Full disclosure, I did need to DNF about 35% in.

I liked incorporating the Dungeons and Dragons campaign into the story, and seeing the tabletop roleplaying game bringing the characters closer together.

However, I had a difficult time reading about the main character and the "woe is me" attitude (which, admittedly is totally on par with the situation). There also seemed like a whole lot of pressure about a story event that the character only thought about when alone, but then suddenly wasn't a concern any other time of the story.

I'm positive there are readers out there who will enjoy Roll for Romance. It has the characteristics of being a cute, fun read, and especially for those who have an outside interest in TTRPG games.

This was such a fun romantic romp! In this story we follow Sadie, who has just lost her dream job in her dream city, but she hasn't told anyone what really happened. To lick her metaphorical wounds, Sadie goes to visit her childhood best friend in Texas, where he coaxes her into joining a D&D campaign with a few other locals who had never played before. Sadie is cautious, but immediately finds her niche in the storytelling and creative effort of role playing, which is made vastly easier by the handsome and funny Noah at the table. With a romance at the table, real life won't get confusing, right? Ultimately, Sadie must decide what is it she really wants, and what will she do to get what she wants.

One of the biggest strengths of this book was the D&D campaign playing out concurrently with the actual story. I could have read an entire book that was only the D&D campaign. I also appreciated that you could come to this book without knowing any of the mechanics of D&D, but still understand what was happening and get a basic sense of how the game was played. However, if like myself you are familiar and play D&D, it wasn't so pedantic that it was slow or annoying.

The romance itself was very sweet (and surprisingly a little spicy, thank youuuu), and I enjoyed Sadie's introspection as she figured out what she really wanted to do with her life. The "is my dream job not actually my dream job?" felt very relatable, and I loved that we got to see her do what she really loved. I think for me, while this was a well written and fun story, I wasn't so emotionally connected or invested in the two MC's or their romance, and so not bumped up to a 5 star. However, again, I really enjoyed this and had such a fun time reading.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the ARC and letting me read this fun story early!

I don't think I've read any books that are quite like this one, and that's not a bad thing! I had a good time during the read, but found myself having a hard time staying engaged throughout the book! This is written in a really unique way where there are basically two stories happening in 1 book.

Your first 'storyline' is our MFC and MMC and their romantic love story, and then you also have the storyline of the actual dungeons and dragons game they are playing. I've never played or seen D&D be played outside of like... Stranger Things and some other books I've read but none of them went into as much detail as this did.

I really enjoyed the banter between the characters and the communication between ALL of the characters was so healthy and just enjoyable to read. I liked the mix of the D&D and the real life characters but where it lost me at times was the abrupt changes. I almost feel like if I made this two separate books I would really love them both so much, but it almost felt like too much at times.

I really liked what we got of the side characters! They all seemed really loveable, but I feel like we didn't get enough of them! I am hoping there will be subsequent books that will give us more of them.

Overall, this book was different and enjoyable but lacked momentum at times. I would def recommend this if you're a fantasy / romantasy reader. It wasn't bad by any means, but def wasn't my favorite read and that's ok!

Side note: I absolutely LOVE the cover of this! Every single element on the cover had a purpose and was so representative of the story! The writing was also pretty good! Sometimes the story itself lagged for me, but the writing kept me engaged enough to continue.

The vibes:
-Dungeons & Dragons
-Found Family
-Golden Retriever MMC
-Small Town
-Slow Burn
-Forced Proximity
-Meddling Friend Group

If you love D&D this is your next obsession! It’s really interesting to see not only the irl FMC and main love interest fall in love but then you also get their D&D characters pov!! SWOON! Had such a great time reading this book and im gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for another 🤭

Burnt out from her marketing job, Sadie is spending the summer in a small Texas town with her best friend Liam. After years of begging her to play, she agrees to join his D&D campaign as Jaylie the cleric. Among the other newbies are some new friends, but also Noah, playing the sexy elven bard Loren. The sparks fly both in the campaign and in real life between the two. However, as summer progresses, Sadie knows that she needs to return to the job hunt and that Noah doesn't love to put down roots. Can the two work it out?

