I saw that Roll for Romance was described as a heart-warming debut and I totally agree with that! Roll for Romance had me hooked from the start. I laughed out loud, swooned, and wanted to hug all of the characters now and then. The way the author incorporated D&D was a pleasant surprise and made it hard to put this story down.

Sadie ends up at her best friend's house in a small town in Texas when she ends up losing her job and needs some time to process. We only know that Sadie was overwhelmed and she's just not sure she sees herself in marketing anymore. So a summer exploring things she loves seems like the best way to move forward. Sadie was an interesting character. She really felt like she had to make a certain job work and couldn't do what she loved as a job. I appreciated her taking a chance on herself with this time off and thinking about what she wanted. Participating in D&D and trying new things definitely opened up a whole new world for her.

Noah is one of the people who join her best friend's campaign and he definitely catches her eye. He's such a free spirit and I think that makes Sadie really open up and feel like she can try new things. I will say I think Roll for Romance would've been a five star read for me if we had Noah's POV at least for a few chapters. I'm someone who really needs dual POV in my romances.

We can't forget the D&D campaign! I loved how the author incorporated the story and instead of just telling us about things that happened, we actually got to read some of the sessions. I haven't played in a while myself, but I loved learning about the characters in this campaign. Especially when Noah and Sadie take some one on one time to explore their fictional characters even more.

And last but not least, we can't forget the side characters in this story. I honestly believe that everyone needs a best friend like Sadie has. He supported her no matter what and knew she'd go to him if she needed him. Even just the little signs of love by having her do little chores to get her out of the house really warmed my heart. Also, the characters who join the campaign are all fun and I enjoyed seeing friendships blossom.

Roll for Love is indeed a heart-warming debut and I really hope the author writes many other books like this in the future! I will definitely read them.

My review will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com in August 14th.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House | Ballantine for the eARC of *Roll for Romance* by Lenora Woods in exchange for my honest review.

Roll for Romance is an unique read and I really enjoyed the combination of contemporary and fantasy romance that Woods created! The way the book is written creates two worlds - one in the real world following our FMC Sadie's journey and one in the magical world of the Dungeons and Dragons game play that follows her character's adventure.

Getting to read along as Sadie and Noah fall in love and find their new path in the real world as their D&D characters simultaneously flirt and fall in love on their fantastical adventure makes for a unique experience that I really enjoyed.

🎲 nerdy romance & D&D world
🔮 fantasy romance
⚔️ slow burn
🐉 contemporary romance
🎲 cinnamon roll MMC (swoon!)
🔮 small town setting in Texas
⚔️ self-discovery / self-love
🐉 found family

✨️Favorite quote✨️: "... I want to be the first thing you see when you open your eyes. Every time. I want to be the one to rescue you when you fall—just like you do for me, after every battle. I want to be the last sound you hear before you fall asleep at night. I don’t just want my songs to get stuck in your head. I want you to be the reason I write them.”

This was a fun read. My only knowledge of D&D is from reading some books like this so I don't understand all of the things, but I think if you're a D&D fan you'd enjoy this book more!

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. This was such a sweet way to get some D and D without having to sit down at a table myself. Unlike other books with D and D this isn't just people sitting at a table, it actually includes some of the game the characters are playing. This meant we get almost two romances for one. The characters in game coming together and their in real life counter parts doing the same. This book follows Sadie and her journey through burn out and discovering the things that truly bring her joy. I give this book a steady 3.75!

I’ve read a few DnD centered books and the way this one uses the game within the book was so cool. Rather than describing how the characters sit around and play, this book actually has the game play out like a fantasy story. So some chapters were reading about the ‘real world’ characters and then some chapters about their game versions we were in their world with them on a fantasy quest. Writing it this way was so much more engaging for me as a reader and it helped me get attached to both versions of the main character. It also helped that things inside of the game bled into the main character’s real life and showed how she’s learned and grown from playing the game.

The romance aspect was pretty standard; the love interest was someone I would never go for but I could still appreciate the growing relationship between the two and I enjoyed the humor and connection between the main pairing and the whole DnD group as well. I also think this book was very well written, especially since it’s a debut! If you’re looking for something fun, sweet, and a little nerdy then definitely pick this up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-copy of this novel.

This one was okay! I love the concept of having the D&D storyline as part of the book in theory but honestly there were some points of this book that felt like wading through mud to read. And, I'm so sorry but them texting while in character was cringe city and I hated it. Still, it was nicely written, very cozy, and overall a sweet romance book.

