This really didn't hit for me.

I think that maybe it had too much going on and because of that, it fell quite flat.

This has fake dating, older brother's friend, and friends to lovers. I don't think you need to emphasize that many parts of the story. It just felt jumbled.

There were definitely some cute moments and I did appreciate the D & D aspect of this story. And I did like the friend group, they had a fun dynamic.

I also cannot get behind the male love interest in a romance novel being named Phil. I just kept getting jump-scared by my own brain picturing Phil Dunphy from Modern Family (don't get me wrong, I love Phil from Modern Family, but that is not the vibe for this book).

I also didn't really love the FMC. She felt rather childish and strange at times. Her reactions to certain situations made her feel so weird and childish and inappropriate. Made me cringe (and not in a cringe is freeing way, but in a second-hand embarrassment kind of way).

I just couldn't get invested in this story because I just couldn't get behind the characters or their motivations. I'm sure some people won't mind those things I mentioned, but this just wasn't for me. And I do wish it was, the premise sounds so fun.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
I enjoyed this quick and cute read.
It revolves around Amy who needs a fake date when an ex returns.
She has always been part of her big brother's group of friends and always in love with Phil.
Phil has his own commitments but steps in to help.
Is this the usual romance trope? Yes! but it is a very enjoyable fun read.

Happy Release Day!!!!
Date Knight
@samparksbooks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ll be honest and admit going to a ren faire somewhere was always something I wanted to do but never did! It always looked like so much fun! As a history and costume obsessed woman, it seemed like a no brainer but when you’re working with a lack of gold coins… 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

I loved the whole friend group of this book! I definitely want more and will be reading the first book asap! I read this as a standalone and it works completely. Yes I ruined the HEA for myself on the first book but I also go into romances expecting love at the end, so I’m ok with it!

I loved that our FMC Amy goes out of her way for people, showing her heart on her sleeves. To me her portion of the book was her learning to tell who she should bend over backwards for VS people that just use and abuse her.

Our MMC Phil, he’s had it fucking rough. He lost both parents at a young age. He was raised by his grandmother, a powerhouse of a woman, but now deep in the throes of dementia. His world is crumbling for a second time, this time, there’s no one else. All he has is his friends and he can’t let this burden be theirs too.
His portion of the book is a hard lesson in duty, duty to others, duty to yourself.

As someone who took care of elderly family members in various ways, past and present, this hit close to home. We lost my grandfather to dementia a little while ago, I can fully understand Phil’s feelings of guilt, anger and worry. My sister and her family moved in with him in the past few years to care for him. Every thought Phil had in the book is something carers know by heart.

I’m really excited for the third book!!!

Thanks Sam, @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley

#dateknight #samparks #samanthaparks #rollforromance #youvegotchainmail #dandd #DnD #dungeonsanddragons #boardgames #renfaire #cosplay #romance #fantasy #arc #arcreader #arcreview #netgalley #happyreleaseday #selkiereader

***Thank you to Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for sending me an unsolicited e-arc through Netgalley of Date Knight by Sam Parks! All thoughts are my own!***

This is the second book in Sam Parks' Roll for Romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend all of them highly.

Following up from Sam's previous novel, You've Got Chain Mail, this book follows Phil, Jack's best friend, who is a full time caregiver to his grandmother with dementia. He's trying to balance being a caregiver, doing data entry jobs, being the costume designer for his friends, But when Amy Evans, Jack's sister, who is now in their D&D group, finds out that her ex boyfriend and best friend are engaged, Phil swoops in to be her hero and fake date for three months while she secures a job with her father's construction company.

One thing I really love about this book is that Phil and Amy are friends that have been pining for each other for years. They have been friends since they were kids because of Phil and Jack being best friends.

I related so much to Phil throughout the book. As a caregiver myself, it's very hard to remember that people are willing to help and that you aren't alone. Jack's family was so kind to Phil and his grandmother. And it really gave a great insight to what caregivers go through, between the doctors appointments to home modifications for accessibility.

