Thank you Dell for an early copy of this book through NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This was SO SWEET OH MY GOD. I really had no idea what to expect going into this as this was my first book by Gia de Cadenet but I will absolutely be going back and reading her other books in this series!

Mo captured my heart pretty much immediately. His thoughtfulness and consideration made my heart ache. His neurodiversity was handled with such care and even as a mental health professional, I learned a lot about how Highly Sensitive People experience the world around them. He was so sweet with his flowers and little gifts for Jess and his relationship with his daughter.

I struggled some with Jess, but I think that’s just bc she wasn’t dealing with the grief from losing her sister and I, like her friends, wanted her to do a little self reflection and see what was going on. I did love how much her friends cared for her and that they were willing to say hard things to her bc they wanted the best for her. Outside of her grief, I really loved how Jess saw and sought to understand Mo so she could love him well. They just worked really well together and it was fun to watch their relationship bloom!

I’m sure others will like this book, but it’s not for me. As a highly sensitive person myself, I was happy to see the HSP representation in this novel. Yet it felt like the plot of the novel was “we should all be more sensitive to each other”—except that’s not a plot, it’s a theme. The pace was slow and it didn’t feel like much was at stake. DNF ~25%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I would give this book a 3.75, but lets round up to 4. I really enjoyed how quick I fell into the story and developed a love for Mo and Jess. I also love a great side character cast and saucy grannies nextdoor, and besties on a zoom call definately satisfied that love for me. My only complaint is I felt like the main conflict of the book didn't make as much sense, which we saw how Jess learned to Mo needed as a HSP and the lack of information we really got bout Cassie and what happened. Despite this, I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the the neurodiversity in the book and the emotional intelligence of our characters.

Okay this book is SUCH a great example of my deeply held belief that good romance books have the power to make you a better person; reading about the interworkings of people that are different than you is just so good for a person (even if the ppl are fictional!!!!). I didn’t think every little thing about this book was perfect, but I really appreciated how carefully the author handled certain topics, and I did end up loving the main characters in this book.

I loved the angle that they are good at such random things so fun - I love a unique hobby. I thought the planning an event together was fun. And I loved that he was a guy w big strong shoulders sue meeee.

That being said, if you really don’t like men written by women (u KNOW what i mean - softy sweetie babies that understand feelings), probably skip this one. Otherwise, let ‘er rip!!!

(I do wish this book was like 50 pages longer - some story lines / sub plots felt a bit brushed over)

Copy kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley for review:)

Mo and Jess are two people who deserve the world! This was a very cute romance, however there are heavy topics brought up throughout. The heavy topics were handled with care which as a reader who has trigger warnings, this was very much appreciated. And Mo is a consent king!?! We love this!!! I really enjoyed getting to know these two characters.

And the fact that my little hometown was mentioned gives this an added boost!! Overall it was a very good read, I just found myself needing to pause a few times.

Give Me a Shot is such a cute read. Mo and Jess are adorable, and I loved the ren fair aspect! I just wish Gia had gone a bit more in-depth about their professions because hello blacksmith and archer?! Cmon!

Thank you to Random House Ballantine - Dell and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Give Me A Shot by Gia De Cadenet.

Mo and Jess both participate in a Renaissance Fair in order to raise money to help save a beloved Folk School from closing. The Folk School is what initially brings Jess and Mo together. Jess is an archer who still grieves the loss of her sister. Mo teaches blacksmith skills, is neurodiverse, and co-parents his daughter.

This is such a lovely romance! Jess and Mo are such a perfect fit for each other. My favorite moments in the book were the ones where it was evident how well they understand one another and you can see this through their actions and considerations for the other. In addition to the romance, this story was so impactful through the friendships depicted, the neurodiverse representation and the realities of grief. I highly recommend checking this book out when it releases.

This was my first book by Gia De Cadenet and I’m excited to check out more of Gia’s books!

