Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine Dell & Lenora Woods for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay friends- this book is so FUN!

I am not a D&D girlie. I have no knowledge of the game other than people love it and it can be quite deep. To be completely honest- as one should be in a review- I was a little lost in the sauce in the first chapters where the D&D game was playing out- due to my complete lack of knowledge. But then- I caught the vibe- and enjoyed it so much! For a non-D&D person- it was like having a whole separate Romantasy book playout amongst the contemporary romance. And yes- they both shared parallels!

As a LOVER of hobbies- (Hello, Reading! Thank you for giving me so much!) I love that this book was based around a hobby. While it did not compel me to take on D&D life- it made me appreciate it, and its fans, even more. What a valid use of time and generator of community!

Speaking of community- I loved the cast of characters VERY much. I would LOVE a Liam book! Even some Liam POV bonus content from this book would be ATE UP! I would have loved to see his machinations at work- as the Dungeon Master AND matchmaker!

A sweet romance that also allows you to journey along for their DnD plot, that makes you confront the idea that dreams can change, and it’s okay to take time to figure out what’s next.

Sadie loses her job and flees NYC to take a break in a small Texas town with her best friend, who also happens to be a dungeon master who has been begging her to join a game for years. He gets together a table of newbies that includes Noah, a vagabond settling in the town for now.

Through the game and her character, Sadie explores a braver and more decisive side of herself, while also engaging in art again that isn’t for business purposes. It’s a really beautiful story to experience with her, both her love for the game and her restoration of self. Sadie has to trust her feelings and learn to read herself again, and it’s restorative for the reader too.

Cozy isn’t the right word, but there’s something very restful about this book that I enjoyed.

This was an interesting read! I have never played Dungeons and Dragons, but I have friends who do. D&D is a tabletop role-playing game where one person, the Dungeon Master (DM), narrates a story, and other players create characters who interact within that story.

Sadie gets laid off from her marketing job and shuts down. Her best friend Liam convinces her to spend some time with him in Texas, where he tries to bring her out of her shell. As a thank you for all he’s done for her, she agrees to join his Dungeons and Dragons campaign. In the game, her cleric character falls for the bard & she starts to fall for his counterpart.

I thought the D&D campaign in this book was unique! It was like having 2 stories in one. It was cute & I would recommend this to my friends, especially my D&D friends.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sadie escapes New York for a summer in Heller, Texas, finding solace and self-discovery. Her best friend Liam sets up a D&D game, where she meets the carefree bartender Noah. Their contrasting personalities lead to a 'just-for-the-summer' romance, fueled by the game and Sadie's job at Noah's brewery.

The novel excels in its D&D depiction, showing how characters' in-game personas reflect their real-world selves, and how the game influences their lives. Through the game and her new friends, Sadie begins a journey of healing and finding herself. This book is a delightful, feel-good escape, much like a beloved Hallmark movie, offering a perfect blend of romance, personal growth, and charming D&D adventures.

Dnf at 30%
Thanks NetGalley for the arc, but I just couldn’t get into the story
The characters felt so flat and honestly he was a bit of a red flag to me and couldn’t imagine a happy ending for the two.
She only ever talked about her job, we don’t know nothing about her life ??
And I get it, I’m only at 30%. But still
I picked up for a week and every day I had to fight my eyes to stay open after a couple pages

Such a cute and cozy read told in a new and creative way!

Our FMC Sadie is currently jobless. She left her high stakes job in NYC and visits her long time best friend, Liam in Texas. He’ll let her stay with him as long as she attends a weekly D&D campaign. Alongside other first time players, she is on a journey of rediscovering who she really is while also discovering a found family.

The interludes of the story with the D&D campaign was really unique and very enjoyable! It’s such a fun twist on storytelling. Very well done!

Thank you to Random House Ballantine - Dell for the arc, all opinions are my own.

I unfortunately am DNFing this book. Love the cover and the premise, but completely just diving into this world with 0 set up is jarring. Incredibly hard to follow this story and alternating D&D gameplay with real life made it more complicated.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so cute and definitely a new type of romance from what I usually read. I know they are the same people but I don't know if I like Sadie and Noah or Jaylie and Loren better! The group of friends had such a sweet and supportive dynamic, I'm kind of hoping some of them get their own books.

Playing a game of D&D before reading this book definitely would've helped me understand what was happening a little more. The author did a great job keeping the game to beginner level terms and easy to understand but when reading about the campaign scenes I was confused how this fantasy world was actually conveyed and played out in real life. These scenes felt more like I was in a fantasy book than watching a group of friends play a game. This might've been on purpose, but I was hoping to see more of the actual game, of everyone rolling their dice, and how everyone portrayed their characters while sitting around a table.

I loved the difficult decisions that had to be made at the end, even though from a romance book perspective I knew what they were going to choose, from a real life point of view they were difficult choices to make that have a lasting impact on the rest of their lives. Watching Sadie re-fall in love with art was fun to watch, you could feel her excitement and passion through the book. Seeing the town come behind her and encourage her art along with commissioning some of it really showed that she made the right choice in the end. Part of me still feels that Noah will get up and leave when she finally puts down roots but I'm trying not to think about it. Noah and Sadie brought out the fun parts in each other and were so fun to read about!

Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book and review it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
----------
When Sadie Brooks unexpectedly loses her marketing job, she flees New York City to spend the summer with her best friend in small-town Texas, where joining his Dungeons & Dragons campaign is the perfect distraction while she plans her next steps.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out—until she meets Noah Walker, the outgoing bartender roped into joining their party as Loren, an adventurous and charismatic lute-strumming elf. Just as Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.

As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie wonders if what they have might last beyond the game. But like his traveling bard character, Noah never stays in one place for long. When a new opportunity arises in New York, Sadie must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice.
----------
This book is unlike anything that I have ever read, and I really enjoyed how different it was. I am not a D&D player, but I am definitely a fan of the nerdy side of things, so the premise of this book was attractive to me. And I immediately loved the two worlds that Woods created in her book and the characters that inhabited them.

That said, the book did get a bit tedious for me in the middle, specifically in the fantasy sequence, but that may have been because of my lack of experience with the D&D and role playing universe. I found myself skimming some of those sections to get back to the reality timeline. However, they were beautifully written.

One of my favorite tropes is found family, and this was heavily featured in this book, so I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I also loved Sadie's journey as she is forced to really consider what it is she wants out of life and what she is willing to do to get it. We have all been at that crossroads before, and Woods writes about that indecision well.

This book was so much fun. This book definitely gave the best vibes for those who love D&D and nerdy romance. It seriously made me giddy. This book also has a story within a story. I was hooked on both. Noah was just the best Cinnamon Roll MMC. He was understanding and loveable all at the same time. I loved seeing Sadie find out who is and figuring out her dreams. The communication between the MCs felt so real. The found family we get too was fun to read. The slow burn was everything. I also love the setting of a small town too. I can't recommend this one enough to anyone who wants a cozy but nerdy romance.

Roll for Romance is out now. It is recommended for 18+. As always please check TW before reading.

The cover drew me in and I’m so glad it did! I try not to pick a book by its cover but this one was just so cute and I simply had to read it!

It was a slow burn between the FMC Sadie and the MMC Noah but I never got bored. I very much enjoyed how the author created the story of their real life romance while also creating the fantasy flirtation of their D&D characters Jaylie and Loren.

I think even if you don’t know the world of D&D this book would be enjoyable for you!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods is a cozy, heartfelt contemporary romance infused with just the right amount of Dungeons & Dragons flair. . It follows Sadie, a burnt-out marketing professional who heads to a small Texas town for a much-needed reset. There, she reconnects with her childhood best friend and meets NOAH, the charming bartender who steps in as their reluctant bard.

I’ve never played DnD a day in my life, but I still found the gaming elements easy to follow. The story alternates between the characters’ real lives and their in-game personas, and I appreciated how those worlds mirrored each other thematically. The found family dynamic was sweet, and the love story itself had genuine charm and warmth.

Pacing-wise, there were moments where the momentum lagged a bit for me. While the story is sweet and charming, it didn’t fully hold my attention from beginning to end. That said, I think this may be one of those books I return to and appreciate more on a reread…similar to my experience with Elsie Silver’s work.

One thing I have to highlight: the cover is absolutely GORGEOUS and was what drew me in. Just looking at it brings me joy. After securing my copy today, I can proudly say it is just as bright and wonderful in person. If you’re a fan of small-town romances, light fantasy elements, or character-driven stories… ding, ding, DING

I’m not sure what it is about novels with Dungeons and Dragons. This encompasses the lighthearted part of the game, being someone or something else compared to reality. So cute and nerdy.

As someone who doesn’t know much about DnD, I enjoyed this! This book follows Sadie as she was recently fired from her job in NYC. Her friend Liam suggests that she come to Texas and stay with him for a few months until she figures out her next move. While there, she joins Liam’s amateur DnD league and she meets Noah. Noah and Sadie start hanging out outside of the DnD meetings. And it’s with him that she realizes she might be able to make a career out of her talent for drawing.

I could relate to Sadie when she was conflicted in regards to wanting to go back to corporate America. When she was speaking about how she struggled with her mental health before a presentation it made me feel so seen.

It was also super interesting to see the relationship bloom between both Sadie and Noah and their DnD characters Jaylie and Loren. If you’re like me and don’t know too much and DnD, don’t be scared to give this a try! It was super easy to follow!

Yes, yes, yes. As a tabletop playing romance reader, this cover and synopsis had me dying to pick up this book, and I am ecstatic to say it did not disappoint. Nerdy? Absolutely. Strong emotional core? Delivered. Swoony romance? Ate it up.

The heart of this book is a contemporary romance, full of all the tension and feelings you’ll want from Sadie and Noah, our MMC. Their feelings are real, their problems and questions form tension that makes sense, and they’re characters you want to root for. What makes this book the perfect fit for the nerdy readers of the world are the scenes written as part of the campaign our characters are part of - scenes in a fantasy world with very real chemistry built between our lead characters.

