I ended up not quite loving this one and didn't finish. It wasn't awful, it's just that I couldn't get into it with the vernacular not being quite true to the time period it was supposed to represent. It just took me out of the story, unfortunately.

This may be one I try again in the future. But, for now, I'm calling it.

The first thing I will say about This Will Be Fun is that it is actually very fun. The story, characters, relationships, and world-building are all incredibly charming and often funny. I found myself chuckling while reading this regularly. One of the funniest parts of the book is the medieval fantasy versions of various modern things. For example, there is a horse-and-buggy version of Uber, and a fan convention is a setting for a big scene later in the book.

The book's tone may be playful but the theme is very much a story about overcoming trauma. The story picks up ten years after our three POV characters: Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare saved their kingdom at great personal cost. This Will Be Fun examines what happens to the surviving heroes after the "happily ever after" of our stories.

Elowen has shut herself away from the rest of the world. Beatrice has struggled with intense feelings of guilt and can't stop reliving the worst moments of her life over and over again. Clare embraces the fame his heroics bring him but also struggles with Imposter Syndrome.

The three, along with Elowen's ex-lover and former assassin Vandra, are pulled into a new quest to, once again, save their kingdom. Along the way, they finally start processing all their hurt feelings from the last decade.

This is a romantasy that focuses heavily on two main couples: one heterosexual (Clare/Beatrice, who are known as Claretrice to fans) and one Sapphic (Elowen/Vandra). Both couples fit the "second-chance romance" and "rivals/enemies to lovers" tropes. I genuinely enjoyed both pairings and found myself rooting for both couples.

Along with the romantic relationships, Beatrice and Elowen's broken friendship also gets a lot of focus. The two were best friends from childhood but their friendship was also fractured after their original hero's quest. The two slowly healing their friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book. The novel treated this breakup just as seriously as the romantic rifts and I found that refreshing and enjoyable. The entire group's friendship was endearing to me.

I found This Will Be Fun to be a good balance of romance, plot, and character focus. The relationships and characters do get most of the focus and the plot is mostly used to further those personal journeys. I'd compare the pacing of this as closer to cozy fantasy than adventure fantasy.

The ending also has a fun twist that really enjoyed. I'd love a sequel to see more from this very fun cast of characters!

I DNFed this book at around 25%, but I really think it's an issue of marketing rather than anything else- this novel is a contemporary romance pasted onto a lightly fantasy setting, which isn't explained beyond "magic". I think reaching the right audience, it will be a hit, but as a fantasy, I just couldn't do it.
I primarily struggled with the tone and vibe of the book. I think the goal was a Shrek-like setting, blending the medieval and modern, with magic and swords but also tabloids and message boards, but none of it is well explained or fleshed out. The writing is heavy with modern slang and millennial style social-media jargon, and magic is used to create things like movies and coffee shops with pumpkin spice lattes. This has the intended effect of giving the story a lighthearted, jokey, not too serious vibe, but definitely doesn't fit with the time period of the story.
Overall, I could see this filling a niche, but it needs to be marketed to the romance readers, not the fantasy crowd.

This was a departure from the type of books I normally read but was a good escape. A fantasy type / other world book with fun characters and surprisingly written by authors I've read before. Perfect for anyone who likes fantasy / magic with a bit of romance & adventure thrown in. A solid 4 star read from authors I will keep an eye on for other books.

I was so excited to read this romantasy that sounded so charming from the premise but unfortunately it didn't work out for me the way I wanted it to. So, it features two second chance romances.

Upon reflection, I find myself categorizing this as "not for me." The setting is a tongue-in-cheek modern environment, complete with cell phones, video calls, online forums, streaming services, Uber, and fandom conventions, all lightly draped in a layer of magical explanation. Though, the world-building leaves something to be desired. Some reviewers have compared it to Shrek, and while I appreciate a playful reference, it raises questions about the absence of magical counterparts for various modern conveniences.

In a world with the internet, why are characters still engaged in sword fights? Why do they travel by horseback and camp in the woods instead of utilizing a magical flying vehicle? Why has it taken them a decade to locate the villain? Shouldn't they have access to magical satellite imaging or CCTV by now? Am I overanalyzing this? Certainly!

However, I believe that fantasy world-building should maintain a degree of consistency, and no amount of playful nods to fantasy Amazon deliveries can quell my curiosity about why the queen didn't equip our heroes with a magical GPS tracker to monitor the antagonist. I recognize that I may be the outlier in this opinion, and I apologize for that.

