Who says you cannot learn from fictions? In this book, I appreciate Gia’s effort into researching and highlighting the neurodivergence in highly sensitive people. Reading about HSPs in such a light has opened my mind to considering people in my circle that may be an HSP. So thank you Gia for teaching us and providing representation for “moody” and “grumpy” people around us.
I truly appreciate the various themes explored in this book— intersectionality between love and grief, difficult conversations between friends, domestic abuse and second-chance romance. Mo and Jess are a reminder to us that humans are multi-faceted and life is a continuum of finding yourself in different seasons and finding love and hope in them.

Alright, so this was one of those books that left me feeling a little torn. On one hand, I loved the male love interest, Mo Sarda, — charming, grounded, and honestly the only reason I kept turning the pages. He had that perfect mix of emotional depth and quiet strength, and every scene with him was a win.

On the flip side... the female main character, Jess? Kind of drove me up the wall. She had this frustrating habit of making everything more complicated than it needed to be. I get that flawed characters can be more "real," but some of her choices just felt exhausting rather than endearing.

That said, the book did do something interesting with messy family dynamics. It wasn’t your typical fairytale romance — there were tangled relationships, awkward reunions, and a lot of emotional baggage that gave the story more depth. It’s not all fluff, and I actually appreciated that.

Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. If you can handle a slightly annoying protagonist and want something a little deeper than your average rom-com, it’s worth a shot. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself rooting for the guy more than the actual relationship.

This was such a refreshingly tender romance! Give Me A Shot brings together a quiet, emotionally aware blacksmith and an archery-loving professor as they team up to save a local Folk School by throwing a Renaissance Faire. Yes, it’s as charming as it sounds, like we’re all living in Stars Hollow.

Mo and Jess are both dealing with grief and figuring out how to move forward. Their connection is slow burn, full of awkward honesty, vulnerability, and sweet chemistry. I especially appreciated the thoughtful portrayal of Mo as a Highly Sensitive Person—it’s rare and beautifully done.

The story leans more emotional than fast-paced, but the payoff is worth it. If you’re into grounded, character-driven romances with a unique setting and plenty of heart, give this one a shot.

**Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC. All opinions are my own.**

The third installment in an interconnected series of stand alone, highly recommend reading the other two first!

Jess and Mo have a heck of a meet cute, him startling her to a point she takes up arms in the form of a bow and arrow. When they're later looped in to assist at a Ren Faire to save the local folk school from closing down, a little proximity, a lot of emotions and some sparks, its only a matter of time before they lean into their feelings.

I feel like there was a LOT going on in this book with heavy back story lines that were competing with each other a little toooo much for how fast everything was resolved (and heavy things at that). But overall a fun read!


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Ok as someone who’s not into the D & D scene or Renascence Faires, I wasn’t sure how I would enjoy this book but I knew I wanted to read it based solely on the MMC, who was a grumpy neurodivergent and he did not disappoint. Mo had such unique and interesting attributes that endeared me to him almost from the moment he appeared in the page and even through some tough topics that were covered throughout the story, he remained his best self and showed thoughtfulness and empathy towards Jess, the FMC. Jess had some major trust issues and needed to do better at communicating, but at heart she was a genuinely kind person and therefore it made it easy to see that these two could belong together.
While HSP is a new concept for me, I learned a lot about it in this story, but I didn’t feel like it was overwhelming. It just seemed to help understand Mo and his response to things.
Besides the romance aspect, there’s a great secondary story about the power of friendship as Jess’ close friends help navigate her through some difficult times as well as her new feelings for Mo despite the distance between them.
This is evidently part of a series, which I wasn’t aware of until after reading it so clearly you can read it as a standalone, but I will definitely be reading the rest of the books and anything else this author writes!
Thanks to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Love. Adored.
These two man. They were just perfect together. I had so much fun reading this and loving these two. I giggled, squealed and love them. I liked how protective he was.

this one was a lot of fun! i wish i would’ve gotten more closure between jessica and her parents because i think that would’ve definitely helped her process her grief, especially when we learn that her mom follows the same pattern her sister did. i also wish we could’ve seen her grief process more. mo was a beautiful, beautiful mmc and i loved everything about him — no notes.

overall id give this 3.5 just because i feel like our fmc wasn’t completely flushed out in my opinion. would definitely recommend this though!

This was a very emotional read, and I was unprepared for that. It touches a lot on grief, repressed feelings, sibling loss, and HSP ( highly sensitive person). The romance was nice and just the right amount of light spice for the tone of this book. I just feel like the heaviness of the book drew me out at times or made the story slow. I am not sure, it just did not hit for me but that does not at all make it a bad read.

Thanks to netgalley and Random House PG – Ballantine for the Arc!

I was excited to read this because the plot seemed interesting but I just couldn’t get into the writing or the story.

Oh how I loved this book!

