Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

I really enjoyed Kristy Boyce’s previous novel, Dungeons and Drama, so I was super excited when I received the ARC. Both this book and the last one are D&D inspired, and even without ever having played it, I was easily able to follow along with the campaign.

I liked how well developed the side characters were. Everyone had a unique personality and relationship with the main character. There were so many different plot points, but it wasn’t hard for me to keep track of. I also liked the family dynamic a ton. The entire family felt like they were needed characters, which is not often done in a YA novel. The grandma and brother especially were prominent characters, even moving the plot forward at several points.

Romance wise, I really liked Quinn and Logan, but it felt a little instalovey to me, which is not a trope I enjoy to read about. I appreciate that they were often in a group setting because that made it a little more realistic and bearable for me (due to that trope).

One thing I didn’t like was the fact that Quinn’s feelings about being less special than her brother got overlooked. I was waiting for a conversation between her and her parents potentially as sort of the lesson learned in the novel, but it never really got a good resolution. Everything just ended happily as she slowly learned that her entire family watched the D&D livestreams, but I was still looking for more of an explicit ending to that subplot.

Overall, I really loved this book a lot!! It was a fun ya romance to read with really likeable characters! I’d definitely recommend both this one and Dungeons and Drama

dating and dragons | kristy boyce

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
💋 kissing only
_____

A new school, new friends, a new D&D group - and a "no dating" rule that is begging to be broken!

Kristy has given us another adorable YA romance novel that is appropriate for younger teens. Hooray! No aging up the characters or teetering on the new adult line. I'm excited to share this one with my 13 year old!

Overall this is a light and easy read that makes you smile, giggle, and brings on the butterflies.


THINGS TO LOVE:
+ dungeons and dragons
+ supportive friendships
+ "no dating" rules
+ live streams
+ dice jewelry
+ a meddling grandma

{a gigantic thank you to Kristy Boyce, Delacorte, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!! Out 12/31!}

I was so excited to read Dating and Dragons since I enjoyed the first novel in the series but it didn't meet the same fate; it was just fine. The high school romance between our MC is cute but very YA leaning so I was a bit bored with the plot. Kristen Boyce does a great job at painting fun adventures during D&D sessions which was the highlight of the story for me. 3/5.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am completely serious when I say that this is my new standard for YA romance books. I have no idea how Kristy Boyce managed it but I swear I was transported back into my high school aged self with all the anxiety and uncertainty that our female main character, Quinn, goes through. While this book is a romance it is also about friendship and family, both found and biological.

For fans of Dungeons and Drama, this is not a continuation or the beginning of interconnected standalone books. While I was a bit disappointed to part with Riley and Nathan the new party that Quinn finds is easy to fall in love with as well. There is a bit more dungeons and dragons in this book but I would not worry if you have not participated in a campaign yourself as it is easy to follow. The release date for this book being right before the new year is not a coincidence and is the perfect book to start your 2025 reading challenges.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ecopy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved Dungeons and Drama, so when I saw this one, I knew I had to read it. Dating and Dragons delivers a fresh story with new characters, and I couldn’t get enough! Quinn moves to a new school, hoping D&D will help her fit in, and ends up joining a livestreamed game with strict rules, such as no dating fellow group members. But of course, that only makes the tension between her and Logan even more electric. I loved every member of the group and how they helped Quinn get over her past toxic friendship. I was cheering on Quinn the entire time!

The forbidden romance angle is so fun, and watching Quinn and Logan go from bickering to something more was such a treat. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the way they get lost in the world of D&D and high school is so relatable. I also loved Quinn's grandma. She was hilarious and such a great addition to the story.

Absolutely delightful JUST like the first one in the series. While they're connected by the love of D&D, they're not related in terms of character or setting. Just another juicy YA romance. This one a little enemies to lovers as Logan meets Quinn, a new girl in town. Both love D&D and when Quinn joins the group after being welcomed by a girl at school Kashvi, there's probably got to be a reckoning because one of the rules of their group is that no one can date another in the group. It's why Logan seems icy to Quinn even though Quinn hasn't done anything to Logan, in fact, Quinn's grandmother keeps bringing them together because she sees the spark that Quinn is trying to deny.

There's a lot of creativity again in sharing bits about the campaign for those that don't play D&D as readers. The group is also different because they livestream their campaigns which adds a layer of complication toward the end of the book that I enjoyed as a diversion (along with the comic relief of the grandmother). Also particularly well done is the sibling relationships-- Kashvi's twin is part of the group so they have a close bond but also fight like brother and sister. As well as Quinn's bickering with her brother Andrew.

Boyce is a new favorite YA romance writer because of her unique blend of romance and geekdom in addition to the strong character development and simple REALness of it all. Kudos!

This book perfectly captures the tension, mutual pining, and complications of falling for a friend in your friend group with the added fun of having that friend group play Dungeons and Dragons.

I absolutely ate this book up and finished it in one sitting. It is YA (zero spice) and the banter, sexual tension, and slow burn is amazing! The two characters that fall for one another are so likable, funny, and cute.