I liked this story, but I think I liked the first book better. I also like how grief was a topic mentioned as well as neurodiversity. Jess' and Mo's story was cute, but the nicknames were a bit more cringey than cute and some parts of the story were a bit repetitive. Thanks to NetGallery for the ARC.

This was a sweet rom com. I picked it up because of the cover. Not my favorite but also not the worst.

Have you ever read a book about a blacksmith and an archer before? Give it a shot by reading Give Me A Shot. This is about Mo who is a mechanic by day and a blacksmith by night. He’s a single dad and is neurodivergent. No one has ever understood him until Jess comes onto the scene. She’s a championship archer dealing with the grief of the sudden passing of her sister. Mo and Jess meet at the trades school they both attend and sparks fly between them. I wish there would have been a little more detail into both of their trades. Mos trade is talked about briefly but in very broad terms. Jess’ trade is spoken about more, particularly when the two have to help put on a ren fair to save the trades book that is in financial trouble. The best is the archery show they put on. Overall I enjoyed the book and rated it a 3.75. Def a cute and fun read.

This book is a celebration of finding a person who gets the core of you. We are all individuals. We are complicated. We cannot understand each other completely right away, BUT we can find a person who fits with the core of who we are.

That's Jess and Mo. While there's a steep learning curve for these two (they are both going through things), they see straight to the center of each other. Jess sees the effort it takes Mo to exist in the world. She understands him. She then learns he is a HSP and learns the nuances of what that means for him. Mo sees that Jess is in pain. He sees that she is hiding her pain the best way she can. He doesn't know why, but by seeing it he can be there for her in a way she doesn't allow others to be.

I adored this book. These two are so sweet to each other. Gia doesn't shy away from what they are dealing with, but gives us hope that even when times are tough you can find joy and love.

Mo is a Highly Sensitive Person, a type of neurodivergence. We see how interacting with the world at large affects Mo. His brain doesn't react to stimuli the same way. Gia gives us an inside look into what it takes for him to live his life. So often people who are neurodivergent are shown as other. We don't see them get their happily ever after. We don't watch them fall in love. Showing Mo, with all the good and the bad that goes with him, find his partner was beautiful.

Jess is refusing the grieve the loss of her sister. We don't learn how she died until over halfway through the book. We watch the toll that pushing her feelings down is taking on her. Both physically and mentally. While her relationship with her parents is a central challenge in this book, she has two friends from grad school that she can rely on completely. The juxtaposition between Jess's found family and Mo's biological family show that neither is better. Support is support.

While dealing with heavy topics, this story is a rom com at its heart. It's a tale of two people falling in love while being forced to participate in a Renaissance Faire. One who is a blacksmith and the other who is an archer. These are silly ideas. It adds levity to the weight of both Jess's grief and Mo's NSP.

An adorable story for sure.

If I wasn't reading this book to write a review I probably would have DNF'd it. The story is sweet, the characters seem nice, and the plot is interesting but the writing is not sophisticated. The writing is very much telling instead of showing. The dialogue is super clunky and the MMC's daughter comes across as 7 not 12.

It's great to see some well intentioned neurodivergent representation but the info dumps and over explaining every time it was referenced on the page got to be a lot. The central romance seems very sweet but is lacking in chemistry and spark. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend giving this book a shot.

This was a cute book. It explored nondivergent characters along with the importance of friendships and community.

I personally would have liked to have "seen" more time spent at the Ren faire.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital copy of this book.

Though I absolutely loved the neurodiversity rep, everything else fell short. There's a lot of tell and no show, leaving little room for creativity. Despite this being a slow burn, there's no real spark between the MCs. Maddie uses "daddy" a little too often to sound like a 12-year-old; her dialogue lowers her perceived age.