If you like RPG games and romance this is book is for you. A no pressure romance that lets you fall in love with the characters twice. As they fight villains and solve problems in their D&D games, they must also face real life obstacles and feelings.

Sadie and Noah both find them selves in a small Texas town running from their pasts. When they are both invited to join a beginners D&D group. As their in game characters start to develop feelings for one another the Lu es between game and real life blur and they find themselves falling for each other.

Based on the title, I knew this book was somewhat D&D-related, but I assumed it would be like other books where the campaign is mentioned in passing. A plot device to move the main story along but focuses more on the player interaction above table with each other than anything. This book is not that.

Instead, you get two fully developed, alternating storylines. One is a contemporary romance about Sadie, a woman spending the summer with her best friend while figuring out her next steps after losing her job and dealing with severe burnout. The other is a cozy fantasy romance about a priestess of luck, Jaylie, who joins a group of strangers on a quest that goes nothing like she expected.

I went in thinking the contemporary plot would lean toward a best friend’s to lovers arc. With Sadie’s best friend wooing her after convincing her to stay for the summer. Instead, Sadie ends up falling for another player in their game, with their flirtation unfolding both in the fantasy campaign and in real life.

Both storylines are balanced well, but I found the fantasy plot more gripping. The campaign and that storyline wrap up by the end of the book, but the hints of what could happen next with the adventuring party left me desperate for a sequel. Which is a tragedy as I know this book only came out about a month ago. So a possible book two wont be anytime soon.

That said, the contemporary romance was still enjoyable. Even without the fantasy storyline, I would have happily read and finished the book. This side of the story is a lighthearted romance paired with a journey of self-rediscovery for Sadie, as she comes to realize that it’s okay if something that once felt like a perfect fit no longer works for her life today, even if it did yesterday.

Shut. Up. This was so adorable. I adored the way the story was told in such a unique way!

Roll for Romance follows two D&D newbies as they find themselves crushing on each other throughout their gameplay (& in real life). You get to not only see the main plot of their lives and relationship, but it's almost like you get a second story through their D&D campaign. As Sadie and Noah participate in their weekly game, it flashes into the actual romantasy-type story of Jaylie & Loren.

Sadie pops into small-town Texas to room with her best friend for the summer after being let go from her marketing job in New York. Her plan had always been to make her way back to the city once she finds a new job. Things don't quite go to plan as their relationship progresses both in and out of the game.

Noah is a traveling soul. He never likes to stay in one place too long, but is in Texas for a while helping a college buddy with starting up his brewery.

This story is absolutely adorable and full of new adventures. Even if you are not a big ole nerd like me, you should still check it out!!

This was such a cute read!! Such a fun premise, and truly a blast. The balance between the will they/won’t they I wish wasn’t as drawn out as it was, but I still really enjoyed it.

This was a very quick read, and I liked the elements of the story that brought it in the D and game. For the summer, Sadie is staying her best friend, Liam, in Texas so she can get a break from NYC. She has left her job, and she is trying to decide her next steps. Liam convinces her to start a new D & D game to make friends. One of the other players is a man named Noah, who is a bartender. Noah and Sadie quickly become friendly and eventually, they date. I didn't see a lot of connection with the two of them, and although it was a slow burn, I didn't feel a lot of tension with them.

The D & D aspects were interesting, but it would have been better if those sections were labeled as such. Sometimes, the story went from the real world into the game world, and it was tricky to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending me an E-copy.

I think what made this so cute and likeable is how the story starts off with Said feeling like a failure. This is such a staple feeling a lot of recent college grads getting into their first job post-college feel.

Noah was so sweet and cute. Actually their entire friend group was. I was surprised to learn I really enjoyed the storytelling of the D&D game!

I would recommend picking this book up. My review of this book is posted as of 8/8 on Fable, Goodreads, and NetGalley.

I loved the concept of fantasy mixed with contemporary romance like that, it surprised me in a good way.

The author did a really good job on introducing the D&D world into the book and I found it super interesting and it drew me in like a moth to a flame. It was really super cute and it really fit both Sadie and Noah.

I enjoyed the dynamic between the two of them, the meet cute moments and the time they spent together 🥹

I'd really love to have art of the scenes of them riding the bike together, Sadie super drunk and Noah giving her a ride home. That scene's going to remain in my brain for a while, it was so damn cute 🥹❤️

This was such a delight of a book! Lenora Woods took a couple of my favorite things (romcoms & D&D) and wove them into a book I’ll be recommending to anyone who will listen.

When Sadie shows up in Texas after losing her NYC advertising job, her best friend Liam offers her not just his home in a quaint small town to escape to, but a circle of friends and a D&D campaign. Along the way she does more than escapes, she rediscovers old passions, finds a new hobby, begins to build a true community of found family, and maybe even stumbles upon love.

This feels like a love letter to a community that has found and fostered so many of us when we needed it most.

Now when do we get Liam’s story?

This was everything you think it would be - dorky, nerdy, adorable, sweet, honestly a breath of fresh air. Fabulous debut!

My reasoning for it not being five stars is I think this couple needed more time together for me to feel like they are gonna be together forever. As much as I loved the dnd components, it did take away a little from the irl relationship development.

That being said, I do love how this is strangers to friends to lovers. Very natural, could happen to anyone! Not super fantastical and I always like that in my romance reading.

I loved both Sadie and Noah's solo journeys and decisions they had to make here. Sadie's plight of burnout is incredibly relatable and her letting go of previous goals she set for herself that weren't serving her anymore is a lesson I am going to keep in mind for me!

I've seen some critiques of this book saying it was confusing going between the in real life story and the dungeons and dragons campaign, and I want to say I found no difficulty with this. The author switches from first person POV to third person POV for these two storylines and I always could keep up.

Very cute and fun and flirty. Was it the greatest romance of all time? No, but I can't wait to see this author cook and see what else she comes up with!

I know some readers will adore this book, but sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

As someone who genuinely enjoys (and even plays) online games, I was initially excited by the “create your character” concept. But the way the romance unfolded through flirty moments and even kissing while in a D&D game first rather than in person... crossed a line for me.

ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ:
- the storyline outside the D&D gameplay was engaging. I loved how Sadie (our FMC) needed a break from everything and took a chance on a summer in a new place.
- Noah (our MMC) had golden retriever energy and was such a gamer boy, love it!

The overall plot had promise, but I felt it dragged at times due to the D&D portions. I expected references or a few game sessions. Instead we got an entire fantasy world that overtook the story in my opinion. ALSO one point, Sadie’s character kisses Noah’s during D&D, in front of a group of five other players and that completely turned me off.

The romance also felt flat to me. I usually love when characters have that undeniable spark, but I didn’t feel as much chemistry between them as I wanted while reading.

I can absolutely see why people might enjoy the blend of real-world and a fantasy game, especially if they love D&D or any game similar. But for me, roleplaying games are about escaping into a quest and having fun not navigating romance in a room full of other players. That part just didn’t click GUYS!!!

I loved Roll for Romance! It was such a fun concept of how to incorporate a "real-life" story of two people coming together, along with the "in-game" romance shared by two D&D players. I enjoyed the way that Woods wrote the D&D storyline as if you were reading a fantasy novel, as opposed to only showing the main characters playing the game. I feel like this approach brought more life to the story and the characters of the story within the story. The main story itself was a sweet romance with a lot of fun side characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a little nerdy fun with their romances!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute story! I loved how naturally the chemistry grew between Sadie and Noah, and including their Dungeons and Dragons characters to parallel their slow burn was a nice touch. Being nerdy myself, this was like my daydreams had been written out! It was a really enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to any romcom reader, not just those of the nerdy persuasion.

I need to start this by saying this is a really solid romance with a good mix of fun and romance. We follow a group of members in a small town that are gathering to temporarily play a D&D campaign. This leads well to a found family trope and a cute romance between two members.

I really appreciated that we got both the romance outside of the D&D campaign as well as the characters and story within the campaign. The balance of both in campaign and out was fun, and I feel like there was still enough character development and interaction outside of D&D that the romance is fulfilling as well.

This is a romance fitting for both those who love D&D as well as those who have never played. The mechanics of the game are described where necessary, so even those who have never played can understand what is happening and learn about a game they have never played.

The only note I would give in advance of individuals looking to read this book is it will not be your most deep emotionally driven romance. Because much time is spent in the D&D storyline, the real-world romance doesn’t dive deep emotionally. The relationship is sweet but lacks some of the intimacy or natural obstacles between them. I still think this book is great, but it is more fun than a deep romance in case that is what you are looking for.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the fun balance of both in and out of the campaign. The romance was very cute, and I would highly suggest for anyone who is interested in D&D and loves romance!

Quite enjoyable dnd romance! I liked the split between real life chapters and the dnd game plot points! I would recommend to any of my girlfriends who have kind of been interested in starting playing dnd, this would be a good way to gauge their interest lol. I think it could hook a lot of people and convert them to dnd nerds!