They can’t help falling for each other and you won’t be able to help fall for this book! Also the meddling grandma is top notch.

For those of you who normally read adult romance or are picky about YA romance due to the maturity of the characters, you’d enjoy this one as a fun, quick, romantic read ❤️

This was such a cute YA romance! and cute is definitely the right word for it- sweet and charming and i love a good dose of D&D! Logan was so swoon worthy. Easy quick read with some will they won’t they where he falls hard!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I thank NetGalley for offering me the e-ARC of this title.

Well this is just the cutest teen romance that I have read in such a long time. Teen romances are so hard because they either are too young or too old (and then creepy). This was perfect. It was angsty without being weird, it had a major focus on friendship and family dynamic which I just love. I am a huge suckers for a quirky grandparent and this grandmother was so perfect. A matchmaker and a meddler I love how she kept throwing Quinn and Logan together.
I really felt for Quinn as she navigated a new high school and tried to fit into a new circle of friends. Her old group had left scars and she needed this new group of people to really come together and be there for you. It gave the perfect reason that she would be really nervous to date/fall for Logan creating the perfect forbidden teen romance. It created this perfect "will they, won't they" moments through out the story.
I love the family story line, as Quinn's family is dealing with her grandmothers declining health, the sibling rivalry that comes with brothers and sister that have two very different passions. It all created a wonderful story where we get to see Logan and Quinn fall in love.

Super cute, super fun YA romance. Highly recommend for lovers of YA romance with quirky characters, coming of age stories with friendship/family dynamics and just a super fun story.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book more than I thought!
Initially, I was a little thrown by the fact that it was very YA (the MC is still in high school), but what was the big surprise to me was how detailed the D&D adventures were! I truly enjoyed that, since it's been years that I played.

The romance itself was ok, and the overall story plot was basically around that romance and friendship.
IK give this a 3.5 stars.

I wanted to read this YA romance and I was not disappointed! This sends you back to high school in the best way (or makes you wish your high school experience was like this).

This is a quirky and sweet romance filled with lots of banter. I loved the slow burn between the MCs. The friendships built through the book are also endearing, I loved the sense of community through D&D. Overall a lovely book I’m glad I got to read! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

As cute as the first one, with a little more behind the scenes drama. I really liked Quinn and Logan immediately and liked how their relationship went. There were times I imagined them a bit older than high school with how they acted together. Overall a great plot and fun group playing DnD. Do wish there were some connections to other book, unless I missed them which is possible.

YA books can be a hit or miss for me, its either I feel like I'm too old to be reading it or you have Kristy Boyce books where it is just so stinking adorable and I find my 16 year old inner self giggling and kicking my feet at how adorable it is. I think the premise of their relationship being "forbidden" was done well and in a way that wasn't too adult for what the book was talking about. I loved the push and pull between the two and this author continues to write friend groups that you cannot help but fall in love with. As someone who doesn't play D&D I cannot help but get totally enthralled by those parts of the book as well. Overall super cute and I just could not put it down, finished in under a day and a half! Great vibes!

After how much I loved reading Kristy Boyce’s first D&D-themed YA book, ‘Dungeons & Drama,’ I legit squealed when I not only found out that there would be a second book but that I was getting an arc to read it early! Okay, maybe I only squealed internally because I was in an airport at the time, but hey - I remember where I was when I received my arc, so that should say something about how excited I was! And I’ll always remember when I finished it, too, because I read it in one go on Christmas. So yeah, I absolutely loved ‘Dating & Dragons,’ maybe even more than ‘Dungeons & Drama,’ which is saying something since these are both five-star YA romance reads for me!

First, it should be noted that this isn’t a sequel to ‘Dungeons & Drama,’ nor is it an inter-connected story - the only thing that connects these two books is D&D as a main theme. And that’s okay! I actually really enjoyed getting a brand new, separate story that still felt familiar. ‘Dating & Dragons’ focuses on Quinn, who has just relocated to a new city with her family & is anxious to be the new girl starting in the middle of the school year. And while she very much wants to make new friends, she is wary based on how she was treated by her former friends (& former D&D group) in her old town. Then we have Logan, the handsome, charismatic boy she meets on her first day & a member of a group of friends that soon become her new D&D group. Before Quinn joins the group, she & Logan clearly developed a crush on each other but one group rule stops the mutual crush in its tracks.

Or does it?

What follows includes an amazing group of new friends, a meddling grandma, many food-based hangouts & dates, a baby cow named Susie Q, & a D&D campaign that is genuinely interesting & had me legit invested. Oh, & two teens who are really bad at hiding their feelings from each other. I thoroughly enjoyed every page & every part of this story!

