I'm not personally a fan of insta love, so that did make this book a bit of a difficult read for me. I tried to suspend that judgement, because many people do like that trope. I cannot, however, ignore the writing in this book. For a traditionally published book, by Berkeley no less, I thought the writing was very juvenile and stylistically flawed. I did enjoy the romance itself and I think this is such a cool concept for a story, so I'm giving this 2 stars.

If you need a little escapism right now, Donovan’s new book is the perfect pick. Emily Porter, an art conservator, is restoring a medieval statue when—surprise—it comes to life. Enter Griffin, the titular knight, whom she shelters at home, only to find herself entangled in a case of the biggest art heist in history.

This story is utterly charming, with a touch of spice. Emily and Griffin’s chemistry is on point—they truly complement each other. Their relationship avoids unnecessary drama, focusing instead on external conflicts, which feels like a breath of fresh air. The third-act breakup is mercifully mild too (always a win for me—no more dramatic misunderstandings, please!).

If you loved Enchanted or even Elf, you’ll adore this book. Watching Griffin navigate the modern world while staying true to his medieval roots is heartwarming. Plus, the book has a feminist edge and a little anti-cop sentiment as a bonus!

This was such a cute and unique romance book! It was just such a fun read. This will not be your typical romance book. Obviously none of this is realistic, but it was hilarious! Their silly banter and shenanigans trying to acclimate him to modern times had me laughing out loud while reading. It was cheesy in the best way. Their chemistry had me swooning. Don’t be fooled by the cover, it is definitely spicy. If you’re looking for a funny, cute, light-hearted romance for your next read - look no further! Would make for a great movie.

her knight at the museum is a bit like if a night at the museum the movie met the princess and the frog. griffin was turned into a statue centuries ago, and emily's kiss frees him. it's as silly and fun as you'd expect with them trying to acclimate griffin to modern times while also trying to hide that he happens to be the statue that's gone missing from the museum. the side characters brought a ton to the story especially rose who's a real ride or die for emily & griffin. there was a perfect amount of tension and drama in the book as well, especially the end!

Her Knight at the Museum is a delightfully fun, bonkers rom-com that is sure to put a smile on your face.

This book is fabulously fun! I am so thrilled that Bryn decided to really lean into the bonkers and cheesy side of this unique story that she has created. She took a chance, and I’m happy that she did. You’ve got to like your romances a little silly and bonkers, and with a sprinkling of cheesy dialogue, because this book has that in spades. I devoured this book in two sittings; it would have been one if I didn’t have to be a responsible adult….sigh. I was instantly hooked and engaged with this silly, fun plot unfolding in front of me. I was curious about how Emily and Griffin would get their HEA and where Bryn would take this story. The plot idea of a character living in a completely different time period isn’t new. This story could have unfolded and ended in many different ways. What I loved was that even though this story idea had been done in the past, Bryn put her own unique spin on it. She weaves charm, humour, lusty romance, and drama together and creates something entertaining to read. I loved how she approached the trope and did a great job of ensuring that everything made sense in a bonkers/silly way. She doesn’t overburden her readers with too much information about the whole curse element and doesn’t overburden her readers with too many historical facts.

What stands out in this book is Griffin’s character. Bryn went all out with his character. She embraced Griffin’s medieval-ness and I loved that. Griffin is cheesy (delightfully so); he is that charming knight who spouts poetry to his sweetheart and doesn’t shy away from telling Emily how he feels for her. The fish-out-of-water trope-y feel to his character was perfection. He was so excited to explore this new world that he found himself and embraced everything with such gusto. There are lots of moments where things get lost in translations, or he makes an innocent mistake, which leads to a funny and awkward moment that I devoured.