The casual treatment of the world makes the impending apocalypse feel less significant. The fight scenes come across as routine compared to the attention given to romantic encounters. One of the most significant victories occurs off-screen and is merely summarized in a single sentence later on. Perhaps that is the intended message: while the world may be on the brink of destruction, what truly matters are the relationships, the people, and the love. The story features two second chance couples, rich with history, drama, and a touch of spice.

The characters are all endearing, so one's enjoyment will largely depend on their feelings about second chance romances. I do like the trioe so I did happen to enjoy those parts. And, if you enjoy fiery conflicts that transform into passionate connections or lengthy passages of romantic tension, there is much to appreciate here.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher is a mixture of low-ish stakes fantasy, adventure, and second chance romances between four main characters: Vandra and Elowen, and Clare and Beatrice. It reads as something of a sequel, telling readers the aftermath of a quest that happened 10 years prior to the current story beginning. It is also multi-POV, switching every chapter to a different character’s perspective.

The tagline for this book is a great summary: “Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.” Known worldwide as The Four, what occurred between this group of friends 10 years ago was enough to cast them into isolation, never speaking to one another again, until their mutual friend, Queen Thessia, invites them to a festival in their honor. From there, the friends must come face-to-face (literally) with what caused their separation and, much to their chagrin, try to make amends, all while saving the realm… again! Along the way, they learn about themselves and what it truly means to be a hero.

Overall, this book was enjoyable. It was witty and exciting, with heartwarming sentiments that resonated with me. My favorite part was watching the characters develop; I think the writers’ talent shined here. They created complex characters that were all very different from each other. Some parts did not work as much for me, such as the multiple-POVs; I kept losing track of whose perspective from which I was reading. I think this is due to the story being told from third-person narrative, which boils down to personal preference! Additionally, there wasn’t much world-building, which would have been helpful in understanding the setting. There is a magic system that is only explained in one paragraph, and the villains come and go, with readers never really understanding what their motives are. At its heart, it is a cozy fantasy along the lines of The Princess Bride, that shows readers you do not have to be a hero; you just have to try to do good, while staying true to yourself.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This Will Be Fun is a Middle Ages/Renaissance era book that also has modern concepts but described in old ways (i.e. Uber but with carriages) and I LOVED that! The concept was pretty fun but I did struggle a little bit with the fact that the big quest wasn't really introduced until halfway through. For me, it made the story feel stretched out and slow paced BUT I think that there was also a great introduction to all of the characters and concepts in the beginning. This cast of characters had such a fun dynamic (by the time everything got resolved and "the band was back together") and the dynamic kind of reminded me of the character dynamics in Maybe Meant to Be by KL Walther (although this is NOT a young adult book!👀).
Thank you so much to Avon for an early copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!💛

4 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This was actually SO fun.

The characters are relatable, the cozy fantasy vibes were top notch and this felt like playing Dungeons and Dragons in the best way possible.

I was living for the blend of fantasy with modern day things like forums, Star Bucks and Uber. This was a fantasy world I wouldn’t mind being stuck in.

However the book did feel a little long and slow at points but overall this story was delightful. I will be keeping my eye on E. B. Asher for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Will Be Fun • E.B. Asher

And fun it absolutely was. If you liked Legends and Lattes, you absolutely must read this.

Great story about what happens after the chosen one and his medley crew save the realm. Tugged on my heart strings in all the right ways, and I couldn’t get enough of this. The best kind of cozy fantasy vibes & this will be published right in time for your fall TBR.

Pub date - 9/10/2024 go add to your list now !!!

—

“Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.

Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.

But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.

Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.

This time around, will their story end in happily ever after.”

Thank you to Net Galley, E.B. Asher, and Avon and Harper Voyager (Harper Collins Publisher) for this copy of This Will Be Fun, out September 10, 2024!

📜Quick Summary: “The Princess Bride” meets “People we Meet on Vacation” had me intrigued from the start. The book starts as four friends are defending the realm from darkness. Once their quest is complete, they don’t talk again… for ten years. When they are all summoned by an invitation to the Queen of Mythria’s wedding, they cannot say no. When things don’t go their way, and new challenges present themselves, how will these old heroes fare when they are needed to be defenders once again?

❣️Initial Feels: This seemed to be a quirky take on a fantasy/romance novel, and I didn't know if I would love it right away, but I eventually came around.

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: At different points in the novel, each character made me feel for them. For some reason, I enjoyed Clare’s character. Sure, they all went their own ways for ten years after their battle was won, but his demeanor for most of the novel I connected to. He was one of the Four to take advantage of being a hero, but also was stoic in his feelings and who he was deep in his core.

