This was a fast paced read that I needed!! It’s a lighthearted ya nerdy time. Perfect for the D&D girlies! I basically will read anything Kristy Boyce puts out.

Thanks for the arc NetGalley

This book is like rolling a natural 20 for fun and feels. Quinn’s awkward yet hilarious attempts to balance D&D, crushes, and grandma’s matchmaking had me cheering and cringing at the same time. If you've ever accidentally fallen for someone you weren’t supposed to, this book will feel like a chaotic but lovable game night.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨
4.5 stars!

This was an absolutely adorable YA romance—exactly what you'd expect from the genre, but executed wonderfully.

As a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, this book was right up my alley. I loved how the gameplay scenes brought the story to life and often had me laughing out loud. (Seriously, those moments were a highlight!)

Though it’s the second book in a series, Dating & Dragons can easily be read as a standalone. That said, I’m now eager to pick up Dungeons & Drama because I enjoyed this one so much!

The book perfectly captures the teenage experience—especially the anxieties of moving to a new town and finding your place within a new group of friends. It felt so real and relatable.

One standout was the protagonist’s grandma, who acted as a delightful, quirky wingwoman for her granddaughter. Her character brought so much warmth and humor to the story.

If you enjoy forbidden romance and a sweet slow-burn dynamic, this book has both in spades. It exudes that innocent, nostalgic young love vibe that makes YA romance so charming.

I also appreciated the non-binary representation and how seamlessly it was woven into the story. On top of that, the family dynamics were heartwarming, especially the growing relationship between Quinn and her brother, Andrew.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Romance, and Kristy Boyce for the opportunity to read Dating and Dragons in exchange for an honest review.

Dating and Dragons is similar to Boyce's other novel, Dungeons and Drama ( a solid 5/5 by the way). While this novel explores new characters and a new conflict, it still revolves around the core draws for readers: romance and playing Dungeons & Dragons! If you haven't yet, please take a moment to admire the cute cleverness of all the neat details on the cover.

After a nasty conflict with her former friend group, Quinn is more than happy to move to her grandma's town. Not only does she get to see her cooky grandmother more often now, but she can have a fresh start at a new school. Of course, said cooky grandma wants a picture of Quinn at school. She deviously asks a handsome young man to take the photo for them. Of course, he is from a group of obvious D&D players, if one of the members D20 earrings are any indication.

Logan and Quinn hit it off pretty quickly, indulging in each others company. Quinn also befriends Kashvi, the girl wearing said D20 earrings. Quinn gets invites to see their D&D campaign on the weekend. She misses playing, despite the falling-out with her former game group, so this opportunity for both friendship and D&D excites Quinn. When she is invited to join their very serious live-stream group, she accepts, despite Logan turning traitor and not wanting her to join. One of the rules is no dating among group members. Their live stream is a serious endeavor, and they don't want any problems.

As Quinn and Logan already started falling before she accepted joining the group, it sure makes for a challenging prospect when they can barely keep their eyes off of each other!

Dating and Dragons is a fun easy-to-ready cozy romance that teens and lovers of D&D will wholeheartedly enjoy. My only qualm was with Quinn's former friend group. What we get with them feels a bit flat and the outcome of not discussing what happened seemed a bit off, but at the same time does show a lot about the former-friend characters.

I really love the characterization in this novel and it's fun to see a group of teenagers who endeavor to be like some of the major live streaming D&D groups in our world today. I absolutely love Boyce's writing style. She has such a craft with dialogue, characterization, and plot, as well as offering just the perfect amount of suspense without the novel being a stressful read. Her books are fun and amazing, perfect as one of those in-between-700-page-plus reads.

Dating and Dragons (and Dungeons and Drama) is a MUST-read novel!

To start off- This was the PERFECT depiction of a true young adult romance. These characters felt their age and the choices/beliefs they held aligned with where they should be as high schoolers.

Outside of that, omg I love how Kristy Boyce writes about dnd as a dnd player myself. The campaign the characters go on is one that I actually want to watch- and that speaks to Kristy’s writing.

If you like: YA romances and DnD this one is a no brainer.

Thank you Delacorte Romance for access to the eARC!

This was really cute! I am rating this as if I read it in high school, because I know I would’ve been obsessed! I think the story perfectly captures what it is like to have a crush on someone and all the feelings you have as a teenager. The DnD aspect was unique and fun, and also very accessible to anyone who is unfamiliar with the game. I would read another book by this author!

Kristy Boyce's Dating and Dragons is a charming YA romance with a D&D twist. The story follows Quinn, a high school junior navigating a new school and a new D&D group with strict rules—most notably, no dating other players. As Quinn becomes close to Logan, the group's most intriguing member, their chemistry makes the rule harder to follow, leading to heartfelt and sometimes dramatic moments.

