This book was so good!!
😍 if you are a bit of a nerd 🤓 like me you will love this book.
Amy Evans who's just finally returning home after find her now ex boyfriend with her now ex best friend together. Best friend with her brother and his friends she's gets invited by Phil to play a game of D&D, Phil the guy who's she's always been secretly in love with. Phil has a lot going on in his life's from taking care of his Grandma who's suffering from dementia after a fall years ago to sewing costumes for his friends. Amy and Phil agree to fake date after Amy ex see them together but it's never that simple!!
Highly recommend this book 🥰

Date Knight is a nerdy romance following Phil, a carer to his Grandma with dementia and Amy, his best friend’s younger sister, who has had a crush on him since she was a kid. Having recently returned to her hometown, Amy has been playing D&D with Phil and his group. But after running into her ex, the two wind up agreeing to fake date for 3 months.

I love a nerdy romance, so when I saw this book was available for review, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’d definitely be interested in going back to the first book, and if they do a third book, and I’m right about who it’s going to be following…I’ll definitely check it out.

I wanna start off by talking about the romance in this one.

I did like Amy and Phil together. They have plenty of banter, but they clearly care for each other. Amy helps Phil out with his family stuff, and he believes in her and her interests. I like how they support each other, and I liked seeing their character growth both separately and together. There is a third-act break-up, but it makes sense with Phil’s personality and everything that’s going on between them. But they quickly go back to at least being friends before getting back together romantically. So, yeah, I was okay with it.

If you’re triggered by talk of dementia, this book is probably one you shouldn’t pick up. Phil’s life revolves around caring for his Grandma. She hasn’t gotten too bad yet, but there is a scene where she mistakes him for his Dad. She needs a lot of care, and he feels like he can’t leave her alone for too long. This book did make me think about my Granddad, who had it. And on top of that, the whole carer thing? Yeah, I get that. I help care for my disabled brother and thought of how this could affect my relationship in the future, as there are things I can’t change. Ooof, that hit me hard. Hopefully, it’ll work out for me too, like it did for them!

Obviously, what I picked this book up for was the nerdy aspect. But, actually, there was both more and less of that than I expected. It probably didn’t help that Amy isn’t that nerdy herself. You do get chapters showing us what was going on in their campaign, but obviously, you don’t get all the details. And on top of that, aside from the first and final scenes? You don’t see much connection to the actual story. Like, I generally like seeing part of the stories and gameplay to get to learn about their characters, too. But usually, it connects to things going on above the table as well. You see the romance between the characters build as well as the characters. And in this one? I don’t know, it kind of felt pointless.

I did like the twist in the final part. And I’m pretty sure it’s hinting that the next book will be following Chloe, which will make it a sapphic romance. So I’d be excited for that.

Overall, a cute book and definitely one I’d recommend if you’re looking for a fun romance. But it’s only slightly nerdy, and definitely deals with some serious issues that you should be aware of.

ARC Review – Date Knight by Sam Parks

Sam Parks has officially rolled a natural 20 with Date Knight! This laugh-out-loud, heart-squeezing romcom hits every note perfectly—equal parts nerdy delight, spicy tension, and emotional depth.

Phil Owen might be a Dungeon Master of dreams in his weekly game, but in real life he’s a lovable mess—and watching him fumble his way into a fake dating pact with his best friend’s sister, Amy, is pure joy. Amy is strong, sharp, and slightly chaotic—in the best way—and the chemistry between these two is absolutely undeniable. Their banter? Impeccable. Their slow-burn tension? Chef’s kiss.

This book is everything I want in a geeky romance:
🎲 D&D dynamics done right
💘 Friends-to-lovers with a fake dating twist
🛡️ Real-life knight-in-shining-armor vibes
🔥 Enough steam to fog up your reading glasses

Get ready to swoon, giggle, and root for this quirky cast of characters. Date Knight is a critical hit for 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

This is the first book I have read by Samantha Parks, as I haven't read the previous book in this series but I didn't feel like it took away from this story.

This follows Phil and Amy - Older Brothers Best Friend.

This was a really wholesome story, set in a small town with a friend group.

While this story had a lot more serious elements and dealt with being a career for a loved one with dementia, I found this book really uplifting and loved the magical elements and D&D games.

I will be reading the rest of the series

Harper Collin’s uk and NetGalley for this arc. The cover is what attracted me to this book. It’s so cute! So I decided to go in blindly. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. It was written well, so for someone interested in the subject matter, it’ll be a great book for them.

2.5 ⭐️

This book was really not for me. It felt like the two romantic leads didn’t like each other very much and that they spent the whole book fighting, and not in a fun banter-y way. Amy and Phil also just refused to communicate the whole book. I don’t think they ever even cleared up the initial incident that happened between them 5 years ago. This book just did not sell me on them as a couple at all.

The storyline between Phil and Ethel was definitely the highlight for me, as it felt very grounded and you could understand a lot of why Phil feels and acts the way he does.

Phil tiene suficientes responsabilidades: cuidar de su abuela con demencia, trabajar desde casa para que nada le falte, mantener a su grupo de amigos unido y, por si fuera poco, ser el Dungeon Master perfecto en sus sesiones de Dungeons & Dragons. Lo último que necesita es a Amy, la hermana menor de su mejor amigo y su eterna fuente de caos, uniéndose a la partida.

Amy regresó a su pueblo natal tras una humillante ruptura y ahora intenta redescubrir quién es, aunque eso implique meterse en el mundo de los dados, hechizos y guerreros mágicos. Pero cuando los roces dentro del juego empiezan a parecerse demasiado a los de la vida real, y las tensiones no resueltas entre Amy y Phil se intensifican, ambos se ven forzados a enfrentarse a lo que sienten… mientras fingen que siguen siendo solo amigos.



---

Hay mucha falta de comunicación a lo largo del libro y llega a desesperar que prefieran no hablar y actuar, incluso sabiendo que eso podría lastimar al otro. Aunque no lo hacen con esa intención, sus decisiones terminan afectándose mutuamente y dan ganas de sacudirlos.



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

Huge thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

It’s really no wonder why I requested this - a gamer romance with a suuuper cute cover - I was all in! Sadly, this was a miss for me. I tried really hard to like this but it wasn’t for me.

This was a cozy romance with dementia/care-taker representation. While I felt this part was extremely well done and I could feel the struggles of the MMC - the rest of the story was where it fell through for me. In all honesty, I would’ve read a whole book about the MMC & his grandma.

The romance started so fast that the rest of the book relied heavily on breaking them apart to put them back together. And there’s a few things (the vacation they sprung on him, her jealousy, abandoning the random woman while he was the one who invited her, her reaction to his grandma’s fall, her ex, etc.) that irritated me to no ends.

The book reads very young - despite the characters being between the ages of 25-30. The FMC relied on astrology & tarot cards to sort out her issues but she needed to see a therapist. A lot of words & concepts screamed TikTok (for instance : the use of « short king »).

Although a few things hindered my reading experience, I did like the parts where the FMC or the friend group came together to help the MMC out.

As always, reading is subjective. I didn’t enjoy this one but you might!

I read this in one sitting in a handful of hours and now have the first one in the series on hold at my library. I am sorely hurt that I have to wait to read it and that since this one publishes in a few weeks, a third book will be a wait as well (but best believe I'll be applying for that ARC!) I was looking for a nice light read to balance some of the heavier books I've been reading recently and this delivered, while also hoisting a few heavy topics of its own.

Amy has been in love with her brother's best friend Phil her entire life, but after (eventually disclosed events) one night five years ago, the two have barely spoken. Amy's crush is still simmering as she joins her brother's friends D&D group upon moving home, and unbeknownst to her, Phil hasn't stopped thinking about her in five years either. So, when Amy's ex-boyfriend comes to town to tell her he is engaged to her uni best friend, who he also cheated on Amy with, and Phil steps in to act as her fake boyfriend, what could go wrong?

Was this predictable? Yes. Was it also realistic? Yes. I recommend this to fans of romance, especially "these two idiots are the only ones that don't realize they're in love with each other" romance, dungeons and dragons and renaissance faires.


Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

5 stars

The banter! The yearning! This wasn't just friends to lovers, this was friends to almost lovers to slight enemies to fake dating to lovers. The chemistry Amy and Phil had was obvious from the jump (probably from the first book tbh) and I was all in. I loved how they would bicker but it always felt like it was about to lead to hate sex. Then when they finally get together, it gets even better. But the third act breakup, we knew it was coming and we saw what Phil was going to do from a million miles away but it wrecked me nonetheless. The whole last 1/3 really had me in my feels! From the breakup to the burn out and all along the fear both for Amy afraid she would lose her friends again and Ethel's health digress further, I cried probably more than was healthy. I found the way Phil's story showed the complete and utter exhaustion being a sole caretaker can take on a person to be incredibly realistic and very hard. I loved that he and we got to see Ethel still have good days which ultimately lead to the reconciliation. Ugh this was just so good (and a huge cry). I really enjoyed the first book of this series but man did this one just blow me away.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This book surprise me! I did not know what I would think but the cover and synopsis pulled me in. This was so great. The characters were awesome and the romance was spot on! It was so cute and so bantery! I absolutely loved it!

I'm not the best at giving reviews but, I loved this book. I love how you get to see another character from the first book. See what's going on in his life. This book is about Phil he's going through a lot all at one time his grandmother has dementia, and he feels it's his job and his alone to care for her because she raised him after his parents died. He finally gets partial help so he can still play his D&D game with his friends and work on costumes for everyone for the next renaissance fair. Not to mention his best friend's sister Amy is now in the game now that she's back from college. It's been 5 years since he's saw her and after that summer 5 years ago things are a little more than awkward. Amy isn't so little anymore, and his friends keep pestering him to date, but he really likes Amy but she still holds a grudge from the last summer the hung out.

Amy's dad won't take her serious about wanting to help the business they run because she isn't showing signs of staying in the area. They just want her to settle down, but after her last relationship she isn't ready. She really loves Phil's grandma and wants to help in her care anyway she can, she sits with her sometimes so Phil can go on dates. One night they run into each other, and Amy is meeting her ex and his new fiancé. She gets upset and Phil sees and steps in to pretend to be her boyfriend but when others get the impression they really are dating. What do they do? This isn't the best situation but it could resolve problems for them both....

Date Knight by Sam Parks is a heartfelt and nerdy rom-com that blends cosy small-town charm with the immersive world of tabletop role-playing games. Though it's the second in the Roll for Romance series, it can be read and enjoyed on its own - offering readers a delightful mix of sweet romance, emotional depth, and geeky fun.

The story centers around Phil, a gamer and costume designer quietly shouldering the emotional weight of caring for his grandmother who has dementia.

His social circle revolves around a long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign - one that now includes Amy, his best friend's younger sister and newly heartbroken returnee to their hometown.

When Amy's past comes knocking, the two are thrown into a fake dating scenario that, unsurprisingly but charmingly, starts to feel a little too real for both of them.

The chapters alternate between Phil and Amy's perspectives, but Sam Parks spices things up by including in-world D&D campaign segments from Phil's character’s point of view.

These serve both as metaphorical parallels to the characters' real-life emotional arcs and as a nod to the community that unites them.

While some readers may find these chapters initially disorienting especially as the book opens with one of them, they become a unique, rewarding feature once you get your bearings.

Readers of book one (You've Got Chain Mail) might have an easier time connecting the dots here, but newcomers won't feel lost.

The romance itself is warm and incredibly rootable.

Phil and Amy’s relationship builds on a foundation of childhood familiarity, shared grief, and mutual support.

Their fake-dating journey is filled with the kind of tender awkwardness and slow-burn tension that fans of the trope will love.

There's a touch of spice (3/5 on the heat scale), but it’s balanced well against the story's emotional beats and doesn’t overshadow the heart of the narrative.

What elevates Date Knight beyond your typical rom-com is its thoughtful exploration of caregiving and dementia.

Phil’s relationship with his grandmother is deeply moving and respectfully portrayed.

It adds a layer of gravity to the story that feels earned and never overly sentimental. Amy’s arc - proving her value to her family and rediscovering her place in a familiar yet changed hometown also adds dimension beyond just the romance.

The small-town setting and tight-knit friend group create a cosy backdrop, and readers who enjoy stories of community, geek culture, and second chances will find a lot to love here.

Even if you're not into D&D (I'm not), Date Knight remains accessible, emotionally engaging, and genuinely fun.

With thanks to Net Galley One More chapter (Harper Collins) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

eek... I'm so sad I didn't love this one :(

I was super excited for the fun, nerdy side of this story with a touch of fake dating. However, a lot of this story fell really flat. I think that Phil's story, and his struggles with everything on his plate, was so touching and well written - you felt for him and the amazing person he was. My issue with the story was that it really wasn't a lot about the romantic fake-dating. It was like the romance started too early, so the author then made their relationship fall apart and restart several times until it was the right time. I didn't think Amy's ex was a strong enough storyline; I wish there had been more closure there.

Overall, this was a cute read, but I lost interest about halfway in when the story felt like it started going backwards.

ARC review

"Date Knight" by Sam Parks is part of the Roll for Romance series but it can be read as a standalone.

I received an ARC from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:
- best friend's sister
- friends to lovers
- fake dating
- dementia representation
- gaming (dungens and dragons)

This is a sweet (and a bit steamy) romance book with an emotional side.
Phill takes care of his grandmother that has dementia.
Amy came back to her hometown and tries to convince her father that she can be an asset to the family business.