The romance was great. What hooked me the most was this need to know how Bryn was going to give these two a HEA that made sense. Emily and Griffin’s situation is quiet…weird…different… not your run-of-the-mill relationship situation. That need to know really made me obsessed with this book. I loved watching these two together on the page. Emily is a kind, smart, and fabulous heroine who needs a little romance in her life. I loved watching these two very different people learn to interact with each other. It was fun watching as Emily introduced Griffin to the modern world. But of course, there will be some miscommunications and misunderstandings between them. If it hadn’t been for this story, it would have worked. Everything on the romance side worked well.

I hope that Rose, Emily’s best friend, gets her own book. She is such a fun and delightful character, and I really want to spend more time with her.

Her Knight at the Museum is a delightfully fun, bonkers romance that has oodles of charm.

4.5⭐️
3🔥

Quick Breakdown

Magical Realism
Strangers to Lovers
Opposites Attract
Age Gap - approx 600 years
Divorced Heroine
Medieval MMC
Virgin Hero
He Falls First
Forced Proximity
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate Detail

Thank you @berkleyromance for the eARC & finished copy and @prhaudio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion #berkleypartner

Back in Chicago after her divorce, Emily Porter takes a temporary (hopefully one day permanent) conservator position at the Art Institute of Chicago. She’s tasked with working on a statue of a medieval English knight. Only, the statue begins to speak to her & visit her in her dreams. Turns out he’s a REAL 15th century knight named Griffin who was cursed and turned into stone. A kiss from Emily & he turns back into a human man.

Whelp, this was SO MUCH FUN! Expertly narrated by Brittany Pressley, Her Knight at the Museum had me hooked from the start. I loved the concept of a medieval knight dropped into modern day Chicago. It gave me a lot of Kate & Leopold / The Knight Before Christmas vibes & I was here for it. The shenanigans felt endless. Cute, lighthearted & delightfully silly, I found this easily bingeable. I highly recommend when you’re in the market for a palette cleanser romance that will leave you with a big smile on your face.

REVIEW: Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan is a fun, light-hearted, spicy, magical, realistic romance book. The premise is unique and silly but gives a great starting point. The knight, Griffin, was cursed by a jealous friend to be a stone statue that is still aware and can feel things; he can’t move. When his statue was sold to the Chicago Art Museum many years later, the temporary art conservator, Emily, got to work on it. Through different magical twists, Griffin becomes alive and has to learn how to function in this new time with Emily.

First of all, I have always loved a time travel romance. While some historical facts and elements are a little of a stretch at times, it didn’t hurt the story as a whole. I loved that it was written from a dual point of view so that we could see what each character was thinking. All the characters are loveable, and Griffin and Emily have fantastic chemistry. The romance story sometimes went from sweetly romantic to even a bit cheesy and then switched to bring on the spice. I think it was well-balanced. The story immediately grabbed me, and I just wanted to read more.

A few moments around the climax seemed a little out there, but it didn’t affect the story once I got through. Also, there were a few side character storylines I wish we had learned a bit more about.

Overall, I really enjoyed Her Knight at the Museum. It was a nice break from everything being so heavy by being a light-hearted, silly romance story. Adding elements of magical realism, in particular, made this story unique. I also heard they will make a Hallmark movie of the book, and I’m excited to check that out, too!

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

I heard about this book in a writers group, and was excited to get an advanced copy. It had more "spice" than I'm used to (5 or 6 scenes), but putting that aside, this is a really fun fish-out-of-water romance about a knight who was turned into a stone statue centuries ago, and awakes in modern day Chicago. A huge thanks to the author, Berkley books, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Be prepared to suspend all belief for this one because you definitely need to, in a good way. This is over the top campy with some steam mixed in.
Emily is recently divorced so she throws herself into her work to keep her mind busy. Her best distraction comes in the form of a handsome Medieval English Knight that she is tasked with restoring. She has restored countless pieces through their career, but none have affected her like this one has. She finds herself inexplicably drawn to the statue and shocked to discover that it is made of more than stone. Cursed by a sorcerer he once called his friend, Sir Griffins de Beauford has been ensconced in limestone for the past several centuries. He can see, hear and think but he can’t move. Until an overwhelming urge from Emily to kiss him brings him back to life. In doing so, Emily and Griffin fall in love and she teaches him all about the modern world, but she also becomes the prime suspect in the investigation into the missing statue so their love story may be doomed from the beginning.
If you were to cross Elf and the 80s movie Mannequin you would get something like this book and I’m not mad about it. It’s a super fast and easy read and I can’t wait for the Hallmark movie to be made.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Her Knight At the Museum by Bryn Donovan is a romantic twist to the beloved movie 'A Night at the Museum' where all the art comes to life at midnight. In this case, the art just so happens to be one rather handsome knight in shining armor from the 1400s era 😉.

