LOVE!!!!! I didn't know I needed this book, but I did! I'm not sure why more people aren't talking about it. I loved the characters and the plot. This had the perfect mix of spice and plot. Everything about this was just right. I can't wait to read more!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book. Honestly it was a little far fetched. While I’m able to suspend disbelief and follow an author’s lead, it just didn’t work in this case.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM is probably the most fun i've had reading a book in a while. from the first page, this book had me cackling, swooning, and kicking my feet in delight. the story follows emily porter, an art conservator working on restoring a medieval statue of a knight... except that statue turns out to be a very real (albeit cursed) knight and a kiss frees him from his prison. now emily has to figure out how to teach griffin about the modern world, all while battling her growing feelings for him and trying to avoid being arrested for art theft.

this was such a fun time and i honestly cannot recommend it enough. i would read 10000 more books about emily and griffin's shenanigans!! i also really loved that it took place in chicago, which is one of my favorite cities. thank you so much to netgalley and berkley for the advanced copy! HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM comes out november 12.

Her Knight at the Museum is a charming blend of fantasy, humor, and romance that brings fairy-tale magic into the heart of modern-day Chicago. This enchanting rom-com follows the story of Sir Griffin de Beauford, a medieval knight cursed to endure centuries in stone, and Emily Porter, a newly divorced art conservator whose world is turned upside down when her “restoration project” quite literally comes to life. The result is a delightful, feel-good tale that’s as heartwarming as it is hilarious.
Griffin’s transition from stoic knight to a bewildered, gallant hero in the modern world provides endless laughs. His medieval mannerisms and chivalrous dedication to Emily contrast brilliantly with the realities of contemporary Chicago, making for plenty of funny misunderstandings and rom-com-worthy moments. Watching him navigate everything from modern clothing to the intricacies of dating etiquette adds a layer of whimsy to the story that’s utterly charming.
Emily, on the other hand, is an easy heroine to root for. She’s strong yet vulnerable, hesitant to open herself up to love again, yet completely captivated by Griffin’s sincerity and devotion. The chemistry between them is genuine and sweet, building as Emily helps Griffin navigate his new life while finding herself swept off her feet by his old-world charm. The romance is both swoon-worthy and lighthearted, filled with banter and flirtation that balance the story’s magical elements with genuine emotion.
The author's world-building is a treat, seamlessly blending the past and present with enchanting details that make the curse feel almost plausible. While the plot occasionally leans into familiar tropes, the unique premise and endearing characters more than make up for it. The investigation into the missing “statue” adds some fun twists, and the question of whether Griffin and Emily can overcome time itself to find happiness makes for a captivating story.
Her Knight at the Museum is a delightful, escapist read for anyone who loves romantic comedies with a magical twist. The author delivers a beautifully paced, lighthearted romance that reminds us that true love can transcend time, curses, and even the occasional museum mishap. This story will leave you smiling and wishing for your own happily-ever-after, knight and all!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I found this novel to be ever so charming and whimsical.
What young girl didn’t dream of a knight in shining armor??
Griffin was just so charming and I loved his speech patterns.
What I liked best about the story was seeing the 21st century through Griffin’s eyes and how he adapted very quickly.
My favorite scene was Griffin meeting Emily’s ex, Tom!
A romantic what if this could really happen kind of book.

A delightfully entertaining read, filled with witty banter and irresistible chemistry. The forced proximity between the characters kept me eagerly turning the pages, unable to tear myself away from the story. I was completely engrossed in the tale, captivated by the charming characters and their humorous antics. Donovan's writing style is engaging and captivating, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for a fun and engaging romantic comedy.

This book is funny and spicy and sweet. The main male character, Griffin, is swoon worthy. It features some fun Chicago to do’s like going to a Cubs game and riding the train. It has Medieval facts and a knight that was cursed to be a statue for centuries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an ARC of this title!

Alright, so, contextually, I think it's important to know that around 2006 or so the movie Kate & Leopold did absolutely insane things to my brain chemistry and changed me fundamentally as a person. I was around 14. This book reminded me of how it felt watching that movie for the first time and I would have loved it for that reason alone.

