The Underachiever's Guide to Love and Saving the World by Sloane Brooks is one of the cleverest, most ridiculously fun, and LMFAO books I’ve read in a very long time. It’s amazingly entertaining, I had an absolute blast and you will too if you’re into:
♥ Enemies to frenemies to lovers!
♥ Salty, sassy FMC vs. secret cinnamon roll MMC!
♥ Witty, snarky banter!
♥ Swoony, sexy risk-my-life-for-you action!
♥ Heroic quests and epic adventure!
♥ Prophecies and dragons and villagers, oh my!
♥ Only one bed! (sorta!)

The love story between Courtney and Bryce is a hard-earned, heartwarming delight. Chef’s kiss! From snarky one-liners and pranks, to reluctant teamwork, fighting for each other, risking their lives, everything’s out of control and insane and everybody’s panicking and WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW and then…….. ahh. Finally (finally!) they realize they might maybe kinda actually (gasp!) be Perfect For Each Other.

The banter and zingers are legit hilarious, sharp and clever. Their prank war—from changing wifi passwords to pizza and sex toy deliveries (trust me) to Riverdale marathons—is next-level entertaining. (Side note: Where might I find my own mortal enemy? Asking for a friend.) As they slowwwllly learn to trust and rely on each other, they take their outrageous ingenuity and apply it to being “The Chosen One(s)” so they can vanquish “The Evil One” to save the kingdom. Only, of course it’s never that simple and our protagonists have to truly learn and grow and become the heroes we know they’re meant to be. Classic! There are also innocent villagers, secret agendas, mystery potions, skeleton armies, talking animal sidekicks, and spider dragons, and just SO much going on and it’s all crazy, chaotic fabulousness.

When I wasn’t laughing and smiling and cheerfully escaping reality, I was probably tearing up, just a little. You wouldn’t expect so much heart and heartbreak (OMG the slug story!) in a book like this, but both MCs faced emotionally brutal and bruising events in their young lives. Hence, they built walls and pushed others away to protect their fragile hearts. Courtney wanted to be Left Alone, without anyone else’s expectations or opinions, and care about exactly Nothing. Bryce knew he cared too much, offered his poor, battered heart too easily, and was completely vulnerable to being stomped and destroyed. That is, they were like that until they couldn’t be anymore and these endearing, adorable, secretly sweet misfits had to step up and Save The World.

As their relationship deepened, the soulful connection they forged and the tenderness and grace they gave each other both delighted and absolutely slayed me. I loved these characters so much and wanted to hug them, especially Bryce, like eleventy million times. All this was balanced with the excitement, adventure, mystery and laughs of the main storyline.

Also worth mentioning:
—The pop culture/fairytale/fantasy/quest/sci-fi homages, references and tropes are incredibly well done and ingenious.
—I love-love-loved the dual POVs and wow, the inner monologues were hysterical.
—Do not miss the chapter titles! They’re funny, punny, delicious little bon mots that perfectly foreshadowed whatever our MCs were in for next.

In other words, there are so many things to adore about this book, it left my heart happy and wishing I could read it for the first time all over again. It's an absolutely endearing, clever and funny delight! I enthusiastically recommend it and can’t wait for whatever wonderful adventure this author dreams up next!

Massive thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an ARC. Opinions are 100% mine.

This book was a fun time but I fear it loses itself in the last 10% of it's conclusion.

While The dynamic of Bryce and Courtney is genuinely entertaining at first and the more emotional moments strike a chord, it all falls apart due to a weird out of nowhere plot point and the worldbuilding if can even be called that drags on. There is also a *big realization moment* from Bryce that makes ZERO sense given the whole of the book before it.

For as much as the author pokes fun at long-winded fantasy exposition dumps, some actual exposition would have been helpful. Not to mention the downright absurdity of the last act, it went from funny to get this over with far too quickly.

So I laughed out loud, but in the end I think this read was in some ways an underachiever.

This was so freaking good! Two people with emotional walls become enemies and then get pulled into a fantasy world as chosen hero’s and it just gets wilder from there.

The absolute silliness was such a good time. The pace was fast enough that the silliness never felt like it was dragged out, like I never found myself going “I get it, this is funny, get on with the story”.

A warm hearted, cozy adventure with some great banter. Loved everything about it

This was a unique, entertaining story! I predicted some of the twists, but others surprised me. I really liked the ending! I would definitely recommend trying this book for people who think it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f fantasy romance
-portal
-roasting you is my love language
-the hard one and the soft one
-twist on the chosen one
-karma magic system


This book is bonkers in the best way and one of the funniest books I've ever read. Effortless world building, incredible chemsitry, this book just pulls you in. Two people down on their luck, and I loved the twists on the traditional aspects of a romantasy, isntead of being chosen ones, these two just wan to get the heck out of there and home, neither feel like an adquate chosen one. Add in a mouse side kick and incredible banter and this is one of my favorite books I've read this year. I jsut want to shove it in everyone's faces.

