This one didn't quite work for me. I didn't mind the whole woman falling in love with a man who had been turned to stone by a curse, but their romance was very instalust, and instalove. Emily has some lustful feelings for Griffen the statue as soon as she uncovers his beauteous form, which okay statues can be good looking. But as soon as Griffen is able to communicate with Emily they are instantly in a relationship. Emily is helping Griffen with his curse stuff, and trying to bring him into the current century, and Griffen is way to mushy with his compliments, and I just found it too much too fast.

While this one didn't work for me, I did enjoy the authors writing style and would check out more books by her in the future.

‘Dreams did come true’

Night at the museum meets every cute Hallmark rom com out there and it’s adorable! Griffin’s body was turned to stone hundreds of years ago by a jealous magician and thought he’d spend eternity watching life go when art restorer Emily and he connect psychically...and then physically when her touch brings him to life again with the help of her friend Rose’s woo woo...and it turns out Griffin might not be the only one out there that needs rescued and there is a whole secret society that specializes in it. Quite fun and the perfect beach read for the upcoming summer!

Ladies, forget about kissing frogs when you can kiss a medieval sculpture and turn your perfect man from stone into a flesh-and-blood dreamboat! At least, that's what happens to Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute in Chicago. She's tasked with the restoration of a medieval English knight, only to discover after a weird dream and an even weirder succession of events, that he's a real man who's been cursed by an evil enchanter named Mordrain to be trapped in stone forever. Except, somehow, she has been able to bring him back to life with simple a press of her lips. Sounds like a fairy tale, right?

With a flurry of complications mounting around them, from Griffin struggling to acclimate to the modern age, and Emily becoming a suspect in the sculpture's disappearance, their story is far from perfect yet all the more enchanting in spite of that. It's a happily ever after that comes after taking time, dropping defenses, and finding a way to believe in love again.

This was cute. Saccharine in a wholesome Night At the Museum meets Hallmark kind of way. I think if you can suspend belief enough and embrace the premise for what it is - silly - then you will have no problem enjoying this. Emily and Griffin are adorable, although somewhat instalovey, with him constantly raining down endearments and expressions that were common in his era. He was Quixotic in that way, a mixture of charming, chivalrous, and ridiculous. It made for a good laugh.

That said, I do wish the evil enchanter subplot would've been tied in better. It felt too simple and abrupt. Like an afterthought tacked on at the end. Other than that, I mostly enjoyed this for what it was: a light and gallant romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This was such a cute romcom. It was a perfect light distraction from the election. Griffin and Emily were such a sweet couple, and there was plenty of spice here. Given the premise, this could have been really cheesy, but it wasn’t. I enjoyed it quite a bit and found it to be a fun read.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Her Knight at the Museum is a charming and unique blend of romance and historical fantasy that was just a really fun read. The story revolves around Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago, who is tasked with restoring a statue of a medieval knight, Sir Griffin de Beauford. When an unexpected kiss breaks the centuries-old curse binding Griffin to stone, he is brought to life, leading to a hilarious and heartwarming clash of eras. Donovan's witty writing seamlessly balances humor with the challenges of their unusual relationship, making for an entertaining read.

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys whimsical romances that blend historical elements with contemporary humor. The delightful dynamic between Emily and Griffin offers a romantic take on love that transcends time, while the comedic scenarios arising from Griffin's bewilderment in the modern world will have you laughing out loud. Donovan's engaging character development and playful dialogue create a vivid escape into a world where magic and romance coexist. I highly recommend Her Knight at the Museum to fans of romantic fantasy and time-travel romances. This book is a perfect weekend escape.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @BerkleyPublishingGroup for a digital ARC.

This was a fun romance with a neat concept, if you can suspend belief and just go with the story. I enjoyed the characters and plot and the nice, easy escape from reality. There were several moments that made me laugh out loud, which is always a bonus!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

1) A reference to a childhood favorite movie
2) Art Institute of Chicago, my favorite museum in the world
3) Very ridiculous romance plot of a man out of time and a woman doing her best to manage him

This book was absolutely for me and I had a great time. Swoony and silly, perfect for me specifically.