For all the nerds out there, this is a fun little book. Not perfect, but a great way to lose a few hours and get inspired to join a D&D game if you don’t already have one.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Give me all the D&D romances please! Every time I see an announcement for one I get so excited and this one definitely lived to my expectations. I loved the characters and the friendship they formed through playing a game that I love so much! It was amazing to see our FMC Sadie really let go of things that were not serving her and find her true passion. My favorite part of the book though was how the scenes from the D&D game were written! They were done so well and it really felt like getting two stories in one. To make this book even better, no third act break up! Definitely recommend this one for Dungeons and Dragons fans and for those who just love a good group of friends finding their way through adulthood!

When Sadie Brooks loses her job, she finally takes up her friend's offer to join him in Texas and play in his Dungeons and Dragons campaign. There, she can play Jaylie, the powerful human cleric of the Goddess of Luck, and plan for her future. During the game, she meets bartender Noah Walker. He plays the elven bard Loren, and the two share the same tendency to wander and move from place to place. Sadie is drawn to Noah, much like Jaylie is falling for Loren. When a new job opportunity opens up in New York, she faces a choice: return to New York or stay in Texas.

Magic here is that of the characters in Dungeons and Dragons. If you've never played before, that's fine! Neither has Sadie, so you can learn along with her. Though no, there isn't a tradition where someone has to gift you your first set of dice. That Tarot superstition isn't true there, either, by the way. She uses magic to heal and fight in the game, hoping to eventually heal her bad luck. We get to see not only her story as she navigates life after getting laid off, but the game and lots of fun nerdy references. Sadie pulls out of the depression of losing her job, reconnects with her art, and makes friends through the game. She's happier, outgoing, and looks to the future as much as it scares her. We learn why she left New York, as well as why Noah keeps moving around. Because it's a romance novel, we know it will work out for the two of them, and they have some soul searching to do for it all to work out. It's a cute ending and fits this gaming group.

This is a tale for everyone experiencing career burnout, and feels alone in their emotional agony. Sadie has followed the path she set out on. She moved to New York City. She got a job in marketing. And then she lost it. Reeling from that disappointment. She is licking her wounds at her best friend's house in Texas.

Honestly, a honorable mention to this story needs to be her best friend, Liam. He invites her to stay at his home. He gives her little errands every day to get her out of bed. He invites her to join the beginner D&D campaign he's set up for the summer. She agrees to all of it unenthusiastically. He's the best friend we all need. A true ride or die. If he weren't gay, I'd say he was the perfect love interest.

But instead we get Noah. He's tall, burly, redheaded, bearded, a cinnamon roll. He's friendly, open, and supportive. The sparks fly between Sadie and Noah immediately. It even leaks into the campaign between their characters. One of my favorite little nuggets is that these two create side stories late at night between their character separately from the campaign. It's adorable.

Sadie's passion/hobby has always been art. She has a side business taking commissions, which is great in her fun-employment. Noah passes her info along to the owner of the brewery she works at, and she gets hired to paint a mural. She's trying to figure out if going back to New York and the grind of marketing is what she wants anymore.

This book is cute. The romance is sweet, uncomplicated, low drama. Sadie's journey from shell to self-confident person is the start of the show.

The story is written with the D&D campaign as an included story. I love the way Lenora did that. It meant we got to experience the story itself, rather than the same and the semantics of it. It also meant that a D&D newbie, like myself, could easily follow along. People who play, or are well versed in that world might find it basic, but it's a beginner campaign. Cut her some slack.

Overall, very cute. If you like Critical Role, the D&D movie, or ginger men, you will enjoy yourself.

Roll for Romance is a fun, action-packed, small-town romance between Sadie, who just lost her fancy New York job and is now living with her best friend, and Noah, the new bartender in town. Sadie and Noah are both new to the small Texas town and are invited to play in a beginner's Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game hosted by Liam, Sadie’s best friend. In the game, Sadie is Jaylie, a powerful human cleric, healer, and blessed follower of the Goddess of Luck. Her character has a flirtatious relationship with the bard, Loren, played by Noah. I loved that this book not only featured a real-life love story but also transported me into the DND storyline, where a fun fantasy romance unfolds between the characters. I loved having a little fantasy romance mixed in with my small-town love story. The banter between the characters in and out of the game is amazing. The slow burn was felt both in and out of the DND campaign, and I loved the parallel between their in-game personas and how they felt about each other in real life. This book was like getting two stories in one that perfectly aligned.
Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Random House, for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

🗓️ Release Date: July 15, 2025

✍🏻 Review: I started playing DnD for the first time earlier this year. I loved watching nerds fall in love, especially new to DnD nerds. My heart broke for Sadie as she struggled to come to terms with her new normal. I cheered for her as both Sadie and Jaylie the deeper I got into the story.

I absolutely love how the story bounces between real life and the world created while playing DnD. The mawiage line had me cackling and texting my DnD group immediately recommending this book.

It was a fun and exciting read with a nice touch of spice. I’m itching for more from this group of players and hope that the new character leads into a sequel.

✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Nerds in love
✔️ Gaming Club
✔️ Friendship Group
✔️ Small Town