Literary agent and fantasy writer Miranda Barnes is under a double deadline - she's got to finish her next book AND assist her family with her hometown's annual Shakespeare festival this summer. But she's been uninspired since her last book got some criticism from fans, and she's worried about her mother's health. Like things couldn't be more stressful, her mother... voluntells her for some leadership positions for the festival and all of the sudden, Miranda's working alongside Adam, a childhood friend who broke her heart on prom night. Life's coming at Miranda from all angles, and it's time for her to take inspiration from the people and places in Bard's Rest that gave her her first story idea to finish her book, stay strong for her mother, and maybe fall in love along the way.

I really didn't expect to like this book - I'm not that interested in Shakespeare, trauma from many years of community theatre means I avoid theatre-set romances, and I really dislike a story that has like a Ren Faire element to it, like Bard's Rest. The fact that I'm rating this a 3.5 star even with some major plotting issues is wild to me! But I really did have a great time reading this book. 

Miranda is relatable and funny, and just when she or her sister Portia might drift into caricature-territory, they're humanized really well. There's a full cast of characters in Bard's Rest, which, I admit, does sound like a fun place to visit, and I'm really excited to see who might get a book (I'm shipping Portia and the event planner). 

I think Adam's reasons for breaking Miranda's heart on prom night were dumb, and I don't think I'd have forgiven him. The third act breakup, too, is totally incorrect for the rest of the book and really irritated me. But I still had so much <i>fun</i> reading this book. I think it's going to be a sure winner for people who love books like the Well Met series, and I'm interested to see what Martin writes next.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

CW:

Miranda's grandmother died of breast cancer and her mother is diagnosed with cancer (with a good prognosis) during the book but is avoiding dealing with it.