This Will Be Interesting: A Novel

This Will Be

by E.B. Asher

Set in the same magical, madcap world as E. B. Asher’s USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun, this heartwarming, hilarious fantasy follows an unlikely band of heroes who must get to the bottom of an assassination plot gone wrong without breaking the one rule of do not fall in love with your questmates. 

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?

Filled with dangerous impersonators, the inimitable power of friendship, and the realm’s most infamous horseball championship, This Will Be Interesting is a slow burn, cozy, and hilarious quest romantasy featuring:

Sapphic friends to loversHero x villain romanceReluctant allies to loversFake marriageFound family

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fiction, Humor, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance

464 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2026

About the author

E. B. Asher is the author of USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun and the pen name for Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Bridget is the author of several novels, including That Summer Feeling and Anywhere You Go. She lives in Los Angeles with her two cats. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are the authors of novels including The Roughest Draft and Reese’s Book Club pick Heiress Takes All. Married, they live in Los Angeles, where they continue to take daily inspiration from their own love story.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Bookish Thoughts
This Will Be Interesting returns to the same world as This Will Be Fun with the familiar crew back for quest adventure. It’s part sapphic romance, part quest fantasy adventure! I really liked seeing how Galwell adjusted to life after coming back. I would feel just as lost and disconnected.

While this book was just as funny, I did feel like it dragged more than book one. There were more “filler” scenes. But I still enjoyed it overall!

🩷 What to Expect
• Sapphic friends to lovers
• Hero × villain romance
• Reluctant allies to lovers
• Fake marriage
• Found family
• Magical quest
_ _ _

⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: March 24 2026
📝 : Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Will Be Interesting by E. B. Asher
This Will Be series #2. Fantasy. Best read in series order but this one can be read as a standalone. LGBTQ+.
Galwell True was a hero. A legend. When his friends are able to rescue him before he actually dies, and brought whisked to current days, it’s been ten years since his death. His first death? His escape from death? With time, the realm has changed and he’s not quite sure of his place anymore.
River Pricemark is an assassin hired to kill Galwell. Celine Hazelton interrupts River’s attempt and already knowing River, has many questions and concerns.
Queen Thessia of Mythria was supposed to marry Galwell, but he died and tired of being alone, she’s married King Hugh. Now with Galwell back, her loyalty is split and confused.
Quests, magical manipulations and corruption have turned the lands and people to confusion and an uncertain future. Where do they go from here?

Amusing antics and thoughts from Galwell and the rest of the cast. A light irreverent story with three merging storylines, romances and the ultimate quest of “am I enough?”

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

EB Asher fans, it is time to return to Mythria! and this time we get to adventure beyond its borders. Beatrice and Clare are minor characters in this one, but we dive deep on old and new characters alike.

3 POV;
Queen Thessia, recently married to Hugh. He likes her but doesn't love her. Their honeymoon becomes a Quest.
River; a hired assassin who is planning to kill Galwell.
Galwell; back from the dead and 10 years younger than his former peers. Is he Galwell the great or Galwell the grateful?

EB Asher has singlehandedly (triple handedly?, lol) created the cozy romantasy genre. This book is Pixar's Onward meets The Count of Monte Cristo meets Pirates of the Caribbean. Expect laughter, a lot of camp, and a creative blending of feudal society and our modern culture. As someone who rarely reads fantasy, I can struggle with the world building and in being able to visualize and remember the creatures and characters. I find this book to be incredibly, even compulsively, readable. Low spice, high nostalgia, and all the fun.

Do you need to read This Will Be Fun in order to enjoy this one? No. But it will spoil it for you, so I recommend reading it first. I found this second book to be more adventurous, more mysterious and even funnier. It is a found family adventure for reluctant coworkers to lovers. The anticipation is real!

My Hollywood cast
Elizabeth Olsen, as River
Emma Watson, as Thessia
Chris Hemsorth, as Hugh
Noah Centineo, as Galwell
Alexandra Daddario, as Celine

thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. Book to be published March 24, 2026.

[Gianna Molinari · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5) THIS ONE IS FOR ALL MY HATERS (liv) WHO THOUGHT I WOULDNT READ 170 PAGES (liv) IN ONE SITTING (oliviaaaa)

for realsies tho, this book was superrr easy to consume and prob shouldve obly taken like 2-3 days.

the story was straight forward, easy to follow and pretty funny

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this was so cute??? And silly?? And just full of tomfoolery and characters finding their true selves and bonding with their ragtag found family and I loved every second of it.

Galwell is alive and he's not sure what to do with that. Stuck in a world 10 years ahead of where he was, he's baffled by it. Thessia, the queen, is tired of the narrative that she will leave her new husband for her first love. And River, an assassin, is trying to figure out why someone wants Galwell dead.

Right from the start we get this sad sack of a hero, who's pondering the same thing Buffy did when she was brought back to life - was it better to have just died? Seems like people don't like being pulled from their supposed fates. Anyways, the action starts right away and I loved how the crew came together, as well as features from the first book's cast.

The characters in general are so unserious and silly, and I adore them. I would protect them with my life. They are precious.

