Bromantasy

by Máire Roche

Two heroes. One brain cell.

BROMANTASY is a cozy, queer fantasy about the mortifying ordeal of being known by your totally platonic best friend and the epic quest that might force you to confront the truth.

This deluxe limited first run edition will feature beautifully designed colored edges—while supplies last!

Fellas, is it gay to kiss your bff while on a quest through the forest you’re unqualified for?

Juniper O'Reilly is good at only two demolishing a pint of mead and finding the perfect skincare routine. Everything else—taking care of the farm, bartering for goods, any sort of manual labor—falls to Juniper’s best friend, the absurdly capable, endlessly patient Mo Elmthorn.

But when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both for a quest to kill a fearsome monster, he knows he’s finally gotten in over his head. Juniper hates camping, he hates the dark, and there’s no way all these foraged mushrooms are going to sit well in his stomach. One thing he doesn’t hate? How good Mo’s thighs look in his questing pants—he doesn’t have time to think about that, though, with a monster to hunt and their futures on the line.

But monsters come in all shapes and sizes. When Juniper and Mo realize that the terrifying beast they’ve sworn to kill is just a scared little girl torn from her family, they’re off to find not only the true villain of the story, but maybe even a happy ending.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Adult, Romantasy, Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Máire Roche is a former teacher who now writes fantasy for all ages.

When she's not writing, Máire enjoys exploring new coffee shops, hiking, and teaching martial arts.

She also writes thrillers and contemporary romance as Mary E. Roach, where her recent & upcoming titles include Better Left Buried, Seven for a Secret, and We Are the Match.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know those spoof/parody movies, Not Another Teen Movie or Scary Movie etc? This feels like that in book form for romantasy.

If you enjoyed those movies or humor like it, you’ll probably have a great time with this book.

There is a quest, dragons, and two idiots (complimentary) totally in love with each other but pretending not to be.

Plenty of silly funny humor that pokes fun at modern slang, books in the genre, etc.

Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of those types of movies or that type of humor so this book was a kind of a miss for me. I did enjoy it enough that I wanted to find out what happened with the dragon, but this isn’t one I’ll read again and I’d only recommend it to ppl that really enjoy that parody/silly humor style.

I’ll also emphasize that this is two idiots in love and denying it for most of the book. This reads like miscommunication, so if you’re not a fan of that style of conflict this might be one to skip!

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bromantasy is a cozy fantasy book about best friends who secretly love each other. There's also a baby dragon that may or may not be a little girl.
It's a sorcery and small magics meets the house in the cerulean sea.
It was very cute and a fun time, I'd recommend it if you like cozy fantasy.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bromantasy is a fun, cozy, campy read great for those looking for something in the vein of Legends & Lattes or The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Juniper and Mo's "friendship" is rife with stupidity and missed opportunities and poor communication, and while that would normally frustrate me to no end, I felt Máire Roche did a great job of instead portraying it as endearing and an understandable result of their histories, both shared and individual. I definitely enjoyed the pining and yearning weaved throughout, though I'll admit to wishing there had been slightly more of an on-page payoff in the romance department.

That aside, I enjoyed how much this book leaned into common fantasy and romance tropes (friends-to-lovers, only one bed, etc.) and didn't take itself too seriously. There were numerous contemporary references and phrases tied in to the fantasy setting, which added a lot of humor and helped maintain the lighthearted tone, even when Juniper and Mo's personal stakes were higher.