This is such a beautiful portrayal of real and messy people, and the love they can have when they put in the work. (We love an emotionally aware MMC, and we love some neurodiverse rep!) This book made me laugh, cry, and occasionally kick my feet. If you loved Well Met (DeLuca) or Taking Initiative (Stewart), you'll want to read this one asap!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a really well done romance novel, it had that element that I was wanting and enjoyed in this type of book. Gia De Cadenet was able to weave a tale that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall feel of the characters.

“I wanted to dive in. As crazy as it probably sounds, I’m starting to miss reading academic research.” Jess’s jaw dropped and Alice laughed. “I know, I know. When I had to, I couldn’t wait to stop. Now that I don’t have to …” She shrugged. Jess let her laughter die down with her friend’s. Alice’s face suddenly shifted to concern. “Are you all right?” she asked.”

RenFaire romance unfolds between two tough-on-the-outside leads, one an archer and the other a blacksmith.

✨ Pub Day Book Review: GIVE ME A SHOT by Gia De Cadenet ✨

💘 Book Synopsis: Jessica Anderson is new in town and guarded after the loss of her sister. She seeks solace in work and her archery, but knows she needs to try to make friends in town too. Mo Sarda is the first person she meets and it does not go well. When they meet again, Mo seems terse and uninterested, but also empathetic and kind. When Jess and Mo are forced together to help save the Folk School they both love, they soon realize each has so many more layers than are first apparent and sparks fly. They now need to work through their past hurts if they can have a shot together.

🥰 My Take: What a fun, beautiful, and nuanced steamy romance! This is the first book I’ve ever read that talks about and aims to normalize sensitivity processing nuances specific to Highly Sensitive People. I was in near tears and felt so seen. While I loved this about the book, the nuances of HSPs were included by name throughout the book slightly more than I felt necessary. This though is my only critique. I loved both the main characters, they each had believable back stories that gave them depth, and they are so, so good together. The RenFaire buildup and setting were delightful bonuses. Highly recommend this book and I’ll be looking to add more from @gia_decad to my TBR.

Read GIVE ME A SHOT for
✌️ Dual POV insights
👑 Renaissance Faire setting
🏹 Female archer with black cat energy
🔥 Gruff male blacksmith who’s actually a softy
💗 Single girl dad
⚡️ Sensitivity processing neurodivergence rep

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @DellRomance for the gifted digital and physical ARC. Such a treat! All opinions are my own.

👩🏻‍🏫 Reader Note: Grief at the off-page loss of a loved one due to domestic violence. Take care.

As a therapist and HSP myself I loveddd the mental health rep of the grief and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) neurodivergence pieces of this story.

Story was so much more than a romance. But the romance was really good too!!

Such a soft, tender, sweet, and spicy read. This isn’t your average romance read. It was perfect cozy feel-your-feelings and have a good cathartic release kind of book. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing the ARC.

This book was not what I expected when I first read the synopsis. While it was definitely lighthearted in many places, the story is so much more than that. It is an exploration of grief and a look into a specific type of neurodivergency that I don't think people realize is even a thing.

Mo Sarda is a blacksmithing wonder living live as a Highly Sensitive Person when he has what can only amount to a meet ugly with Jess Anderson, a former competitive archer and still reeling from the death of her sister, when she threatens him with a crossbow for allegedly breaking into the storage facility where her sister's belongings stay. Their relationship blooms when Jess and Mo meet again at the Folk Arts school they both frequent, and even more so when they are both asked to participate in a ren faire when the school's wealthy benefactor passes away.

Jess and Mo are both wary of each other initially, Mo because of having to navigate his neurodivergency with people who don't fully understand it, and Jess because she has not processed the death of her sister, and is very wary of men in general since she suspects that her sister's abusive husband may have caused the accident that killed her on purpose. The story unfolds as they both break down their walls and learn to let each other in, even though they have several stumbles and missteps. Mo is steadfast in his approach with Jess, trying to show her that he will not break, and Jess is doing everything in her power to be respectful of his neurodivergency, even if it comes off as grossly overprotective.

I really enjoyed this story and these characters. They show that grief is not always a linear path, and that sometimes our upbringing pre-wires us to react in specific ways. They show that neurodivergency is not something that someone needs to "put up with" or "tolerated" and can be exactly what we need even when we aren't sure of it ourselves. Mo is so tenderhearted and caring that it is impossible not love him. Jess never stood a chance.

This book will get you into your feels, but it really is something truly special.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

Pick up GIVE ME A SHOT for:

Soft & Sweet
Until It's Not 🥵
Attentive Lovers
Shy Boy & Grumpy Girl
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Rep

My favorite element here is how well Mo and Jess fit together. (Yes, in that way too, you naughty readers.) Mo being highly sensitive & empathetic. Jess as an active observer & that sees the goodness behind Mo's gruffness. She thrives in the safety and calm Mo provides. And Mo can trust Jess to respect his boundaries.