This book is entirely unserious, and will require a whole lot of suspended disbelief. It is entirely unserious, irreverent, and requires the right sense of humor. I had a great time with the roasting and pranks.

A very DND coded fantasy romcom. A couple of spicy open door scenes.

Thank you to atria books for a complimentary digital book through Netgalley. All the opinions in this review are my own.

Courtney’s has left her old life behind and is determined to stay off the corporate rat race treadmill of misery. Her neighbor Bryce is offended by her attitude and starts a campaign of annoyance. Courtney reciprocates and they are stuck in the roles of arch-nemesis and petty pranks. Until a portal shows up and brings both of them into a fantasy world, where the scripts are ready for a Chosen One to defeat the unknown Evil One. Their only hope to return home is to work together... but can they handle it.

Why I started this book: Caught my eye as I was browsing Edelwiess for [book:This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me|220061020]. I hated their formats so I also requested an ARC from Netgalley.

Why I didn't finish it: I've started this book twice, and its not for me. But I don't think that its a bad book. I love the idea of being kidnapped into a new magical kingdom. Like [book:Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold|15547] or [book:The Dark Lord's Daughter|25648170]. My main stumbling block is the humor. I'm not laughing. There are plenty of people who will read this and laugh the entire way through. I hope this book finds them.

What happens when two wildly unqualified, constantly bickering neighbors get sucked into a magical realm and are told one of them is the Chosen One? Chaos, dragons, undead armies, peanut allergies, and an unexpected love story.

Sloane Brook’s The Underachiever’s Guide to Love and Saving the World is a hilarious, heartwarming twist on the classic fantasy hero trope. Courtney and Bryce are anything but heroic—Courtney avoids ambition at all costs, and Bryce is her self-declared nemesis. But as they stumble through quests, sabotage each other’s “Chosen One” claims, and accidentally make everything worse, their snarky banter slowly gives way to real connection.

Underneath the laughs and absurdity is a touching message about authenticity, acceptance, and love. You’ll laugh out loud, fall for the characters, and maybe even see a bit of yourself in their messy, endearing journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The Hating Game meets Legends and Lattes in this captivating and hilarious fantasy rom-com with a twist about two enemies who must work together to return to their reality.

Courtney's only goal in life is to have no goals. A reformed overachiever, she's content with her dead-end job and simple existence. And her "feud" with her neighbor Bryce brings her immense joy. Everything is perfect.

Until Courtney and Bryce are pulled through a portal and flung into a fantasy world where they are met by a prophecy-obsessed sage who claims one of them must be the Chosen One destined to save them all from an unknown Evil One. Neither of them wants the job but also refuse to let the other have the glory. Unfortunately, in their efforts to save the world, they unleash more chaos by accidentally freeing a dragon, summoning an undead army, and almost poisoning their mentor with peanut butter.

To return to their world, Courtney and Bryce - a snarky underachiever and a grumpy hermit - must charm and endear themselves to the people of this fantasy world (or each other) to be able to use magic. With time running out and the threat of the Evil One looming, they must work together to become worthy heroes if they ever want to make it home again. Or else be doomed to eternity in a universe without running water - and with each other - forever."

There's something about this cover that just speaks to me. They feel relatable yet interesting.

This book is absolutely BONKERS in the best possible way. As someone who definitely dreamed about walking through a wardrobe into a fantasy land as a kid, this was such a delightful read — blending the real world with the fantastical with delightful results.

Oh I looooove. This was new! Or it felt like so. I tend to stay away from ‘the one’ trope given how much we’ve had of it already both in movies and books.
This one felt witty, snarky? And funny. All wrapped up nicely by the two MC’s
A very enjoyable read that will keep you engaged.

What happens when two neighbors who despise each other become the prophesied saviors of another world? Sloane Brooks' 'The Underachiever's Guide to Love and Saving the World' answers this question with delicious wit and unexpected heart. This refreshing twist on portal fantasy had me alternating between uncontrollable laughter and genuine emotional investment from page one.

Courtney and Bryce rank among the most relatable fantasy protagonists I've encountered. Their transition from enemies to reluctant allies feels organic, with banter that crackles with wit while they navigate prophecies, dragons, and undead armies.

This book stands out by balancing lighthearted elements with genuine stakes. The "chosen one" prophecy gets a clever update when both characters potentially qualify, creating tension as they compete to prove their worthiness. Their attempts at heroism repeatedly backfire in catastrophic yet hilarious ways.

The world-building achieves that perfect cozy fantasy balance: immersive without overwhelming detail. The magic system requiring charisma is both innovative and the perfect challenge for our socially awkward heroes.

