Thank you to HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter and Netgalley for the eARC!

I was drawn to Date Knight as a D&D player who met my partner through the game, and as someone who loves a brothers best friend and fake dating combo of tropes! Sadly this book just did not work for me, but I think that's my own pickiness towards the FMC - I couldn't deal with her low confidence and assumption that no one actually wanted her around, while also refusing to settle in or communicate. However I enjoyed the writing style and voice, and I definitely will keep an eye out for more work by this author.

I rated Date Knight 3 stars, since the quality of the book was perfectly fine, it just wasn't to my taste!

So fun! I love when there’s a story beyond the romance. The atmosphere, setting, and cool characters made this story stand out around all the other romance books I’ve read.

I have a lot of thoughts about this book, and I’m apologizing now a lot of them are not positive.

Let’s talk about our characters first. Neither Phil or Amy are likeable in this book. Which is wild to me because as side characters in the first book I enjoyed them. But as leads it’s like they lost all personality. Plus the two of them together is supposed to be the fake dating trope. Instead their relationship felt like a good of freeze tag. Where it would start and stop repeatedly in this never ending cycle.

Besides that we then have our next blaring issue the immaturity and miscommunication. Both of our leads are supposed to be in their 30’s yet they put themselves in situations where no 30 year old in their right mind would put themselves in. Like come on be real, what 30 year old would go to her douche ex wedding. When said douche has done nothing but bully her. That’s right NO ONE. And again before you come for me I’m 34, I think I may know what that age range is thinking.

Overall, I can’t win with this book, I had such high expectations because I actually did enjoy the first book. But its sequel was sadly a let down. I appreciate the publishers allowing me to read it but sadly this wasn’t for me and I’ll sadly have to skip the next one

This is Book 2 of the Roll for Romances Series!

This Book follows the story of Phil and Amy. Phil is Amy's brother's best friend so of course, things are going to get interesting when Amy returns home after a bad break up!

After bumping into a blast from Any's past, Phil and Amy agree to fake date for 3 months - what cpuld possibly go wrong?

This book is incredibly unique in that there is the main story, set with the POV of Phil and Amy but then there is the D&D Role Playing story which also pops up so you can follow the character's characters!

I loved Amy. She is unlucky in love but just lovely, and I think most can sympathise with her plight.

Phil took a little longer for me to warm up to. He has a multitude of things going on in real life but the way he initially speaks and acts towards his friends during the more stressful parts of the story, did make my eyebrow raise. It did raise a very real situation for many though, given the stress of trying to sort his homelife all on his own.

I did eventually warm up to Phil, especially when he realised he needed help and accepted it.

The story is a cute, spicy romance story but with elements of more serious themes such as stress, ill health and degenerative illnesses. These themes slower get stronger in the story as you get deeper into the story and that was great to see as this specific combination for Phil's situation aren't really discussed much on books so the awareness was brilliant to see!

I really enjoyed this book and it is definitely my favourite in the series so far!

I was excited to read this follow up to You’ve Got Chain Mail, as I really liked Amy’s character and wanted to see her story. Amy and Phil are so likeable and I was pulling for them to get together. I hate when the obstacle in relationships is a lack of communication and it kind of irked me here, but also made sense that self-sacrificing Phil would continue to do that instead of just talking to Amy. I also thought Amy was portrayed as more dynamic in the first book and the readers are told that more in this book. I think that makes this book not a great standalone because if you don’t know the dynamics from book one, you would have a more hallow read of this.



What I liked:

Phil’s devotion to his grandma

How grief, both from death, and ambiguous loss from dementia were portrayed

Amy’s determination

The growth in the sibling relationship

Amy’s big heart and kindness

Phil was masculine and a fashion designer- I’m here for hot evolved men!

Diversity in characters



What I didn’t like:

The D and D wasn’t a strong or as tied into the plot this time. Maybe I felt this way because I just read Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods, and she has an awesome D and D story.

Some of the friend characters were flimsy, I kept forgetting about Grey, because they were more prominent in the first book I read year ago.

Definitely a fun read 3.5 stars. I’m guessing Chloe’s book is next? Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was…fine. The premise is super cute, brother’s best friend + fake dating + a whole lot of nerdy charm, and I really liked the idea of mixing cosplay, gaming, and romance. Phil and Amy had some sweet moments, and the “real-life knight in shining armour” angle was endearing.

But honestly? It just didn’t fully hook me. I found my attention drifting, and even though the spice and emotional beats were there, the pacing felt a little uneven. I wanted to be more invested in their relationship than I was.

I love reading Sam Parks novels they're what I expect rom-coms to be. I love how light and airy they are and they're so easy to read. The D&D elements were great to read and I love the progression of the story as well as the characters. I really enjoyed this novel

The beautiful cover and cheeky title brought me in for this book but thr story couldn’t keep me. Brother’s best friend isn’t one of my favorite tropes but age gap is so I took a chance. Problem is, Phil didn’t act like an older man. He acted like a teen. Also I don’t understand why Amy’s ex invited her to the wedding which was one of the reasons her and Phil had to fake date if Amy and her ex’s relationship ended so badly that she came home and he’s referred to as “unwelcome character” from her past.

This book was absolutely perfect? literally everything i could possibly want from a romance book? i think the author did an incredible job at not only the romance but also making the subplot of dnd as accessible as possible, i believe you could of never even heard of the game and understood it enough. I think this series is so underrated as a really fantastic romance!

