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.

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.