As someone who loves when a book puts me in an emotional chokehold, there were moments throughout, primarily related to Juniper and Mo's character and relationship development, when I wanted the author to dig a little deeper and really dive into the core of things. I can, however, accept that this book is about the vibes, and the vibes are meant to be silly and playful and tongue-in-cheek. I think, in that regard, it's important to go into this book with the appropriate expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This was such a fun and lighthearted book about two definitely platonic best friends who are sent on a quest to find a dragon. It was cozy and campy with a good
mix of humor and some more serious moments.
Juniper and Mo were the somewhat stereotypical main characters of this genre of book. Juniper was the well intentioned bumbling idiot who keeps getting himself in trouble and Mo was the quieter, serious character who gets them out of trouble. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it works. They played off each other really well and I loved their incredibly codependent friendship. They very much acted like an old married couple while trying their hardest to pretend they didn’t have actual feelings for each other.
The quest was fun and interesting and I liked all the side characters and the way they drove the story forward. There’s not a lot of world building or set up to this book - you’re kind of just thrown into the story. I personally don’t mind that, I found that the book gave me enough information to know what was going on but if you’re the kind of person who needs to know every detail of the setting or the magic system, just know that you don’t really get that.

This book is perfect for fans of:
-cozy fantasy
-quests
-found family
-shapeshifting dragons
-friends/idiots to lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

[J R]

fun and funny book with some absolutely hilarious protagonists (great couple, too) and a really great found family plotline. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Nikola 🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

yes, it is gay

[Sarah Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw this title on Netgalley, I knew that I needed to get my hands on it as soon as possible. The cover art, the title, and the synopsis all drew me in, wanting to read more about a "bromantasy." This is the first time that I have read anything by this author, so I had no expectations going in; however, now I want to read some more of Roche's work.

Overall, I had a fun time with this book! It was a great read to help me destress from my finals, as I was able to transport myself to a world with dragon shifters and inns that only ever have one bed. Speaking of such, I love how Roche played with the typical fantasy and romance/romantasy tropes! My personal favorite was the fact that the inns only ever have one bed, even advertising itself with that fact. That trope is a staple in romance novels and it never gets old to me, so I love that small quips were said by the characters about these rooms with only one bed! I also really enjoyed the found family aspect of this novel, especially when Bear was introduced (love her to pieces!!). Juniper was more hesitant at first in regards to Bear, his feelings about Mo were abundantly clear lol, but soon the switch flipped and Bear became a part of their family. I love how she immediately started using Mo's nickname for Juniper - Junebug. Bear had just lost her mother, leaving Mo and Juniper to fill that hole. The fact that she picked up on the nickname and felt comfortable to use it for Juniper as well just made me heart happy.

The thing that really kept me reading was the relationship between Mo and Juniper. Regardless of the romance, the dynamic between the two of them just worked so well. They built a home together, a safe space that seems so warm and inviting, which just shows how much they understand each other. Both characters also felt very nuanced to me, with clear background of why they both act a certain way, such as Juniper's awful dad making Juniper grow up to fear Mo would leave. The romance between Mo and Juniper is also very sweet. It's one of those where I just wind up yelling at the book saying, "JUST TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL ALREADY!!" I did feel that the romance felt a bit rushed though. It might just be because the confession happened in an awkward time, but by the end of the book it was just kind of mutually decided they would get married. I wish there was a bit more conversation between the characters regarding their feelings. I understand that they have both been in love with each other for quite some time, but it just seemed like there wasn't a true "moment." I think in this case, a dual POV could have been used so that the reader could see how both Mo and Juniper dealt with these emotions. I think the confession might have been more impactful if we got both perspectives.

This book was such a fun, light-hearted read, and I can't wait for the publication date! I will definitely be purchasing this book for myself when it comes out because I could see myself reading this again :) Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC.

3.75 stars

Oh man, let me tell you, the blurb for Bromantasy sold it to me so much that I was willing to skip past my other ARCs just to read this one. Bromantasy is cozy, queer, and honestly full of some pretty great tongue and cheek humor. After all, these quests tend to have only one bed don't they?

From the get go, whether you've read the blurb or not, Maire Roche makes it abundantly clear that Juniper is head over heels in love with his roommate/best friend, but in denial due to trauma. Every winter, Mo gets the adventuring blues which makes Juniper very anxious that Mo will leave never to return. After ten years of this, Juniper's anxiety is at an all time high when he promises Mo that they will go to look at the quests available. Unfortunately due to some of Juniper's terrible decision making they are then saddled with the responsibility of hunting for a dragon.

