3.5 stars

Did the cover draw me in? Yes. Did I know anything about DND? Absolutely nothing. Said and Liam’s friendship was my favorite part of this book. He gave her a safe space to try and heal from her burnout from her life in NYC. The story within a story to go with the DND game was pretty interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and RHP- Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️
368 pages

equal parts romance and dungeons & dragons play, this was such a unique read!

the reader is split between seeing the story of our two main characters play out, as well as, see the D&D campaign they’re a part of with their friends. the premise being that everyone is new to D&D and all learning the storyline at the same time!

i thought this book was cute & would probably try another in this format. it took a minute to get used to, but a fun experience!

read if you like:
▫️found family
▫️friends to lovers
▫️d&d or role playing games
▫️witty banter
▫️slow burns

This was a cute romance but I didn't feel a lot of drive to keep reading. It took me five days to finish, which is abnormal for me and a romance book. I really enjoyed that we as readers got to see the D&D campaign as a part of the story. Honestly, I think I enjoyed those sections more than the regular plot. The D&D campaign storyline felt very similar to Legends and Lattes, which I loved. But the inclusion of the campaign made the book feel disjointed and interrupted the flow of the story. I almost wish it was just a romance between Jaylie and Loren, the main character’s D&D characters.

The romance aspect of the book felt a little lackluster. Maybe it's because I didn’t related to aspects of the main characters, like never putting down roots or living in the same place twice, or just quitting your job. I did appreciate the depression representation from Sadie - that felt very real and genuine.

The conflict in this book is very minimal and it definitely read like a cozy romance. But for me, it was just an okay romance and I walked away from it wanting more.

Thank you to Random House - Ballentine/Dell and NetGalley for this free e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Calling all D&D nerds — this book is for you!

When Sadie finds herself without a job and at loose ends, she escapes from the bustling NYC life she’s always dreamed of to move in with her childhood friend Liam for the summer in a small town outside Austin. Liam is determined to turn Sadie into a D&Der, and recruits a ragtag team of misfits from around town to start a beginners campaign.

Through the summer, the troupe gather to go on their role-playing quest, while chemistry simmers between Sadie (aka Jaylie the cleric) and Noah (aka Loren the bard). But what will happen with the summer ends? Sadie needs a job — will she take one back in NYC or start a new adventure elsewhere?

This book was cute, and the cover is gorgeous. I’ve played exactly one D&D campaign, but I felt like I generally understood what was going on. The book splits half the time in the real world following Sadie and Noah as Sadie confronts a quarter-life crisis about her career, and the other half dropping you directly into their fantasy D&D story. To be honest, I struggled to care about the very robust D&D storyline and struggled to see why it mattered in the grand scheme of Noah and Sadie. The stakes are extremely low, but it was a sweet and cozy story, perfect for those who love fantasy role-playing and other nerd subcultures.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and how the D&D game they were playing was included as the story within a story. And thank you to the author that this wasn't a slow burn been simmering for years friends to lovers. I hate that trope and this was not it. I loved this book.

I would like to give the biggest thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review!

Very sad to report that I DNF'd at 19%.

The Good:
-The cover is absolutely STUNNING. Upon first seeing it, I instantly knew I would be requesting it. Seriously, 10/10 for the cover
-The premise is right up my alley. I love the idea of two stories happening at once, and who doesn't love DND?

The Bad:
-Although the premise sounds incredible, the didn't love the execution. I'm sure more of the dnd plot was showcased in the other 81% of the book, but from the parts I read, it wasn't fleshed out at all. The tiny snapshots we were given ended up making the main plot feel disjointed.
-The dialog was really bad. A lot of the writing in this book made me cringe and it almost never felt like how people would talk in real life. The reactions of the characters confused me. One scene in particular that really stood out was when Sadie received an email from an old colleague recommending her a job. The email seemed genuine to me, but Sadie reacted with anger that the colleague just wanted to find out some gossip? We aren't given any background to understand why she would do that, and it seemed so far fetched. The coworker seemed to stick her neck out for Sadie by recommending her to her boss. The whole exchange baffled me and I could not connect with Sadie at all. The rest of the characters were bland, especially the love interest.

I absolutely LOVED this book! As someone who has always been interested in playing Dungeons & Dragons but unsure if I would enjoy it, this book convinced me I probably would! The secondary storyline of the party's DnD game was even more endearing to me than the main story. I liked the friend group and wish I had friends like them for myself! I really appreciated that Sadie was able to learn about herself and grow through her character. In my opinion, this is a good read for the summer. It is entertaining, heartwarming, and easy to read.