I really loved that the characters went to fantasy festival as well as a fantasy ball. And Phil making everyone's costumes for the festival, like he did in the previous book for the Renaissance Faire. And the fact that he made a dress for Amy, despite everything he had going on with his grandmother, he is a green flag of a man.

I loved getting to see more of their D&D campaign, especially getting Phil's character's perspective. AND THE EPILOGUE!!! I'm so excited to see more of the campaign.

What to expect:
Cosplay
Brother’s best friend
Fake dating
Nerdy hotness
Real life knight in shining armour
Emotional depth
Spicy

Date Knight by Sam Parks is on sale now! Thank you so much to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for this arc!

I fell in love with this cover and needed to read this immediately.

I really loved this! It’s so cute & reading this brightened my day. It’s the right amount of fluffy romcom & heartfelt. The writing style flows easily which made this a quick read.

Amy & Phil were adorable & simply too cute! I loved that they had a crush on each other throughout the years & the fake dating situation just brought them together.

Phil was a stand up guy & a cinnamon roll. Amy is super relatable, especially if you’ve ever been told you’re too much or too sensitive. I could relate to her a lot. These two had so many swoony moments, my heart just melted.

I also enjoyed Phil’s D&D character having their own chapters. That was a fun & unique addition. I also thought his storyline as a caregiver to his ailing grandmother was very well done.

The setting is great & I loved the group of friends. Plus there’s a fantasy festival and cosplays.

Would recommend if you like fake dating, friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, & small town romances. Can be read as a standalone.

Rating: 4/5

This book gave me the perfect blend of best friends little sister/friends to lovers and nerd business that I could have ordered. The MMC Phil and FMC Amy have known each other since they were kids, Phil is friends with Amy's older brother Jack and they're all in a Dungeons and Dragons group. The chapters swap perspectives from Phil and Amy and every so often it cuts to their D&D campaign and you get a chapter telling you what is happening in the fantasy game.

I loved the banter between the two main characters but it did get very frustrating at around the two thirds mark when conflict that had been bubbling along the entire book and was not going to be solved by the MMC's actions but hey lets have a third act breakup!

That said though I did enjoy the book overall and I'm happy to spend more time around this group of characters in the other books in the series, and especially to go back and read book one with Jack and his girlfriend getting together (and playing more D&D no doubt!)

One fake quest and two nerdy hearts, what could potentially go wrong?

Phil is great at pretending, at least when he’s playing a knight in his weekly D&D role play. In real life? Not that much. Especially when Amy, his best friend’s newly heartbroken sister, joins the game and starts turning his carefully planned world upside down.

He thought inviting her to the game was a nice thing to do. He definitely did not expect the fake dating agreement that follows, nor how real it all starts to feel with a little bit of nerdy glamour and the chance to be her real prince in shining armor.

Think cosplay, think fantasy balls, and most of all… think nerdy chemistry when Phil and Amy’s fake relationship quickly turns into the most confusing quest of their lives.

I enjoyed this book so much, I almost finished it in a single sitting. It’s perfect for fans of nerdy cinnamon roll heroes (yeah, that’s a thing for me now), fake dating tropes, and a good old slow burn romance that might kick-off way sooner than you think. Even though I rolled in for the feelings and the fact I never read a ‘nerdy’ romance like this before, this might also be your pick on the menu if you’re ready to fall hard.

As always, a special thanks to the author, Sam Parks, One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read and review ‘Date Knight’ before it’s official publication on July 31, today! All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Well, I was in the mood for a cozy romance and Date Knight delivered just that 🥰

D&D Romcom, it was right up my alley! The back and forth dance of the MFC and MMC was infuriating at most times, but we all know this is what the author wanted from us !

There are some deeper topics in the book, ecspecialky with the MMC's grandmother having Dementia and him being a full time carer of hers, but I love the inner workings of how he navigates it all.

It was predictable but that doesn't mean that I didn't love the ride it took me on! I was unaware there is a standalone Book 1, and I cannot wait to read that one too!

Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

I love how Amy and Phil interacted in this book. from faker dating to slowly becoming an actual item. I just loved how the author let the characters be so wonderfully geeky over things like D&D,(which I lived for. The whole D&D session was absolutely a ride), it makes them stand out even if it follows a lot of familiar tropes. I will say that anyone unfamiliar with D&D might have a hard time with those parts of the book. I will say, the book felty a bit young despite the characters being adults. Overall I enjoyed it and found it to be a fun read.

A cute rom com with heaps and heaps of nerdiness! This is a pretty basic fake dating, older brother's friend/friends to lovers story, with a couple cute, swoony moments.

What I liked:
-the D&D game sprinkled through the story
-the hobbies Phil had: sewing and cooking/baking?? absolutely obsessed
-Phils's caretaker role for his grandmother Ethel was heartbreaking but so real (and well done)
-faires and balls and fancy costumes are always a fun time
-the friend group was so fun!

What I didn't love:
-Amy felt really juvenile; her relief at being cheated on, her stunted relationship with her parents? I just wanted a bit more from her. I did like the not feeling included thing - it was the most relatable part of her character
-Their reasons for fake dating felt flimsy. I might have preferred that it not even be part of the story (and as a mega fan of fake dating stories, that's saying a lot)
-Phil was pissing me off by the end
-I wasn't invested in their romance

This was a really fun and cute second book to the series - I loved Amy and Phil, despite not being within the lore of D&D and therefore finding myself confused at times!

Date Knight is a clever and refreshing twist on the rom-com genre, blending modern dating drama with just the right touch of adventure and charm. Sam Parks brings humor, heart, and a surprisingly tender story to life through quirky characters and sharp dialogue.

The protagonist is lovable and relatable, and the “knight” angle adds a fun layer of uniqueness without feeling gimmicky. The banter is spot-on, and there’s a nice emotional core beneath all the laughs. It’s lighthearted but not shallow — perfect if you enjoy rom-coms with a bit of soul.

Some pacing issues and predictable moments kept it from being a full 5 stars, but overall it’s a fun, feel-good read with originality and heart.

Thank Sam Parks , One More Chapter publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️
Book rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite characters: Ethel, Amy
Review: This book was a cute read! It definitely had some spice and some of my favorite tropes: brothers bestfriend, & fake dating! I liked the hard themes this book displays with Ethel and Phil’s parents. I had a hard time understanding the d&d stuff and found that I was happy those chapters were short! Overall it was a cute read.

🔮Your Reading Horoscope Says: Prepare for emotional rolls coasters and chaotic good vibes.

You ever read a book and immediately want to roll for perception to see if your soulmate is hiding in plain sight? Date Knight by @samparksbooks is that kind of book.

Phil Owen is the kind of love interest we need more of: awkward, loyal, and emotionally responsible (swoon). He’s a D&D dungeon master with a soft heart, killer instincts in battle and caregiving—because his spitfire grandma Ethel (hey girl hey 💅)is the real MVP and will 100% steal your heart (and possibly your wallet). 😉

Enter Amy Evans: recently heartbroken, newly nerd-converted, and ready to totally not fall for Phil. Except... fake dating, shared D&D campaigns, rom-com banter, and the dreaded “one bed” scenario make resisting impossible. Also, they have a couple name - Phamy - and send each other “Phamy lore drops” via text to keep their fake relationship straight. (Which is definitely not the cutest thing ever. Except it absolutely is.)

The writing is sharp, the romance is deliciously slow-burn, and the humor feels like it was pulled straight from a group chat with your funniest friends. If you’ve ever loved a rom-com, rolled initiative for love, or fake-dated someone in your head on the bus… this book is for you.