I feel like this instalment was also stronger than the first. With a solid plot pulling them along, with sidequest romances, this book was fast-paced and engaging. There was a lot in here to work with, and I feel like the authors set up everything really well and wrapped it all up perfectly in the end.

I don't know if we'll ever see these characters again, but I adore them and I will definitely return to this series again in the future. It's truly so much fun!

TW: death, injury detail, blood, murder, violence, sexual content, alcohol consumption; mentions fire/fire injury

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Avon in exchange for an honest review.

[✨Jessica✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With you, I—I feel like I’m out of my mind sometimes with how much I want you,” he confessed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5🌶️

I had the most delightful time being back in Mythria. The characters that are introduced in the second installment are so endearing.

This book series is so cozy and whimsical while also having plenty of danger, adventure, and romance.

If you are a fantasy reader and just looking for something new and different this is it. It feels fresh and unique, but also gives me the nostalgic Princess Bride that I’m always chasing.

Thank you to @avonbooks for the finished copy! All opinions are my own.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful hug to the senses and such a FUN sequel to E.B. Asher's This Will Be Fun. I am a huge fan of this world, and it was a pleasure to return to see what would happen following the events of the first and to see what might happen to our heroes. I was very pleased that the POVs were different from the first (as much as I love the Four) and the addition of new characters felt like they fit in and added more to both the world and the existing characters. A strong piece of this novel lies in the POV of Queen Thessia as well as Galwell exploring his life now and his role in it. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC of this sequel.

[neelam · Rating 4 out of 5]

actually 3.5

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked This Will Be Fun (another book by this author and with this vibe), so I was excited to read this one.

I did like the previous book better, I felt like I could connect with the characters in that book better.

This one also felt more like a cozy fantasy than This Will Be Fun. That one had a little more action to it and that definitely helps to keep me entertained and interested. This book focused more on the emotional journeys that the characters were going through, especially our hero guy.

I also don't tend to love second chance romances and this has one of those. I did like how it was done though. I think lots of past things were explored and explained and that really helped me to like it. (I don't like feeling like I'm missing information from the past with second chance romances, but I think this book combated that very well. I got the explanations I needed.)

I do think plenty of people will really enjoy this book. Especially if someone is looking for a cozier fantasy this winter. I don't know why, but cozy fantasies feel right for winter.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an Arc of "This Will Be Interesting."

Expected Publication March 4, 2026

I enjoyed the previous books perspective on heroes after they saved the day. The perspective in this book is on a hero that had his ultimate sacrifice erased, and how that would inform his identity.

Unfortunately I don't think this series was for me since I was bored most of the time but I would recommend this book if your looking for friendship in a more Romantasy cozy vibes.

[Jodi R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Will be Interesting | E.B. Asher | 4.25 ⭐️

“It won’t be like old times, but neither of us wants that. It will be like new times. Something yet to be defined. I think we’re both eager to discover what exactly that is.”

This is such a fun fantasy romp! I said the exact same thing about the first book, but it remains true in this one: this book is like a wild Arthurian soap opera. I could suss out the romantic pairings from the very beginning, but I didn’t mind because I still felt the tension and build up for each of the pairings. Each of them had their own distinct dynamics and I loved getting to see each individual couple grow.
Contrary to the predictability of the romance, I found myself bamboozled by the plot twist (though to be fair this genre doesn’t exactly encourage the most critical of thinking in me). Looking back at it though, I can see the foreshadowing, and I think it was the perfect ratio of plot/character/romance.
While I wouldn’t call this an epic fantasy, or a life changing story, it was still a good palate cleanser, cozy fantasy, and overall great read. Perfect for fans of BBC Merlin and The Princess bride! Or really anyone looking for a fun, quick read with a large, lovable cast of characters 😊

*Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC copy. All thoughts are my own*

[Alex Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just as cozy, fun, and funny as the first book! I loved the new cast of characters and relationships. Definitely more vibes than a strict plot but sometimes you need that 😭

I thought a few key moments were missing however. I know this book isn’t supposed to center around the four from the first one, but I would’ve liked to see:
- Elowen and Galwell talking at the end? Like about his whole self-discovery quest and his new love? I just thought that would’ve been nice to see, considering we barely saw him interact with his sister at all?
- Clare and Galwell talking about Mona. AND Clare and Mona making up. Clare caught Mona and Galwell and was upset, but then at the end he’s fine with both of them…I just think it would’ve been really nice to see Mona and Clare make up and reconnect as siblings. But I know I know it’s not Clare’s book 😭😭 but STILL

Anyways yeah there were places where I thought the plot dragged or went to fast but I honestly did not want to put this book down and I kept thinking about it, so for that reason I’m giving it 4 stars! 🫡❤️✨

[Mae (bookishpremed)]

dnf at 54% 😔

thank you to avonbooks and e.b. asher for an e-ARC and physical ARC of this book!

being endorsed as a silly, whimsical cozy fantasy book, i was so hyped for this book and these themes delivered, but i was just soooo confused most of the time. i’d like to chalk it up to the fact that i was unable to read book 1 first, so there were some nuances i missed, but as an interconnected standalone, it struggled on its own for me :(

there are 3 couples involved with different backstories so it felt like too many hands in the pot. having the multiple POVs totally threw me off and it kinda disrupted the flow of the book for me :/ the world-building and character descriptions/backgrounds felt like they were being name dropped. as i am currently over 50ish% and still confused on where this would go, i fear i must dnf. sorry guys, and i’m sorry avon, pls know i still love you, this was just not for me 😔

[Elise books and hooks]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars

This book has a lot of potential and a really fun premise. I love the idea of Galway returning from his death and not knowing what to do with his life. I appreciate that he feels lost, despite feeling grateful. I also love the idea of following Queen Thessia after her life didn't quite work out as planned.