Juniper's personality is best described as messy, because oh boy does he make the worst decision possible in every scenario. Although I enjoyed Roche's humor and turnabout phrasing, I have to say Juniper's personality is more than a little frustrating to read. First of all, his drunken brawl is the whole reason for this mess. He has no ability to sit down and plan out his actions beyond what he wants to do in the moment. It sure doesn't help that Mo is the avoidant type who point blank refuses to talk to Juniper about any plans. I am quite surprised that these two managed to live ten long years together with this confounding level of communication.

The crux of the story occurs when Mo cuts off Juniper's attempts to formulate a plan beyond "use a net" or "attack". Personally, I can understand what motivated Juniper to make THE worst plan in the whole novel... who wouldn't if your trusted companion refuses to talk to you? However, the naivete of Juniper will make the reader want to throttle him. Anyone with more than a few functioning braincells would have made a better plan than what our main character ends up creating.

Despite all my complaints, overall Bromantasy for sure has an audience that will absolutely adore it. As for me, I am looking forward to more cozy fantasies from Roche. This is the type of cozy I'm looking for and I hope Roche continues to write more in this vein.

[Nina van der Kooij · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley & Putnam for the ARC!

This was delightful and hilarious. The story follows Juniper and Mo, two best friends who accidentally end up having to go on quest. The plot is fairly simple, though it does have some interesting twists and turns at the end, but it serves its purpose well.

The story pokes fun at many common quest fantasy and romantasy tropes, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Inns only ever have one bed. When people are scrolling, this means they are reading scrolls. People refer to Juniper and Mo as being a friends-t0-lovers situation (which of course happens all the time on quests).

While the book is mostly lighthearted and funny, it does have a good character story at the center of it. Juniper is a bit insecure, a bit stupid and naive, and heavily compartimentalizes his trauma, which we don't actually learn about until later in the book. Sometimes revealing backstory too late makes for confusing character development, but I think in this case it really worked because Juniper really is the kind of guy who just tries not think about uncomfortable things. Nor does he really talk about his feelings, which is something he needs to learn. He was a fun character to root for, and I really wanted him to grow and learn, which he did.

Mo is the love interest, and he doesn't get POVs so I didn't always know his thoughts about things. Like Juniper, he struggles with talking about his feelings, and there's much Juniper wrongly assumes. Initially, Mo definitely seems to be the more competent one of the pair, but that is also due to Juniper's unreliable narrating. Juniper thinks Mo is amazing and thinks lowly of himself. But it turns out when it comes to making plans, Mo never thinks much further ahead than going to the place and doing the thing, without much an idea of how he is going to do the thing. He had strong ethics, which were a strong driver for the plot, and I loved seeing him bond with the dragon.

Would highly recommend this to fans of quests, romantic fantasy with a strong character arc at the center, and books that don't take themselves too seriously and make fun of common fantasy tropes.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this eARC!

Bromantasy is my first read by Maire Roche and I believe her debut adult fantasy. I love the title and the cover so much, I couldn't NOT read it.

This story follows our two MMCs Juniper and Mo. After some shenanigans forcing them to go on one of the king's dragon quests, things don't go to plan and they end up on a very different journey, and not just a journey into their feelings for each other.

I thought this book was absolutely adorable, fun, slapstick and just a great time. Juniper just wanted to be home in his warm bed, each some cheese and do his skin care (relatable), and Mo... well, I'm not sure what Mo wants; Juniper believes that Mo would like some adventure in his life, but really I think Mo just wants Juniper. The humor was there. The story didn't take itself too seriously. There was a good mix of using modern language in a more fantasy/medieval setting that was fun to read (let's circle back and set some SMART goals).

The one thing this story was lacking was a bit of depth. It's like it was right there, you could almost see it, but it never went deep enough to explore the characters in any real way. There is so much we don't know about Mo, including the "why" of what happened when he left years before. Even with Juniper's POV, we learn very little about his past; I would've loved to know more about his friendship with Mo and his relationship with his family, which is just barely touched upon. I needed MORE. I want to know why they love each other so much, give me pining! And, don't forget abo

Overall, I had a good time. It is light and cozy and the characters are likeable (Mo is probably my favorite, but Bear is pretty darn cute). Great read for anyone who just wants to have fun not take life too seriously for a little while. I will definitely pick up future books by this author!