Sir Griffin de Beautford has given up hope. Forgotten by time, this medieval knight is trapped inside stone due to a centuries-long curse! Emily Porter, the art conservator is immediately drawn to the handsome knight sculpture. Soon she begins to hear him in her head and eventually in her dreams. On impulse she gives the knight a kiss, breaking the curse and bringing Griffin to life.

Thus the story begins! This was such a cute and sweet rom-com with an added twist of mystery. Griffin was swoony and it was funny seeing him try to adapt to modern times. Plus, the romance was top-notch! I enjoyed reading this one and cannot recommend it enough!

Thanks Berkley for the ARC!

This was goofy and not in a good way. I was feeling the second hand embarrassment a little too much. The writing was very surface level and plot was predictable. Fun premise but I read another book earlier this year that had a very similar plot and it executed it way better.

“Her Knight at the Museum” by Bryn Donovan is pure magic from start to finish!

This romance story brings a clever twist on the classic time-travel trope, whisking readers into a whirlwind of humor, adventure, and heart-fluttering romance.

The heroine, a modern museum curator, finds herself enchanted by a medieval knight who seems to step right out of the exhibits and into her life. Donovan masterfully balances the knight’s chivalric charm with the heroine’s relatable wit and independence, creating a pairing that’s both endearing and electric.

Their chemistry feels so real, as if you’re right there, navigating centuries-old customs in a modern world. Donovan’s storytelling shines with warmth and cleverness, making it impossible not to root for this couple. If you’re looking for a feel-good, imaginative escape, “Her Knight at the Museum” is a delightful pick that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for my ARC!

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

🚨Possible spoilers ahead!🚨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: November 12, 2024 (this week!!)

Her Knight at the Museum is an absolutely delightful tale that follows newly divorced art conservator Emily and a knight (Griffin) that has been cursed to be a statue. When Griffin comes back to life, Emily must teach him about the modern world and eventually falls in love with him.

HKATM was adorable and completely silly. Griffin is the definition of golden retriever energy. He falls fast and hard for Emily and sees the positive in every situation. Emily teaching him about the modern world (and baseball) had me laughing out loud. Griffin reacted exactly how I expected him to when she explained Medieval Legends.

I feel like the climax was slightly rushed and could have happened a bit sooner. Obviously, Emily was going to be arrested and I kept waiting for that other shoe to drop. However, everything wrapped up nicely and I thoroughly enjoyed Her Knight at the Museum! It was really the perfect light and fluffy romance that I needed.

I recommend this to all of my medieval history nerds!

Thank you to Bryn Donovan and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read Her Knight at the Museum.

A fun and unique take for a rom-com novel. First off, you need to go into this story with the notion that it is a make-believe story intended for entertainment purposes. I don't want folks running around thinking mannequins and statues will just come to life for love. That's just nonsense. Ha.

Modern day Chicago- a centuries long curse broken- medieval knight in shining armor- instant love trope.

Very fast paced book and easy to read. The beginning was a bit too much, too soon for my taste. but after we got past the dream stage, things went a bit smoother. I think the author did a great job of mixing the two time periods together to make the story work. Griffin with his old-world charm and funny quips and phrases kept the novel lighthearted and authentic. It all was really quite ridiculous, even down to him going to a medieval times themed restaurant for a job but I must say I was entertained. I think this book makes for great escapism and is perfect for someone that needs something a little different, a spark to get them out of a reading rut.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced digital copy.

