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
🌶
.
.
.
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**

Thank you Lenora Woods, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a really cute read! Sadie reluctantly joins her best friend's Dungeons and Dragons campaign after being laid off and moving in with him. New to Texas, Sadie meets new friends during the campaign including Noah who is also new to town. More begins to develop between the two as they explore their new town together. Sadie begins to share some hard truths and discovers her true passion in life.

I really liked how we got to see their campaign's own story as Sadie plays as Jaylie. I have never played Dungeons and Dragons but really loved learning about the game and the intricate story telling that takes place. This was a fun read for anyone who loves cute romances and dungeons and dragons!

I loved every minute spent reading this book, it was a fantastic debut novel from the author!

DnD Romance is the sub genre I never knew I needed in my life but now that I've experienced it a few times-- I can't seem to get enough of it. I loved that the author chose to include chapters of the actual campaign within the story. It makes the experience so much more immersive, she doesn't just tell us about their hobby she takes us all a long for the journey.

The MCs were easy to form a connection with, both Sadie and Noah are at a point in their lives where they don't have everything figured out. It allowed for so much character growth, I loved watching that slow burn connection form into a sweet romance.

Overall this was such a sweet and cozy binge, definitely worth adding to your TBR. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thank you Lenora Woods, Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

✨Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods was a cute D&D-themed read. I enjoyed how the roleplaying was woven into the story, though at times it was a bit confusing to keep track of which characters were playing which roles. I think the game world scenes would’ve been easier to follow if they had been written in third-person POV instead of from Jaylie (Sadie)’s perspective.
Outside of the gameplay, I didn’t really feel much romantic tension between the love interests. It was hard to separate their side-roleplaying, where they start to genuinely like each other—from the main game they were playing and their real-life interactions. That blurred line made the romance feel less grounded for me.

I thought this was so unique! I have read romance books with DnD in them before and this was nothing like those. Woods' basically gives you two stories in one. Instead of the stuttering of dice rolls and sometimes awkward dialog, you dive into a fantasy adventure along side the main characters.

The story was mostly lighthearted and fun, though our FMC does deal with some career burnout. Noah is warm, easy and fun. He is supportive of Sadie throughout the story and I am so happy with where they end up. I really loved Liam, Morgan, and Jules as well, and I am excited to see if we get another book in this world, maybe with one of these side characters?? Either way, I absolutely loved this, and cannot wait to see what we get from Woods next!

3.5 Stars Roll for Romance is an utterly charming and nerdy romance about two people who connect over a game of Dungeons and Dragons. It's a unique story and a fun read!

Sadie Brooks has avoided playing Dungeons and Dragons at her best friend, Liam's, request for years. But when Sadie unexpectedly loses her marketing job and leave New York City to stay with Liam in a small Texas town, she finally relents and joins a campaign. In D&D, Sadie becomes Jaylie, a priestess with luck on her side--something Sadie is feeling especially low on lately. Sadie didn't expect to enjoy the game so much and she definitely didn't expect Noah Walker, a handsome bartender who joined the game and is new to town as well. Noah is a traveller, never staying in one place for long, just like his character, Loren the bard, in the game. As Jaylie and Loren's relationship progresses in the game, so does Sadie and Noah's in real life. But when an opportunity to return to New York arises, Sadie isn't so sure if she wants to return to her old life or stay in this new one--especially if Noah might not stay too.

Just like the game they play, Roll for Romance is a fun adventure! Despite knowing they'd be playing the game, I didn't expect the dual storylines of what is happening in the real world and what was happening in the D&D campaign. It made for a fun change of pace and I got more invested in the game story than I expected. It's easy to root for Sadie and Noah as a couple. Both are extremely likable and make for a sweet couple. I wish we had gotten more time to explore them as a couple after they solidified their relationship, before the story ended. An entertaining story for sure!

Thank you Lenora Woods and Dell for the ARC! Roll for Romance releases July 15th!

This book felt like both an adventure and also snuggling up at home with a cup of warm tea. It’s full of heart and magic and I’m sad I’ll never be able to read it for the first time again. I’ll be thinking about Sadie and Noah (and Jaylie and Loren) forever.

I should preface this by saying I’ve never played D&D in my life, but I have many, many friends who absolutely love it. The cover caught my eye immediately and I’m glad that I got to read an advanced copy!

The concept of this book is so much fun and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s basically a story within a story and I love how the D&D storyline was intertwined with what was happening in real life.

Sadie has recently moved to Texas (temporarily in her eyes) after getting laid off from a hotshot marketing job in NYC. To pull her out of her funk, her best friend Liam invites her to play D&D and thus the story is born.

Sadie and Noah were really sweet together. He’s a bartender that’s also a new D&D player, and I love that he chooses to be a bard in the game- it reminded me a lot of Jaskier from The Witcher. He also urges her to pursue her creative side, as he gets his boss/best friend to hire her to make a mural on the wall of his bar. Noah’s character and the way he is doesn’t match his looks at all (which was intended, I’m sure) but it did throw me off a few times, with the way the dialogue is written he seemed a bit younger than he actually is.