3.5/5 stars.

[Katie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spoilers start with “a few things didn’t work for me” spoiler free up to that point.

This could have been called misBROmunicaton too haha. This was very cozy and sweet and I really enjoyed it. I like when cozy fantasy has some stakes as well as the cozy atmosphere. We’re not just sitting around drinking tea (although there is some of that too). Juniper pining like a mad man and in stereotypical male fashion these boys can’t get it together to just say what they want. It’s witty, with great found family and hilarious use of tropes. The vibes of the cover match this book perfectly.

A few things didn’t work for me; the writing was a little simple and it took like 5% of the book for me to understand what was going on. I wish there was more of the actual romance. Thanks to one giant miscommunication, they don’t end up together until right at the very end. Top tier pining and yearning and then we are not rewarded with much romance. I’m def fine with no spice in a cozy book but the entirety of the book is knitting and tea and blankets and then Mo talks about how he wants to rail Juniper kinda sent me haha. If miscommunication is not for you, neither will this book be, as it’s the central theme.

I definitely still recommend, this is more Emily Wilde than Legends and Lattes in terms of cozy fantasy comparisons.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful read! It's a ridiculous story that doesn't take itself seriously and I loved every second of it! I found myself laughing quite a few times. It pokes fun at some of the popular romantasy tropes - it's mentioned multiple times that every inn only has one bed and for some reason I found that hilarious. There are numerous contemporary phrases worked in to the fantasy setting that add to the humor - reading through scrolls is referred to as scrolling.

There's a quest, a dragon, two idiots who are clearly in love, camping, a prince and copious amounts of cheese. There's not a lot of world-building and not a lot of emotional depth but that's okay. This was about vibes and it definitely delivers. The cover and title fit this book perfectly. I will definitely be adding this one to my shelf when it comes out!

This was a lighthearted and cozy read. It kept me engaged from beginning to end. Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the eARC!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for an ARC of Bromantasy!
If you have ever been a fan of Rincewind in Discworld, and wished that he was sexy and strong and silly and in love with his best friend - that’s our hero in Juniper! This book is a slow burn friends to lovers, and a true love letter to the queer romantasy genre. Expect many giggle out loud winks to the fandom! The love story the sweet, the found family and character growth heart warming. I loved the gentle push the book gives us to nurture our own inner child.

Content warnings: there is a lot of child neglect (past) that is mentioned. There is also a child adoption that is all fantasy (real adoption is generally seen as a path of kin care cannot be found).

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, lighthearted and cozy fantasy that didn’t take itself too seriously. The cover gave me exactly what it entails.

I enjoyed Juniper’s quirky personality and inner monologue about his feelings for cheese, tallow, cleanliness, skin care, and constant disdain for Bill. I loved Mo’s quiet nature, even though you could tell how he felt for Juniper through his actions (again, the constant cheese flow). I agree with the other reviewer that this could have been called MisBROmmunication instead of Bromantasy, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I usually don’t enjoy children in stories, but Bear was a cute addition to the storyline.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Putman and Máire Roche for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Mary Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bromantasy is my adult romantasy debut, a story of two bros committed to drinking in taverns, not saving the world (and definitely not talking about their feelings). When they accidentally sign up for a dragon hunt, they've got a net, some specialty assorted cheeses, and repressed feelings to bring along for the ride.

I hope you enjoy the queer found family fantasy, the chaotic hijinks, and the love at heart of it all.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and cozy read. It’s the perfect kind of low angst romance that still manages to keep you interested with a little tension. I love idiots to lovers and I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time. The writing was funny and unserious at times but that just added to the feel of the story. Plus, I’m always a sucker for a couple of endearing, heroic himbos.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy]

(ARC Read - Review to Come)

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun! I’m glad these idiots finally talked together in the end!