If we disregard all that, the book is still really good! It's cute and engaging, and there's nothing like ... crazy going on? Other than the statue coming to life thing or whatever but if you live in a big city you've seen weirder. It's whatever. The plot has the whole suspicion of theft thing but there's no physical danger or anything SUPER stressful, so this is going to be a really great read for people who want a book hug. Low-stakes and cozy!

The humor was good and while I can't speak to the accuracy of the medieval information, it was interesting! Also, this felt like truly one of the only uses of miscommunication as a trope where it actually made sense and wasn't just characters being willfully stupid. I appreciated that!

Overall this was super cute and a fun read!

4.5⭐️

II haven’t read a single book this month because I’ve been in a horrible reading slump but Her Knight at the Museum was exactly what I needed. I read this in a day. I devoured this book

I absolutely loved it.

This was just such a fun book. That truly is the best way to describe it. It was funny, cute, cheesy (in the best way possible), and just made me smile and laugh. I could not put it down.

I really can’t say enough good things about it. I had the best time reading this story.

If you love light and fluffy romcoms with Hallmark movie vibes then this is the book for you.

Thank you so much to Berkley, Bryan Donovan, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super silly and fun! It was absolutely ridonk but that is exactly what this premise deserved, and I mean that in the best possible way. It gets 5 stars for making me laugh out loud while also kicking my heels with glee.

Emily is a museum conservator who specializes in medieval art. When she's tasked with restoring a sculpture of a knight, she starts dreaming about him. (Look, it's a hot sculpture, OK?) Also, they're sex dreams, which is honestly SUCH a good choice on Bryn Donovan's part to give us an early-heat romance novel. Why hold back from a hookup with a hot knight if it's just a dream?

A lot of times romcoms like this don't fully commit to the premise and end up with a too-serious conflict. Early in my read, I wasn't sure how seriously the novel wanted me to take it, but then Emily tells her friend and colleague that she needs to work on her special presentation, called "Dating Medieval Sculpture." At that point? I was all in. I got a little nervous when Emily started talking to Griffin about dealing with his past trauma, but when the ultimate conflict ended up hinging on a hilarious cultural misunderstanding involving a Medieval Times stand-in, the FBI, and modern vocabulary, the book really paid off.

But wait, there's more! Donovan does a great job of threading the needle between historical accuracy (Griffin has no idea what potatoes are, starts group sings in waiting rooms to pass the time, and thinks actors are The Worst) and historical liberties (he has some archaic language but he and Emily understand each other pretty well). The relationship moves very quickly, but as Griffin points out, it feels like destiny when you awaken your lover from centuries locked in stone. Also, in case it's of interest to readers other than myself, he's a virgin knight.

Five stars, no notes, this is how you do a "medieval dude in modern times" romcom.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This was absolutely delightful! It's a fast read- mostly because you won't want to put it down- with characters I really enjoyed and a ridiculously fun plot. Also, it's hot. And you can't forget about Andy War-Howl! I love a good animal companion. I'm excited to see that Donovan is continuing the series with Rose's book!

This audiobook is narrated by one of my + favorite, narrators, Brittany Pressley, and she did such a remarkable job bringing Griffin to life. It's difficult to make a medieval knight who has landed in modern day Chicago seem realistic, but Brittany did a great job making his naivety and wonder seem authentic! I'm a sucker for time jumping reads, and this one was great. Emily is such a great heroine; an art conservator working on a newly acquired statue that turns out to be an actual cursed knight. I loved their connection and banter, as well as the conundrum of what to do when the priceless statue "goes missing". All around a fun time!
-Divorced FMC; both 30+ MCs
-LOL moments, and fun silly banter (but not over the top!)
-He falls first, and is + down bad *,
- Magical realism
- Open door spice
- Chicago setting (she shows him why she loves it!)

Who would've thought Emily would find her true love and HEA in Chicago at a museum? Total Enchanted vibes!
Quick, easy, fun read... especially if you love mideval stories!
Emily is a recently divorced art conservator who doesn't believe in love. She is working on restoring a Knight statue when she swears she hears the statue talking, but no one else does. He appears in her dream, and it gets spicy. Turns out he was a real Knight from the 1400s and got cursed and turned into stone.
Griffin is completely clueless in the modern world but such a golden retriever type. Exceeds the label of being a perfect gentleman. The cutest nicknames had me smiling, too! Emily's dog has the funniest name (had to mention that).
Emily is getting in trouble because the statue came to life? Wow! It was such a fun twist! I read this book in 1 day, but I couldn't put it down! The romance was a bit too quick for me, but it aligned with the storyline, so I enjoyed it.
I laughed, I smiled... 5 🌟
Thank you to Bryn Donovan for writing such a fun book and to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I was able to read this because NetGalley provided with an arc. I loved this romance. Great Read. I would read more by this author.

