This was a fun and light romance with the fun twist of DND! I enjoyed how the author wrote out the scenes in the DND play as if it were happening. I didn't love how it seemed like Sadie and Noah would confuse each other's characters and their actual personalities. It seemed like they often got lost between their real personalities and their characters in the DND game, and sometimes it seemed like so did the author. But it was a fun and quick read!

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I liked the book! It’s about Sadie, she loses her job in NYC and leaves (flees tbh) to spend the summer with her best friend in a small town in Texas. She ends up joining his D&D campaign and finds herself immersed in both their real world and the game. The friend group gives us some lovely found family moments (& meddling) and our love interest Noah.

The book gives you both the real life story line and bits of the D&D campaign as well. So you get to enjoy Sadie & Noah as well as Jaylie (cleric) & Loren (bard). I liked that and those parts of the book throughout it were entertaining breaks in the story.

list of tropes and things: slow burn, small town, forced proximity, found family, golden retriever love interest, dungeons and dragons, a brewery, art, finding yourself

I’m always down for a nerdy romance. Sign me up! I’ve never played D&D in my life but give me all the romance novels with it!

I thought this was a super cute romance, centered around Dungeons and Dragons. We have Sadie, fresh from losing her job, staying with her best friend, Liam, who just wants to play DnD with him and the group of newbie players he's put together. She meets this other player, Noah, who is a bit of a lumberjack, and could maybe, definitely, be Sadie's type.
Not only did we get to see Sadie reclaim her self-esteem after losing her job and figure out what she wants to do, but I loved watching her and Noah fall for each other.
The Dnd campaign that Liam put together was also a ton of fun, it was like a book with a book that we got to be a part of!

4.5 ⭐️

I had a lot of fun with this book. I loved the vibes. It was very fun and fluffy, but also still tackled some very real situations, both in life and Dungeons & Dragons.

I think the thing I appreciated most about this book was the balance between the story of Sadie (our FMC), and the story of Jaylie (her D&D character). I was surprised that we got to live the D&D game through Sadie’s character’s POV, and I absolutely loved it! Woods had me invested in both stories. I didn’t feel that one ever took away from the other. Both stories felt delightfully complete. And I want more! What happens next!

I really enjoyed Sadie’s journey through the book. Watching her dig her way out of burnout and finding what brings her joy healed a part of me, I think. It was so real. I also loved watching her reconnect with her best friend and finding her people.

I am a sucker for friendships in books, and Woods provided some wonderful side characters. It was fun watching this new friend group bloom. Liam really knows how to pick 'em. I want more! I want to go get margs with the girls. I want to go to Alchemist. I just loved them all! The friendships in the book really came through for me. And the last like 10%, that’s what sealed the deal.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute romcom! It read so smoothly and had me smiling the whole way through. I really enjoyed the story and characters—perfect if you want something light, sweet, and feel-good.

I don’t know that I have ever before read a romance where I said I wish that this was my story. This is it. This is one for the nerdy girls, the millennials, and anyone who devotes their time to the things they’re passionate about. Technically dual POV, but in an interesting way. It isn’t the FMC and the MMC. We get the FMC and her D&D alter ego in campaign. Narratively their stories mirror, but not completely. Just a wonderful lovely read that I would recommend to anyone.

What a delightfully cute and nerdy romance! I have read a couple of similar D&D inspired romances, but this one was still different and fresh to read. I enjoyed the pacing between switching between the IRL plot and the game plot, and both were as equally entertaining. I also loved all the characters, including the side characters and the relationships that Sadie developed with them. The underlining message of this book was great with topics such as burnout and how we as people are performers/mask in everyday life even when not playing a game. I felt that the romance between Sadie and Noah felt pretty organic and developed in a way that was not all in the reader's face. Noah really has that golden retriever energy and is super sweet and supportive which is perfect for Sadie as she struggles to figure her life out. With it being an adult romance, there is one open door scene peppered with some slightly spicy encounters, which felt like a perfect amount to me because the romance between Sadie and Noah is more emotional and connected with their D&D campaign.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope that the author writes similar books to this! I could totally see one focusing on Liam and his love life.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review!

"Roll for Romance" by Lenora Woods is an absolute delight, making it an excellent choice for book club discussions. The story beautifully intertwines themes of self-discovery with a charming romance, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

What stands out are the well-developed characters, each with unique personalities that add depth and warmth to the narrative. It's easy to connect with them, making their journeys feel personal and heartfelt. The plot flows smoothly—simple to follow, yet rich with emotional moments and thoughtful reflections.

The happy ending leaves a satisfying glow, wrapping up the story in a way that feels genuine and uplifting.

If you're looking for a feel-good read that's both entertaining and meaningful, "Roll for Romance" is a fantastic choice.

When two people meet over a weekly session of Dungeons and Dragons... the last thing they expect is to truly fall in love because while they craft a romance between their game characters... real feelings begin to grow as well. After losing her job, Sadie decides to summer with her best friend in his small town and join his D& D campaign in hopes of being distracted until she can figure out what she wants to do with her life next. Sadie finds herself immersed in her new character and the game as well as the very cute bartender who also is part of the campaign named Noah. Sadie and Noah's characters have a very cute romance they've crafted yet they both begin falling for each other in real life as well... but Noah never stays in one place too long and Sadie is only here for the summer before she comes back to NY to figure out her job situation.... can they actually take this romance and make it real? This book was definitely a harder read for me because the format was just kind of not working for me. I love the idea and premise of the story because it makes it interesting, however it just didn't really execute all that well for myself. I didn't feel like the characters have a lot of romance and chemistry and I was hoping for a bit more. I do think that if you love D&D this would be the perfect read for you though!

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was so genuinely cute. I enjoyed every moment of reading it. The characters were relatable, and I really enjoyed reading the adventures their D&D characters went on.
The romance was believable and I adored the chemistry between the characters

I have to start this review by saying that I know nothing about Dungeons and Dragons. I've never played, and until this book I didn't even really know what it was. But I learned so much from reading Roll For Romance, and while I don't think I'll ever play, I can understand why people do.

The set-up of this story was so unique. First, we have the real-life characters, Sadie and Noah. Sadie suffered terrible burn-out in NYC and came to Texas to stay with her best friend Liam, an avid D&D player. She joins his game, where she meets Noah. Noah never stays in one place too long, and is only in Texas to help his best friend start and run his bar. Immediately Sadie and Noah have a connection.

The other part of the book is an immersive telling of the D&D adventure. There's a fantasy world created by the players, and the adventure they're on. It was so fun to get both a contemporary romance and a fantasy all in one book!

I loved Sadie and Noah. Both of them were struggling with the roles they play in real life, and figuring out who they really are. As they spent time together and developed deep feelings, they both experienced growth as people and as a couple. They were so sweet together and I rooted for them the whole time.

I also loved the fantasy aspect of the book. The D&D world was described so well, the characters were crafted to perfection and I was on the edge of my seat as the adventure progressed.

I found this book to be so unique and different from anything I'd ever read before. I think any romance and/or romantasy reader will love it!

Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book.

This book was so sweet and fun! As a D&D player myself, I really enjoy books and stories featuring characters playing this game that has brought me so much joy!

Sadie is a really sweet, likable character, going through an experience that is extremely relatable. She has spent so much of her life wanting to live in New York and it feels like being there, having an important job in marketing at a big firm, is like a badge of honor for her. Living in New York requires a certain level of grit, and we can tell that Sadie is really proud of this part of her that has "made it". But has she outgrown that dream that she once had? When things at work take a turn for the worse, she's starting to evaluate her dreams and her plans. Is staying in New York the best decision for her?

I have been through a few changes in my life when it comes to my career, and my dreams, and my plans. I wouldn't say that any of those shifts were easy, but I think it's a necessary part of growth. And getting to be along that journey with Sadie was beautiful.

It didn't hurt that there was also a sexy hunk to spend some time with and get to know! (I'll have you know, I don't think I have ever used the term "sexy hunk" before. But I think it is 100% fitting for Noah!) Noah is amazing. He's one of those characters who's like a breath of fresh air. He's kind, outgoing, easy breezy, flirty, and just so much fun to be around. He brings that golden retriever energy, but with a yummy bit of spice.

Speaking of spice, I will say that this level was definitely low on the spice-o-meter for my taste. There definitely was some spice, so it's not like the author was trying to keep it PG or anything. The couple of scenes we got were pretty spicy! I'm just not sure why the readers had to wait so long for it. I probably would have bumped up my rating if there was a bit more heat there. And I don't even mean I necessarily needed more open-door romance, but we pretty much just got flirty banter for about 70% of the book.

Now, to the D&D part of the book. This was so so fun to read! I REALLY enjoyed the way the author used the D&D characters to essentially tell 2 stories at the same time. I have read other books similar to this where we see the main characters at the table, and when they play D&D, it's essentially a bird's eye view of them making rolls, using spells, etc. But actually plopping us down into the world of Jaylie and Loren and their party was a really fun way to experience that story. This book was low on explaining D&D mechanics, but I don't think those were really needed.

Overall, this was a very sweet romance with AMAZING cover art. I found the style of the storytelling to be really unique and fun. The romance between the FMC and MMC was sweet, but could have had a bit more chemistry and I think I would have been more interested. Overall, good, fun read!

This was such a sweet story that really hit the found family trope so well I have a lump in my throat. I found myself relating heavily to Sadie in ways I wasn’t expecting; the paralysis that comes with burn out and decision making, the reluctance to admit that things are different, the hyper-fixation on her character that she thinks has all the best traits she wants to embody herself. It made me miss my own character. Lenora’s note to the readers at the end was chef’s kiss on to of an already great reading experience ; I loved the fantasy chapters and the romance, the likable FMC and the supporting cast.

