⭐⭐.75 | 2.75 stars rounded up

I loved the concept of this book, especially this time of year when Ren Faires abound. I also appreciated the author's inclusion of neurodivergence and grief in this book.

Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. There was extremeley little build-up for Jess and Mo's relationship and it lacked depth and chemistry because of that. This book also included a lot of telling instead of showing and Mo especially lacked depth beyond him being an HSP. I also couldn't get on board with how many times Jess referred to Mo as a "shy little boy" throughout.

I think with some extra editing this book could have been more successful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had a cute premise, and I like that the author featured a neurodiverse main character where it showed them managing their life and their differences really well. However, I struggled with the writing style. It felt like both main characters said everything they thought out loud immediately and often came to broad conclusions based on small actions. For me, it was too much “tell” and not enough “show”. That’s a personal preference, and I think others may connect better with that style.

2.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this charming and heartwarming new romance novel, readers meet Mo Sarda, a quiet blacksmith with a variety of hobbies and a love of peace and quiet, and Jessica Anderson, a competent but outspoken professor grieving her sister’s death and pursuing archery, but their first meeting is combative and puts them on the wrong foot. However, Mo and Jess get pulled into the effort to save the local Folk School by putting on a Renaissance Faire to raise funds, and as they spend more time together, they start to realize that they have more in common than they realized. With its fascinating premise and fun characters, readers will love the emotional notes in this book and the healing journeys that Mo and Jess go on. The characters are definitely the stars of the novel, and the perspective shifts really add some great drama and emotion to their relationship. With so much detail and such complex characters, readers will be totally immersed in this enjoyable and emotional new romance novel and the growing relationship between Mo and Jess as they deal with themselves before embarking on a relationship. Fun, emotional, and heartwarming, readers will love this entertaining novel for Gia de Cadenet’s brilliant characters and unique storylines.

This book was really cute. I loved the neurodivergent representation and the respect that the main characters showed each other. It just fell a little flat as far as the plot and dialogue went. I kept waiting for something to happen but it felt like so much of the plot centered on Mo’s neurodivergence and Jessica’s grief. We never reallly get to unpack who they are beyond that. I thought that the archery and black smithing would be more central to the story but that was sort of glossed over, also.

I think this was worth a read but there was something missing that kept me from truly enjoying it.

I don’t think this one was for me. It fell flat for me and I’m not sure what would’ve made it better for me. I liked the concept but I think they leaned a bit too heavily on Mo’s neurodivergence and made it the only thing noticeable about him instead of just who he is and moving on

Thank you to NetGalley and to Dell for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Goodness - I wanted to love this book far more than I did. The whole premise was really intriguing to me but it just didn't work on the page. Most of the problem (if not - all) is on me; I feel myself struggling with a book hangover and I just wasn't able to get sucked into this book so my attention was all over the place.

I really enjoyed the writing, and the pop-culture references all made me giddy. The character development felt good, and this is a fun, low-stakes, romance.

Smart, swoony, and full of heart! Give Me a Shot blends sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a thoughtful look at ambition and vulnerability. Gia De Cadenet delivers a romance that feels both modern and deeply emotional—perfect for fans of love stories with real depth.

Thank you to Random House for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review! Give Me A Shot follows Jess, moving to MI and trying to move on from her sister's death, and Mo, a highly sensitive person whose empathic nature makes it overwhelming for him to navigate the world and the people in it. I thought their relationship was super mature - they really saw each other and communicated well throughout the book. I loved seeing Mo find ways to thrive and trust Jess and take a chance on falling in love with her. With Jess, there was a lot to unpack and her journey was cathartic, but I'm not sure we saw her resolve some of the big issues with her family (honestly, that's probably a realistic outcome, but it still felt a little undone). I felt like the b-plot around the ren faire and the school didn't have the same stakes as them figuring out what being together looked like so that took me out of the overall character journeys, but not so much that I didn't enjoy the read! I loved seeing the representation of mental health and grief that these two brought to the table! Definitely check the TW before you pick it up!

This tender, slow-burn romance is as emotionally rich as it is quietly swoony. Mo and Jess are beautifully drawn opposites—he’s the quiet, grounded blacksmith with a soft heart, and she’s the sharp, passionate professor trying to rebuild her life after loss. Their chemistry sparks from the moment they clash (and flirt) at the Folk School, and watching them navigate grief, vulnerability, and unexpected desire is both moving and deeply satisfying.

The small-town setting, complete with blacksmithing, archery, and a charming community Renaissance Faire, adds warmth and whimsy to a story rooted in healing and connection. The author perfectly balances humor, heartache, and heat, making every interaction between Mo and Jess feel earned and electric. If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine pairings, found family, and slow, soulful romances that leave you smiling and a little teary, this one absolutely delivers.