It has taken me 30 days to read 171 pages.
Why is it so wordy? The sentences are SO LONG. The chapters are also really long too, and it just drags. I had really high expectations and hopes for this book because I loved This Will Be Fun! I'm really bummed. Sadly, I have no desire to trudge through the rest of this.

However, I am giving this a higher rating than books that I DNF. I can see the potential in this book and I know some people who might love this story, so for that I am giving it a 2.5.

Thank you to NetGalley, E. B Asher and their publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Devon Gilbreath · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m very grateful to have received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage, but I did NOT enjoy this. I’m not sure why my experience with this one was so different than the first book, but I struggled my entire way through this. I could not appreciate the characters who are finding themselves after their big adventure. We already did that last go around. This was just a bunch of adult characters who are deeply insecure and incapable of functioning as adults. It felt like I was reading about grown men and women with the decision making skills of an 8 year old, which was weird and gross at times during the more adultish scenes. I didn’t care about anyone or the future of the Queendom. This is even making me question how much I really enjoyed the first book now…

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet follow-up to This Will Be Fun, though I found the characters a little more haphazard, and the plot a bit more convoluted.

This was funny and engaging, with lush worldbuilding and enchanting locales. I really enjoyed the new setting, and it was fun to meet new characters!

However, there were a LOT of new characters, and I think that made it hard to get deep characterization of any of them. There were six “main” characters and a few side characters with decent page time. I would have appreciated a slightly slimmer cast, and think it would have improved the depth of characterization.

Thank you to E. B. Asher, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Gretchen Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to return to the world of Mythria. This story juggles not two, but three, delightful romances in this fantasy world with ever-so-slightly modern references. The romances mostly got their time in the spotlight (with plenty of spice to go around), but I did feel like Thessia's story did have a bit of a sudden shift into "now we have feelings for each other" and I feel like it missed some of the build up. That said, I loved the way things tied together at the end and I definitely cried a little during the conclusion.

[Lyssasauruss · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This will be Fun was one of my favorite reads in ‘24 and I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered a widget for This Will be Interesting. It reminded me why I loved the first one so much.

It’s just a fun time. It’s cute and silly and it is genuinely laugh out loud funny. The characters have so much heart and depth, they all work so well together and because of each other. It’s a beautiful look at what it means to really be ourselves and sticking with the the family we picked.

It was a joy. I can not wait for what Asher does next.


Thank you to Avon for the Widget!

[RoseGreyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more than interesting it was a DELIGHT! I am in love with this world, the characters and magic and everything involved.

Much like I loved the previous books perspective on heroes after they saved the day, I loved this perspective on a hero that had his ultimate sacrifice erased, and how that would inform his identity. In the same vein, we got to see people who identify as villains find their honor and heroic purpose… but my favorite plot was the perpetual damsel doing the saving and leading the way she was always meant to do.

I don’t want to give spoilers to the plot, because this was magical to watch untold, but I will say I LOVED that every breadcrumb had meaning, every plot line tracked to its rightful place, and every love story had me swooning. This book is everything I wanted it to be!

[Alisha Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book and this sequel. It was an easy, fun read.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25🌟

[Jennifer Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not interesting

[Tara May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it difficult to get through, it just wasn't for me.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grand time

The pacing of the books feels a lot like a real DND quest. Someone's motivations are pulling the story along faster than the other players can catch up, but it was a lot of fun.
I think I enjoyed Galwell's struggles a lot more, because it wasn't all references to a story we don't know, we were here for it all.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this because I loved the first one! The main characters in this lacked everything for me l, and I really did not care to see how it all ended

[Jamilyn Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed my return to this world in book 2. Both of them read like a contemporary romance with the perfect amount of shrek-like humor, found family, and questing set in a fantasy world. So comforting, funny and charming!

[Frida Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much!😍😭 desperately hoping they will write more

[KaseyG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Synopsis: This cozy fantasy is a follow up to Asher’s This Will Be Fun, and features some of the same characters as well as some new faces on another quest through the land of Mythria.

Thoughts: These books are fun, unserious and silly in the best way. You just get to ride along with these quirky and endearing characters on their quest filled with shenanigans and misadventures. Thoroughly enjoyable read - maybe even better than the first book simply because the characters had more development and relationship growth. I do think you should read book one first because this one will spoil it for you.

Read this if you like:
👑 quests
👑 unlikely heroes
👑 found family
👑 fake marriage
👑 enemies to lovers
👑 sapphic friends to lovers

[Pallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun return to Mythria and Vestriya!