I am a D&D player, though relatively new (only within the last year) & I loved reading about the campaign, their home-brew planning, & the dice jewelry making. These teens know so much more than me & I felt like I was actually watching a livestream like Critical Role. (I’d honestly watch a livestream campaign with teens like this - I feel it’d be hilarious & creative in ways that would differ from a lot of the other media out there.) I also felt like these teens were so much more mature & emotionally intelligent than I could have ever been at that age. There were so many times when Logan & Quinn felt so much older than high schoolers based on their interactions & conversations, & their friends sometimes seemed older, too! I’m choosing to believe that this is less fiction & more of a true reflection of teens/young adults these days. (Don’t burst my bubble, please lol.)

Overall, this book is nerdy & swoony & very sweet! I hope Kristy Boyce continues to write more D&D-based books because I will read every single one, no questions asked & no hesitation.

Thank you to Random House Children’s/Delacorte Romance & NetGalley for providing a digital advanced copy of this book to review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.

This was so cute. It's been a while since I've read about a character still in high school, and I felt every one of my 40 years. There's a part where they're talking about 80's cartoons, and they mention not knowing cartoons decades before they were born. It was a big ouch moment for me. This was teenage drama for sure, but it wasn't anything I didn't expect. It was actually exactly what I needed to read at the time - lighthearted, funny (OMG Grandma is the BEST), and heartwarming at the same time.

While I certainly am more than a bit nerdy, I have never gotten into D&D. If you haven't either, don't let that stop you from reading this one. It was fascinating, and I loved the snippets of game play we got to see throughout the book. It was incredibly fun. I also did not read the first book - I do not know if they are connected, but I did not feel like I was missing out on anything.

thank you to netgalley and random house children’s for this eARC!

this book was adorable. i knew it would be, because the first one is one of my all time favorite ya romances, but seriously. so stinkin’ cute.

i like that quinn’s family was pretty solid. a lot of ya romances tend to rely on the main character having a rocky home life, for one reason or another, and i appreciate that the conflict was something other than that.

also very glad that lucas wasn’t an asshole for very long, because that would’ve pmo. i acknowledge that him being cold towards her because he didn’t want her to join because then he couldn’t date her due to the rule is corny as hell, but i actually loved that so much. like i ate that up.

i wish i had seen a slight bit more of her past and her old friend group, so i could really feel the depth of her reactions to seeing them at the comic store. i think i just didn’t see quite enough of that relationship to truly understand her emotions about it beyond what she told the others and “thought.”

i think that having her grandma be the classic meddler was a little convenient. i wish there had been a couple times where the reason they were together was a little more creative. i did still enjoy the relationship with her grandma between both quinn and lucas though; it was very cute.

i loved this book and i hope that boyce writes at least a few more in this series because i eat it up every time. i’d recommend this as highly as the first one. completely adorable.

I have found over the last few years that I have not been reading as many YA books as I once did. Especially Contemporary YA. But, 2 books in, and I already know I will always make space for Kristy Boyce. She has a way of crafting a story where it still feels relatable no matter your age. This book is no exception!

This was such a fun story. I loved Dungeons and Drama and how Boyce brought D&D into the story. In this one, the game/campaign was much more in the forefront. I felt like I was on the adventure. I felt like I was watching the live-stream. Someone put Kristy Boyce into the DM seat! Not only was she able to craft a super fun story, but I would be all over the D&D campaign too! Two stories in one!

Quinn was such a special character. I just wanted to sit her down and give her the biggest hug. She was going through quite a struggle and I loved watching her come out on the other side of it all. I felt like I was with her the whole time. I could understand where she was coming from even though it hurt, but I probably would have made those same decisions too. She is just the most precious.

Logan was the perfect fit for Quinn. He was an amazing friend to Quinn first and foremost and I absolutely loved that about him. So supportive. So kind and understanding. Goodness! And dang! That boy has the makings of a future Romance Novel MMC. He is what they all wished they were when they were teens.

HOLY SLOW BURN BATMAN!! This book was killing me in the absolute best way. The tension between Quinn and Logan was dripping off the page. And the payoff was so satisfying!

And I can’t forget to mention the absolutely delightful cast of characters. I want to be Barbara when I grow up. Kashvi was the absolute best friend a girl could ask for. And the D&D crew were an absolute hoot! There is a moment in the book between Kashvi and her twin brother Sanjiv that I had with my brother during a D&D campaign and it made the story that much more special to me.

I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

(As a note, you do not need to have read Dungeons and Drama to read this book)


Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book.

Sweet, heart-warming YA Contemporary read! Really enjoyed Quinn and Logan's story, with plenty of Old-Grandma shenanigans and laugh-out-loud moments.

Highly recommended light and fluffy read!

super adorable! I loved the first book so knew I’d love this one. Quinn and Logan were adorable and I loved the friends of course. The grandma was my fave. I loved the dynamic of the couple and all the things they did together. A breath of fresh air.

I absolutely adored this book. The D&D group was so much fun and I loved the added tension of Quinn and Logan not being allowed to date because of the rules of the group. I thought they had beautiful chemistry and found the slow burn to be really well written. I enjoyed the slight external drama of Quinn's previous D&D group. I thought Logan was so charming and could easily see how Quinn could fall for him. This was a very sweet romance and hope that Kristy Boyce will write more romances centered around D&D players