Overall, I loved that GIVE ME A SHOT wasn't about coping with neurodivergence, but how we with spicy glittery brains can thrive.

A critical note is more about my preference in how Mo and Jess' story was written. It is very dialogue heavy. From the synopsis, " ... if only they would be willing to give each other a shot." This actually happens very early in the book. Jess and Mo see each other very clearly and make an instant connection (confrontational meet-cute aside). They spend the rest of the book opening up to each other. Talking. A lot.

The synopsis also promises a forced proximity working relationship and a Renaissance Faire. However, there is very little of each. Mo and Jess are recruited to participate and be present for planning, but by no means are they responsible for it happening. Then the Ren Faire magically happens in the last few chapters. I feel this one under delivered on the hook that drew me in.

I hope this book finds a readership though because Mo and Jess are such beautiful characters. Their pursuit of joy after a lifetime of being misunderstood (Mo) and processing grief (Jess) fills my heart. I am glad to know characters like them.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.25/5 stars

Give Me a Shot by Gia De Cadenet is a grumpy x grumpy romance between mechanic/blacksmith Mo Sarda and professor/archer Jessica Anderson. Mo is a single dad who’s very stable in his routine to manage his neurodivergence and is used to only being understood by his family. Jess is making a new life for herself in the wake of grieving her sister. Mo and Jess are voluntold to be the faces of the upcoming Renaissance Faire hosted by their local Folk School, where Mo teaches blacksmithing and Jess practices archery, in an attempt to raise funds to keep it from closing. Both must put aside their aversion from peopling to save what so many people (especially Mo) consider their safe place.

This book was so sweet and honestly everything I was in the mood for. The writing managed to capture these small human moments that could easily go unnoticed, but these little details in their mannerisms and such made the characters feel so *real* to me.

Mo and Jess *see* each other. They are quick to see past each other’s masks, and with every new detail that they learn about the other, they each individually take the initiative to figure out how to best understand and support each other. These characters actively taking those steps to learn and really be cognizant of *why and how* the other lives and reacts to the world and people around them are the very reason I love reading dual POV. Their journey towards each other made them develop and grow as individuals— *chef’s kiss.*

I loved reading Mo and Jess embrace each other as people. I love Jess seeing Mo’s neurodivergence as special in the most loving way. I love Mo being quietly romantic with the things he makes and the gifts he gives. <spoiler> And when the flowers and flower language came full circle— crying (most affectionately.) It was defs my favorite part of the book and had me giggling and kicking my feet.</spoiler>

And the families. I love Mo’s family (and I’m including Mrs. Sargysan here). I love his relationships with his brothers, especially Khalil and his relationship with Maddie. I love Jess’s friends, her found family. I love that they give it to her straight instead of letting her fall deeper into pain from avoiding her grief. I love that Mo and Jess have these really solid support systems beyond each other within their eventual romance.

This book was such a joy to read. Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the ARC!

This book was a lot deeper than I thought it would be. There were parts that had me giggling and blushing but there was also a lot of deeper insights and thoughts in it as well. I loved the characters and want to read the other 2 books by Gia. The sweet moments were perfection and the sincerity between Mo and Jess was a breath of fresh air. The consideration they have for each other made their relationship so much better. The way Jess had to come to terms with her grief, broke my heart. Her two besties Alice and Stephanie are the perfect picture of what best friends should be. The refernces to The Princess Bride were fantastic, I loved every second of that.

Thank you to Gia de Cadenet, her publisher and Netgalley for offering me the chance to read and review this book.

4.5 stars

This book is such a great and positive departure from your typical romance novels.

First, let's discuss the heartfelt and very close to accurate representation of a character that is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). I have been very good friends with a couple of HSPs and the author does a really good job of describing their feelings, their overstimulation from noises, smells, and touching. This is the only book I have seen HSP represented in and I have read almost 600 books.

Second, let's discuss the fact that we have a couple of hobbies/sports I have never seen in a romance novel. Jess, our FMC, is very well accomplished archer and is finally finding her way back into her passion for it. Mo, our MMC, is a blacksmith in his free time and was once a collegiate rower and an Olympic alternate until he got hurt.

Third, the way the author handles Jess learning about and supporting and protecting Mo with his HSP and the way Mo is viewed as helping Jess battle through her grief of losing her sister is so very well done. It is very accurate and the intense pain that is felt by the FMC as she tries navigate the death of her sister is stellar.

Gia de Cadenet crafted a book that is a must read for anyone who is looking for a different take on a romance novel or for someone who is looking for another strong neurodivergent representation that is done well.

This was a sweet story! I love how they worked together. I also think it is great when we can read a story about parents that aren’t together and they can co parent so well. Kids deserve that. This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be the last.