Creative, cozy, and oh so cute, I adored the contemporary story and the DND adventure aspects in equal measure! It makes good on the premise with a golden retriever hero who's absolutely precious, and a heroine who—while a little down on her luck—jumps into new endeavors with full enthusiasm. If you loved Baldur's Gate, Dimension 20, and pure, sweet escapism, this is the one for you!

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods is a sweet contemporary romance with a Dungeons & Dragons twist. It follows Sadie, who escapes NYC burnout by moving to small-town Texas and falling for Noah, a bartender and fellow D&D player. Their real-life and in-game chemistry intertwine for a fun, heartfelt story.

Pros: Charming romance, authentic D&D vibes, cozy storytelling.
Cons: Fantasy elements may distract some readers; not everyone will relate to Sadie’s choices.

Great for fans of nerdy, feel-good love stories.

So first let me say that, while this wasn't a favorite for me, I can 100% see it being a favorite for anyone who is into Dungeons and Dragons or any other RPGs with a fantasy element. I really liked the real-world romance that was budding between the two main characters (Sadie and Noah), and I found Sadie's character really relatable in her "I lost my job, and now I don't know what I'm supposed to do" situation. What didn't really work for me was the parallel storylines - the DND campaign story unfolding along with the real-life story. I think maybe I just felt a little bogged down in the dual plots, and that made this harder for me to get into. There was still plenty to like about this, but I wished the fantasy storyline had been scaled back a little bit to make more space for real-life Sadie and Noah.

Ok, but listen yall, Roll for Romance was absolutely freaking adorable!!! It was so sweet and nerdy, and just such a fun read!

This read was SO fun. I haven’t played DnD in a long while but this made me want to get back into it 🤭

The banter, the flirting, the exploration, all of it. This story had me giggling and kicking my feet. Noah and Sadie had incredible chemistry and the best love story.

This was like a Hallmark movie for D&D players. It was cute and wholesome with nerdiness woven through the entire story.

Sadie is let go from her job and spends the summer with her best friend, Liam, a DM, living in a small town in Texas. As she figures out her next steps, she begins her first D&D campaign and meets Noah. He’s an outgoing, optimistic bartender at the local brewery who also is also new in town.

Lenora did a wonderful job weaving in Sadie’s journey and the D&D campaign into the story. She introduced you to the world of D&D and the magic of playing a game, the attachment you feel towards your character and even the similarities between you and your character (or traits you want to embody). For the D&D lover, this book is a wonderful, cozy side quest for you!

For Sadie’s main storyline, Lenora captured the feelings of burnout from a job, of being lost and unmotivated. The imposter syndrome that comes with that but of also starting something new. The anxiety of interviewing and making the “right choice.” Then finally, that spark and excitement when starting off on a new adventure.

This book was definitely a side quest for me, I personally am not a fan of Hallmark movies and the “move to a small town” romances. It was fun and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC. Roll for Romance releases July 15.

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 💋
Spice: 🌶️

Roll for Romance was a delightful read with a cute romance and an adventurous storyline.

It’s in the heroine’s POV only and there are some great tropes like a found family, forced proximity, a small town and slow burn romance.

The overall premise was really enjoyable. There were low stakes and not a lot of drama, which made the story feel very lighthearted. There were some amusing, sweet and heartfelt moments as well. I loved all the side characters and the D&D aspect. I will say though, the pacing was quite slow and there were certain elements that could have been more explored upon.

I had no experience or knowledge of D&D before reading this book but this definitely made me curious and interested to learn more. I really liked how the campaign was part of the story and we were able to follow along with the heroine. It was so entertaining and just easy to follow.

The romance was really cute. I liked how their love blossomed throughout the story and in the campaign. There was a bit of open door spice, which was very steamy.

There was no third act breakup or conflict, which I really appreciated. The ending was a bit predictable but still very sweet and cheesy.

Overall, just a fun read with a light romance and a strong roleplaying gaming element.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Roll for Initiative Sadie!

A little nerdy, a little sweet, a little artsy; this book is alllll the adorableness! What a charming romp and delicious read!

Sadie escapes to long-time bestie’s small town living when her New York career and life bottom out. There she is shoved into his DnD for newbies and meets the cinnamon-roll nomad(ish), Noah.

This romance is so cute! The main characters are so lovable and their low-angst courtship is a dream to wander through! I love the story telling style where we get to accompany their team on their DnD quest as well and see additional glimpses of their personalities and chemistry in a fantasy setting!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for the opportunity to read this eARC. My opinions are all my own. Thank you!

I loved that Sadie had the opportunity to take a big leap and took it.

Sadie got fired from her job in New York and wanted to see what Texas had to offer with her best friend Liam. Liam gave her one condition: you must play DND. That’s where she meets Noah!! ☺️

I’m not a big gaming person so maybe that’s why it wasn’t a big hit for me. I would definitely recommend for people who enjoy dnd, though. I also liked the story within a story. The banter was enjoyable too!

I always enjoy reading about one door closing and another opening.

I was both excited & nervous to read this book as I don't have a lot of background knowledge about D&D, but I do love a good romance. I was pleasantly surprised!

Sadie has moved across the country to live with her best friend after losing her job. Her best friend suggests she join his upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game. Noah is another new player, and sparks fly both in & outside the game between these 2 opposites.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it did a great job of introducing the D&D world, while also having the non game elements. Seeing Sadie grow more confident & lean into her creative pursuits was good for my soul. I loved that all 4 players were new to the game, and learning more about why those chose their characters was fun.

I do wish we got more of a dual POV, we did get one small scene, but that is just my preferred reading style.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || ROLL FOR ROMANCE [thank you to Dell Romance and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Roll for Romance
Author:
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★★

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This book made me want to go back to my college World of Warcraft playing days more than anything. Ha - AND inspired me to finally pick up Dragon Age: Veilguard. This reminded me of all the fun and great things about roleplaying games and stepping out of your own shoes for a little bit.

But I think my FAVORITE part of this novel was the self-discovery that several characters found through their characters. They made their characters who they wished they could be, and by living vicariously through them in the campaign, they found courage and love in their real lives too. Sadie found herself floundering in her real life - trying to find a new job, somewhere to live, and someone to love - but through Jaylie (her character) she was able to feel someone who was CONFIDENT that they’d found their true path and their true calling…and then find that for herself in her real life.

Plus all of the game references throughout the entire book was so fun. Roll for courage, roll for flirting - like come on! Yes please!

Please just do yourself a favor and read this book. The characters are top-notch, the fantasy mixed with real life is done so well, and I love all of the character development. I can’t wait to read more from Woods!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
World of Warcraft
Fantasy Worlds
Fantasy Roleplay
Sunshine MMC
Found Family
Dual Timeline - Kind of?

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.10⭐️
# of Pages: 368
Pub Date: July 15, 2025

I knew I wanted to wish for an advanced copy of this the second I saw this beautiful cover, props to the artist!

This was a five star read for me! I absolutely love all things Dungeons and Dragons and things geeky/nerdy in general and I was so excited to see another romance novel pop up that featured those themes! It was so much fun to follow both the D&D campaign as well as the characters in real life and see their relationship and chemistry bloom over time. Honestly such a fun and delightful read!

Thank you to the publisher for generously sharing an advanced copy of this book with me. I will he recommending this to my D&D and romance loving friends.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Random House Publishing Group for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
So I chose this book because the cover was so cute and I was interested by the premise. Overall it was a cozy read with a bit of spice thrown in. I enjoyed the real timeline but struggled with the D&D fantasy plot a little bit. Not enough to not finish the book. But I was definitely more invested in Noah and Sadie’s storyline than Loren and Jaylies. The fantasy element was a little clunky for my taste. I’ve also never played D&D before so I may just not be familiar with that specific story telling style. Would recommend for people who enjoy role playing games and small town romance.

So much fun! The Dungeons & Dragons scenes interplaying with the contemporary scenes worked together to make this a novel a unique delight. I absolutely loved the characters. From good friends to perfect chemistry between Sadie and Noah, it all comes together beautifully.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FMC Sadie was burnt out and looking for a way out from her Corporate Kelly job in the Big Apple. She was stuck and unsure what to do, so she decides to visit her best friend who relocated to small town. To get Sadie out of her pit of despair, Liam wrangles her into a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

During the weekly D&D meetings, we meet MMC Noah, who is a modern nomad that happens to be in Heller to help his best friend start up his own brewery! His charisma shows through both his personality and his character in the campaign.

They meet over the D&D table and their friendship quickly takes off! Sadie and Noah flirt relentlessly both in character and IRL.

I loved this book! The elements of D&D, beer, and fanfiction?! I couldn’t get enough! I have never played D&D before but I’ve always wanted to try and this novel made me want to get over my fears and dive in! The way the author set up the story line of the campaign.

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine, Dell, and Random House for an eARC! All opinions and thoughts are completely my own! 🤍

I loved this!

The dual storyline was a perfect way to share the campaign and feel nerdy while also getting the real life layers of feelings.

When Sadie flees to small town Texas after losing her job, joining a D&D campaign becomes way more than just a distraction.

The dual storylines between real life and the fantasy game world work beautifully. Watching Sadie gain confidence as her cleric character Jaylie while fumbling through her feelings for Noah (and his charming bard Loren) is pure magic. Woods clearly knows her D&D, and the gaming sessions were authentic and easy to slip into.

Noah is the kind of love interest who'll steal your heart with his wandering bard energy and genuine vulnerability. The chemistry between him and Sadie burns bright both in taverns and Texas dive bars. Neither character is perfect, which makes their connection feel real.

The setting becomes its own character, and the found family aspect of the gaming group hits all the right emotional notes. Sadie's journey from career focused city girl to someone discovering what really matters feels genuine and earned.

This is the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with romance in the first place. It's cozy, it's sweet, and it celebrates the beautiful weirdness of geek culture while delivering swoony moments that made me giggle.

Perfect for fans of contemporary romance with a geeky twist. I devoured this in one sitting and immediately wanted more.

This book follows Sadie after getting fired from her job, she moves to Texas for the summer to live with her best friend. He has been trying to get her to play D&D for years. She reluctantly agrees, her guilt for all he’s done for her recently influencing her choice. That’s where she meets Noah. He is tall, giant man once compared to a barbarian. AND I LOVED HIMMMM!! I need him immediately, thank you <3

Anyways, I throughly enjoyed this book. Something about D&D related books even though I have never played always intrigued me. I truly enjoyed the way we the book went from the campaign, to real life and how it all wrapped up beautifully. How they fell in love in both stories. UGGGGHHHH!! They were so cute together and then ending had me tearing up just a bit.

Will definitely be watching out for anything else this author does. And would def read a book about Liam.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc for an honest review.

After getting fired from her job in New York, Sadie spends the summer at her best friend’s house in small-town Texas. He creates a D&D campaign for her and other new players, including Noah. Sadie and Noah fall for each other both in the campaign and in real life.

The romance in the story was sweet. It wasn’t a super intense, passionate soulmate love, but it served the story. If the romance was more deeply developed, the book would have to be much longer, or skipped some of the D&D (which is its main appeal).

Sadie struggles with her life goals and career plans. Her character development was good. I think that a lot of readers will relate to her mental health struggles, myself included.

Noah was a fun love interest. He a charming, flirty guy and his D&D character mirrored his personality. I liked his humor, although at times it came across as a bit cringey. I felt that the cringe made sense for the characters that are a bit nerdy.

The D&D parts are narrated in the world of the campaign, like a fantasy novel. The switching between the “real” world and the fantasy world keeps the story from getting stale.

I enjoyed the book and would read from this author again. It wasn’t life changing, but it was easy, light, and fun. The story is well-paced. Even though the ending is predictable, it wrapped everything up well. Give this a shot if it seems interesting to you!

This one is for the D&D girlies but particularly for those who have never played before and want to see what the hype is about. Because you’ll follow Sadie’s first foray into the world of D&D as she recovers for the summer at her best friends house in Texas. New friends, new hobbies, and new love interests. Super cute. Couldn’t put it down.
Also this would be 5 stars because no third act break up! Praise be the author!
But a star off for something minor that annoyed me.

Roll For Romance by Lenora Woods is a slow burn romance sprinkled with a bit of a magical adventure.

I truly enjoyed this fun, nerdy romance from Lenora Woods…especially as someone who wants to learn more about D&D (I’ve only ever played one campaign before). I thought the book was fun, while also touching on a lot of real life stressors that come about during adulthood.

I truly enjoyed how Woods mixed in the actual D&D campaign into the story, allowing a little bit of magic seep through to both the characters and readers while reading. It allowed us to enjoy the story along with our main characters, and also get insight into how their characters were extensions of themselves. It also added a bit of fantasy to the contemporary romance which I loved.

First off I want to gush about Sadie, our FMC who life has thrown a curveball a lot of us can relate to. What happens when the career you worked so hard for, no longer fits? And now you have to take time to decide if you return to that field that you know you can succeed in or do you take a risk and follow the voice inside saying to try something new and follow your passion? Added bonus burnout being a huge factor in why you’re in this position to begin with.

Luckily for Sadie she has a best friend who offers her support during this transitionary period and convinces her to finally play D&D along with other friends new to the game. And so she meets Noah and a flirty banter quickly begins between them. And our lovely side characters are all rooting for them to finally give into the undeniable chemistry that shows up in their game as much as in person.

And of course Noah is a free spirited traveler, trying to figure out what’s next for him. After his own moment of wondering what his life will look like he has moved around before staying in the small town in Texas to help his friend with their bar. He is immediately intrigued by Sadie, and when she opens up to him and shows him her art he immediately notices her talent and encourages her to turn her passion into something she enjoys and gets paid for. We love supportive kings here!

The two of them both confide in each other about their individual situations and support each other in every decision they make along the way. Eventually leading them to find their feelings for each other and the way they have found their home in an unlikely town when at one point they both were city people. Which I loved because sometimes our dreams don’t pan out the way we expect especially in Sadie’s case where her dreams were in NYC. Because there is a realization that once we are actually living the life we dreamed of it doesn’t always go the way we think.

I truly loved this book and the way it dealt with so many life events and yet added a bit of fantasy to escape into for both the characters and readers. The only reason it sits at 4 stars for me is at times my attention wasn’t fully grabbed enough to keep me engrossed.