I DEVOURED this book. Literally could not put it down and finished it the same day i started it. Roll for Romance felt cozy. I was curled up on my couch with the blankets, smiling and kicking my feet reading about these characters. When it was over, I was satisfied with the ending, but I still wanted to read more about the group of friends playing Dungeons and Dragons. I loved this book and smiled the entire time I was reading it.
Lenora Woods does an amazing job of pulling you in and keeping you hooked, right up to the very end. Roll for Romance was well written. It was easy to follow, while still painting a great picture of what was happening. One of my favorite things about this book is, and I'm not quite sure what to call it, but the dual worlds we followed as readers. Not only were we following Sadie and her friends in real life, but also the epic quest of their D&D characters. I was worried that since I didn't know much about D&D, I was going to have a hard time following the story. That wasn't the case at all. Part of that is because what was explained was explained well (the players are all new to D&D), but also because a solid chunk of the time the group was playing D&D, we weren't reading about them playing, but rather like we were reading a second book following the group of. adventurers. I was just as invested in what was happening in the game world as I was in Sadie's story. Not only did I want to read more about Sadie and her friends, but I wanted to read more about their D&D characters. I would LOVE to have that story really fleshed out and get to read that story as its own novel. Almost like an interconnected series kind of thing. I'd read that so fast.
I have this knack for picking up books that tell me exactly what I need to hear, when I need to hear it, and Roll for Romance was no exception. Sadie's character, and her career questions/struggles, really resonated with me. She was a likable, funny, and inspiring. She made me feel like if she could face her issue, I can face mine. And Sadie's friends are just as well written and captivating as she is. I loved getting to know Noah with Sadie. I also loved getting to see her friendship grow with the other players and getting to know them along the way.
For me, this was a 4.25 star read. I can't wait to start recommending this book to my friends.

Sadie's lost her job, so she decides to spend the summer with her life long friend Liam and agrees to participate in a DND campaign he is running. Noah is a bartender who is also new to town and joins the DND group. Noah and Sadie hit it off both in the real and fictional world.

This was a sweet, romantic summer fling story. I identified a lot with Sadie's feelings of burn out and trying to find her new path when the one she always though she wanted didn't work out. Seeing her rediscover her love of art and play was sweet. Noah is also just such a sweet hearted teddy bear of a character. I also loved Liam and the rest of the DND friend group. The story within a story part unfortunately just didn't hook me, and I felt myself not drawn into the DND world and characters in the same way the characters in the book clearly were. But I think this is probably a me issue and could be other's favorite part of the story.

Tropes
* Found Family
* Small Town
* Cinnamon roll MMC
* Story within a Story

3.5 stars

Roll for Romance is a fun, fresh take on love, friendship, and second chances—with a delightful Dungeons & Dragons twist. Lenora Woods blends real-life challenges with fantasy roleplay in a way that feels both charming and meaningful. Sadie’s journey is relatable, and the slow-burn chemistry between her and Noah is as heartwarming as it is entertaining. Whether you’re a D&D fan or just love a good story about finding connection in unexpected places, this one is a feel-good read worth picking up.

Roll for reverie❣️

A cool concept of simultaneous storytelling bringing a real time romance alongside fantasy interludes of Dungeons and Dragons game play. If you're looking for low stakes cuteness that still has a serious side with a struggling protagonist this might be just the vibe you're looking for.

🎲🔮🔮🔮🐉🐉🐉⚔️⚔️⚔️

Sadie has lost her job due to burnout so bad she couldn't face showing up or communicating with co-workers. Before finding herself saddled with another soul sucking job she agrees to visit her bestie Liam in Texas. Liam has been trying to talk her into giving D&D a chance and this time she decides to give it a try. What can one game change? I thought it was interesting to see Sadie try on different personas throughout the book there's Sadie her true self, Jaylie her gaming character who is a healer, and Josephine her serious professional persona. It made me ponder how many hats we wear in life.
🍺🍺🍺🎨🎨🎨✨✨✨🎲
Noah the love interest works at a local brewery and bar. He's a free spirit often living on the go right out of his van. He's an adventure awaits just around the next bend type of guy. He's also a first time D&D player. His character in the game is a bard which I thought was wonderful as the author avoided a stereotypical male gaming character that would be perfection personified. It was great that he had to rely on a different skillset in the fantasy portions to survive than brawn. It showed he had many dimensions both in and out of the game because in real life Noah's ticking ALL THE BOXES.
🎲🖤🖤🖤🧙🏻‍♂️🧙🏻‍♂️🧙🏻‍♂️🪄🪄🪄
I enjoyed that the author took readers inside the game to show how the characters scrambled to stay on task and alive. The other players were from different walks of life and their D&D characters were a great chance for them to walk on the wild side. I loved that the players were trying on different personalities through the game. As a couple these two are great supporting what's best for each other and never throwing pick me energy around.
🧝🏻🧝🏻🧝🏻🧌🧌🧌🧙🏻🧙🏻🧙🏻🎲
Entertaining with a dose of whimsy! An effervescent escape from the mundane.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to Random House | Ballantine for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an okay read It’s one of those books they’re have a story in another story. We have the fmc that had work burnout which led to a breakdown and the loss of her job. She meets this group of friends that become found family and are into Dungeons and Dragons which I had never heard of lol. The romance was really cute, the mmc is a cinnamon roll and such a green flag especially when it comes to communication. This is set in a small Texas town and I loved seeing the fmc find herself and come to terms with the career choices she wants to have. This is a slow burn that definitely pays off with steamy moments. The issue I had was with the fantasy story aspect of dungeons and dragons they was a huge part of the book. It kinda threw me off and I think I’m just minor really into story’s of story’s that much. Overall this was an okay read that I would rec. Thanks to Dell for this arc for an honest review!