I love Amy and Phil love story something almost happened five years ago and then it didn't. Both of them are now fake dating and Phil has always loved Amy I'm loving how this story is being unfolded! I love a fake dating turned into reality romance book!

Let me tell you: Date Knight by Sam Parks was a whole mess in the most entertaining way. And I mean that as a compliment. It’s part rom-com, part fantasy, and all kinds of cute. Think: if a dating app, a renaissance fair, and a therapy session had a baby. That’s this book.

The main character? Hilarious. Charming in that “bless his heart, he’s trying” kind of way. The love interest? She’s got boundaries, a sharp tongue, and no patience for nonsense, which I respect deeply. The banter had me cracking up, and the chemistry was real without being over-the-top.

Now, is it a little goofy? Absolutely. Did I care? Not one bit. Sometimes you just want to read something that makes you feel good and reminds you that even in a world with dragons and awkward first dates, people still want to be seen, loved, and chosen.

I've grown to really like these nerdy / d&d rom coms. This one definitely had me tearing up a bit at the end. Like a lot of other readers, this came off more as YA, it didn't feel like Phil was 30 y/o more like 20.... I actually liked when Amy got petty at the end because he totally deserved it.... I liked the story line with his grandmother, however the book didn't lend as much to the d&d and convention side of things as I was expecting. Nonetheless, it was a cute quick read.

I really tried to enjoy this book but sadly I didn't. The first half of the book however, I did enjoy but the rest of the book faded this enjoyment. I liked the carer storyline but I found it frustrating that it almost gave Phil a free pass to be a jerk to Amy. Overall, this was an okay book but admittedly I was disappointed.

This was a cute read, but the way they didn't communicate enough was extremely frustrating.
I also didn't particularly enjoy Amy, she was way too insecure and annoying.

A lighthearted read to pass some time without too much angst and drama.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Date Knight is a brother’s best friend romance between Amy and Phil. Amy has returned to town after a toxic relationship, and has joined Phil’s D&D group. Amy is trying to convince her father that he should give her a job because she’s going to stay in town; Phil is trying to get his grandmother and friends off his back with all the dates they set him up on. The solution? Phil and Amy fake date.

I thought that their reason for fake dating was a bit contrived, but I did enjoy their chemistry on the page. If you get frustrated when characters don’t communicate their feelings, this is not the book for you, because these two need to sit in a room and talk.

This book has three points of view: Amy, Phil, and Yorrick, Phil’s D&D character. While I thought the addition of D&D to the novel was clever, I think those pages were really lacking. The scene was not set in those chapters, and we never really got a feel for the world enough to be engaged.

Overall, this book was fine for a light-hearted romance with some nerd culture thrown in. Worth a read if you like romance novels and throwing D&D dice around.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Date Knight is a nerdy delight full of cosplay, fake dating, and a cinnamon roll hero who’s more than ready to level up for love.

Phil and Amy’s chemistry crackles from game night to real life, with plenty of heartfelt moments and just the right amount of spice. Fans of The Love Hypothesis and Critical Role will love this geeky, swoony rom-com. A little predictable, but charming all the same—definitely worth the quest.

Date Knight had so many elements I usually love—fake dating, cosplay, nerdy charm, and the brother’s best friend trope. Phil, the emotionally repressed tailor with a heart of gold, was a quiet standout, and Amy’s guarded vulnerability added depth. The setup was fun and full of romantic tension, but as the story progressed, it felt a bit overcrowded. Too many subplots competed for space, which dulled the emotional and romantic payoff. Still, there were sweet, swoony moments, and fans of geeky, emotionally layered romance will likely enjoy it. I just wanted a bit more focus. 3.5/5 stars

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* Fake dating
* Longtime crush
* Brother’s best friend
* Age gap
* Spicy and emotional

Thank you to NetGalley, Sam Parks, and One More Chapter for this eARC! I really enjoyed this!

This book had a lot of layers to it, which kept me interested from the start. Amy and Phil have a long history, and while there is animosity, there has always been something between them. That really sets up all of the tension and propels their story forward as they both have things they need to heal from. But it’s clear that Phil has always felt a pull to her, too, and I love that when he’s given the chance, he finally goes for it with her!

While this book is a slow burn, their chemistry and emotional connection are both strong! They are playful, considerate, and supportive of one another. I also really liked their bonds with their friends and family, especially Ethel. Their worry and fears for her make things difficult, and I understand why things took a turn towards the end. Dealing with dementia is a heartbreaking experience, and Phil carried so much on his shoulders.

In the end, I loved they could both help each other past their obstacles towards a real relationship that was really meant to be ❤️

Date knight is a brother best friend romance with 2 characters who have liked each other since they were teens
They agree to fake date so to attend her Exs wedding and to convince her dad she will stick around so he gives her a job. It also keeps everyone off Phil’s back about dating.

I enjoyed the first half of this book with their cute lore messages, found family and nerdy events like the fair and dnd games.

As the book went on there was so much going on that I felt like none of the storyline’s got the attention it deserved.
I liked Phil’s character at the start as a sweet guy taking care of his Grandma and making clothes for his friends but as the story went on he did the same dramatic things over and over with shutting people out.
I couldn’t stand Amy’s character. She was so childish and would never let him explain things and kept having tantrums and was so insecure and snappy.
Unfortunately because of this the book was abit of a miss for me

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.