This is really a 3.5-3.75 stars kind of book, but it just didn’t hit a 4 for me. The setting is fun, and I think it tackles heavy subjects like the physical manifestation of grief really successfully. I liked both Jess and Mo a lot, and I actually started researching Highly Sensitive People while reading this book because some stuff about Mo feels all too relatable to me.

But I just felt held at arms length by the narration, when I really wanted to connect even more with the characters. I also would have loved to see more of Mo’s daughter Maddie in important moments, and more of the ren faire and the folk school. I do think it was overall a successful story, and different readers connect with books in different ways. This one just didn’t totally work for me.

The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!

I didn’t know what to expect going into this. It was part fun and part serious. I got lost in some places but overall it was a good read.

This centred around Mo, a Highly Sensitive Person, and his colleague, Jess. They are tasked with organising a renaissance faire to save their ‘school’. They are both grumpy.

It is a book about friendship, love, grief, family and community. There are sensitive issues which the author deals with gracefully and humanely.

It was an eye opener on another aspect of neurodivergence/neurodiversity and how grief can manifest in other ways.

I love how the main characters anticipate each other’s needs and experiences and work to make it better. They brought out the best in each other which was a refreshing take to the numerous romance out there.

If you are looking for something different then you should read this.

This book was so much FUN! I was sucked in from the cover and my love of the renaissance faire, and I stayed for the romance.

Mo was a dreamy hero for me, as a mom, because he’s such a good dad. Jessica was such a fun and relatable character! Their chemistry was off the charts!

Sparks ignite between a novice blacksmith and a bold professor who shares a love for archery in the touching contemporary romance, Give Me a Shot by Gia de Cadenet. This sweet, spicy, and tender novel captivated me from the start and left me yearning for more.

4.5/5 stars

Tropes:
Strangers to friends to lovers
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
Neurodivergence rep
Trauma/healing
Dual POV

This was unexpected and cute. I didn't know what I was getting into with this book other than a Renaissance Faire setting, which is fun for me. What blew me away was the emotional impact and depth of this book. My heart was gushing for these two early on. I greatly enjoyed seeing their story unfold and grow. Mo and Jess were just so cute together. This was my first book from this author but not my last. Highly recommend for fans of sweet romances full of emotion, friends to lovers, and workplace romances.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Give Me a Shot was a very sweet Slow Burn romance. The two main characters are dealing with some very complicated family dynamics as well as personal journeys. I thought this book did a really good job with delving into the emotion surrounding grieving and loss. By finding communication the MCs built a friendship that turned into romance. I also enjoyed the sub plot of saving the folk school from bankruptcy and the cast of characters involved there.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

"Give Me A Shot" is a beautifully crafted romance that explores the complexities of grief, vulnerability, and human connection. Mo Sarda and Jessica Anderson are two intriguing characters who, despite their initial clash, develop a captivating chemistry.

The story expertly weaves together themes of loss, healing, and finding one's passion, all set against the charming backdrop of a Folk School and Renaissance Faire. The author's writing is evocative, bringing the characters and setting to life with vivid descriptions and nuanced emotions.

Mo's quiet strength and Jess's fiery spirit make for a compelling contrast, and their slow-burning romance is both tender and intense. The supporting cast adds depth and humor to the story, making it a delightful read.

What stands out most is the author's thoughtful portrayal of grief and vulnerability. Mo and Jess's journeys are authentic and relatable, and their growth is palpable.

Overall, "Give Me A Shot" is a heartwarming and engaging romance that will resonate with readers who enjoy character-driven stories, slow-burn romances, and small-town settings.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Recommendation: If you enjoy books like "The Hating Game" by Sally Thorne, "The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simsion, or "Evvie Drake Starts Over" by Linda Holmes, you'll love "Give Me A Shot"!

Mo and Jess don't get off to the best start. But as they spend more time together trying to save the film school, they slowly get to know each other. Both have their issues but is it enough to keep them apart. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

3.5 stars

Overall, this was a sweet book. Both MCs have deep emotional journeys that they allow the other into maturely, which is why the 3rd act breakup didn't fully make sense to me for the reasoning. However, I really enjoyed learning about HSPs through Mo's character and the grief journey through Jess was well written. Her grief was complicated for many reasons, how her sister passed, her guilt for not being there, and her relationship with her parents. While that sounds like a lot, I think it was handled really well by the author. I liked that both characters were mostly great at communicating and caring for each other. There were a couple issues for me however. M'lady is maybe the worst pet name I have ever read in a book and yes it makes sense for the plot with the Ren Faire but I still hated it. I also felt that their constant "are you okay?" questions back and forth felt repetitive and slowed down the whole book for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Gia has written a couple 5 star books, and this was no different. I loved Mo and Jess, both as individual characters but also as a team. They were so thoughtful and vulnerable and made them connect with the reader right away. The setting was vibrant and the pacing worked really well.