Wow--what a fun adventure (no pun intended?)! This is a one-of-a-kind romance and truly unlike any other I've read. There are two stories woven together, one taking place in our world and another through a Dungeons and Dragons game. In both, romance and friendship develops and both stories had my heart swooning.

I was impressed by how seamlessly the two narratives flowed together. I never felt like I was getting whiplash and transitioning between the two worlds felt effortless. Sadie is such a lovely and REAL female main character. I was rooting for her from the beginning. This story also had strong themes of friendship enhanced by the side characters, which I'm always a fan of.

As someone who has never played DnD, I didn't feel lost at all and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about it! Hoping there will be a second book continuing the characters' quest, perhaps??

All in all, a joyful, fun, surprising read. Would recommend.

This was SO delightful. It felt like a Hallmark romance novel for the modern millennial woman. It was so real and relatable, and I loved that the issues with the relationship weren't just relationship issues but actual problems the characters had to grow past and navigate. I loved how the roleplaying both complemented and contributed to the story, and allowed us to learn more about Sadie and Noah's relationship.

This was really well written, so gorgeous and thoughtful and fun, I already know whose hands I want to put it in. I can't wait to sell it next week!

This was an adorable read for me. It was a truly unique book and I can say I don't think I've ever read a book that was
written in this fashion. That being said, it did remind me a lot of a British show that I absolutely LOVED called DEAD PIXELS that aired back in 2019 (it's on Hulu if you need something to fill the Roll for Romance sized hole in your heart). I was a bit confused at first when it switched from the real world perspective to the DnD perspective and maybe in the final version there's some sort of image or header that indicates the switch on the page so it's not so jarring. I had to stop and make sure I hadn't opened up the wrong book then swipe back a few pages until I figured out what was going on. Once everything clicked I found myself just as invested in the DnD characters storyline as the "real world" characters.
While I generally read darker stories, this was the perfect vibe to help distract me from the crapshoot that is life right now. Sadie & Noah are both incredibly relatable as is the situation they're in. Really, all of the characters in this book could walk off the page and would fit into the real world with no problem. It's nice to read about relatable characters and situations sometimes. I mean, we can't all be "the chosen one" now can we?
Anyways, this was a very sweet story filled with relatable people, scenarios, an adorable love story, a friendship most of us could only dream of, and the lesson that sometimes really good things come from some not great circumstances.

This was cute but D&D really isn’t my thing, maybe I should have read the synopsis before hand. It was a bit tough to pull through and DNF but I can definitely see others loving it.

I loved how the author blended “real” life with the D&D campaign, and felt that there was an even mix of both. This unique structure made the lighthearted plot even more fun. The pacing is what you would expect from a rom-com, which is relatively fast. It kept up with the plot well, and I never felt like it was too rushed.

The characters were loveable and relatable. Our FMC Sadie is a classic people pleaser, who is struggling with burnout. MMC Noah is an absolute cinnamon roll, and exactly what she needs in her life. The side characters were entertaining both in and out of the campaign setting.

As for the romance, it is a cute slow burn with minimal spice. I loved Sadie and Noah’s dynamic - they are supportive of each other, kind and genuine.

I would recommend this book to any lover of the rom-com genre. Don’t let the D&D aspect shy you away from this one if you aren’t a gamer, it is such a fun read!

This was my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out more. Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for this E-ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy of this book.

I play D&D, but I do not think you'd need to I order to enjoy this story! It was a cute romance that starts as insta-lust but ends up being a pretty slow burn. I found some of the conflict in this to be fairly contrived, and some of the romance to be incredibly cheesy...

BUT I loved how the D&D campaign was woven in. I thought their characters were all fun and I liked getting a story within a story. My favorite parts of this were the long-form RPG writing they did just between Sadie and Noah because that's how I did most of my story building with friends as a teen and it brought back a lot of solid memories.

Overall I think this was an accessible D&D story with likable characters.

‼️ARC REVIEW‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
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This. Was. Incredible. What a fresh take on a contemporary romance! If you are the person that is afraid to jump into fantasy because you're worried you won't be able to keep up or won't find it interesting, this is a GREAT place to try it out and see if it's for you. You follow your main character Sadie, who has just joined a dnd group. And instead of getting bits and pieces of Sadie at game, you get the whole story of the game from her characters point of view!!! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!! I would recommend this to anyone. It pulled at my heart strings a million different times in so many ways. Sadie's struggles and triumphs are so relatable and you really feel like you're walking side by side with her as she goes through it all. I loved her connection with not just our MMC but also all of the friends she makes along the way. This was such a cozy little story about a woman truly trying to find herself in the midst of everything changing and as someone going through that kind of season herself, it was healing to read 💚


**Thank you NetGalley and Lenora Woods for this ARC opportunity**