This is almost like two stories in one! This story is told through Sadie's (the FMC) point of view, but you also get her player character's perspective of the D&D campaign that is going on through the summer.

As someone who has dabbled a bit in D&D and some online RRGs, I identified a lot with these characters. It was a lot of fun to see bits of this hobby (subculture, even?) be explored.

While romance is the main plot, I also loved how this new group of friends bounded over the months they played together.

I very much hope there are more books with the supporting characters, because I need more stories in this small town and with these friends!

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC.

DNF @ 53%. I’ve been struggling to finish this book for days so I’m finally giving in. I think it’s just a little too D&D heavy for me. This book might be better suited for people who play and know every rule to the game vs people like me who are new to it. I thought the real life romance part between Sadie and Noah was more interesting so I decided at some point to skip the chapters that were role playing, but then nothing was happening between the main characters like I thought it would. If something romantically does happen between them, which I’m assuming it does from the cover, then I think the book may need something “more.” More chemistry, more interaction between them, more something. I was also really confused the first time we were thrown into the role playing chapter. I thought it kind of came out of nowhere, so I would’ve liked a smoother transition into that.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I recently started getting into tabletop games and joined a Godbound campaign. I’m having a blast! It’s similar to D&D and that, along with a long time experience as a MMORPG player, I loved the set up for this book.

The plot was a cool intermix between life in game and out of it. Sadie and Noah were really cute and their friendship and eventual romance blossomed in a way that felt organic. Liam was a hoot and I loved his unwavering support for his bestie Sadie. The in game play was well written and familiar to me. I’d love to read a full campaign from the author.

All in all an entertaining read.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

Roll for Romance was the perfect balance of contemporary and fantasy. I absolutely adored this book and need more like it. In this book, the characters are playing D&D, so we get their lives but we also get their characters. The way the book is written, it's like we're reading the two stories back and forth. Watching the character development happen twice and in two ways, was just so fun.

The text messages were so relatable and realistic, which I appreciate. So often, texting in books feels stilted, but this was so normal. The characters were fun and flawed and flirty and all the things that you want in a contemporary romance.

I just really enjoyed this books. It was well-written. The storyline was great. The fantasy D&D storyline was fun. I could see this author writing fantasy, for sure. The characters were all so lovable. I want to live this book.

I would love a sequel. Please.

Is this real life or is it just fantasy? “Roll for Romance” is a novel with a little bit of both. When a Dungeons & Dragons game brings Sadie and Noah together, sparks fly between them and their characters. Texas is a summer escape for Sadie after she loses her job in New York and crashes with her best friend to lick her wounds. By contrast, Noah embraces the nomadic lifestyle, having only recently landed a bartending gig in town. Will Sadie and Noah heed their relationship’s clear expiration date? Or will they decide to take the road less traveled? Immersing the reader in both Sadie and Noah’s romance and the adventures of their D&D characters, “Roll for Romance” is two swoony stories for the price of one. Author Lenora Woods lives in Connecticut.

4.5 stars!!
This book is a delightful blend of found family dynamics and the adorable flirtation that evolves into genuine romance. It gave me all the cozy, nerdy vibes I could have hoped for! Sadie and Noah's relationship was absolutely charming, and I loved that they openly communicated about their feelings and uncertainties for the future. It was such a refreshing change from the usual third-act conflicts that often bog down romance novels. Sure, they faced challenges, but they were always united, never pitted against each other.

I also enjoyed the way the story intertwined the real-life plot with the campaign. Moving between the two perspectives really illustrated why Sadie fell head over heels for D&D (and Noah) and showcased how she was able to translate the lessons from the game into her own life.

I was given the opportunity to read this book before it came out thanks to NetGalley. I am so very grateful that I was able to.

In all, this book was so good and I really enjoyed it. The pacing of the book started off a little slow but then it started to catch up when things began to get interesting. I think the part that I enjoyed the most was how Lenora Woods went in between both worlds, the real world and the characters DnD world. I really enjoyed reading about the characters and then about their own adventure within their DnD characters. I have never seen a writing style like that before and I really liked it.

It was such a cute romance book and I cannot wait for everyone to get a chance to read this book!

Thanks again to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and to review it honestly, all of these opinions are my own!

An adorable, slow burn romance!

Roll for Romance was a highly anticipated summer book for me so I had high hopes for this one. It certainly met my expectations. It was nerdy, had a sweet slow burn romance and MMCs you want to root for. Plus I got to learn a lot about D&D. This was like getting two romances for the price of one.

Noah and Sadie were too cute! I loved them so much. Their romance in real life and the game were so good. I felt each romance storyline was well-balanced and paced. These two had healthy communication, how refreshing! I squealed every time these two touched hands lol. I just rooted for this couple so hard. I loved them.

The D&D plot was interesting and didn't take me out of the story. It felt a bit like an immersive game which was cool.

Highly recommend if you like friends to lovers, gaming/D&D, small town and sweet contemporary romances.