This book follows Mo, a grumpy, neurodivergent blacksmith, and Jess, a college professor and professional archer, when they are forced to work together to assemble a Ren Faire to save their trade school from closing. Mo is happy to keep to himself and focus on raising his daughter, but Jess catches his attention when she moves into town. Jess is coming to terms with a tragic event in her family and learning how to continue life after loss, but she cannot help but be charmed by Mo. Both are determined to fight the feelings, but sparks fly as the Ren Faire planning progresses.

This novel feels like an honest love story, where two people put aside their differences and take the time to understand and love each other through difficulty. Mo's family is so sweet, so I need to go back and pick up the books that follow his brothers' love stories. This book is a standalone romance, but the author previously wrote books that follow the other Sarda brothers.

The miscommunication in the book is a bit frustrating, but the wonderful friendships portrayed throughout act as a nice distraction from those situations.

I think that this book is a sweet and heartfelt romance. I recommend it to readers who enjoy a lot of character development and books that portray couples who work through their trauma and emotions together.

This romance is soft in all the ways that matter—like a weighted blanket you didn’t know your heart needed. A grieving heroine meets a blacksmith with a quiet soul, and together they craft a slow, tender love story rooted in trust, vulnerability, and healing. It’s about showing up, even when you’re shattered. It’s about love that doesn’t demand fixing—just witnessing. My heart = melted.

🏷️ Tropes You’ll Find:

Opposites attract

Forced proximity (event planning FTW)

Renaissance Faire backdrop

Found family

Soft cinnamon roll MMC

Neurodivergent rep (HSP)

He brings her flowers

Grieving heroine

Single dad sweetness

Friends who say the hard things

Archery is therapy (no notes)

Blush Meter 🔥🔥/ 5

Sweet and soulful. Think slow kisses, lingering gazes, emotional intimacy dialed all the way up, and one particularly tender scene that made me curl into myself and squeal like a Victorian heroine clutching a love letter. The spice isn't constant, but when it shows up? It’s earned. Deeply emotional and never performative.

🌟 TAK Girlie Rating: ★★★★☆

Four stars for the softest man I've read this year, a heroine who felt human in all her messy, grieving glory, and a romance that respected mental and emotional nuance. I docked half a star only because I found myself wanting just a little more time inside the romantic arc—some scenes felt like emotional sketches that I wanted to see developed further. But the heart of this book? Beating and beautiful.


I went into Give Me a Shot expecting Renaissance Faire banter, flower crowns, and maybe a little rompy fun. What I got was emotional depth, affirming softness, and two broken people who never try to fix each other, but instead hold space for one another in a way that felt nothing short of holy.

Let’s start with Mo. (MO!!!) If you’ve ever screamed “WHY CAN’T MEN BE LIKE THIS?” into the void after reading a book boyfriend too good to be true, this one’s for you. He’s a blacksmith, yes, but not in the cliché gruff alpha way. He’s a Highly Sensitive Person who processes the world gently and carefully. He feels everything. He notices things. He leaves a little flower for Jess, not to impress her, but because he sees that she needs softness. That kind of thoughtfulness? Peak fictional boyfriend behavior. It was also incredibly refreshing to see HSP rep done with honesty and complexity—it wasn’t a quirk, it was part of how he loved. And this was my first time reading about it, given that I’m a self-diagnosed HSP, so I’m glad to see someone like me being represented.

Jess, meanwhile, is deep in grief. Her sister’s death has left her unmoored, and that fog of sadness colors everything she touches. She’s moved back from England and is trying (and mostly failing) to find her place again. I’ll be honest: she was frustrating at times. But here’s the thing—I didn’t need her to be likable. I needed her to be real. And she was. Her emotional walls, her avoidance, her distance—it was all familiar. Painfully so. Watching her slowly let Mo in, even when she didn’t know how to ask for help, broke something open in me.

Their romance isn’t a whirlwind or flashy—it’s steady. And yes, there are cute moments: planning the Ren Faire together, quiet laughs during archery practice, Mo being the literal best dad. But what stayed with me was the quiet intimacy of their shared grief, their willingness to ask hard questions, and the joy of being truly seen.

Also? Jess’s friends are the real deal. They call her out, not out of judgment, but love. There’s something powerful about seeing a heroine surrounded by people who won’t let her self-destruct in silence. And Mo’s relationship with his daughter? Tender and grounded. It’s rare to see a single dad in romance who isn’t just a plot device—and Mo is never that. His love for his daughter informs every choice he makes. He’s just that guy.

This book also deserves a shout-out for showing that healing doesn’t mean being perfectly okay by the end. Jess and Mo don’t magically fix each other. But they do give each other space to breathe, to feel, and to try. The romance becomes a safe room, not a solution.

🏹 Final Thoughts:

Give Me a Shot is what I call a soft-armor romance—it wraps itself around you, gently guards your heart, and lets you feel deeply without ever flinching. It’s for everyone who craves a love that whispers instead of shouts. It’s for the emotionally tired. The tenderhearted. The ones who want to believe that love can be quiet and epic.

