This book was such a cute book. I really really enjoyed it and finished it in a day. Jo and Felix were adorable. The story was cute and it was a really interesting take on a different world most people don’t see. Definitely a big fan and highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Elle M. Stewart for the early access copy of Taking Initiative.

Taking Initiative tells the story of Jo, who moves to a small town in Kansas to get a fresh start after a bad break=up. Jo is a prominent Monsters & Mythology "MnM" player, so when she sees her local library is hosting their first-ever game night, she expects to make some new friends. Except when she arrives, and it is only her and Felix, the librarian hosting the event.

Felix is in over his head. He was hoping the game night would boost library patron numbers and long-term the library budget. However, his first attempt has only resulted in one person joining, Jo. Jo offers her to help Felix understand MnM to reach his goal. As they slowly start to spend time together, their connections deepen. But, can it overcome the self-doubt and old wounds left by Jo's ex?

Taking Initiative is an immersive story that makes you feel like you are playing a TTRPG.

Elle Stewart rolled a Nat20 in the RomCom community with her debut novel, Taking Initiative. The main characters were relatable and lovable even with their flaws. The side characters helped move the story along in a positive way and made you fall in love with them easily. Taking Initiative hit every single mark that I like to have in a RomCom. It was funny, sexy, relatable, scary, and sometimes sad. Our main characters are in their 30s which I feel like really helps the story along since they are grown adults with adult money, jobs, dreams and hobbies. They handle arguments and communicate like adults which is refreshing. I attend GenCon in Indianapolis every year and so it was really fun to read about the even from these characters' prospectives. I cried happy tears so many times throughout this book. It was genuinely healing for my soul. The surprise at the end really pushed this novel over into my favorite of all time category. Thank you Elle Stewart and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not a fan of DND but I am a nerd lol This was cute and I’m definitely gonna purchase for my SIL!

A pure nerd romance.
If you're into DnD, this is a romance you'll love.

Greatly written, enjoyable, and fun.

This was cute! I loved the plot and the characters were wonderful... That being said, there was almost *too much* emotional communication? Like they both had their issues, and they did need to be discussed, but at some point it started feeling more like a self-help book than a romance. And honestly the spice was...weird. All the components were there, but it was awkward.

Overall, this was a fun read, with a great premise! I'd definitely recommend it for romance readers, especially those who vibe hard with DnD.

TTRPG (table top role playing game), a hot librarian, terms of endearment in Spanish, and two cats named after Lord of the Rings.

Jo is new to Ashville, KS, a town of about 8,000 people. After her ugly break up she decided she needed a new start, in a new place, that costs way less than LA. When the library in her new small town announces they're going to have a MnM night (a TTRPG that Jo is in love with and has been playing for years) she can't believe her luck. Unfortunately for Jo the librarian in charge of MnM game night, Felix, has no idea what he's doing. After being the only one to show up to the first game night Jo agrees to volunteer at the library to help Felix get the program started the right way. As Jo teaches Felix about dragonkin, d20 dice rolls, and leveling up characters, it's hard for her not to focus on how caring and down right gorgeous he is. Through a tornado, a MnM convention, and the official game night launch Jo and Felix explore the feelings they have for each other and how to make Ashville, and each other, home.

This was such a fantastic journey of a book. The elements of TTRPGs were woven in so well that both fans and strangers to TTRPGs can enjoy the game elements but also enjoy the romance. I'm obsessed with the pacing of this book. The pace that Jo and Felix fall for each other and how their relationship unfolds was incredibly realistic given what we know about each character and where they are at in their life. The spice was STEAMING. Truly some of the best romance I've read in a while. The character development that both Jo and Felix go through is also hopeful and touching but not too heavy handed. This book rolled a Nat 20.

DND really isn't my thing, but I still enjoyed this book a lot. This book is a cute, nerdy, and emotional romance featuring a hilarious grandpa, a small town, and a charming group of friends! I particularly liked how these characters are in their 30's, and they actually act their age.

A love letter to TTRPs and the freedom found within

I really enjoyed "Taking Initiative." It's a sweet romantic comedy that delves into the world of dungeons and dragons, also known as Monsters & Mythology.

