience with live RPG, I was actually pretty confused and found it hard to follow. I badly wanted to enjoy this, and I think actually a movie or TV series would do this idea justice.

This was a lovely friendship story and really answered the question of what happens after "the end". With humor and adventure, the book also touches on issues of loss, grief and trauma. It was a great summer read.

I wanted to love this more than I did because I had such high hopes for it, but it was just meh for me. I think it would be love for a lot of people though so I highly want people to make their own minds up.

Are you a fan of fantasy & romance? If you are, then this is the book for you. Beatrice, Elowen, Clare, & Galwell the Great once saved the kingdom from doom. All great and wonderful, except that they haven't talked since. Then, an unexpected invitation for them to a royal wedding brings them all back together. When a new evil arises, they are expected to save the realm again, but will they survive and will they resume their friendships, or will this kill them all?

What a fun adventure filled friendship book! I didn't know what to expect but I adored this book. I Am so looking forward to what E.B Asher puts out next!

A quest for 10 years estranged friends to reunite and save their kingdom with a side of romance. This was an entertaining read that I would recommend more for those looking for 75% romance and 25% fantasy. It is more character driven with us following 3 POVs as they work through their broken friendships, romances and the different ways they’ve handled a shared trauma. I really enjoyed understanding each characters emotional journey. The fantasy elements themselves were more like D&D versions of modern times. It’s a fun quest if you’re not taking the fantasy element of it too seriously.

Unfortunately, I put this book down around the 45% mark.
We follow three heroes who saved the realm 10 years ago, alongside their fallen leader and best friend. The three went their separate ways, dealing with grief, guilt, and fame differently but now as the queen’s wedding approaches, they will have to face each other again. I was interested in the premise but sadly once we met all of our characters, the story lost steam for me. There were times that the two girls B & E felt the same to the point where I forgot who had which power. All of the characters felt rather weak and so I was mainly sticking around to learn how their friend died and why everyone feels so guilty. I think the story would have been stronger if we got more flashbacks earlier because 35% of the book just hearing ‘I’m so guilty, I’ll never forgive Beatrice, I hate being a hero” got very old. When we finally learn how their leader died it was extremely anticlimactic and without feeling. Instead of Beatrice telling Ellowen in a conversation, I think an actual flashback where we are shown what happens would have had more emotional effect. The book felt very telling not showing.
There were moments especially with Clare that felt like it could have had a My Lady Jane kind of humor but ultimately it all fell very flat for me. I am sure there will be a twist, but I wasn’t interested enough in any of the characters to stick around and find out. A shame because the blurb sounded right up my alley!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"This Will Be Fun" by E.B. Asher was exactly as the title suggests...a lot of fun to read. If you were a fan of "Shrek", the show "Galavant," or Monty Python, you will really enjoy this novel. The authors bill it as a romantic quest and that is completely accurate; it's also hilarious and sweet. I had a great time reading this book, found many of the characters and their friendships to be endearing, and the quest plotline was compelling enough to keep me wanting to turn the pages. 4.25/5

E.B. Asher’s novel, "This Will Be Fun," offers readers an enchanting journey that marries the whimsical charm of "The Princess Bride" with the modern relational dynamics found in "People We Meet on Vacation." At its core, the story is a cozy quest romantasy that delves into the complexities of friendship, love, and the enduring impact of past traumas. Set in the magical land of Mythria, the novel brings together a group of former heroes for a royal wedding that spirals into an unexpected adventure, ultimately forcing them to confront their unresolved issues and rekindle their bonds.

The narrative begins with an intriguing premise: ten years after their legendary quest to save the realm, the once inseparable group of friends—Beatrice, Elowen, Clare, and the late leader Galwell the Great—have gone their separate ways, each bearing the scars of their past heroism. The story gains momentum as they receive an invitation to the queen's wedding, a summons that none can refuse. This reunion sets the stage for a richly layered exploration of their individual and collective journeys.

Asher’s characterization is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Beatrice, the recently divorced and guilt-ridden mind-mage, and Clare, the charming ex-bandit still carrying a torch for her, present a compelling "will-they-won’t-they" dynamic. Their interactions are laden with unresolved tension and past grievances, making their path to reconciliation both poignant and relatable. Elowen, who has retreated into isolation, must face her former lover, Vandra, a character whose moral ambiguity adds depth and intrigue to the narrative. The interplay between these characters, with their distinct personalities and shared history, creates a tapestry of emotional richness that drives the story forward.

The world-building in "This Will Be Fun" is both imaginative and playful. Asher skillfully blends medieval elements with modern conveniences, creating a setting that is as whimsical as it is unique. The kingdom of Mythria features enchanted coffee shops, magical message boards, and even wagon shares, infusing the traditional fantasy landscape with contemporary touches. This fusion, while requiring a degree of suspension of disbelief, adds a layer of charm that enhances the novel’s overall appeal. The magical elements—ranging from crystal caves to enchanted swords—are seamlessly integrated, enriching the narrative without overwhelming it.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. The pacing, at times, can feel uneven. The focus on character development and relational dynamics occasionally overshadows the action and adventure, which some readers may find lacking. The initial setup promises a high-stakes quest, but the journey to the wedding and the subsequent adventure often take a backseat to the protagonists’ internal struggles and romantic entanglements. This can lead to moments where the narrative momentum slows, potentially frustrating readers seeking a more action-driven plot.

Despite these pacing issues, the thematic depth of "This Will Be Fun" adds significant weight to the story. Asher deftly explores themes of friendship, redemption, and the long-lasting effects of trauma. The heroes’ journey is as much about healing old wounds and mending broken relationships as it is about saving the realm from darkness. This emotional resonance lends a sense of realism to the fantastical setting, making the characters’ struggles and triumphs all the more compelling.

In conclusion, "This Will Be Fun" by E.B. Asher is a heartwarming and humorous addition to the fantasy genre. Its blend of classic quest elements with modern relational dynamics offers a refreshing take on familiar tropes. While the pacing may occasionally falter, the novel’s rich character development, inventive world-building, and thematic depth make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of cozy fantasy and romantasy will find much to appreciate in this tale of friendship, adventure, and second chances. Asher’s work reminds us that even in the most fantastical of settings, the greatest battles are often fought within the heart.

Unfortunately, “This Will Be Fun” was not fun. The premise certainly seemed so: three estranged former heroes, ten years after saving the kingdom, are reunited at the wedding of the queen, all of them still grieving the loss of their leader. First of all, it’s pretty unclear to me what they even did in the first place. Galwell, the fearless leader who perished on their quest, gets a brief POV in the very beginning in which he is ENTIRELY too good - I really needed him to have some flaws. The remaining members of the band include his sister Elowen, who is now a hermit living in the trees, thrown back into working with her former flame Vandra (this backstory, again, was incredibly confusing). Beatrice is recently divorced and destitute, now traveling with Clare, the former mercenary recruited by the gang who has been happily enjoying the perks of herodom. Unsurprisingly, they were once a thing but now seem to hate each other, in the third set of confusing backstory. The worldbuilding is very sparse and everyone is just pretty much running around making terrible romantic choices. The friendship chemistry doesn’t work for me, neither does the romance. A big swing and a miss all around.

This is such a sentimental, hilarious read! Like the description says, total Princess Bride vibes. I was laughing constantly at the jokes, setup, and references. But it is also very emotional, older heroes dealing with trauma and relationships. I really had fun with this book.


Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.


I think some folks might be thrown off by the setting of the book. It is medieval-ish, but with a lot of modern additions, like message boards are tapestry boards or ride-shares are wagon shares. Personally, as long as the reader is down for the ride, all of that flows with the setup of the story and did not detract or distract me.


The main cast are in their 30s and dealing with that age and all the pains, both physical and emotional, that can build up over the years, especially after completing such a public quest 10 years prior. The main cast is a good set-up for this, with the grumpy figure, the kind of a golden retriever figure, etc. All of them fit into the narrative and the two main plotlines are harmonious.

All in all, a super funny and emotional quest romantasy.

I was intrigued by the description of The Princess Bride and People We Meet on Vacation. The story starts off strong with friends who had experienced a great tragedy and triumph, coming together for a royal wedding. However, as they journeyed to the wedding the pace of the story slows down quite a bit and I began losing interest in the story.

I like the multi POV and I enjoyed learning how their previous experience affected each person and how they were dealing with it in the present day. Each person was affected by the tragedy and this journey gave them an opportunity to address those issues. There was a lot of mental dialogue and a lot of will they get together or won't they get together? I would have enjoyed more action and adventure in the story.

I did find it interesting that the book was written by multiple authors, which explains the differences in the POV voices.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the #gifted ARC.

This book was such a breath of fresh air! We get the differing viewpoints of 4 (but mostly 3) main characters throughout the story, and the was done very well! Clare, Beatrice and Elowen were best friends/heroes of the realm (this is definitely a dungeons and dragons kind of world, minus the dragons, which was super fun) until a tragedy caused the troop to break apart. The story officially starts 10 years later and none of our friends are doing very well. Luckily an urgent quest reunites the group and we get to see them slowly piece their relationships back together (along with guy scenes and quest-y escapades)! Clare was my absolute favorite character as the cinnamon roll/rogue of the story but I also really really liked Beatrice and Elowen (and Hugh and Vandra!). This book definitely delivers what it's title promises!

Thank you to Avon for review consideration via Netgalley! This was an absolute joy to read!

Not my favorite. I felt like a lot of things were unsaid or unexplained. Also really repetitive. But I loved the idea of the book.

This was such a good and quick read that i devoured this book literally in two days. The writing was amazing and the pace was well maintained throughout the whole book.
The characters were well penned and drafted, I had a great time reading this book. This was my first read from the author's work and now I am definitely looking forward to read more works by the same author.

I very rarely DNF books, but I gave this one an honest effort and just couldn't finish it. I do think that the world-building could use a little more work and there was just a lot going on so my brain struggled with this one a little. I'm sure some readers will really love this one, but I don't think I was in the right mindset for this one to fully appreciate it like others will.

"This Will Be Fun" by E.B. Asher is written by three authors. This character-driven cozy fantasy offers a delightful escape into a whimsical world filled with quirky characters and charming settings. While I appreciated the depth and development of the characters, the plot felt a bit slow at times, making it hard to stay fully engaged. However, the authors’ talents for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere kept me turning the pages. It's a sweet, light-hearted read that's perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in a gentle fantasy without too much drama or high stakes and features LGBTQIA+ characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a little different from the fantasy books I have read before, but in a good way. The magic was believable and, thank God, the names weren’t unpronounceable. I truly enjoyed the characters. The quest the group embarked on was expected, but not. The challenges they faced were exciting and the outcome was a plot twist for sure. The final battle was so good and again, the outcome was totally unexpected, including the ending. This book reminded me a lot of the Shannara Chronicles.

If you're in the mood for a fun adventure with a feel of nostalgia and a lot of humor, This Will Be Fun will be right up your alley! As the description says, this novel definitely has The Princess Bride and People We Meet on Vacation vibes, and I kept thinking of how much fun this would be as a movie someday! There were SO many moments I was laughing out loud, and it truly was just a fun adventure.

The story picks up ten years after the heroes of Mythria—Beatrice, Elowen, Clare, and Galwell—saved their realm and went their separate ways. Now, they're reluctantly brought back together for a royal wedding that turns into a quest to save their world yet again, but this time they don't have their leader, Galwell, with them. Each of our heroes has their own internal battles they've been dealing with over the last 10 years, and the book shines in its character development. The humor between the characters is top-notch, but there is still a lot of "realness" to what they experience as well.

However, the book does leave a bit of a gap in explaining the specifics of how these heroes originally saved the realm and what their skills are, and the focus of the book is heavily character-focused versus worldbuilding or action focused. I enjoyed the character focus, but there were moments that I was wishing for more detail on certain aspects of these characters' pasts and what makes them so legendary. What the book lacks in world building, it makes up for it in giving us characters that are so lovable and clever. I loved the nostalgic feel of classic fantasy with a lot of modern twists thrown in as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this fun read!

Reader: this WAS fun! 3.5 ⭐

This Will Be Fun follows a group of former questmates a decade after they saved the realm. With one of their group lost in the final battle ten years prior, they fell apart as teammates and friends, reuniting for the first time for their Queen's wedding. Things don't stay that simple—there's a new plot to arise evil again, and the Queen's betrothed is missing. Oh, yeah—and there's some awkward feelings between former romances in the questing party and their acquaintances.

First, we have Clare, the hero working to live up to their dead leader's image, and Beatrice, a mind-mage who can't stop reliving her guilt over said leader's death. Their decade old one-night-stand was a typical "emotionally difficult, stubborn duo", where their banter overlaid their continued feelings for one another. Of the two main romances, this one felt more cookie cutter, though I still had fun.

The other duo is Elowen, the younger sister of the deceased leader who had isolated herself in the trees for a decade, and Vandra, a former rogue who caused the team trouble a decade ago between trysts with Elowen. Their dynamic was a ton of fun, exploring the idea of the more morally grey character years after falling for someone and how that might have changed her.

As a whole, my two major issues with the book came in 1: some of the surface level exploration of the character's issues after ten years—references to isolation, drinking habits and other unhealthy coping mechanisms seemed to heal themselves a bit quickly, only boiling down to communication issues towards the back half of the book. And 2: the tone of the world. This book fully embraces a more quirky, modern take on a fantasy world, with allusions to this world's version of 21st century trends and habits. Sometimes this worked—in particular with the idea of the group being famous in their world, with people asking for autographs or in one notable instance, having a festival where hundreds of people were dressed like them. Sometimes it felt like it was trying too hard, though; for example, with a shadow play that a character watches weekly having fandoms and cosplay forums, or the gossip columns and "sexiest man alive" magazines. There are ways I think these concepts could exist in a fantasy world but it didn't work for me in this book, and sometimes just felt awkward.

As a whole, This Will Be Fun was a bubbly read with an interesting band of characters in a very typical fantasy world. Don't go into it expecting anything too deep—take it for what it is on the tin. Fun!