I don't know, this just really wasn't working for me from the very first pages where Emily is lusting after a statue that is maybe talking to her in her head, and the centuries-old statue is lusting after her while frozen in place. It was just a pairing of cheesy and creepy that wasn't working for me!

This was adorable to say the least. It's giving night at the museum but make it romantic AF! Loved the idea of this book and I thought it was executed well. Something felt kind of off to me and I can't place my finger on it, so I couldn't do a full five stars. However, if you love a contemporary romance with a historic flair, this is for you. You'll love our MMC.

⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰
𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙆𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢
𝘽𝙧𝙮𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

•𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
•𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
•𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮
•𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘔𝘊
•𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺

𝙄𝙛 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙚 & 𝙇𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮…

Need something light, with quite a bit of spice, with laugh out loud silly banter, but also teaches you something? I mean, we could all use some laughs and smiles this week for sure….look no further! Release day is tomorrow 🎉

This was a perfect palate cleanser and had me literally lol’ng with its cute silliness. And if you enjoyed Medieval Times as a kid this will def keep you entertained *are you not entertained?!* Thank you to for this adorable story and for a copy to review 👏🏼

⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰⚔️🤴🏼🏰

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a delightful and unique rom-com. I don't think I have ever read something quite like this. I like how it mixes romance, with magical realism and just a dash of historical fiction. Brynn Donovan is a brilliant writer. This book kept me interested the whole time, and I felt very invested in the characters and the storyline. I am serious when I say I don't think I have read a romance novel quite like this before. I hope Brynn Donovan continues to write more unique romance novels, as I think her books could become very popular.

On the audiobook side of things, I was super excited that Brittany Presley was narrating the audiobook! She continues to be one of my favorite audiobook narrators as I just find her voice both cheerful and soothing.

If anything, I know the book is wrapped up nicely, but I would still enjoy seeing a sequel come out of this book. I seriously fell head over heels for this book, and I am sure that if you love romance like I do, you will fall head over heels for this book!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

unfortunately, dnf @19%. when our fmc is horny ON MAIN for a statue on page one, i should have immediately known this was not for me.

the plot was so interesting but poorly executed to me in the first 19%. i especially wish we either had a flashback/prologue of our mmc being cursed in his time period before jumping to modern day but alas i am not the editor...

this quirky romcom will find its audience but it's not me

Her Knight At The Museum
By Bryn Donovan

Berkley Romance - November 2024

Paranormal Romance


Emily Porter had one chance to earn her dream job at the museum. She was working on a stone sculpture which had exquisite detail. She found herself almost obsessing over it, even dreaming about it. She needed to focus on the sculpture for the historical value, not the attractiveness of the subject, or she would watch her career fade away. But when the statue comes to life in front of her, she realizes a lost job is the least of her worries.

Sir Griffin de Beauford had been cursed to live as a statue. He'd seen glimpses of life as time passed, but nothing could prepare him for his release from his curse. The world was drastically changed and even language had altered. Emily feared arrest for his "disappearance", and she insisted he needed certain papers, shots and a job. Luckily there was apparently one castle in Chicago where a knight could go to work.

Emily was focused on how to keep Griffin safe in modern-day Chicago. She knew he was infatuated with her, but was certain his ardor would fade with time. Griffin had to prove that she had not only saved him from his curse, but was his future as well.

Her Knight at the Museum was an entertaining romp of a romance from beginning to end. I loved how he clambered out of the museum and was thrust into the big city life. It was interesting to see how Emily would be able to navigate the investigation as well as integrate Griffin into the modern age. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the surprising twist at the end. Made me wonder if perhaps this might be the beginning of a new series. A reader can hope.




Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com