Give Me a Shot by Gia De Cadenet follows Jess, a former competitive archer getting her life back after loss, and Mo, a neurodivergent owner of an auto shop and blacksmith hobbyist. Jess is getting back into shooting after the loss of her sister at a new range she found at Michigan Folk School. Coincidentally, the blacksmith that she threatened while cleaning out her sister’s storage unit also teaches at the school. The school decides to put on a Renaissance Faire to raise money, leading to Mo and Jess spending more and more time together. As they work through their individual issues and the date of the Ren Faire gets closer, their friendship blossoms and the tension between them heightens.

My personal opinions: I do like that Mo and Jess are both going to be big attractions at the Ren Faire, with Mo blacksmithing and Jess shooting, as it sets the stage for them to work through their anxiety and grief, respectively. I’m not a huge fan of how the texts are portrayed in this book as it is really hard to read (visually). Jess has so much to work through, but she’s making progress and I love the support she has in her friends. This book deals with life after loss, working through grief, and navigating a relationship while being kind to yourself and your partner.

This book is different than I anticipated it being, but I really enjoyed reading it nonetheless. I give it a solid 4.5. I do recommend reading this if you’d enjoy a heartfelt relationship between two people who deeply care for and intimately understand each other. Thank you so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this e-arc.

This book had a little of everything and I ate it up. I loved the romance between Mo and Jess and the MMC was such a softy I immediately fell in love. I loved all the pop-culture references as well as the Renn Faire theme (I was such a Renn Faire kid). I also really loved the character development and the amount they had to come in order to wind up together. Definitely recommend to anyone needing a cute, quick romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really surprised me! I will absolutely be picking up more books from Gia de Cadenet. Mo and Jess were well-rounded characters who embraced their struggles/challenges. It may have taken Jess longer, but she got there in the end and that was really lovely to see. With the added fun of a Renn Faire and lots of interesting side characters. I would read a whole series just about Mo's family and/or the other teachers at the school. Really a lovely book with a lot of real things people deal with and overcome.

I really liked the premise of this book but something about it fell flat for me. I liked both of the characters and how they communicated, but it at times felt so super intense? There were a lot of big feelings processed in this book and some plot lines felt like they were left kinda unresolved. And while Jess and Mo do communicate well, it just didn't feel like a way people actually do communicate? Like no two people are ever that good about talking about uncomfortable things all the time. The Ren Faire plot was super fun though!

This was one of the sweetest books I have had the pleasure of reading in 2025.

I think that Jess and MO balanced each other out so well and truly were what the other needed in a partner to help them grow into better people. I loved the exploration of HSP for Mo and how he got to learn that it wasn't weird as he convinced himself and Jess was there to love him, not in spite of but partially because of. He was such a sweetie pie, I adored him and his little shy mannerisms.

Jess's exploration of grief, especially in the manifestation of it as physical pain, was very REAL. I appreciated how her journey was handled with care but still felt raw as you read her feelings about losing someone so special to her. I love how in tune with her Mo was and how he helped her realize she was hurting herself more than healing herself.

The little tiny gestures from both of them were so CARING and so SWEET I could not get enough of them. The Ren Faire bringing them together was so fun and I loved the inclusion of their unique hobbys!

There are definitely some great things about this book (I read an ARC). MMC is neurodivergent and the FMC is struggling with grief. And they are both gangpressed into being in a Renn fair. (I love a good Renn Fair). But somehow it didn't quite connect with me. I am not a huge fan of the "two people who like each other date", for me it misses a certain spark. I have no doubt that there are folks that will love love love this book. I thought the writing was top notch. It just missed me.

oh, this book was too cute, and to have some characters that are very sensitive and amazing people was even better. Jess just lost her sister and while dealing with that loss, she also must deal being in a new town and starting a new job. But during that she meets Mo, and it wasn’t all that sweet, it was pretty bad ass and funny. Mo is an awesome single dad who is highlight sensitive and when they finally get to know each other I loved how Jess was understanding and was the only one who took the time to actually get to KNOW him and actually SEEs him. Jess is a no nonsense type of woman and she lets it be known that she likes him and wants him, and also I love a book where both of the MC show so much growth, and being the SAP that I am, I love me a good happy ending

3⭐️ Loss of a loved one, single parent, neurodivergent MMC, blacksmithing, archery, a little forced proximity, and instant connection are some of the things you can read in Give Me a Shot. I enjoyed the openness Jess works through in the loss of her sister. Expressing grief can be such a struggle, but when you find the right person to talk to it can be so healing. Completely understand Mo’s struggle with social interactions. His being an extreme sensitivity would be so hard to handle on a regular basis.

Thank you to @netgalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for the advanced reader edition.

I enjoyed this read and finished it in three sittings! This is the first book I’ve read where one of the main characters was neurodivergent and that was a pleasant surprise. It emphasized how people who are neurodivergent come in all shapes in sizes and sometimes we should be open and accepting. Both Jess and Mo were complicated characters and I enjoyed their backstories. I did feel that their romance moved a little quickly or maybe some of it was left out but overall I enjoyed the read and would be interested in reading more from Gia De Cadenet!