Final Verdict:
5/5 enchanted dice rolls 🎲
Recommended for:
* Rom-com nerds
* Fans of the “one bed” trope
* Sagittarius moons and hopeless romantics

Read it, text your BFF your own couple name, and beware: side quests may lead to true love. 💘✨

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC for an honest review

I never read book 1 of this series as id never came across this author before this ARC but im so glad I did I honestly requested this because the cover was fing adorable however, the banter and yearning from the two main characters are what kept me interested this wasn't just my first book by this author it was also my first gamer romance this was heartfelt and nerdy in the best ways the only part ill say annoyed me was the miscommunication at the start but that was quickly fixed

This was… fine. It’s a perfectly enjoyable romcom that I didn’t love but it’s still a lot of fun.

A contemporary geek romance set in the UK somewhere around Manchester, with plenty of tropey romance goodness- brothers best friend, fake dating etc. I really liked the premise of them getting together through a D&D campaign but I did feel that it kinda was let down by the pacing chosen. Their first kiss happens at about 15% of the way through and the premise of the fake dating wasn’t really seen through to the point of her ex and ex-best friends wedding.

I’ll admit as well, I have read the author description and I do think it’s let down by some American ideas of British class and social consciousness. There’s a point where they get called ‘townies’ and that’s… just a weird thing I’ve never heard before.

It’s alright, and a fun romp where it’s good.

Thanks NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC. This review is my own honest opinion.

3.5⭐️ | NetGalley Review |

A fun, sweet and cute read that incorporated real life struggles in a realistic and well represented way. The MMC and his struggles with feeling in debt and spreading himself thin, griefing someone that's still alive and the balance between carer and being yourself.

The D&D chapters didn't do it for me so I kinda skimmed through them but if you're into that I can imagine it's a fun addition to the story.

Date Knight is the second installment in Samantha Parks' Roll for Romance series. Each book follows a different member of a close-knit friend group united by their love of Dungeons & Dragons. While the books are best enjoyed in order, each one can stand alone.

What to Expect:
Dual POV
Brother’s Best Friend
Age Gap (5 years)
Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating

If you read You've Got Chain Mail, you'll remember Phil, Jack's best friend, a talented cook, and cosplay wizard, and Amy, Jack's younger sister, who recently returned home after a rough breakup. Fast forward a year: Amy runs into her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, who are now engaged and inviting her to their wedding. In a moment of panic, she convinces Phil to pose as her boyfriend. What starts as a fake relationship quickly spirals when their friends and family assume it’s real. They decide to keep up the charade until after the wedding—and until Amy hopefully lands a full-time job at her father’s company.

I loved how their relationship began with a foundation of friendship, albeit one filled with playful bickering and teasing. Their banter was a highlight, especially their text exchanges as they built the "Phamy" (Phil + Amy) backstory.

As their fake relationship starts to feel real, things get complicated. Phil is the sole caregiver for his grandmother, who has dementia, and the emotional weight of that responsibility is portrayed with care and authenticity. The author does an excellent job of showing the challenges of caregiving and the emotional toll it takes - not just on Phil, but on those who love him.

The friend group continues to shine in this book, always showing up for one another in meaningful ways. However, the D&D chapters, told from the perspective of Phil's D&D character, felt disconnected from the main plot. While creative, they didn't add much to the story and could have been trimmed to make room for underdeveloped plot threads that were introduced but never revisited.

Overall, a fun and cozy romance, but needed some more fine tuning. I will still probably continue the series, looks like Chloe is next and I am hopeful to see what the author has in store for her and who her romantic interest will be. Also, here is my plea for more page time for Grey! They're so intriguing and mysterious - I need to know more!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read. I loved that the story was based on the nerdy game Dungeon's And Dragon's and the chapters go back and forth between Phil and Amy and also adding in chapters for characters in the game. I also loved the small town place setting and there was a great cast of characters. I loved Phil and Amy's characters and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and the author, Sam Parks for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

*♡Thank you to Sam Parks, Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion♡*
Date Knight is a charming, funny, and slightly chaotic ride. The banter? Top-tier. The romance? Sweet with just the right amount of tension. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is exactly what made it such a fun escape. Think knights, dates, and delightful nonsense in all the best ways. If you’re after something feel-good and playful, this one’s a win.