Grumpy / Sunshine
Neurodivergency
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity

A cute romance. Mo is a mechanic and blacksmith and is a Highly Sensitive Person. Jess is a professor and archer who is grieving her sister’s death. After an awkward first meeting, Mo and Jess discover they are drawn to each other and embark on a relationship all while preparing for a Renaissance Faire to benefit the Folk School at which they volunteer. There is a lot of plot packed into the story and while I thought Mo and Jess were darling together I also felt this read as young adult as times and the main characters did not have as much depth as I would hope - perhaps because the multiple subplots took space away from character building.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group, for my early copy of Gia De Candent's "Give Me a Shot." I enjoy all her books. Mo and Jess were funny to read cause both of them tried to fight the chemistry they had for each other. Gia's writing skills touch upon grief and neurodivergent in this novel.

“Give Me a Shot” by Gia de Cadenet is a beautiful story of love, growth, and overcoming obstacles. I absolutely adored Jess and Mo as a couple. They were so endearing, and I couldn’t help but root for them throughout the book. One of the standout moments for me was when Khalil called his mom out to have Mo talk about Jess—I couldn’t stop laughing! It was such a lighthearted, genuine moment that added to the charm of the story.

As someone who has autism and struggles with sensory issues, I really appreciated how Gia portrayed Mo’s diagnosis of HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). His character was so relatable, and it was refreshing to see such thoughtful representation. I think Gia did a fantastic job of showing the character development of both Jess and Mo. Initially, they were both holding back, caught up in their own reservations, but ultimately, they allowed love to break down those barriers. It was inspiring to see them conquer their fears together.

Mo’s role as a father was portrayed beautifully. You could feel his love and dedication to his daughter, Maddie. I also really admired Jess’s decision to take the time to understand his condition and her thoughtfulness in waiting at least six months to meet Maddie or move in together. It spoke volumes about her character and how much she respected both Mo and his relationship with his daughter.

The side characters were just as delightful. Jess’s friends were supportive, kind, and brought a wonderful sense of community to the story. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that pulled at my heartstrings, and an overall feeling of resilience that made this book truly special. One of my favorite scenes was the Renaissance fair, where Jess honored her sister’s memory. It was a touching tribute and added another layer of depth to her character.

*There was one small area where I felt a bit disconnected as a reader. The transition to the intimate scene felt a bit choppy, and I would have loved to see more of their text messages or conversations leading up to that moment. It would have made the progression feel more natural.

And I just have to mention the cat in the beginning—sitting on Jess’s computer! If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know how hilariously relatable that is. It was a small but memorable touch that made me smile.

Overall, “Give Me a Shot” is a heartwarming read that beautifully balances love, personal growth, and the challenges that come with being vulnerable. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Dell Romance for this ARC copy.

This was a really cute book. I loved the neurodiversity representation, I thought it was done really well and with care. I also appreciated the discussions on grief throughout the book, there were a lot of great quotes on what grief can feel like and how it’s handled by different people. There is a mild trigger warning for discussions of an abusive relationship.
I really enjoyed both characters, their meet cute was unique and made me laugh. I loved how Jessica was so open and willing to learn about Mo’s type of neurodiversity. I appreciated that she tried her best not to be judgmental, but was willing to get to know who he was. I enjoyed her character development throughout the book, especially when it came to her grief journey. I loved her friend group and how they were so honest and supportive of her. Mo was a great MMC, I loved how great of a dad he was and how he chose to show his care/love for Jessica in unique and meaningful ways. Overall, this was a great romance and I would definitely recommend it!

Give me a shot from the first sentence was *chef kiss*

First of all within in the first couple sentences, I want to hug Mo and protect him from ALL HARM! Jess was a kick butt FMC whose strength not only came from her relationship with Mo but also dealing with her own trauma.

Prepare for an emotional ride that will have you giggling with your feet high in the sky and your stomach rising and swooping like you're on a rollercoaster, screaming with joy the whole time.

Mo. Raw. Next question.

The way I fell in love with this man and wanted to protect him at all costs?!? Ugh so so good!

This was beautiful. I loved how they were both in their own struggles but were still able to help each other. Mo deserves the world. I didn't want this book to end!