Lenora Woods has crafted not one but TWO incredible stories in Roll For Romance: one of Sadie and her friends in the real world and one of Jaylie and her adventuring party in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. I tore through this book, thoroughly invested in both storylines. Sadie's struggles in her professional career really resonated with me and her determination gave me hope. And Jaylie's journey had me rapt from the group's first gaming session. This book was an adorable romance story and an action-packed adventure rolled into one. I cannot wait to see what Lenora is writing next!

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods is a cozy D&D romance that follows the characters in and out of game. Similar, but more grown up than Kristy Boyce’s Dungeons & Drama series, this novel encapsulates the urge to escape reality, responsibilities, and fall in love. The character’s chemistry and the found-family theme make for this story to be swoon worthy and comforting. If you’re a D&D geek like I am then this will be the perfect read for you.

A fun and sweet book, took me a bit to get into the two different worlds and keep track but I LOVED the idea and dynamic

3.75⭐This was so fun! I love when nerds fall in love haha. I adored the D&D aspect and loved that we got to read about their campaign within the book. However, I feel like it kept pulling me out of the story when it switched from the D&D campaign to their real life. I almost would’ve preferred if the D&D campaign had been its own book? It was different, and I still liked it, but it did get a little whiplash-y when you’re reading a contemporary story and then suddenly you’re in a fantasy world. I fear my brain doesn’t work that fast sometimes 🫣.

Overall, I enjoyed it and absolutely loved the nerdiness of it all! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dell Romance for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!

Two words. Hot. Nerds.

This book had a really unique style to the writing. There were essentially 2 stories simultaneously going on: the contemporary romance and the D&D game. Within the book there are moments that are novelized game play and we get the FULL game story in addition to the main storyline. I thought this was awesome!

Personally, I actually found myself more invested in the D&D story for a majority of the book but I did really like the ways the adventuring party adventured in real life. There were so many enjoyable nerdy aspects to this book including everything from a bar with tavern vibes to cosplay to fanart.

Flirting through roleplay is one of the nerdiest things this book does but it's also completely iconic. There is a fanfiction nod with this element and some of their dates are simply watching anime or other cute nerdy things. It was both relatable and adorable.

This story isn't just a romance - it's a book about friendship and found family. There is something so special about finding your place and your people! The small-town theme is strong as well and so sweet. I liked all the little places we explored in the book and how all the people and places were such a huge part of Sadie's life by the end of the book.

I can't wait to read more from Lenora Woods!


Thank you to Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💕

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Overall this was a fun book. I have never played DnD but I do love boardgames and so I really enjoyed reading the campaign parts of the story. I also liked how Sadie was able to use the game to bolster her confidence and explore what she wanted in real life through her character.

At first I felt like Noah was a quintessential lumberjack cinnamon roll MMC. And he is for most of the book. But the first date scene for some reason felt off-putting to me (even though it was a sweet first date). The first 60% of the book is very playful and tender flirting, and then that date was like "here's spice!" and I guess it felt rushed maybe?

I really liked the small Texas town setting, and the bookstore and brewery. I also felt like Liam was such an amazing friend to Sadie.

The roleplaying texting that Noah and Sadie did as their characters Loren and Jaylie felt kind of unnecessary to me, even though that is the device used to help get through the 3rd act conflict.

If you like table top gaming and fluffy, low stakes romance, I think you would like this book. Plus, how about that cover? So pretty!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Roll for Romance is a delightful blend of nerdy charm, slow-burn romance, and self-discovery—perfect for fans of feel-good stories with heart and humor. Lenora Woods takes a fresh approach to contemporary romance by weaving in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign that parallels and enriches the emotional journey of her characters.

After being fired from her high-powered marketing job in NYC, Sadie finds herself lost and unsure of her next move. Hoping for a reset, she heads to Texas to stay with her best friend and unexpectedly joins a D&D group. As Jaylie the Cleric, Sadie begins to rediscover her confidence—and maybe even find love in the process—with Noah, a flirty, kindhearted brewer who plays a charismatic elf bard.

The dual storyline—real life and in-game—adds a unique layer to the book, with the D&D campaign providing insight into the characters' growth and relationships. The transitions between the two worlds are smooth and meaningful, offering a fun and clever way to explore themes of courage, vulnerability, and reinvention.