They were childhood friends and are part of the same friend group that also play D&D together.

I liked that the fake dating part helped them become friends again and realize that they have feelings for each other.
D&D was not a big part of the story, but I liked that there are some chapters from Phil’s D&D character's POV.
Still, I did not get invested in that story.

Even if there are emotional moments, the overall vibe of the book is positive and I had a good time reading it.

I am loving this series, and I can’t wait for the next book! Parks hits it out of the park again with “Date Knight,” a steamy rom com following Amy and Phil as they reconnect, play D&D, visit Renaissance fairs, and grapple with figuring out what they each want out of life. Starting with a fake dating scenario, their relationship develops along organic lines. While the book uses familiar tropes, Parks keeps the story fresh with interesting side characters and personal challenges as well as great settings and activities for her characters, including some of my favorites like Ren Fairs and Fantasy balls. The details of both the D&D campaign, which both adds an interesting C-plot and reveals some of the subconscious struggles of our heroes, kept me hooked as well. Overall, I found this book really enjoyable and engaging, and I cannot wait for the next installment!

Thank you to netgalley and One more Chapter for providing this arc for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book, I’ve missed playing D&D so reading this has made me want to play it more. The links to the world of D&D is fun and I loved the intertwining chapters keeping it nerdy. Amy and Phil were cute, the yearning was amazing. Definitely will be reading more in this series in the future.

This was such a cute read, I adored it! I'm just getting into my romance stride lately after avoiding these types of books for years, and this one was a brilliant book.

Amy is the little sister of a friendship group - it's her big brother, Jack's, friends, but she's always been welcomed by them. And now she's joined their D&D campaign after one of the group members has left. Meanwhile, Phil, Jack's best friend, is caring for his ailing grandmother, creating costumes for an upcoming fantasy festival, doing online data entry jobs to make money, and still trying to hold together a social life, he doesn't have time for a relationship. But when Amy's past shows up on her doorstep, Jack needs to step in as the hero - her fake boyfriend. I'm sure you can figure out how the direction this takes!

It's a cutesy romance, and I like the small town setting with a nerdy group who are into fantasy - did I mention I'm going to a fantasy festival this summer?! There is also emotional depth added with Jack's grandmother's dementia, how he, his friends and family deal with it. There is some spice, but it doesn't take over the story and isn't in too much detail - I'd say maybe 3/5 spice level.

It's book 2 of the Roll for Romance series but I read it as a standalone which can easily be done. There were some references that I think would have had a little more impact had I known some of the group's history, but it didn't take away from the story at all. I'm now definitely going to read book 1, You've Got Chain Mail.

The chapters in this book alternate between Phil and Amy's perspectives, but there are also chapters interspersed throughout the book from the D&D campaign that brings their friendship group together. This is a fun, unique touch and I really appreciated it being there as it adds a lot to a book that would otherwise be quite cookie cutter. The only complaint I have is that I didn't click with these at first as the first chapter was one of these and I couldn't immediately figure out who was who in real life - maybe this is the only part where reading book 1 might have been necessary, but while these chapters added something unique, I don't think it would take away from the plot if you didn't read them.

It's a tricky rating as I'd say it's closer to 4 stars than 5, but I'm rounding up as I want to see it do well - it's one a lot of people will love!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a copy of this book.

I loved reading this book it was such a cute, cozy and heartwarming read! I binged my way through pretty quickly hoping that Phil and Amy would find their way to a HEA.

The author did a great job combing a fun fake dating plot with some really heavy emotional moments. It made the storyline immersive and the characters easy to connect with and root for!

I loved the inclusion of the DnD Campaign and seeing their group of friends participate in events that showcase how fun the hobby can be.

This was book two in the author's Rolls for Romance series and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing where the next story will take us!

💞Fake Dating
🎲Dungeons and Dragons Campaign ⚔️
👥Brother's Best Friend
💕Childhood Friends To Lovers
❤️‍🩹Character With Dementia
🛏️One Bed
🫂Strong Friendships

Thank you Sam Parks, Net Galley and Harper Collins UK| One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC of this book! All opinions in this review are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I had a lot of fun reading this, it’s geeky, sweet and a ray of sunshine in a book. Although it still managed to make me cry!

I hadn’t read the first in the series (although I plan to now) so I did think I was missing out on some of the Phamy history but I still really liked them as a couple.

I also loved:
- the chapters in Phil’s D&D character Yorick Proudhollow’s POV, I had never seen that done in a book before and I thought it was really cool and original.
- the geeky and nostalgic references, I also loved the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Such a perfect quick read for a Sunday morning.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.