The main character, Jo, captured my heart with her endearing journey of self-discovery and growth. Her ability to form a "found family" within the MNM community added depth to the story and made her truly relatable.

Felix, the male lead, is equally captivating. I love that Felix is both a librarian and a boxer, showing that you can have both brains and brawn. While Jo's story centers around found family, his focuses on what defines a home.
One aspect that stood out to me the most was the healthy and mature communication between the two characters, despite the challenges they faced. Their dynamic and genuine interactions made their romance feel incredibly authentic.

Overall, this book provided a perfect blend of humor, nerdy references, and heartwarming romance. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and fun romantic comedy with a nerdy twist.

I give it a 4.5, rounded to 5.

Thank you to Elle M Stewart and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an adorable take on opposites attract, small town, nerds falling in love. He’s a hot librarian, she’s a nurse who loves M&M (Monsters & Mythology), who volunteers to teach him the game to help the library.

I mean, they’re literally trying to help the library. What more can you ask for? This book features a lovable cast of side characters (I 🩷 meddling grandparents), a lovable cat, and so many touching moments. If you’re looking for something that celebrates your inner nerd while also bringing about a HEA, this is a fun one!

Cute needy romance, with alot of heart. DnD with its growing outward and generally accepted appeal I expected a romance novel involving it. Was pleased that it was cute and endearing

After a disastrous breakup, Jo decides to spontaneously move to Kansas. When she walks into her public libraries first ever game night, she meets librarian Felix who quickly becomes a close friend to her. She spends her nights teaching him how to play a game similar to DND called MnM. The spark between the two grows awfully quickly though…
This book was a love letter to gaming, long distance besties and public libraries. Some of the best things, honestly. The plot moved fairly quickly, and the characters were well fleshed out. Jo’s ex was terrible, but Felix helped her get over him and forget him as she was ready. He really is a great character, might have to be up on the book boyfriends list…
Thank you to NetGalley and Elle M Stewart for an eARC of this book!

4.5 rounded up!

Thank you to the author for the early copy of the book!

“There was something beautiful, awe-inspiring about it. Not the books or the rules or the archetypes, but what the game was really about. Inclusivity, teamwork, and good prevailing over evil. The idea that, with unshakable belief and a good group of allies, it was possible to win.”

I saw this book randomly on booksta and immediately requesting it on Netgalley to read because I love board gaming. Plus, the idea of a female gamer and a hot male librarian? Perfection.

And it really was! It’s so rare to find a book where it’s not two nerds falling in love but instead one nerd and the person who respects their interests and hobbies. What I mean is: love doesn’t require you to love the same things as your significant other. You don’t need to both love that hobby with your whole soul… but you need to respect that passion from your partner. And Elle Stewart does a fantastic job here with Jo and Felix.

The two of them love and respect one another. And that’s so beautiful. My favorite scene is when Felix finally “sees” the reason behind Jo’s love of tabletop gaming. He doesn’t need to feel the same but he respects her love for the game.

On top of that, we get a fiery slow burn romance between the two that just hits all the right notes. The smut is FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC. And I am not joking here. I enjoyed it SO much. I can hardly believe this is Stewart’s debut.

The book did feel a teeny tiny bit long and some of the pop culture references were overdone / odd but otherwise, I really truly enjoyed this book. And I think even people who aren’t fans of hoarding games will too. She does a great job explaining the basic rules and dynamics of play!

I was thoroughly impressed by the author’s writing style and the narrative’s pace, which kept me engrossed until the very end. I finished this book in just a couple of days.
The story, centered around a game akin to D&D — here cleverly renamed M&M — offers an engaging and immersive experience into the M&M universe.
Jo was always made to feel bad about loving MnM, in her past relationship, which ended up in her shut herself off emotionally.
However, through Felix’s support, she rediscovers her passion for the game and, importantly, for herself. Conversely, Jo’s influence helps Felix appreciate the game’s significance to its enthusiasts.
The character development of both Jo and Felix was a highlight for me, wrapping up this story in a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

I started reading and immediately fell into this book -- Jo has recently moved to the middle of nowhere, small town Midwest after a breakup from her boyfriend. She has one main passion in life, the center of this book: an RPG game that feels very reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons. Although I've never played D&D, I have played Baldur's Gate and was fully obsessed, so that made this book much easier to follow - I'm not entirely sure how it would read to someone who hasn't played, but I would imagine you'd just skim over all those little details, and focus more in on the romance.