Honestly, this made me want to try D&D. However, I found a lot of this book to be a slog. I had read some great reviews and looked forward to this read, but then I kept putting it down to read anything else. I just don't think it was for me!

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and Dell for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Roll for Romance by @lenorawoodswrites
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 (4.25/5 stars)

Thank you to Lenora Woods and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Sadie loses her job and decides to flee NYC for the summer, heading to Heller, Texas, where she crashes with her longtime BFF Liam. Directionless and in need of a distraction, she lets Liam talk her into joining his Dungeons and Dragons group. As Dungeon Master, he’s put together a small crew of newbies for their first-ever campaign, and it turns out to be exactly what Sadie needs. 🎲🐉

As the sessions progress, Sadie bonds with her fellow players and starts to crush on Noah, a sexy, sweet bartender with a major case of wanderlust. As sparks begin to fly in-game and IRL, Sadie starts rethinking her next move — return to New York, stay in Texas, or follow her heart into the unknown? 💘

I knew I’d enjoy this one going in. While I’m not a D&D player myself, my husband is, and I’ve sat through enough sessions to know the vibes. What surprised me — in the best way — was how the story alternated between Sadie’s real life and Jaylie’s quest (her D&D character). It was so cool to see the fantasy storyline from the character’s POV rather than just the players at the table.

Sadie and Noah have such fun, sweet chemistry. Their connection grows naturally, and their dates were adorable. I especially loved how Noah supported Sadie’s artistic journey—he even introduced her to his boss so she could paint a mural! 🎨💕

And Liam? Absolute best friend goals. Not only does he offer her a safe space to land, but through D&D, he helps her form new friendships that turn into something real and grounding.

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a little fantasy magic with their contemporary love stories.

For fans of:
🏡 City-to-small-town escape
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found family vibes
🎲 Nerdy bonding
🔥 Slow burn romance
💪 Supportive cinnamon roll love interest
🎨 Artistic self-discovery
📖 Dual narrative (real life + fantasy quest)

#ARCReview #RollForRomance #LenoraWoods #NerdyRomance #SmallTownRomance #FoundFamily #RomComReads #RomanceBookstagram #BookishLove #Bookstagram #RomanceReads2025

This was a super cute D&D romance. I always enjoy stories that tell us we can have a meaningful life outside of narrowly defined career successes. What better than finding that through love and D&D. My real issue with the book is less about the book itself and my personality as a gamer. The game was plot (which was compelling in its own right) was integrated very earnestly. I would have enjoyed a bit more fun with the occasional absorbing of gaming as a storytelling medium.

Any book with Dungeons and Dragons in it will definitely be so much fun for me; especially when it's a romance. I thought this was so cute!

Let’s just start by saying that the person who designed this front cover should get a raise. HOW FREAKING CUTE! The colors, the pose, the dice…perfection. As much as I hate to admit it, I pick up books because of the covers, and this one just called to me.
Funnily enough though, and in the essence of full disclosure, I am not a D&D player. That made this an incredibly strange read for me, and yet it was also terribly educational. I have gained a legitimate amount of respect for those who are dungeon masters and participants in this world-building game, while simultaneously learning that I have little to no desire to play myself, and I think that is okay. The D&D part of this story was not for me. While it was easy to understand and had interesting plot points, I wasn’t as attached to the details that Liam was clearly working hard to craft and pull together. I found myself skimming for main ideas and becoming invested into the overall story rather than the details that really did flesh out the world. With that being said, it was not a bad D&D adventure (please take with a grain of salt since I really am unaware of D&D adventures on the whole), and I did occasionally become worried for their well being (if you read it, would will know what I mean).
Now, for the real world plot… it was cute. You know if you take a hallmark movie, add in a hipster, remove the Christmas tree farm, add in a brewery, and swap the obvious choice of truck for a bicycle, you basically get this main plot. Sadie is a girl who is now unemployed from her bougie, high stress NYC job, staying with her best friend in a small town in Texas (who, honestly, I originally thought she would end up with). She starts pursuing her art again and begins hanging with the locals during the D&D campaign for newbies, where obviously romance ensues between her and the cutie with the man bun. It really is quite sweet in all reality. Noah is adorable and kind and genuinely friendly with everyone, and Sadie and Noah flirt and befriend each other nearly instantly. They have a good relationship with no miscommunication or silly fallouts; it is actually healthy. They enjoy each other’s company, have things in common, and do things other than touch each other 😂. Beyond this, Sadie and Noah have lives separate from each other, which is, once again, healthy. It was a fine, natural progression of romance with no real hiccups. At the risk of sounding toxic, there was no real conflict to spice it up? If you are looking for a sweet romance between two relatively good people who are budding nerds, this may be a great book for you. I think I prefer a little more fire though, more tension, and dare I say, more angst? Maybe I am corrupted.
All in all, it was a good book, and I will consider reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for letting me read an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. Both the main story and the story-within-the-story were easy to get invested in. I also liked the new main leads, Sadie and Noah. Sadie reminded me of my sibling, who, like Sadie, is an artist. Overall, I’d highly recommend this book.

This novel was brilliantly written. it wasn't a typical fantasy romance novel and I love that it centered around D&D. Mixing romance with a game so beloved that can sometimes lead to romance in game and out of game is so unique and I love the representation that that adds! So excited to read more from this author in the future!

If you're fan of Dungeons and Dragons but wish there was an adult romance about it? This is it!

The story was very cute and just a feelgood romance. What really stood out to me on this romance book is that it goes between 3rd POV and 1st POV. Lenora Woods wrote from Sadie's POV (the FMC) but also her D&D characters when they were in game! I was wanting both stories! They were very interwoven in how the story and the romance was unraveling. Pick this book if you are looking for a different type of romance that gets you hooked from the beginning!

This one was such a nerdy little delight. A romance centered around D&D nights, found family, and two awkward cuties figuring it out? Yes please. The characters felt super real and lovable, and I adored how the game nights brought everyone together. The romance was sweet and a little clumsy in the most relatable way, and the whole thing gave me cozy, low-stress vibes. It’s definitely more soft and character-driven than plot-heavy, so if you're looking for high drama, this isn’t it. But if you want something heartwarming, geeky, and full of charm, this totally hits the spot.

*Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

This was one of my most anticipated titles for 2025 and it didn't disappoint. A burnt out marketing rep moves to Texas, joins a D&D campaign run by her best friend, and finds herself falling in love with the party's bard. This small Texas town felt so familiar, with a local bookstore and brewery that I'd absolutely frequent. It also introduces elements of found family common to D&D groups, where you start as strangers and quickly become close as you work towards a common goal.

I would love to read a fantasy book from Lenora Woods because the way she wrote those scenes was PHENOMENAL. And the little RP fic back and forth? So hot. Less hot was them hooking up outdoors in the middle of a Texas summer, mostly because I couldn't stop thinking about the mosquitos and humidity. The narrator did a great job portraying Sadie and her character Jaylie, distinguishing between them for the listener with ease.

I'd recommend this to nerdy and normy romance readers alike, as the tabletop gaming elements were really well explained (but not overly so for those familiar).

Two stories for the price of one! We follow Sadie who is at a crossroads and trying to figure out what she wants to do. Noah is constantly on the move and trying out new things. Both end up in Liam’s D&D group- no they do not immediately fall head over heels. But they do get to know each other. Since D&D is a big part we also get immersed in Liam’s story he creates as Dungeon Master.

The drama is saved for the D&D which is why I think this book works so well. We get a reasonable love story IRL but more drama supplied by Liam.

