“That's what a theme park could create.
It could open those portals to other realms by engaging with imagination and fantasy. Charlotte would later learn the importance of making a story people could live within, a theme park, instead of only watching the story like an amusement park. She wanted to spread more of that specialness into the world.”

I am a theme park girlie. An Orlando local and theme park frequenter, yes, but I also work for one of the theme parks that (I believe) Dreamland was based on. And this whole book, easter eggs and all, spoke to my theme park loving heart. But I don’t think you don’t have to be a total theme park nerd to enjoy this book! It’s a sweet story. Bringing someone into your niche interest world and sharing your passion for it is something incredibly vulnerable, and watching Charlotte and Gregory’s relationship build as they experienced theme parks together was heartwarming and real.

The only thing I think I would change is that I feel this story could have benefited from first person perspective as opposed to third person perspective, but it doesn’t make or break the book, it’s more of a personal preference. I think I would have connected to Charlotte even more if it had been first person.

Also, be prepared for this book to make you want to run out the door to wherever the nearest cinnamon bun location is and grab one ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book, and thank you Amy Ratcliffe for writing about my greatest niche interest. You nailed it. :)

I admit that, like Gregory, I didn't really know or think about the difference between theme and amusement parks before meeting Charlotte in this sweet romance. Charlotte, who grew up in the Land of Legends, has left her job (and her rotten ex) to come home only to discover that the park has serious financial issues. Gregory is the investor who might be able to help them but he's got a lot to learn (as did I). These two develop a nice relationship that might not surprise you but should make you smile. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fun read.

I have to admit I was like Gregory in the beginning not knowing the difference between a theme park and an amusement park. The book was very educational, something too much so, which is the reason for 4 stars. Both characters were very lovable while being extremely different from each other. The love story did not feel forced or overly sped up. Gregory and Charlotte falling in love was almost natural and I was feeling along with Charlotte throughout the whole book.

Review on Goodreads March 18, 2025
Review on Instagram March 19, 2025

This was a sweet story. I really liked the way the relationship progressed between Charlotte and Gregory. They were coworkers to friends to more. I liked how Charlotte shared her knowledge about theme parks.

There were some things that were a bit predictable in the story. And some things that felt frustrating but I know were for the plot.

Overall an enjoyable and fun read.

Thx to Kensington for the early copy.

Charlotte Gates spent her childhood at her aunt and uncle’s theme park, Lands of Legend so it seemed natural that she would get a job designing thrill rides for a massive, global company. Yet her world comes crashing in when she is laid off and then finds her ex-boyfriend cheating on her with her boss. She returns to her hometown in Ohio to find that Lands of Legend is struggling and that it needs an investor to stay afloat. Enter Gregory Binns who not only doesn’t know the difference between a theme park and an amusement park, but he has never been on a roller coaster. Consequently, Charlotte is determined that he will experience the magic of the park. Soon Charlotte begins to see him in a new light when he begins to enjoy the park. However, with the possibility of returning to her old job, Charlotte must make a decision as to whether she will go back to her old life or begin a new one, with Gregory.
A light-hearted romance that read very much like a Hallmark story, both Gregory and Charlotte are inevitable as a couple. I did enjoy seeing their romance blossom as they began to realise that there is more to their feelings than just trying to make the theme park successful once again. What made this romance stand apart from the typical is that this was a couple who did communicate rather than thriving from misread situations. An enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one is for the Theme Park Adults (we’ll abbreviate as TPA for this review) specifically. I am the exact target audience for this book as an unapologetic Disney Adult. That for sure played into how much fun I had reading.

Charlotte is an emphatic TPA, thanks to growing up in the homegrown theme park created by her family. She’s turned her love for parks into her career with one of the mega-entities, and after a shakeup there she’s back to help her family at their park. A venture capitalist comes i to invest in opening a new land, and if he happens to be handsome and a bit grumpy but with an open-mind, it’s all for the better.

There are a ton of Easter eggs, fictionalized nods, and injections of common discourse in the TPA world spread throughout the book. I loved that about it. It’s obvious Amy Ratcliffe is well-versed and one of “us”, and I loved the “IYKYK” feel of it all. That said, I think it’s still easy to enjoy this read even if you’re not a TPA. It’s a fun escape into the ins and out of the theme park development design world while also a reminder to embrace the childlike wonders where you can find them. There’s also the sweet, cracked-door romance between Charlotte and Gregory that is a learning curve and growth opportunity for both characters. I found their initial meeting turned collaborative business associates turned friends turned lovers a lovely meandering path, and set amongst theme park activities gave it a little magical touch for me.

Like I said, I’m definitely deep in the lore and connected to so much of what is featured in this book, and I loved that for me. I had a great time. Thank you to Kensington via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars!

This is the perfect book for fans of theme park and Disney adults! It's actually funny because I've been dreaming of reading a good romance book between two cast members in a theme park, and when I got approved for the ARC of this book, I couldn't contain my happiness.

The love story is so cute, you guys will melt. It was so refreshing to see a predictable, yet thoughtful and mature relationship evolve between two characters who are in their thirties. Like, these protagonists actually act their age and it's worth mentionning! No idiotic miscommunication, just two people who have their priorities more or less straight and take ownership of their actions.
It was a delight being able to read this book and I won't recommend it enough!

Theme parks are thrilling environments; ideal for romance novels, yet underutilized. Despite how fun and immersive the setting is, the romance itself feels underdeveloped and weak. Charlotte, our FMC, is difficult to connect with at the start of the book, especially with the ongoing focus on her ex. Also, as someone who lived in Florida for nearly 30 years, some descriptions of the setting (namely, in regards to the weather) are inaccurate. This was an okay read with plenty of room for growth in both the characters and the prose.

If you love slow burn romance revolves around theme parks,this is for you
Story revolves a theme park that Charlotte loves that is dying and here is where she met Gregory as investor.
A very fun read, Charlotte & Gregory are cute together, Sweet romance
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

3.75 stars rounded up. I thought this was a cute, closed door romance. For the most part, the characters were likeable. The relationship between Charlotte and Gregory was cute.

My biggest issue with the story was Charlotte. She was too hasty in making her biggest decisions and the fact that she never stood up for herself drove me nuts. It honestly baffled me at points. That was really my only gripe. If you’re looking for a cute, closed door romance with very little drama, this is a good choice.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy for my honest review.

Our FMC Charlotte loves theme parks. Raised by her aunt and uncle’s park Lands of Legend, she is the ultimate adventure seeker who eventually grows up to work at a larger theme park, DreamUs. But then she finds out that her favorite park is looking for investors, she meets Gregory and voila! It’s an opposites attract romance.

Pros: I enjoyed the passion involved discussing theme/amusement parks. I love the nostalgia of childhood dreams and fun memories.
I also really like that there isn’t a third act conflict.

Cons: This book is listed as a romance, but the relationship between Charlotte and Gregory is very much an afterthought. I don’t think it develops like one, but if the relationship wasn’t included, this would just be a fun read that is an ode to childhood love of adventure.

This book was enjoyable, but I didn’t really connect with the core story between the two mains. There isn’t anything particularly wrong with the story, it just wasn’t swoon inducing. Fully recommend it to anyone who likes a side of romance with nostalgia 

Love the story line premise. However, I’m not the biggest fan of books told in third person. So it was hard to get into. DNF at 15%. Would recommend to others!

A romance setting that's too often underutilized is the amusement park. I worked at my city's zoo for four years and these types of books always bring back the enjoyment I felt working there. The energy, smells, food, and wily general public all culminate into an exciting workplace. Thrill Ride is about theme park expert Charlotte whose love life mirrors the roller coasters she reviews on the side. Her family owns a small theme park in Ohio, yet she just lost her dream job at a huge corporation whose mascot may or may not be rodent related. I do enjoy when books create unique fictional properties, but it's ok to say Disney. We're all thinking it. Unless it's a matter of copyright, I get it.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and immersion of the theme park, but it was the beginning that lost me. There was too much emphasis on the heroine's ex-boyfriend and not enough on the new love interest. I swear the first few chapters were her just proving what a terrible person he was and not focusing on her own journey. Sad to say that Charlotte did indeed not pass the Bechdel Test. The first few encounters with the hero were also painfully awkward. There was no spark and the heroine was trying way too hard. I got secondhand embarrassment from these two talking about pastries.

Thrill Ride was a unique romance that catered to my love of theme parks and everything it contains. I wish her former flame had a smaller role and Charlotte had a stronger backbone. Also, a tiny thing irked in the first chapter claiming it was 80 degrees in Florida during January. Girl, as someone who's lived here for 30 years, that's not true. Doing a quick weather check could have solved that. Regardless this was an interesting book, but it was no Thrill Ride.

thank you to netgalley and amy ratcliffe for the arc of thrill ride! I absolutely devoured this book and read it in under 24 hours. the setting is so unique - i've never read a romance book set in a theme park - and that along had me hooked from the start.

Our FMC, Charlotte, is the perfect mix of creative genius and corporate weapon, and I loved seeing a strong woman who was dedicated to her work and knew her field. Gregory, the MMC, was equally as driven, and it was so fun to see these two get together. This book felt very nostalgic, wholesome, and fun to me, and really brought back memories of my childhood at our local theme parks.

I definitely cannot recommend this enough, and I'm so excited for release day!

It was cute but it seemed more focused on the technical sides of running a theme park and I don’t read to read about how a job is done.

The characters were easy to connect to but the romance was very mild throughout the whole book and was very clearly not the focus.

When I finished this book and I thought about everything I had read I just sort of said “meh” it was ok , not bad but definetly something I didn’t enjoy all that much either .

Thank you Netgalley Kensington Publishing | Kensington for the arc

This book was wonderful! If you are looking for a closed door version of the fine print, then this book is for you! You should definitely read this book!

A romance in an amusement park setting? Yes! I liked this way better than The Fine Print which is popular.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

Thrill ride is a cute closed door romance set around Charlotte who works for her families amusement park and Gregory who has been brought in as an investor to help out/bring more profits into the business.
While slow to start, this ended up being a quick read. Not too much drama or conflict.

3.75 stars.

Charlottes love for Lands of Legend proves to be too much for many people, even her family. I truly admire her love and hard work to keep the theme park open and thriving. The way she sets out to give Gregory the real experience so he can understand the importance to it all. I related all too well to Gregory getting on that roller coaster! Their connection is evident and I really enjoyed how their relationship evolved. Would have loved to have seen more from them and their relationship.

Cute romance with theme parks involved? Adorable. Would recommend for an easy read. Thanks for the ARC.