Is this a literary masterpiece? No.

Did I still enjoy a quick read? Yes

It was difficult at times to get past the secondhand embarrassment you feel for the characters (good writing, I guess?), but there were also times that it made it really difficult to root for the FMC or the MMC. It was very insta-love and insta-lust.

First off, the FMC (Emily) has some serious trauma from her divorce from her cheating ex-husband. I can understand that. But it seems like she dislikes almost every woman she comes across at that point. Any time the MMC (Griffon) speaks to another woman, Emily gets upset or jealous. It just felt like a lot and made it hard to be supportive of her at times. But she acknowledges those flaws, so let us move on. Also, she just kisses a statue at work? That she's supposed to be getting ready and cleaning for the museum? Girl, read the job description because I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be doing that.

Then the MMC (Griffon) thinks only of sex for awhile. It is seriously the only thing on his mind. And, okay, it was a different time when he was human and before he got turned into a statue, but still. It kind of unbalanced the storyline a little.

Overall, it was really quick read, mostly enjoyable. It had some actual history backing up the information, so the author seems to have done some actual research which was nice. Would I read it again, no probably not. Do I regret reading it? Also no. It was quick and fun and a good distraction from real life.

I enjoyed the history parts of the novel and learning more about what people who work in museums do the most. The romantic scenes included too much reminiscing about past partners for me.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book but unfortunately the execution fell a bit flat for me. The narrative voice was a bit silly and I didn't connect with the main character which caused problems for me. This book requires a very high suspension of disbelief. The fact that our MC who is supposedly a professional is lusting after a statue from the get go seemed a bit over the top. The rest of the book follows suit in silliness. If you want something light to read where you can turn your brain off this might work for you.

Cute, but clunky. (Is there a suit of armor joke here somewhere?)

I enjoyed this one almost solely on principal. I'm a medievalist! Who wouldn't want to talk to a knight from the 15th century? And, if he's hot? Bonus! The story was to be expected and the ending was a little confusing. Are we setting up a series? If that's not a case, that's an awfully convenient way to wrap things up! I definitely recommended this one to a few friends who I know would find it delightful.

I never read the author notes at the end of the book but did this time and it helped me to understand a little bit what the author's motivations for this story were. Unfortunately, if the goal of the book was to bring job, she missed her mark at least with me. The premise of the book sounds like a modern day fairy tale complete with the requisite knight. He could be dashing when reanimated and he truly felt like he wanted to learn about modern life and his place in it. He existence pre-new life was awful, stuck in a state where he was aware but unable to do more than visit a few people in their dreams.
At first, Emily was cute with her relatable insecurities. She was talking to a statue as if it were her sounding board while filling out a dating profile. Boy, was she in for a shock. That statue could hear her story even if he did not fully understand. Even at this point, she came across as a little desperate. In part it was understandable with a temp job and having been dumped but it sounded like she had always been wrong about love having abandoned her life foe her ex's.
The time travel type story line was fun at time but often overshadowed by the reliance on sex to fill pages. A little steam is necessary but it should compliment the story not be the story. The FBI art theft ring was interesting, perhaps even the most interesting and I did wander about the "secret society."
This book wasn't for me but I wanted to like it because the premise was fun if not a touch overdone. I seem to recall a few books in the past with statues coming to life. I enjoyed the other books so I can this one a whirl. I am not simply knocking off points because it was not my type of book because every once in a while that is exactly what I need. The author has some great building blocks for future stories if she can back off the repetitiveness and steam a bit.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

How I LOVED this! This was such a fun and entertaining read. I admit I didn't read the synopsis before I requested it so I was a bit scared, but it actually ended up making me love the book more. Griffin was such a sweet man, and the romance completely melted me.