It’s a love story, yes. But it’s also a story about showing up—for yourself, for your community, for that weird little Renaissance Faire that somehow becomes everything. I didn’t expect this book to hit me this hard. But it struck like a perfectly aimed arrow.

📚 For Fans Of:

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Love stories that honor softness

Emotionally intelligent men who listen (and really listen)

Found families, grief healing, and small gestures that land big

Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕

T.A.K. Girlie 💋

“You’ve become one of my safe spaces by letting me be who I truly am.” 🛋️🤍

a special thank you to Net Galley, Random House & Dell Romance for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Give Me a Shot by Gia de Cadenet!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange. this is also the first book i received an email invite for, which was so exciting!!! (thank you again, dell romance)

🔍 publication date: may 6th, 2025

review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (05/29/25)
just an adorable, incredibly empathetic & respectful relationship to read about (with a bit of spice).

this book brought to light a lot of difficult topics: grief, love, friendship, family dynamics, stress, mental health, parenting, and so so much more. it’s truly impressive how well thought-out these conversations were. for example, i found stress manifesting into physical pain very relatable.

i also loved the focus put on reaching out to others for help, it’s never a burden for those who care about you.

straight off the bat, Mo (MMC) was so sweet & empathetic. which does make sense as he is a HSP. i hadn’t heard of Highly Sensitive Person prior to this but i truly enjoyed reading about this representation.

this was especially true with the dual perspective chapters, where a reader could actually see what it’s like to be in his mind. speaking of his pov, i loved the emphasis listening and allowing others to speak for themselves, even if you have the good intentions.

This story was way better than I expected it be. Sometimes I read romance novels that are just "okay". You never really know what you're going to get but I'm glad I decided to give this one a chance. Mo was so empathetic and understanding and even though there was a 3rd act breakup (which I hate) it was done with love and care and with communication instead of the two characters simply yelling at each other and not listening. Jess ultimately decided in the breakup it wasn't a joint decision but I respect that Mo understood where she was coming from and knew she was only trying to do what she thought was best at the moment and didn't try to argue about it and cause more pain. The renaissance fair aspect didn't play as big of a part as I anticipated but honestly I appreciate that. Overall this was a really great story and I loved Mo and Jess's communication skills and the discussions of grief.

I really tried to get into this book. I love ren fairs, I love romance books that take place at ren fairs, like bring it on, but something about the two main characters reads off to me and I can’t put my finger on it. Despite chemistry on the page I felt no chemistry between the leads and aside from that, something in general felt off to me. Like I said, I can’t place it and the desire to pull out my Kindle for this vanished, so a few months later I admit defeat. This could be an entirely me problem, I haven’t read other reviews yet, but there’s my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

I decided to DNF this book, so will only discuss what I’ve read. I got to read 41% of the book. I’ve read the author’s other two books as ARCs, so I was ecstatic for this one.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. To start, this book focused too much on the MMC’s neurodivergent behavior that it became overkill. I’ve read other books before with neurodivergent characters and those included more depth and more detail to the actual plot line of the story. What I read in this book does not accomplish that at 41% in. Every other page is about Mo being a highly sensitive person and what that means, so when it got to the actual build up of him and Jess giving into their feelings, it didn’t make sense to me because the build up was lacking and the chemistry/relationship didn’t really make sense to me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

An archer and a blacksmith work together to help their Folk School put on a Renaissance Faire to save the school. I LOVED the concept of this story and was excited to see some neurodivergent rep in a romance novel. However… the author’s relentless focus on the MMC’s HSP made both the story feel textbook dry and the relationship clinical.

Mo, a main character, possesses a sensory-processing sensitivity. The reader observes interaction with his daughter and siblings alongside his employees at his auto shop. By creating these scenarios, the reader see how others view him and how these interactions affect him. Thus, by the the time he and Jess' relationship builds, the reader understands what motivates his actions.

They quickly fell ( into bed) despite an initial hostile start and lack of interaction leading up to the event. An estranged relationship between Jess' parents (especially, her father) suddenly appears.

This seemed more Mo's story than Jess' despite the various breadcrumbs tossed along the book as to what befell her beloved sister, Cassie.

#GiveMeaShot #NetGalley
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random Publishing Group-Ballantine, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this. The author handled all of the characters well and nothing felt forced. Mo’s story was touching but not twee. If anything Jess acted a little bit crass at times,but grief does weird things to us. It was nice to see the grief information handled well too.

This is exactly why I’ve been stuck on romances lately—they hit all the right nerdy spots for me as a D&D and Renaissance Fair fan. The main characters rolled nat 20s in charm and depth. Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) isn’t a stat I usually see in books, but I learned more about it here than from my last character sheet. Plus, the side quest with Jess and their friendship added some much-needed XP to the story. Overall? A wonderful, nerdy read that’s got me ready to roll initiative for the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I loved the storyline and thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.