This book was adorable! It was so original, whimsical, and sweet, and funny. I actually laughed out loud several times in public. Definitely a great escapist read that many of us are seeking right now.

This was such a fun book! I love romances where the hero has traveled from the past somehow, and finds themself in modern day. It always adds a spark of fun to a story, and it was definitely entertaining here! I thought it was unique how the author wrote that Griffin ended up in current day. Emily and Griffin's relationship was really nice. I liked the supporting cast of characters. Overall, this was an entertaining read, and I would definitely recommend trying this book!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Alright, I thought this book was absolutely adorable. It was quirky, fun and Griffin was hilarious and so sweet. I found Emily to be a little bit awkward at first, but honestly it kind of added to the charm a little bit. I am just now finding out that it is going to be adapted into a Hallmark movie and I am so excited for that.

I like the *idea* of this one, until I started and realized the knight was “talking” as a statue and his every thought was super creepy and sexual. DNF.

Her Knight at the Museum offers a blend of rom-com and fantasy with a unique twist, but it didn’t quite work for me. The plot centers on Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator tasked with restoring an ancient knight statue at the Art Institute of Chicago. When she accidentally breaks the curse binding Sir Griffin de Beauford to stone, the knight is miraculously brought to life, catapulting him into the modern world. What follows is an amusing clash of eras as Griffin navigates contemporary life, clumsy and confused but captivated by Emily.

While the concept is intriguing, I found the relationship between Emily and Griffin difficult to embrace. The premise of a centuries-old statue coming to life and immediately forming a romantic connection with a modern-day woman felt forced, making it hard to believe in their chemistry. The dynamics came across as awkward, and rather than feeling enchanted by their story, I struggled with the plausibility of their attraction.

Though I’m sure fans of quirky rom-coms with a magical twist may appreciate this story, it just wasn’t for me. I found it challenging to connect with the romance, so I couldn’t continue to explore where the narrative would lead.

An absolutely adorable yet steamy tale of unintentional magic and actually understandable miscommunications throwing a wrench into what could otherwise be an almost too-easy romance. It manages to draw out a fairly simple plot to spin a full story, albeit one where magic is a matter of simple belief and intention mostly.

From the first chapter when I started cringing at Emily’s inner monologue and reaction to a statue, I knew this was going to be a bumpy ride. In fairness, I do struggle with anything resembling magical realism and I am also not a silly/childish humor fan, so I don’t know that this was the best book for me.

when i saw the premise of this book i was immediately intrigued. night at the museum was one of my favorite movies growing up, so seeing a spinoff romcom of it with a medieval times mmc was guaranteed going to get me.

that being said this book was so fun! it was so unique how it was written, i was kept on my toes and interested how the plot was going to be solved but i was pleasantly surprised with the ending. it didn’t feel rushed at all and i felt as if everything was solved in a logical way despite the premise being anything but!!

the relationship between griffin and emily was sizzling and adorable! griffin having to navigate his new life was extremely entertaining and i loved how supportive emily was. i felt as though we were the same person a couple times with how she handled situations. very enjoyable!

thank you netgalley for sending me an arc of this book, i’m so grateful!!

Quick thoughts!

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames. This unique fantasy follows a butcher’s daughter who tracks down the sorcerer who stole part of her heart & helps him find his in the process. I wish she had had higher self-esteem, TBH, bc she’s brave & determined & saves the day. This was an interesting one & I’ll check out another by this author! 4.25 ⭐️, out 02/25. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo: KD is one of my fave middle grade authors—she tells a fantastic story & her talent is so versatile. This book will remind you of the wonder of children & dogs 😭. 5 ⭐️.

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan. I had a bad feeling about this one on page 1 when she gets sexy tingles just from handling this statue. Alas, this one never gave me something I could enthusiastically & unequivocally root for, & I ended up skimming from 40% on. DNF, out 11/12. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

The Duke at Hazard by KJ Charles. A Duke & a one-time school acquaintance who’s now disgraced set off on a trip to locate the Duke’s missing signet ring. This one has so much of what I love about a KJC book, & I loved how the Duke finally stood up for himself at the end. 4.25 ⭐️, out now!