Sadie and Noah’s romance is a sweet, slow burn filled with humor, open communication, and chemistry. Refreshingly, they navigate challenges with honesty rather than falling into typical third-act drama. The rest of the D&D group is just as endearing, bringing a strong sense of found family and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

With nods to mental health, career burnout, and embracing uncertainty, Roll for Romance delivers more than just a cute love story—it’s also a gentle, empowering tale of figuring out who you are and what you truly want.

Whether you're a D&D fan or just love a heartfelt, offbeat romance, this book is a hit.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting premise where two characters are falling in love and within the context of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign they are playing.

It will appeal to anyone who enjoys:
Nerds in love (said with love)
Good communication
Cinnamon roll MMC
Small town setting
Slow burn
Found family

While the story within a story isn’t my favorite, I know a lot of people loved this one.

This book was amazing! I loved how we got full chapters of the D&D campaign, almost like it was a parallel timeline. Sadie and Liam's friendship is amazing; I love that they have each other's backs, no matter what. Sadie and Noah had extreme chemistry at their first meeting, and it was so fun to watch their relationship develop in tandem with their D&D characters. Really hoping we get another book to see the rest of the campaign (maybe Liam's book?)

I know nothing about D&D but its creative, and story based, oh there are dice too! I do know that romance isn’t the same for everyone…sometime “the one” is a man who is a golden retriever (not a real one!) and owns a collection of dice for D&D. “Roll for Romance” is love story about starting over, that life changes and it should be embraced, fandoms, and nerd culture.

Cute read if you need something by the pool.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an advance review copy of this novel. #RollForRomance #NetGalley

This book was so unique!!! I loved how we get the real world story and then chapters of the D&D campaign from the main characters characters POV. That is so so fun. It was just so nerdy and cute!

A D&D romance for those who also love those small town romances. I really enjoyed that it picked different vibes as for each character in and out of game.

I adore this book! As a lover of D&D, this book made my nerdy heart so happy! I loved how there was a full campaign within the storyline! I loved the characters and especially related the Sadie, who is recovering from burnout with her best friend, Liam. He picks her up in New York and brings her to Texas to stay with him until she gets back on her feet. Liam has been trying to get Sadie to play D&D since high school, and when she finally agrees, Liam sets up a campaign with a few other first-time players. Such a fun read, and I really hope there will be a second book to continue the cliffhanger that the campaign left off on! I rated it 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy! Release date: July 15th!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Sadie loses her corporate job in NYC she accepts her friend Liam’s invitation to stay with him for the summer. As Sadie slowly adjusts to living in small town Texas, she agrees to join Liam’s next Dungeons & Dragons campaign. She soon builds friendships in and out the game but finds herself spending most of her time with the other newcomer Noah.

Roll for Romance is a stand-alone contemporary romance. This book does contain open-door content. While I wouldn’t throw this into the fantasy genre, there are some fantasy(ish) scenes that follow along with the characters and their D&D campaign.

What a fantastic debut from author Lenora Woods! I love the way she included snippets of what was going on in the D&D campaign. It’s done almost like short “cutscenes” between chapters and it adds so much depth to the story. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. It’s so hard to pull off when it's not a second chance situation but the author did a wonderful job creating the slow burn tension between the MCs. The other friendships that blossom throughout the book are just as crucial to the overall story as the romantic plot.

Roll for Romance has all of the elements I like to see in a well-rounded romance while still being unique. I look forward to reading much more of this author’s work in the future.

Such a cute and lighthearted story about two people falling for each other while playing Dungeons and Dragons. If you’re looking for an innocent love story with small stakes, this one’s for you. While it may not have huge highs or dramatic twists, you’ll fall in love with its wholesome characters, meaningful friendships, and sweet romance.
As someone who loved my own weekly D&D sessions, it was nostalgic to see a group brought together by the game. One of my favorite aspects was how the D&D campaign was woven into the plot and even more satisfying to watch how the romance progressed inside and outside the campaign. The D&D segments were fully immersive, almost like taking a short fantasy break within my contemporary romance.
I loved the main character’s journey of learning to take her art seriously and find her place in the world, along with building genuine friendships. That said, I did find the pacing slow at times and the romance wasn’t quite as swoony as I typically look for in my reads. I still loved the book but I might not have been in the perfect mood for it.