I adored Liam. I want an entire book all about him. He clearly cares so much about Sadie and he puts so much effort and love into making the D&D experience great for all of his first-time players. Definitely my favorite character.

All in all, super cute and a surprisingly quick read considering it isn’t a short book. But very enjoyable!

4.25/5 stars

Roll for Romance is a summer romance between Josephine Sadie Brooks and Noah Walker. Sadie, who went by Josephine in her big city marketing job, has just been let go from her company, so she moves from NYC to small town Heller, Texas, where she takes the time to get her life back together in the guest room of the house of her best friend since middle school, Liam. There, she starts a Dungeons & Dragons campaign with Liam as DM and a few other first time D&D players, including bartender Noah, who’s also new to town. Along the way, Sadie and Noah find that their characters, Jaylie the cleric and Loren the elven bard, parallel their real life journey in falling for each other. The problem is that Sadie’s time in Texas is limited with a potential job back in NYC and Noah’s inability to settle down to live in one place.

This book is so soft. Sadie’s feelings for Noah had the sweetest long lasting sizzle for their slowburn romance. Noah is peak golden retriever love interest (like seriously though, how do I find someone like him in real life). He is genuinely kind, and his spontaneity is such a good balance to Sadie’s needs after burning out from living life within such rigid confines for so long.

I really relate to Sadie and her struggle to pick herself back up again post burnout. I understand the heavy expectations that come from being a high achieving teenager born not just from her parents but from herself. The bad days of finding difficulty just to leave the bed, shower, eat— I get it.

And I love that she has a support system to help her through her difficult time without a single ounce of shame, from her mother who learns to stop asking high pressure questions but still stays present in her life via facetime despite the thousands of miles separating them to Liam’s unquestioningly loyalty to her and their friendship.

Liam!! He’s honestly my favorite character in this book. Sadie and Liam’s friendship is so wholesome and warms my heart. There is something so special in lifelong friendships born from childhood, and their unwavering support and love for each other shines through with every interaction. I love that not only does he provide Sadie a safe space to get away from the city, but he helps her step out of her depression bubble in seemingly small ways as well as hosts a new social circle to build new friendships in this new place where he’s the only other person she knows.

Building community can be so hard, but having the weekly D&D campaign to look forward to is not just another reason to get out of bed, but is a good way to make new friends. The found family that our little crew finds within each other, *chef’s kiss.* Especially!! the growing female friendship between Sadie, Jules, and Morgan!! I love when women!!

As a person with *very* little knowledge of D&D, its incorporation into this book felt really smooth and easy to read to a newcomer like me. The way the game is written here is two stories for the price of one contemporary romance— it’s seamless in the way it slides between Sadie and Noah IRL and Jaylie and Loren in game. I loved that the game was written like reading a parallel fantasy story. <spoiler> I *especially* love Sadie and Noah’s private server of writing and role playing as a safe way to flirt and navigate their growing feelings for each other in a way that simultaneously feels separate from themselves yet not at all (until it doesn’t— and I’m so proud of Sadie for taking initiative when fiction no longer fit their narrative). </spoiler>

Finally, I fully believe that there is a power that comes with names. And with each name, there are characters, masks, roles. There is a power that comes with shifting between any and all of the above. <spoiler> I love that D&D helps give Sadie the tools to navigate her old role of Josephine during her interview for her potential new job. It was so satisfying to see that the game helps her regain and relearn her confidence after losing it all from her last job; seeing how D&D and her real life support system became pillars in Sadie helping herself actively stride into stepping back into herself— love to see it. </spoiler>

This book is honestly the perfect choice for anyone looking for a sweet, nerdy summer romance with a touch of fantasy. I’m looking forward to more books by Lenora Woods! Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the ARC!

Cute romance story with an added D&D quest being told between the characters own stories. I haven't read a story like this before and I liked it, but the only set back is that it dragged for a bit too long at times. Main character Sadie is going through some life changes and goes to stay with her best friend Liam while she decides her next steps. Thanks to him they start a D&D campaign and she begins to make new friends and she gets to be creative again and continue making art. I like that the relationship between Sadie and Noah progressed at a very normal pace, like they actually talked and got to know each other. It did not felt rushed even thought it happened in the span of one summer, a lot of recent books are so insta love/lust that they don't feel believable. They also had great character growth and no third act breakup. If you like anything related to games, D&D, cosplay and nerdy things in general definitely give this book a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods was a cute book with a fun premise, with most of the action taking place in a small Texas town between Sadie, her best friend Liam, brewery employee/nomad Noah, and the rest of their beginners D&D group. The fun part is the fantasy that takes place within their gameplay.

For me, the main story line was lacking in any tension. It was just a little too much Adrift Girl Has Crush On Cute Boy and not a whole lot more. I also think that since the real world story is fully in Sadie's POV, it would have been cool to have the game play be either in Noah's character's perspective or fully 3rd person omniscient.

This was a sweet story, just not a lot of there there beyond the D&D aspect.

A story within a story, as Sadie and Noah meet in real life, and as their characters in a d&d game that they are playing with new friends. A fun read.