The novel stands out for its immersive portrayal of the D&D world, which adds depth and originality to the story. While some readers felt the campaign details occasionally overshadowed the romance, others appreciated the unique setting and the dynamics within the group. The slow-burn romance was tender and sweet, evoking the butterflies of first love, though the "no dating" rule felt a bit forced at times.

Quinn’s relationship with her grandmother, Barbara, added warmth and humor to the narrative, while the ending was satisfying and left readers smiling. Though not as universally adored as Boyce’s earlier Dungeons and Drama, Dating and Dragons delivers a delightful mix of young love, self-discovery, and the joys of geek culture.

This was such a cute YA book! I’m so glad that we are getting more “ nerdy” FMC and MMC to these stores and I just can’t wait to see what happens next

4.5 stars
I loved Dungeons and Drama so I knew I wanted to pick this one up! This is just a fun and easy read with a cute romance and an even cuter friend group. I literally wish I had one like them in high school. Quinn's grandmother and her relationship with her was another highlight. I thought the "no dating rule" in the group would irk me, but it wasn't dragged out and it was more about Quinn's past/ex-friends than anything else. The D&D sessions were really fun to read, I honestly wish there'd been more of those!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the e-arc!

I loved this book! I really enjoyed Dungeons and Drama but I liked this one even more. The characters were great, the relationship between Quinn and Logan was so sweet. The grandma was hilarious. All around great light fluffy hilarious book, and the ending was perfect! 5 stars!

This romance was adorable!! I was smiling throughout this entire novel, it was such a sweet romance. There are great characters, great friendships, and you don't have to really know how to play d&d to enjoy the book. Overall I absolutely love this romance, it was a five-star read!

I enjoyed this sooo much more than Dungeons & Drama. What an excellent second edition!

This is such a genuine and heart warming story, while still taking (older) readers back to the high stakes emotions of adolescence and navigating friendships, family, and relationships. While only a side quest in the overall story, I must say my favorite part was Quinn’s relationship development with her younger brother. It plucked at all of my heart strings and reminded me of growing up with my own sometimes apathetic/sometimes overprotective younger brother 😂

Such a great read suitable for teen and young adult readers!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was so cute. I loved Dungeons and Drama and this one was so fun! Loved the characters and the element of friendship. Such a cute ya read.

Dating and Dragons is book two in the Dungeons and Drama series by Kristy Boyce.
I adored book one Dungeons and Drama. And after reading the second book I’m obsessed!
This was an adorable laugh out loud YA romance that is utterly captivating.
One of the best gaming romances I’ve ever read!
The story is refreshingly engaging, with well-drawn characters and a lighthearted yet heartfelt narrative.
The dynamic between Quinn and Logan is both charming and authentic, filled with witty banter and genuine moments that evolve as they navigate their journey.
This book was absolutely delightful! It was fun, sweet, and light-hearted!
Overall, Dating and Dragons is a fun, uplifting tale perfect for fans of YA romance and gaming, reminding us that sometimes love and dreams can blossom in the most unexpected places.
I hope this series continues!

Thank you Random House Children's /Delacorte Romance for this approved eARC!

This book was the perfect book to start 2025 with! It was literally so cute! I knew I was going to love this book after previously loving Dungeons and Drama and I am so glad it lived up to the hype. Quinn and her family have just moved to a new town, which means starting at a new school in the middle of the school year. She's hoping that joining a new D&D group will help her make friends. The group livestreams their sessions, has a strict no phone policy and a no dating group members rule. Quinn doesn't think that's going to be a problem until her bickering with group member Logan becomes something more.

I loved Quinn and Logan, I thought the buildup to their relationship was absolutely adorable! The slow burn and pining were so well done and I loved their banter. They had me smiling the whole time, it was so cute! I loved their D&D group as well, and I loved the Quinn was able to make real friends with people who shared the same interests as her. Quinn's feisty and matchmaking grandma was one of my favorite characters in this book! Her scenes were laugh out loud funny and I loved the moments Quinn shared with her family. There are a lot of D&D elements in this book, and while I'm not too familiar with the actual game, I never felt like I was missing anything. The gaming sections were just as fun to read and I was engaged throughout.

Overall, this was a fantastic YA romcom, the main characters are adorable, and there are some hilarious parts as well. I would HIGHLY recommend this book!