ARC Review: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Roll for Romance is an enchanting romance that takes place over the course of a beginner’s Dungeons and Dragons game. Our FMC Sadie has been staying at her childhood best friend Liam’s home in Texas following the loss of her job at a fast-paced marketing company in NYC. She agrees to join Liam’s newest group of friends playing Dungeons and Dragons, but she doesn’t expect to fall in love with the game, and one of the players. Noah is also new in town and looking to make friends outside his work gig at a local craft brewery. Sadie and Noah’s D&D characters have immediate chemistry, and when Sadie and Noah start spending time together outside of game play, they find an even stronger connection to one another.

Okay I was a bit hesitant at first, but I fell in love with this story! I loved all the characters and the way that the story is told both from the ‘real world’ and the D&D world! It really helped build the personalities of the other party members and I enjoyed the found family aspect so much. Noah was such a dreamy MMC, I enjoyed that he was brawny and a total nerd, but also that he was really respectful of Sadie and wanted to support her no matter what. Now I really want to play Dungeons and Dragons, who’s in?!

Roll for Romance releases July 15th 2025!

This was the cutest freaking book!

I fell in love with the aesthetic and the vibes immediately. I loved it being both contemporary and fantasy in one, and I loved how Noah and Sadie found a way to get to know each other not only in person but also through their D&D characters.

The RPG writing with their characters away from the campaign was *chef’s kiss*. It reminded me of when I first fell in love with collaborative writing back in middle school. It was such a beautiful addition, and made me giddy with the creative gall of these characters, as well as their personalities.

The journey in the campaign was EVERYTHING, and you could really feel how enamored Sadie was with her character and the game. I loved the twists and turns in their adventure. It kept my attention captured the entire time. I actually felt weirdly attached to their D&D characters by the end, just like the actual characters did, and I think the ability to display that so clearly is really impressive.

This debut is cozy, comfortable, and romantic. I am so honored to have read it. Definitely one of my favorites of the year so far. I already miss being with these characters and in their world.

Swoon-worthy! Brilliant narrative style and now suddenly rly I really want to learn to play D&D!

Lenora made a bold and daring choice to write “fantasy” in a contemporary romcom and it paid off BIG! Perfect summer read. No notes!

Loved this book! Such an original concept and I look forward to reading more by this author. She did an amazing job with concept and execution!

Roll for Romance was a lighthearted, fun contemporary romance with great fantasy elements! I don’t personally read a lot of contemporary romance but the Dungeons and Dragons aspect of this really appealed to me.

The story had a nerdy Hallmark kind of feel that I found really comforting. The FMC, Sadie, is in a bit of a limbo stage in her life. She recently lost her big city marketing job in New York and decides to go stay with her best friend, Liam, in small town Texas for the summer. She uses some of her new found free time to dedicate to her art, a hobby that had gotten kind of lost in the shuffle of her busy life.

Liam puts together a Dungeons and Dragons campaign for newbies and convinces Sadie to play, enter Noah. Noah is the burly, long haired MMC who works at a new local brewery. Him and two other acquaintances of Liam join the game with Sadie and the adventure begins.

I LOVED that in addition to the main storyline of this book, we also follow their D&D campaign. You get an in depth look at each of their characters and the party as they attempt to complete their quest. Throughout the book, Sadie draws inspiration from her character, Jaylie. They mirror each other in a way, but Jaylie also makes Sadie want to be more adventurous and brave in her real life.

Noah is someone who has lived a bit of a nomadic life, he travels a lot and doesn’t stay in one place too long. Sadie is struggling with deciding if she should go back to a soul sucking job in marketing or if her leave from the city should be more permanent. All while the two of them are getting closer, feelings are developing, which complicates decisions on both their ends.

It was a really fun read, definitely a solid 4 stars for me! You get two stories in one, a contemporary and a fantasy with the D&D campaign and as a fan fiction reader myself, I LOVED that Sadie was a fan artist on the side. Would absolutely recommend this book to anyone.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Dell Romance for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.