3.5 stars for me, but easily a 4-5 for someone in the right audience!

I did enjoy this author’s writing style and I found nothing wrong with the prose itself (the romance was cuuuuute) - I’m just not a high fantasy reader and the D&D session narratives were too much for me to grasp. But I could see how someone in the right audience would love this! Still recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book is exactly the kind of story you want to curl up with on a slow Saturday morning, warm coffee in hand, fuzzy socks on, maybe a cat or two nearby. It’s got all the best comforts: small-town Texas charm, a quirky little brewery, camping trips, secondhand bookshops, plenty of coffee, and even a frog wizard (yes, you read that right).

The romance is sweet and snuggly, and while I found myself wishing for a bit more plot tension earlier on, once I reached the 20% mark, I was fully invested and rooting hard for these two.

A good portion of the book is actually the story of their D&D campaign, so it’s got a fun, geeky twist that fantasy lovers(especially those who've rolled their fair share of dice) will enjoy. A soft, heartfelt debut perfect for fans of cozy reads with a dash of magical mayhem.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher, for the electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Roll For Romance expected publication date is July 15, 2025

This was really cute and I had a lot of fun reading it! 4.5/5

Sadie is on an involuntary break after crashing out and being let go from her job and is visiting with her childhood best friend Liam for the summer. She needed to unplug from city life and slow WAY down. She's lost the passion for her career, but we don't get that full story or how she lost the job in the first place. We got snippets toward the end, but not a full story and that bothered me a bit. That and she would make decisions off page and we don't get to read the thought process behind them. You'd get a vague suggestion toward it, and then a chapter would end or page break would happen. They'd wrap up in the next chapter or 2 but still bugged me.

The relationship between Sadie and Noah was very much fleshed out in their D&D games for the first half. Their characters would trade quips and snarky comments while still supporting each other. They both feel like late 20's/early 30's kids who grew up role playing through computer games or forums while fantasizing about their favorite characters. Noah clearly was a World of Warcraft boy and Sadie probably spent some time on Tumblr sharing fanart and AO3 reading fanfics. Noah helping Sadie to rediscover her passion for art after flipping through her sketchbook once says a lot about who he is as a person.

This felt more unique than some other romances I've read lately that try to be nerdy and include Dungeons and Dragons. I LOVED the parallel story of the romance alongside the story of their campaign. When you play with a group for 3-4 hours at a time you develop a lot of relationships between in-game characters but also in real life. You don't spend that much time together without getting to know someone better and discovering interpersonal chemistry while playing. I felt like it really enhanced the story overall and made the relationship that developed between Sadie and Noah more fleshed out. I definitely recommend this to someone looking for a light, fun story with a touch of fantasy to it without actually involving magic. If you like romance and also play D&D I think you'll like this more. There's so many fun little references and jokes thrown in that made me chuckle. The inclusion of "Jar of Bees" was probably my favorite.

This was a cute and unique romance that felt both realistic and believable!

This story had more of a slower burn as Noah and Sadie met and gradually got closer to each other, but because of that and the lack of fanfare surrounding them, it felt like a truly believable romance. It had a found family aspect between all the players in their little group and the dual storyline between the characters as well as their game characters was a cool touch and not something I’d seen before in a RPG romance! Sadie’s struggle to make decisions regarding her burnout was very relatable and watching her rediscover her love for her hobbies was really cute, especially when Noah became such a big supporter of her art immediately and had her do a mural for the brewery he worked at. Noah was such a sweet guy and he and Sadie made a great couple!

I did find the first half of the book to be rather slow as the story built up for both the characters and their game, but the cliffhanger for their game at the end leaves an open door I can see the author continuing off of. I also wished we got to know all the characters mire as I still felt like I didn’t truly know Noah and Sadie that well by the end besides the surface stuff (and we don’t really ever learn a lot about all the side characters).

For any tabletop game fan (or those who just like to read romances that feature them), this is a cute and warm story with a fun immersive storyline featuring their game to add to the TBR!

Roll For Romance is ideal for readers who enjoy lighthearted romantic adventures where relationships develop slowly against playful, fantastical backdrops.

Sadie, burned out from her NYC job, moves to Texas to room with Liam, her childhood bff/DM, while hoping to recover and rekindle her creative spark. Noah, taking a break from van life, makes a pit stop to help his old CU Boulder buddy run a brewery and figure out his next adventure.

Because of that lack of backstory, I found it difficult to connect with anyone. I didn’t feel invested in the story or the characters, which made it tough to stay engaged. That said, I did enjoy the flirting and banter between Noah and Sadie outside of the D&D parts, and I think they had good potential. I wish the book had focused a little bit more on their romance and less on the game world. However unique the concept was I couldn’t get into the dungeons and dragons storyline.

I still think this was a cute concept and has alot of potential to be better!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️


I am new to the D&D world and thought this book would be super cute to read. I enjoyed Sadie as a character and her passion for painting! The story was cozy and cute with romantic elements to it, and I loved also being a part of the game! Sadie and Noah’s dynamic was fun as well, and I enjoyed the HEA!