At its core, this is the story of Jo trying to rediscover her passions and interests after being diminished by ex-boyfriend, and finding new love in this adorable librarian. I love that the author gave him his own quirks, like his professionalism, though these ultimately didn't feel central to the plot. He really did present as ideal boyfriend material, and on top of that, is a librarian, so I give him lots of credit - his POV also had its own introspection, which I enjoyed and see as sometimes what makes dual POV romance books lacking.

If you like a fast-paced rom-com and enjoy it when a book is centered around a hobby (I just read a book about a girl who loves LARPing, for example), then this will be a fun read for you! I found our side cast of characters to be fun, though not particularly central to the plot, and the romantic tension, while there, wasn't like a deep yearning - the two get together around halfway through the book, which I did find satisfying, if only because I didn't see any particular reason for them to play dumb and not recognize the other's feelings! I'd say that this was attention-grabbing from the start, but ultimately didn't feel super memorable.

Jo moved to Ashville to start a new life after a breakup. She visits the local library for a MnM game night. Instead of finding a group of fellow players, she is met with Felix, the librarian hosting who also knows nothing about the game. He's also really handsome. Jo offers to help Felix understand and learn the game and to make game night a success at the library. They begin to spend time together and get to know each other- their past, their flaws, everything!

Jo's recent relationship has negatively affected her perspective of herself and her expecations of relationships. She feels like she is not enough for people. She seemed to be a little embarrassed by her hobby and was belittled for it in a previous relationship even though the hobby is what makes her feel alive. When she explains why people like these role-playing, fantasy games, it really touched my heart. Reality is rarely always how we want it to be, and these games provide an escape. Jo's best friend Aida is also the kind of friend that everyone would want in their lives. She just seems so cool, so confident, and so caring of Jo. She's always encouraging Jo to embrace who she is.

Felix is a sweet guy who isn't afraid of telling Jo how great she is. He's also extremely formal in a way and it makes it funny. He appreciates Jo for her, all of her. His relationship with his grandpa is also really sweet. He also does some growing himself and when he realizes where home is, it's extremely warming.

I loved that the book touches on library budget cuts which is a very real thing happening now. Libraries and librarians do so much for the community, but unfortunately, do not get the support and love they deserve. Everything in this book just felt so real- the conversations, the reactions, the people. I will say the book is also heavy on the game which made it a little difficult for me to follow along, only because I am not really into that.

cute, fun, surprisingly steamy, and full of so much love for the ttrpg community! I really enjoyed this one. I think some things were a bit clunky in the beginning, particularly with Jo’s anxiety/relationship backstory but I think it ended up finding its groove and things went smoothly from there. definitely recommend!

Jo es una enfermera que se acaba de mudar de estado, se une al club de juego de rol de monstruos y mitología en la librería pública de Asville y ahí conoce al bibliotecario, Felix.

Felix acepta ser como un moderador del juego de monstruos y Jo será su maestra en el juego para poder atraer más gente y así evitar recortes presupuestarios

Cuando empieza su romance hay muchas escenas de sexo y se vuelve aburrido con 1-2 escenas buen hechas son más que suficientes.


A veces se me olvida que el sistema de salud en ese país es malo y que para encontrar un psicólogo es una osadía.




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

This book was so cute! I really loved the setting and the story was very well thought out. And the main characters were so cute together!

This book surprised me. I didn’t know a lot about the gaming world when I started but I couldn’t put this book down. The friendships were so beautiful and central to the story. This very much had the found family trope. I think we all need a friend like Aida. The way the relationship grew and the way the y tried to support each other was very sweet.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc