really liked the premise and the gorgeous cover but didn't connect with the writing style unfortunately. DNF for now but hoping to pick up again later!

I truly loved this book!

Roll for Romance follows Sadie, a New Yorker with a high stress job, finding herself without said job and lost in life. Her friend Liam invites Sadie to stay with him for a bit in Texas as she tries to figure things out. Shortly after arriving, Sadie's joins his Dungeon and Dragon's group, which includes another newcomer - Noah, and his bard character Loren.

This was such a cute and unique read - I loved that you were able to jump between the real world and their D&D game - both were really captivating! Sadie is such a down to earth character, and watching her growing attachment to her character Jaylie is endearing.

I loved seeing Noah and Sadie's romance blossom - as well as Loren and Jaylie's. Honestly, I feel like I got two books for the price of one!

Definitely give it a read - I'm hoping to read more from Lenora Woods in the future!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Lenora Woods for this advanced copy of Roll for Romance.

Roll for Romance tells the story of two newbies to Dungeons and Dragons starting the game while in a turning point of their life. Sadie is leaving her high stress job in New York, Noah is finding a new journey in a new town. Together they learn the rules of the game and fall for each other and the town.

Overall I give it 3.75 out of 5 Stars. It was a decent debut, with some cringy scenes but a good amount of heart. My biggest critique is some of it just did not seem realistic (her school teacher friend owning a giant house for her to live in rent free?) and also I wanted more of them actually learning the game. Rather it’s two stories mixed together.

Decent novel though, I’d probably read another book by this author.

Wow, this book was SO SWEET. I loved the dual-storytelling between the “real world” and the DnD playtime— it really gave so much to the story and made you feel like you were at the table rolling the dice with the party, too.

Sadie is one of those FMC you instantly love. She is easy to relate to, witty, creative, is a fantastic friend, and truly just has a good heart. I really enjoyed getting to know her and seeing her journey unfold.

There’s one aspect of this book that is all too real and I want to particularly applaud: the subject of corporate burnout. I don’t think people quite realize how exhausting it is to be *ON* all the time, and Sadie’s character really goes. through. it. I’ve 100% been where she was, where you just stare at the work and it stares at you and you hate it and you can’t do it anymore. I have been there and it’s not a fun place to be, and crawling out of the hole afterwards to find something new to love once you abandon the previous profession is a really, really tough choice to make.

Noah is the perfect complement to this time in Sadie’s life. He’s supportive, kind, thoughtful, and has his own way of life and exists in his own universe which he kind of gives her some wisdom of.

Roll for Romance is so well-balanced, detailed, and impressively profound for a romance book. I absolutely recommend it and I hope you read it when it comes out in July! Thank you to Dell and NetGalley!

i REALLY liked this book! i've only read a couple of "dnd" romance novels before, so i'm new to the genre. noah and sadie were instantly likeable, and I enjoyed watching them grow as people together.

i will say - while the "irl" version of the story WAS intersting, i was definitely more captivated by their DND characters and that plot. that could stem mostly from me being mainly a fantasy/romantasy reader.

i LOVED the idea of the split story concept. the irl journey that noah and sadie went on, and how their chaotic DM made their in-game story really mirror that journey with those turmoils.

i would definitely read another Lenora Woods book, this was my first! (And maybe theirs too? i love a debut author)

story was solid and SUPER relatable, there was no 3rd act breakup, and no miscommunication trope, which was SUCH a breath of fresh air!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really, really loved this!! It was so cute and fun!

It’s the perfect gateway book for fantasy readers who want to get into contemporary romance, and vice versa!

I was quite literally kicking my feet in glee

This was cute!! Being a geeky girlie, when I saw the title and synopsis of this book I was immediately interested. I ended up reading it in one sitting.

I really liked how the FMC (and other characters) were able to use the DnD campaign to get outside their comfort zone and grow as a person. It can be very therapeutic to use something like an RPG to do this.

Overall a fun read. If you like rom-coms, games, and geeky things, you will likely enjoy this book!

This book was a really cute take on a traditional romance.

The main character, Sadie, has come to Texas after losing her job. She is staying with her friend, Liam, who introduces her to his group of friends that play Dungeons and Dragons. Sadie creates her own character and begins to hang out with the crowd. Through the group, she meets Noah, who works at a local brewery.

Over time, Sadie becomes more involved with DnD and more involved with the friend group she has gained. When she gets an unexpected job offer from a dream company, she has to decide if it is what she truly wants, especially with her new found friends and potential romance on the horizon.

I thought this was a fun take on a romance novel. It will resonate really well with not only gamers and geeks, but those looking for a cute love story as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Five stars!

This book is so uniquely written and I’ve never read anything quite like it! It’s BOTH a contemporary romance and fantasy romance rolled into one experience.

You don’t have to understand the intricacies of Dungeons and Dragons to enjoy the fantasy parts, because they’re easily explained within the text. It was easy to follow and was such a fun read. Definitely makes for a great palate cleanser between heavy books.

Highly, highly recommend this one!

I received an e-ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was so intrigued by the premise of the book! Especially since I’ve always wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons. Unfortunately I just got a little too lost in the scenes. It goes in and out between reality and role playing which I’m sure a lot of people will love! It just wasn’t for me.

The writing did instantly suck me in and I loved all the main characters. I just had such a hard time following the two storylines.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely did NOT expect this book to turn out the way it did. What a unique idea to write it in alternating storylines between real life and their DND game, giving both sets of characters real events that happen in their own realms. Loved the idea that the book was about burnout and how REAL it is — so many people don’t recognize burnout as a realistic happening and something that SHOULD be discussed! As well as ways to avoid and help come back from burnout. The way Sadie’s character took her “break” and turned it into something amazing, supported by friends and family around her, was so realistic and helpful as someone who faces burnout often. Not a mega fan of fantasy (the DND part), but the IRL events were wonderfully developed. And Noah?? Oh Lordy, don’t get me started… he is DREAMY. Dorky and dreamy and lovely. Gah. Overall, loved the story and characters and plot development. Way to go, Lenora Woods! Thanks for the opportunity to read, Random House Publishing/Dell!

After all, there is so much in common with sports: the need for teamwork, for fair competition. I loved that Roll for Romance is not just the story of Sadie and her friends playing D&D, but also of their characters' adventure. I found myself on the edge of my seat, excited to see how Sadie's healer character Jaylie and her crew would complete their quest. I also appreciated that the book subtly pointed out that gaming can be a way to explore parts of ourselves we often have to reign in as adults in the world. I loved that working mom Julie played as looming devil, Kain. As Julie notes, being a mom can mean swallowing a lot of anger in life (boy, can I relate) and it's great to have a character outlet.

I also think Sadie's journey is one that a lot of people can relate to, particularly after the COVID 19 pandemic. As life changed, and how we work change, there was more of a sense that options were available - no longer do you have to live in New York City to live in corporate America. I thought it really resonated that Sadie is re-thinking what is next for her, that maybe that plan she's had for year isn't a fit anymore. A lot of women are reconsidering what paths they want to take in life.

The arc of Sadie's relationships are really sweet - whether it's romancing Noah, the brew maker or befriending the women in the small town they live in, she is surrounded by kind and supportive people. We should all be so lucky.

I'd recommend this to Ali Hazelwood fans.

this was such a cute book. and nerdy is another plus! i loved how the d&d scenes were written as if we were actually in the world instead of focusing on the people playing as the characters. that was really cool. i also loved the status check comments as she did day to day things.

thanks to netgalley for the advance copy!

I landed on a 3 star because I really enjoyed the chapters with the gameplay and it was a really pleasant surprise. If the author ever wanted to write a full fantasy I’d be all for it.

But I think y’all know by now the romance aspect of the story wasn’t for me. I found the FMC pretty immature and annoying honestly, she was a lot of the reason it took me almost a full month to read this, I could not stand to be in her head.

I see why this was a hit for the romance readers I just really am not a romance girlie, or rather I’m not a hetero romance girlie 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I started this book, I was not expecting any of this. The mixture of small-town contemporary romance and then throws you in a fantasy world, very multiverse and it worked for me. It made me want to start playing D&D, I felt like I was with the group while they did their campaign and just as shocked at all the twists and turns, I'm glad that all the references I could understand and follow along with. Also, Sadie going through her burnout and sticking to a life plan can also cause the burnout, was very relatable. Sadie and Noah's relationship development and they're characters development with each other also had me giggling and kicking my feet. This will definitely be a comfort read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not quite what I expected. Half of it is a contemporary romance, but it’s interspersed with a fantasy novel. The author does a good job writing both, but I found it a little jarring going back and forth. I enjoyed Sadie and Noah’s story, and I learned a lot about D&D. It’s a creative premise.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Sadie is a burnt out marketing whiz who is searching for meaning and respite in Heller, TX with her best friend Liam. When Liam invites hot bartender Noah to join the weekly Dungeons and Dragons game, hijinks ensue. This was a fun, lovely read with a robust fantasy element. I could have done with a little less D&D lore and a little more sex but that's just personal preference. 2/5 peppers.

This was such a cute and fun story. We all have experienced burnout in one way or another. The FMC's journey are rediscovering her love and passion in life again, and finding those friends that can support you in ways you never thought possible, was so fun to watch. I loved her growth and willingness to step out and try something new. Not going to lie, I didn't have a background on D&D before, but I can absolutely understand better now why people enjoy getting lost in their "campaign"

All in all, Loved the journey and trying something different for myself!

This book was such a cute romp. I felt like the characters could have had more struggle with external and internal forces. It felt like things were much bigger then they wound up being.

That being said t was so enjoyable and fun to read a wonderful pallet cleanser book from the heavy fantasy I was reading as well. It's the perfect like cozy romance novel that is just you know everything will turn out great and happy for the main character. I love these type of books they just feel like a warm cup of tea and a cozy blanket.

The DND references were spot on for new players and Liam was a great DM I was laughing so hard cause I also DM for new players I love that they split the narrative between the character and her character in the campaign. It was so much fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot believe this is a debut novel. I loved the story and characters so much. I don't play D&D but have friends who do, and I had no trouble keeping up.