This book was a bit of me! The characters, the outdoor adventures, the fantasy ... Vibes, vibes, vibes.

I loved the D&D angle. I have never played, so I hit up Youtube to watch some 'live' play to fully understand the setting. I haven't read anything similar (not just Dungeons and Dragons based, but 'as told through an alternate universe' simultaneously) and I have read a lot. It was brilliant!

I also loved the references to specific locations. As a fellow booklover, I have of course visited Hay-on-Wye. The Wye Valley setting made me laugh out loud, as my car broke down in Ross-on-Wye last week! (I had driven over the border to see King Arthur's Cave and, upon leaving the car park, my car broke down. Queue a long wait for the RAC and a tow back to Gloucestershire!)

This book would have been an easy 5 stars for me were it not for two things; Firstly, the pacing was off in a few places. I felt jarred by the amount of time (or lack thereof) that had supposedly past on several occasions.
Secondly, whilst it was nice that their issues were so alike - because of which, they both understood what the other needed to do - we as the reader got two sets of the same issues (and several arguments on the same thing, albeit for a different character). All of the self-sabotage and their subsequent spiel became very hypocritical very quickly because of this. By 80% I started to find their situation a bit tedious and just wanted the HEA to hurry up. Amy said it best when she said, "you know you're both the bad guys here, right?" Speaking of Amy..

Amy's character has so much potential! Sequel with Amy and Phil as the love interests? *Crosses fingers and toes* Hell, every character in the friendship group was strong enough to have a story in their own right. I want Fatima's arc right here, right now.

This book is one for a niche audience of readers that enjoy D and D, ren faires and slow burns. While i have read a couple D and D and ren faire books, I still struggle a bit with the rules of both of those things so if you are not familiar with the game play and have never been to a ren faire you could get lost as I did. I found that due to that I had trouble getting into the book and connecting with the characters especially the cut scenes of captain morgana from the roleplay aspect.

Sam Parks has done such an amazing job writing this book! Completely hit the nail on the head with characters, romance and humour! Definitely one I’ll recommend for others to enjoy!

This was a great read. I enjoyed it from very first page to the very last page. Don’t skip over this read. Readers will enjoy it.

You’ve Got Chain Mail by Sam Parks
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 13 August 2024

In this charming romantic comedy, two souls yearning for adventure find love through the unlikely world of role-playing games.

Morgan, feeling adrift since her best friend's departure, longs to break free from her routine. She dreams of becoming her own hero, ready to write an exciting new chapter in her life.

Jack, disillusioned with his small-town existence after a painful breakup, finds his once-peaceful retreat increasingly stifling.

Seeking escape and excitement, both Morgan and Jack dive headfirst into weekly role-playing game sessions with their friends. As they plan an epic adventure for an upcoming Renaissance Faire, they begin to embody the bold, magical personas of their characters.

But as Morgan and Jack lose themselves in fantastical realms and heroic quests, something unexpected begins to take shape in the real world. Could their in-game connection be blossoming into a real-life romance?

“You’ve Got Chain Mail” is a heartwarming tale that blends the whimsy of role-playing games with the charm of small-town romance. Perfect for fans of geek culture, Renaissance Faires, and love stories that celebrate embracing one's true self.

This fun rom-com offers:
- A celebration of geek culture and role-playing games.
- Two endearing protagonists finding their way to each other.
- A charming small-town setting.
- A sweet, slow-burn romance with a dash of spice.

This is an cosy romcom, that is absolutely delightful, a story that you can easily lose yourself in, a story where fantasy and reality intertwine, proving that sometimes the greatest adventures - and the truest love - begin with a roll of the dice.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter, and the author, Sam Parks, for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THIS IS LITERALLY SO GOOD
i can't express how much i love this
cheers to the author for writing this masterpiece

I was captivated from the start by the Renaissance Faire setting, which provides a charming backdrop, especially for readers who love the ambiance of small towns. I found the author's approach of bringing two characters together through role-playing, helping them discover new aspects of themselves and gain confidence, particularly intriguing.

All in all, a fantastic book! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it.

Morgan has been feeling lonely. Since her best friend moved away and isn't answering her calls and texts, she is on her own a lot. She wants to be more adventurous but doesn't really know how to do that.

She started going on weekly D&D games with a group of people who are quickly becoming her friends. They even agree to go to the Renaissance Fair in the States together.

Jack's life is very carefully planned out. There is no room for romance or change. After his bad breakup, he gave up on that and kind of dedicated his life to just staying as it is.

As he takes Morgan out on their little adventures, they get closer and closer, but he is nowhere near that and the change she is about to bring into his life. He makes her more adventurous and she forces him to face his emotions-a perfect match...

They make each other better, but they both come with baggage that threatens to keep them apart.

Is such a sweet story, of letting go, of taking a chance and letting yourself go. A slow-burn romance, but totally worth it!

Highly recommend it!

I was invited by the publisher to read this book. I really loved that the Renaissance Faire was a backdrop to this book - readers who love that world as well as smaller towns should read this book just for that element alone. I also liked the characters becoming familiar to each other through role playing - I thought it was an interesting take by the author to bring two people together who maybe didn't have the confidence as "themselves". My personal tastes like a little more oomph with the romances - this was a bit slower for my personal liking, but I felt like there was adequate chemistry between the two characters and I really, really enjoyed their personal adventures coming out of their comfort zones, putting themselves as individuals first, and growing as a person.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUS/One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Slooooow burn. 3rd act break up. Kinda closed door romance. Ren faire annnnd D&D. I wanted to like the characters more but I felt like both needed to get their act together! At least Pablo got his HEA

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

This book was so entertaining that I read it in a single day. Short but sweet and I loved the role-playing game part because it reminds me of my friends in high school who used to dress up to go to the local renaissance fair back in my hometown of Los Angeles, CA.

Absolutely delightful! This book had me laughing out loud and swooning in equal measure. The characters are loveable, the humour is spot-on, and the romance is heartwarming. A perfect feel-good read!