Both characters confront personal demons alongside external threats, with growth that feels earned rather than convenient.

Fans of T.J. Klune's "The House in the Cerulean Sea" will appreciate this same blend of warmth, humor, and heart. A delightful escape for anyone who enjoys fantasy with equal parts adventure and character development.

Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my advance copy. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

One way to describe this book would be chaotic hilariousness.I enjoyed the snarky dynamic between Courtney and Jay.It allowed them to create an unconventional journey of personal growth individually and with each other.I really enjoyed Courtney as a character and truly loved watching her figure out what she truly wanted from life and for herself.I thought the side characters were a riot — each one added their own layer of hijinks and misadventures to Courtney and Jay’s already unpredictable quest.If you are looking for a fun and charming good time I highly recommend this book.I am excited to see what the author is able to come up with next .A special thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Six stars. Seriously. This is so fun! We have neighbors who obsessively hate each other, get plopped into a magical world, fall in spicy love, and, as the title suggests, save the world. I mean, yeah! On an alignment chart, this is chaotic good.

My favorite part is when the heroes tune out the wizened old guide as he describes the magic system, ancient history, and inspiring pillow embroidery art length, then he trips over a flowerpot. I have read many a fantasy book in which I, too, tune out that boringly important stuff and wish the wizened old guide would make an ungraceful exit. And I LOVE the fourth wall breaking chapter titles.

Okay, so the pigtail-pulling got to be a bit much sometimes, but there was a point to it. If you don't mind sniping (not enemies to lovers, but literal yo mama jokes and picking all the good bits out of the ice cream just to be a jerk) you'll enjoy watching these guys get annoyed into loving each other.
If you liked the humor in Dreadful, you'll love this, too.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a sneak peek.

This was a very creative story! I love that we got a good understanding of the main characters' strong dislike (hatred?) towards each other before diving into the fantasy plot. Courtney and Bryce could both be described as “difficult”, but that made the romance sweeter when they accepted each other and their flaws. The chapter titles were fun too, and sarcasm could be called the third main character, in a good way!

This book is very humorous, and it made me laugh, but it also does a great job tackling other feelings, especially loneliness and feeling like you don’t belong. I really enjoyed seeing little ways Court and Bryce “cared” for each other even when they saw themselves as enemies.

One critique - I expect a decent amount of action in a fantasy book, and this novel has some, however, I felt some scenes were a little weighed down with too many thoughts from whichever MC was narrating at the time, or descriptions. I did find myself getting lost a few times and having to flip back to remember what was happening.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book if you like sarcastic humor and a bit of fantasy!

I was hooked from the first page and was engaged with the characters during this book. It had that paranormal romantic comedy that I was looking for. It had that enemy to lovers element that I was looking for and so glad it worked in this concept. I enjoyed the overall feel of this and how the genre was used during this. It uses the concept perfectly and that the characters were everything that I wanted. I was glad it was so well written and wanted to read more from Sloane Brooks.

This book was absolutely hilarious! It had me smiling and laughing from chapter 1. Courtney and Bryce are the ultimate frenemies to lovers situation and reading about all their pranks was hilarious. I love the concept of them being sucked into this fantasy world and having to not only find their way around and survive, but save the world! Their shenanigans were amazing.

This is probably one of the most chaotic books I’ve ever read and I loved every minute of it. I literally never knew what was going to happen next… how could I with falling through portals, spider dragons, a zombie army, and all sorts of other randomness I encountered on this adventure.

In this book you have Courtney and Bryce, two neighbors that can’t stand each other. They end up on a magical adventure together in another world where they are expected to be the heroes.

This book surprised me in so many ways. It was incredibly engaging and I was always excited to see what was going to happen in the coming chapters.

If you are looking for a book that is the perfect blend of magic, romance, and quest based fantasy look no further.

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.

The Underachiever's Guide to Love and Saving the World is chaotic and silly and incredibly fun. It was a good time for sure.

This is quite possibly the best book I've ever read! It was silly and fun and surprising and unexpected, and I loved every second of it!! It was so refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the MCs have flaws and are self aware enough to know they're unlikable (But totally loveable!)
The Banter was Bantering🤌

The description is The Hating Game meets Legends and Lattes, but I would have to disagree. I was not a fan of the former, and LOVED the latter, but this was way better than both! It felt like a buddy comedy? But a rom com? And it was totally self aware, which I love.

Also with chapter titles such as "In Which I Go Through My Emo Phase", "In Which Chekhov's Condoms Foil Our Plans", and "In Which We Are Trained In Everything Except Horseback Riding, Which Feels Like A Massive Oversight, Considering The Importance Of Horseback Riding In Fantasy" This book is absolutely my perfect type of humour and I had the AAAABSOLUTE best time reading!!

Sloane Brooks, you wrote this book 100% for me and I will thank you for it every single day!🫶