📖Read if you want: dual point of views, magical realms, romance, fantasy

💡Final Sentiments: Overall, this was a good read. It took a minute for me to get into, but I enjoyed the plot overall. There were definitely moments of humor, so I can see where The Princess Bride description fits in! The Four were all SO different, and each character brought a different personality. I wish there was a little bit more world building, more depth at points throughout, but for an intro fantasy reader, this is a quick read and easy to follow.

🌟Overall Rating: 3.5 stars


This novel was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The title of this novel does a wonderful job of describing my experience while reading it. After the huge twist from the very beginning of the book, the story takes you down a road filled with great characters, a well-developed plot, and a LOT of humor.
I will be recommending this novel to many people.
Thank you for the opportunity to preview this with an ARC.

Right off the bat I knew the humor in this story was going to keep me interested. The opening chapter sets the tone for someything epic then Bam 10 years later we were tossed into the other direction. I thought the author did a great job creating complex relationships and character storylines. I also think I need more books with this kind of pace :)

"This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher is an absolute gem that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and adventure! Imagine the nostalgic charm of The Princess Bride mixed with the heartfelt connections from People We Meet on Vacation, and you’ll get a sense of this cozy quest romantasy. The reunion of Beatrice, Elowen, Clare, and the absence of Galwell after a decade of silence is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. As they navigate their unresolved feelings and old rivalries, the story weaves in magical elements and personal growth beautifully. The banter, the romance, the danger—they all blend perfectly, making it impossible to put down. Plus, the magical Truth or Dare scenes and enchanted coffee shops add such a whimsical touch! If you’re craving a read that’s full of heart, adventure, and second chances, this one’s for you. Trust me, you’ll be rooting for these former heroes to find their happily ever after right from the start! I had so much fun with this one and I know you will too.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I feel like this book was a double edged sword for me. On one hand, the romance definitely did it for me, the yearning...jeez I can write a 10 page essay how romance books especially fantasy need to have more yearning in them and still have more to include. This book did it, the chemistry between these characters stood off the page. It is a second chance romance so you know the yearning is gonna go hard and she did deliver.

The other edged sword is that ....in terms of fantasy, this was way too modern for me. I mean theres cell phones, gps, and the internet but the worst part is that it introduces many aspects of modern technology but doesnt even put it to it's proper use, it feels like the author was just trying to throw in the use of technology to give the book an edge? I'm not sure if this a debut but it definitely has promise, I just dont think the world-building was fleshed out enough.

This was an interesting change of pace from many of the romantic fantasy titles I've read. I don't think I'd actually call it romantasy, as such. The setting was "generic fantasy world" in many ways, yet there was a campy overlay of "magic" that replaced cell phones and television and Starbucks in a non-subtle way. In spite of the trauma and emotional turmoil the characters have faced, I'd still describe it as gentle. It contains action, yet the action never takes center stage over the emotional lives of the characters and their interpersonal drama. I struggled to stick with this one, though I can't really say why.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I was interested in this book because of the title and cover, and the title of the book did live up to its promise, this book was fun. The characters were interesting, but my favorite was Vandra. The story was compelling and wasn't the typical the heroes saved the realm and won. I will say discovering that the author is actually three people was a bit of a surprise because it didn't feel like three people wrote the book. I will be recommending this to all of my friends who read.

I couldn’t get past the writing style of this book. Not for me. I couldn’t exactly tell where the story was going.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! Cozy, fun, romantic, and a little bit chaotic! This is such a fun, cozy fantasy read that I will recommend to all of my friends and anyone who is wondering what to read after Travis Baltree. I loved every minute of this book and desperately want another book just like it!

I don't have the right words to say home much I love this book. It has a top slot on my favorites shelf, and I rushed immediately to make sure I pre-ordered my own signed copy.

The book is fun, campy, and full of heart, but also seamlessly incorporates real depth of character and background for each of the characters. Having 4 different POVs could have made this muddled or superficial, but instead it made each of the characters so much more complex and real. Having them be in their 30s, I felt that I knew each of them so well and understood their baggage and choices so much better and they felt their age rather than just not being 18 year-olds. I also appreciated that the friendship difficulties were treated with the same importance as any of the romance related problems. And on top of all of this trauma and angst this book is still so funny, enjoyable, and just a delight. The world building felt so unique - I found the mix of the general medieval style fantasy with the more fun fantastical elements to be so charming and whimsical. I definitely fell the Princess Bride comparisons.

This whole book just felt like that joyful kick-your-feet fun that I never wanted it to end. Books like this remind me why I read and the sheer joy that happens when you find just the right book. I hope there are more books like this to come!