📖 have you read any of these or are any on your radar?

this is the swooniest, loveliest romance! if you like the movie Kate & Leopold, you will looovvveeee this story!!!

Emily is such a relatable, down to earth, tender, loving character. she’s been through some heartbreak, but knows what she loves and what makes her happy. the way she cares for Griffin is oh so loving, and I absolutely adored the way Griffin gives her the love, respect, tenderness, and appreciation she oh so deserves. I also that Emily has a friend like Rose who supports all the wildness of this story, only focusing on being a good friend to Emily through it all.

Griffin is adorable in every conceivable way! he is such a swoony gentleman, who has fallen helplessly hopelessly in love with Emily, always being sure to watch her nonverbal cues to her feelings and adapt around them. I love that we get this story in both pov’s because his was hysterical, tender, spicy, and oh so loving. he’s just the most fantastical dream of knight in shining armor come to life to treat his lady like a true queen.

overall, this story was absolutely everything swoony, heartwarming, hilarious, tender, and spicy you could want from a time-travelled knight in modern day Chicago love story! thank you so much Berkley for this arc!!!!

Remember how delightful Chris Hemsworth was as Thor in the first movie specifically? An earnest man out of time overtaken with the wonder of everything around him, driven by a fierce love of family, but also a contagious zest for life? Now imagine if that version of Thor was a romance novel hero, and you’ve got Griffin in Bryn Donovan’s Her Knight at the Museum.

The story follows Emily, a conservationist at the Art Institute of Chicago tasked with working on a statue of a medieval knight, only to realize said statue is in fact a real man, who was cursed and turned into a statue as a result, able only to venture out of his stone prison by visiting people in their dreams — lucky for him and for me, because contemplating the existential horror of being sentient for centuries while unable to speak to anyone else would freak me out more than I care to admit. When Emily manages to bring him to life, she must both acclimate the 1400s knight to the 2020s, while also keeping the authorities off her trail, as she is a person of interest in the statue’s “theft”.

The magic and mystery of the story are delightful of course, but the real highlight is the fish out of water comedy, as Emily realizes just how much of modern life needs to be tailored for Griffin to understand it, and Griffin’s out-of-pocket reactions to most things were laugh out loud funny. Donovan has a real gift for earnestly comedic dialogue and I would happily read another novel of hers!

Her Knight at the Museum is out on November 12, 2024. Special thank you to Berkley for the advance copy for review purpose

4.5 stars.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC and PRH Audio for the free audiobook.

Her Knight at the Museum was just a fun time. Sir Griffin de Beauford has been trapped in a statue for hundreds of years, until new temporary museum curator Emily breaks the spell and breaks him out.

Have you ever seen the Disney movie Enchanted? The scene where the prince attacks the bus? That’s Griffin vibes. He’s thrust into this new world that’s only peripherally seen while trapped, but by god, he gives 100% and dives right in. And Emily? He’s never seen a more lovely woman and he’s determined to woo her.

With surprisingly more spice than I expected, Her Knight at the Museum was a great mix of humor, romance, magic, and steam. It really feels like a spicy Hallmark Movie and y’all know I eat those up. Bryn Donovan is a new-to-me author and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more.

⚔️ Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan⚔️

Emily moved back to Chicago after getting divorced when her husband cheated on her. She had always loved Medieval times, and working with the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago was a dream job. When a sculpture comes in that seems to speak to Emily in her dreams, she thinks she’s going crazy. An unexpected kiss from Emily breaks the curse that trapped a knight in a statue. Now Emily and Griffin have to figure out a way to pass off a 1400s knight as a modern day man.

This book is so silly and sweet. I couldn’t help but really enjoy it because of how joyful it was. It was obviously extremely unrealistic but that added to its charm.

Griffin falls hard and fast for Emily once his curse is broken. I’m not usually the biggest instalove fan but it worked here because this man was literally trapped in stone for multiple centuries and Emily saved him. It makes sense that he’d fall quickly into love with her.

The art heist elements of this were also very fun. It was super entertaining to see how different people reacted to the truth of the situation.

I’d recommend suspending your disbelief and picking this one up for a charming and sweet romp!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own. Her Knight at the Museum will be out on November 12.