Some books feel like a breath of fresh air because they are routine and don’t have some new fairytale to offer. But Dating & Dragons is not only refreshing, it has a sense of mature wonder. It’s Boyce’s second foray into the teen DND romance world and she provides a sweet story built into her romance. As Quinn navigates a new school (yikes, tough for anyone), she also has to navigate her feelings for fellow player Logan. Despite her new groups rules for no dating within the group, Quinn and Logan have an intense chemistry that bleeds over into their DND game. Quinn’s character is distrustful and takes time to warm up to the others, which is the opposite of her attitude towards her group. She’s open to finding happy moments among the group. As she battles her feelings for Logan, we learn that her old school, group, and boyfriend broke apart when their infatuation fizzled. And as Quinn and Logan heat up, the new fear rises. I enjoyed seeing Quinn’s walls come down and her trust open up through her gameplay with the group. As her character learns to trust Logan’s, Quinn falls for him more. And when it comes to a head, the game, and Quinn’s heart, are all at stake. I recommend picking up books 1 and 2 if you want light-hearted romance with a heavy dose of cute nerds.

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce was absolutely adorable. I am so glad this was my first read of 2025. This experience was a feel good, adorable romance that had me smiling the entire time. I really enjoyed the characters and I felt they were true to their age. This story follows Quinn. She is a transferred student to a new high school and joins a D&D group. Quinn meets Logan who was an adorable character. I loved the way the author developed the characters and made their dynamics feel so real. The romance was absolutely adorable. The slow burn between Quinn and Logan had me on my toes. I will definitely continue to support Kristy Boyce’s work because her writing is so captivating and beautiful. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. I had an amazing experience reading this stunning book.

Dating and Dragons was a delight to read and anyone who loves Dungeons and Dragons or YA reads with adorable, heartwarming grandma's will love this one!

Quinn is the new girl in town, moving to be closer to her grandma. She loves playing D&D and hopes to fit in with a new group, absolutely delighted when on the first day she meets a girl wearing dice earrings. Being invited to join a group that livestreams every Saturday, she loves her new role and creativity, while also knowing to be cautious due to her past group that she moved away from. Especially since she can't stop looking away from Logan and he can't from her, but what about the rules that they can't date team members? Will the risk be worth the reward as they play together and try to avoid one another?

Kristy Boyce wrote another hit with Dating and Dragons, a YA romance with a Dungeons and Dragons focus. Every single time I read a D&D ish book, I want to play the game especially with Kristy's as she makes the game sound riveting and engaging. While Quinn and Logan were great main characters, Quinn's grandma really stole the show for me with her hilarious one-liners and meddling ways. The Ohio jabs about our weather were hilariously spot on and I finished reading Boyce's book with yet another smile on my face. If you love Lynn Painter's YA books, you will LOVE Dating and Dragons.

This book was so cute! I loved the cuteness of this book! The main characters were very well done and I could not put this book down.

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
This book was SO CUTE!!! I was giggling and smiling the whole time.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐/5 stars

Quinn Norton moves to a new high school and joins a D&D group to make new friends but past friend-group-breakups at her old school have left her nervous and uncertain about how comfortable she is in a group setting again, especially when she starts to have a crush on the adorkable Logan Weber.

Being about a D&D group, there is a good balance between the time spent playing D&D and the characters and their lives at school, home, and as a group out and about. This led to a nice development in the game as the team got used to Quinn and she warmed up to their expectations, and in Quinn’s life as she adjusted to her new home. This made such a wonderfully fun story to read. It was cute, fantastical, and there were some lovely protective moments showcasing Logan and what he thinks about Quinn although of course… no dating allowed in the D&D group!! 😉

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
1. There was a lot of on-page time between Quinn and Logan. Boyce really stokes up the slow burn and allows tons of on-page development as these two decide what they should do (I don’t want to spoil anything!) I love when we get to see the potential couple interact a lot, rather than pining from a distance. We get to know them both more and it makes for many cute, swoon-worthy moments.
2. Quinn’s grandma!!!! All too often when I read books where side characters are elders or toddlers, they just don’t seem to be real people and are more of a prop. (Like, has the author ever met anyone that age before??) But that’s not the case here! Quinn’s grandma is a lively, active, and REAL character. She’s charming and adorable but also drops some sage advice or more so unfiltered opinions to help (or embarrass) Quinn’s blossoming love life. She is struggling with the very real weight of aging and how that affects her independence, so that really pulled on my heart strings. It was well done so once you see grandma on the page, know you are in for a good time!

🍨 𝑆𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘! 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑒, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑡! 🍨

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
🐉 Dungeons & Dragons (Duh!)
🐉 Cute, slow burn romance
🐉 No Dating Allowed
🐉 Cosplay
🐉 Secret Relationship

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy of Dating and Dragons. This is my honest review.