Despite a title like "Thrill Ride," the romance wasn't very thrilling. The meet cute was boring (it was just...outside the cinnamon roll hut? No cute chaos), the development of their relationship happened more in allusions than on the page (show me the almost-kiss, please and thank you), and the third act break-up felt pointless and got resolved WAY too fast. Some stuff was ADORABLE, like their walks through the parks and the way he grabs her hand on rides and how he takes notes on her infodumps. At least to me, it wasn't enough.

Perhaps more than a romance, this is a love letter to theme parks. There was a lot of theme park knowledge in here, particularly about IP and the importance of atmosphere. I spent the entire time reading this book texting my best friend, who is a Project Coordinator for a theme park contractor. Jessica is a diehard thoosie who knows everything there is to know about this industry. So when she says that this book is a 7/10 on theme park accuracy, I believe her.

To quote my best friend, "it reads like the author wants to write a theme park design video essay but has to cloak it as a romance novel." I see this book appealing to the thoosies, but maybe not as much to the casual romance reader. But it seems like thoosies are the audience Ratcliffe intended, which is why I'm giving this a three.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amy Ratcliffe is a new-to-me author with a Star Wars catalog that I can't wait to explore! This is her first foray into romance, and I was excited to dive into this book when I discovered it on NetGalley.

It's easy to get stuck in romance tropes, so when I come across a new angle, setting, or twist, I'm all in! **Thrill Ride** did not disappoint in that aspect. This is the first theme park romance I've read, and I loved that the main setting was a quaint theme park in Ohio. The big bad was the allure of Dreamland in Orlando, setting the stage for our heroine, Charlotte.

Charlotte loves her family and their theme park, Land of Legends. Will they accept her back into the fold after her time as a Dream Mechanic for Dreamland? Can she save Land of Legends? Join Charlotte and her clan as Gregory and Ever Fund introduce you to Land of Legends and the magic of theme parks.

This is a closed-door romance, safe to read with the entire family! You get your thrill ride from the actual rides and magical trips through Lands of Legend and Dreamland. I enjoy all levels of steam and spice and read both YA and adult romances. If you're looking for a sweet story and need a break from the same old sport/mafia/fill-in-the-blank storyline, give **Thrill Ride** by Amy Ratcliffe a try!

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Thrill Ride is a fun, solid romance that's perfect for theme park fans. Charlotte is very dedicated to her job, though she feels a bit lost at times, and that was something I could understand and appreciate in a character. Gregory was also a lovely character who fit well with Charlotte, but the story was so focused on Charlotte that I felt we missed out on a bigger journey for him, which I would have loved. I also was interested in his family, who, unfortunately, existed only off-page.
I do feel this book was more about Charlotte's journey with the family theme park than her romance with Gregory, so if you're in it for only the romance you might be a little disappointed. Regardless, the story made for a quick and fun read full of references I think any theme park fan would recognize. I also loved the nod to some Columbus locations, such as the beloved Book Loft.

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC.

Such a sweet and fun book. I found that the topic was just cute enough without being cheesy. The writing is good and I was entertained while invested in the outcome of the main characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A little too sweet and a little too closed door for my taste, but not a bad book overall. Right book wrong reader most likely.

I think a lot of people will like this story as the setting is incredibly original and fun! To me the issue was that the writing wasn’t charismatic enough and was too straightforward. Other than that, I’d recommend it

The romance between Charlotte and Gregory is adorable, capturing the essence of a classic, closed-door love story—sweet without crossing into overly saccharine territory. Both characters experience significant personal growth throughout the narrative. Charlotte learns to balance her deep connection to her past with her aspirations for the future, while Gregory discovers the joy and wonder of the theme park life.

Charlotte era la productora creativa de una famosa cadena de parques de diversión, hasta que es despedida y decide regresar para ayudar al parque temático de sus tíos. Allí conocerá a Gregory, un estoico inversionista que quiere ayudar a que Lands of Legend recupere su antigua gloria. Tendrán que pasar mucho tiempo juntos y ambos se darán cuenta de que las primeras impresiones que tuvieron el uno del otro fueron equivocadas.

Me gustó ver el crecimiento de Charlotte. Hubo muchas veces en las que me desesperó el hecho de que restara valor a su nuevo trabajo y no se diera cuenta de que disfrutaba más lo que estaba haciendo que su empleo anterior.

Una lástima que Gregory no tuviera povs, me hubiera encantado conocerlo más a fondo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An adorable closed-door romance that's perfect for any Disney adult or someone who likes theme parks! (and maybe amusement parks too). Charlotte and Gregory are believable and the romance is cute without being too cutesy and Amy does a great job of having both of them grow throughout. I'm not usually a big one for single POV romances, but I did really like this one!

Charlotte loves a theme park. She was raised in one that her aunt and uncle created, Lands of Legend, and she left and worked for the ultimate large scale theme park, DreamUs. When she finds out that her beloved park is shopping around for investors, she comes face-to-face with a buttoned-up (but handsome) funds manager that they choose, Gregory, and the two have to come to terms with, not only what to do with a park that needs a lot of work, but how to teach Gregory about theme park life.

In an ode to theme parks, Ratcliffe has created characters who exist in a very niche world of amusement rides and thematic food with a closed door romance and sweetly evolving familial boundaries. Thrill Ride is about finding out what you want for yourself, your family, and your hometown, while giving someone a chance after having your heartbroken. This book really seemed like a Hallmark movie to me, and I mean that in a good way: it had chemistry without spice, a small town business with a lot of heart, and a family that supports and helps the main character as she grows into who she wants to be. I think this book is sweet, and definitely unique - I don’t know if I’ve ever read anything regarding a theme park before - and it is perfect for Disney adults and anyone who wants a light romance with heart.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This romance is pure magic! Watching Charlotte’s journey from heartbreak to rediscovery in a whimsical theme park setting is a delightful ride. Her chemistry with Gregory transforms from skepticism to sizzling attraction, making you root for both her career and her heart. It beautifully captures the thrill of embracing the unexpected, reminding us that sometimes love can turn your world upside down in the best way possible.