I really enjoyed this charming romp into the world of D&D! Though not a D&D player myself, I have many friends who play and have always enjoyed watching games. It caught me off guard when suddenly we were seeing the game through Sadie's character's eyes, but I ended up really loving that. The characters (both IRL and D&D) were absolutely delightful and the chemistry between Sadie and Noah was palpable. I hope we get to see Liam's love next as it was somewhat teased at the end of this book.

Whether you know nothing or everything about D&D, I think you will enjoy this!

Words cannot express how much I loved this book! Sadie is a burnt-out marketing specialist who moves to small town Texas to live with her best friend, who happens to be a Dungeons and Dragons dungeon master. He convinces her to join a short campaign he's leading for some other DnD beginners in the town, and she quickly starts to develop feelings for fellow player Noah. What follows is honestly one of my favorite romances of the year.

I absolutely loved every second of this book. Woods has done an amazing job of weaving together the fantasy world of their DnD campaign and the real-life romance of Noah and Sadie, and I was such a fan of getting both in one story. The scenes from the campaign were one of my favorite parts of this book, and it totally scratched the fantasy/DnD itch without the time commitment both normally require. I cared just as much about the DnD characters as I did Sadie and Noah, and the campaign sections really helped break the book up. Noah is also a dream lead, and I loved his golden retriever, lumberjack energy despite the fact that that's not normally a favorite for me. He was just so sweet and encouraging, and he communicated so well with Sadie, both in and out of campaign. Their chemistry and connection were so natural, and I was rooting for them from their first meeting. I was also a huge fan of how Woods dealt with Sadie's personal conflict about her future and her career. Torn between her passion for art and her lifelong dreams of NYC, she really has to process what she wants and what she feels like she should want. I completely understand that feeling, and I loved seeing it represented in a romance. Also, three cheers for refreshingly good communication between all of our characters. I was thrilled that Woods gave us characters that could actually talk to each other about their emotions! It shouldn't feel so rare, but here we are.

Overall, loved this and would highly recommend to DnD, romance, and fantasy fans alike. 5/5. Thanks to NetGalley, Woods, and Ballantine Books for an eARC for an honest review.

I loved this romance but the d&d campaign kept losing my interest. This book follows Sadie who recently lost her job and is living with her friend till she figures out what’s next. Her friend Liam talks her into joining a beginners D&D campaign where she meets Noah and sparks begin to fly. I really enjoyed the romance and main story in this one but at the same time we follow their D&D campaign and their characters. While the D&D story was fine I just wish it wasn’t there it made me feel like I was switching between two different stories and would really pull me out of the story. With that said I loved this authors writing and the spicy scenes were top notch. This book pulled me out of a book slump so I hope to read more from them in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

At first I was a bit hesitant to see the chapters that were the game and I thought I might be a little lost because I haven’t played but I ended up just as hooked on their game as I was on the characters and their story. I adored this book, it was so cute, and I love their dynamic. I loved seeing them encourage each other to figure things out for themselves and give each other space to make the choices but still continued to communicate. I’ve been in a huge reading slump and this successfully pulled me out of it. The story was compelling, the writing was well done, and even the DnD story was so unique and fun to read. I found myself just as attached to those characters as the group was and even found myself crying at the end. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of Roll for Romance!

Sadie starts off feeling burned out and lost, but as Jaylie, she finds strength, confidence, and a taste for leadership she never expected. Watching her grow beyond just her career title is so satisfying. Noah is equally compelling, he’s outgoing and steady, but not without his own hesitations about settling down. Seeing how he listens, considers Sadie’s needs, and chooses authenticity is chef’s kiss.

The real-world romance and the in-game romance deepen together in such a clever narrative structure, it’s like Jaylie and Loren’s relationship in the campaign guides Sadie and Noah in real life. And you feel each step of their emotional vulnerability.

Bonus points for the side characters: the gaming group feels like a found family, and while a few of them could’ve used more screen time, their presence enriches Sadie’s journey.

Maybe a few pacing blips, kind of feels like the final act wraps up a little quickly, but that tenderness still lands.