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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
📚 Gifted by Random House Publishing | Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Huge thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the chance to read this gem early!
Charming. Delightful. Adventurous. And best of all? No third-act breakup. I’m absolutely thrilled by how much I loved this book.
Sadie is a burnt-out NYC marketing maven in desperate need of a reset. Noah is a charming bartender with a habit of leaving before he can be left. When these two are thrown together in a quirky small Texas town, and into a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, the magic truly begins.
This book had me swooning from the start. It blends heartfelt romance with the joy of collaborative storytelling, toggling between real-life moments and in-game adventures. The result is a sweet, emotionally satisfying story that celebrates vulnerability, connection, and a little bit of nerdy chaos.
✨ Tropes & Themes I loved:
* Fantasy storytelling woven into real life
* Dual POV: In Game / Real Life
* Big city meets small town
* Found family feels
* Soft, steady romance without unnecessary drama
If you’re into cozy, character-driven romances with a nerdy twist and just the right amount of emotional depth, this one’s for you.
Huge thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the chance to read this gem early!
Charming. Delightful. Adventurous. And best of all? No third-act breakup. I’m absolutely thrilled by how much I loved this book.
Sadie is a burnt-out NYC marketing maven in desperate need of a reset. Noah is a charming bartender with a habit of leaving before he can be left. When these two are thrown together in a quirky small Texas town, and into a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, the magic truly begins.
This book had me swooning from the start. It blends heartfelt romance with the joy of collaborative storytelling, toggling between real-life moments and in-game adventures. The result is a sweet, emotionally satisfying story that celebrates vulnerability, connection, and a little bit of nerdy chaos.
✨ Tropes & Themes I loved:
* Fantasy storytelling woven into real life
* Dual POV: In Game / Real Life
* Big city meets small town
* Found family feels
* Soft, steady romance without unnecessary drama
If you’re into cozy, character-driven romances with a nerdy twist and just the right amount of emotional depth, this one’s for you.
this book was SO CUTE!!! as a DND newbie, and a long time book lover, I was so excited to see this book existed!!! And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Sadie is SO RELATABLE; feeling pressured to go back to a corporate job and NYC because that’s always been The Goal, even after a crash out at her old job led to her fleeing to stay with her best friend Liam in a small town in Texas. She’s not so sure NYC is what she wants anymore, especially after starting a weekly DND campaign with her best friend and a HOT, BURLY, BARTENDING NERD. NOAH IS EVERYTHING!! HOT, EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE, COMMUNICATES OPEN AND HONESTLY, A HUGE NERD. their love story had me giggling and kicking my feet, filled with the glee and joy of a crush that turns into more, softly but fully.
I was EQUALLY invested in the plot of the DND campaign! It’s written like its own story rather than recited by the characters playing a game, so you’re essentially reading two books in one. The campaign’s plot had me on my toes and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it.
This was such a lovely story of finding friends and found family and love in a place you might not have expected, to believing in yourself and trusting your gut, and to follow your dreams even if it means letting go of something you’ve been told you should want.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy to review!
I was EQUALLY invested in the plot of the DND campaign! It’s written like its own story rather than recited by the characters playing a game, so you’re essentially reading two books in one. The campaign’s plot had me on my toes and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it.
This was such a lovely story of finding friends and found family and love in a place you might not have expected, to believing in yourself and trusting your gut, and to follow your dreams even if it means letting go of something you’ve been told you should want.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy to review!
“You’ll figure it out. We can’t control the wind, be we can always adjust the sails.”
A very cute romance.
What I liked:
I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Not just our MCs, but the supporting characters as well.
I love me a small town romance. I do wish we got a little more about the town.
Sadie & Noah are very cute together, and they did have some good chemistry.
What didn’t work for me:
There was a bit too much of the D&D campaign for me. It seemed to take a bit away from the romance and the story as a whole. I would’ve preferred a bit more relationship progression and less of the campaign.
Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A very cute romance.
What I liked:
I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Not just our MCs, but the supporting characters as well.
I love me a small town romance. I do wish we got a little more about the town.
Sadie & Noah are very cute together, and they did have some good chemistry.
What didn’t work for me:
There was a bit too much of the D&D campaign for me. It seemed to take a bit away from the romance and the story as a whole. I would’ve preferred a bit more relationship progression and less of the campaign.
Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC Review
Releases July 15, 2025
"We can't control the wind, but we can always adjust the sails." - Liam
Sadie's down on her luck. After losing her job in New York she goes to stay with her best friend in Texas with her tail tucked between her legs. Sadie falls into depression and going through the motions. Having no clue what she should do with her life or what path to take. Until Liam announces she will be playing in his campaign! Enticing her with the idea of creating someone different from herself.
Sadie becomes Jaylie within Liam's game. Jaylie is confident, knows what she wants, and is a cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck! Jaylie isn't alone in this adventure as both her and Sadie meet new and wonderful characters. This D&D campaign may be just what Sadie needs and more! New friendships are forming, laughs, great memories, and possibly romance! Sadie can't help but be drawn to the lumber-snack who seems to be wanting to roll for romance with her! In and out of game?!
"You just run the game?" - Sadie
"Right. I'll be the Dungeon Master." - Liam
"Sounds kinky." - Sadie (I knew I'd love her from this point forward!)
I was excited to read this because of the D&D theme! I still really want to be a part of a campaign someday and this read doesn't help that want! I laughed a lot and loved how the characters came together. Alongside the blossoming romance there was also friendships. I love how Lenora broke the cliche mold with the love interest being the one the FMC moves in with/childhood friend. Liam loves Sadie but in a sisterly way/best friend because he's gay. Liam supports Sadie and always has his doors open to her with no conditions or strings attached. Well, maybe one condition. . . she has to join his campaign!
I loved getting to meet all the players and finding out who they designed for the campaign. Jules being the opposite of herself within game had me laughing! I enjoyed the transition from real life into the campaign and the MCs turning into their players. Storytelling within a story! I love Critical Role and several times I felt like I was watching one of Matt's games play out. I respected Liam as a DM and how he treated everyone fairly. Keeping his DM secrets and plots under lock and key even from Sadie. The cliffhangers he dropped when the session was up! He even had someone leave the table at one point because of something that occurred within the narrative!
"Noah, you look like you could casually pull a tree out of the ground." - Sadie
I enjoyed the sweet, fluffy romance that was building from the moment Sadie and Noah met. It was cute and I found it interesting how both of them were running from something. Neither ready to admit the honest truth to themselves or out loud. I could relate to both of them in different ways. Their banter was funny, and I loved the comments made when they biked out to a forest. They matched one another's energy and goofiness. I did feel like Noah was a little flippant and was worried how things would end. But understanding him more and seeing how he handled final scenes helped clear that doubt up.
This read does have language throughout. Sadie does go through depression and just being a zombie going through the motions of living. That does change! Very brief moment of an old man making homophobic comments about a bookstore display. It gets shut down quickly and respectfully. Feelings of doubt and self-doubt voice going rampant. Mentally spiraling and needing to breath. Things stay lighthearted but there are some moments.
"If you do decide to pursue romance, you have my blessing. Roll with advantage, Sadie." - Liam
The romance is instant attraction and interest but it's a slow burn. They finally kiss at the sixty-ish percent mark in the read! Fluffy, cute romance with some MF action. Though the two keep getting interrupted in inopportune moments for a while by someone or something after they finally agree to try this! Single POV through Sadie's eyes and understanding her hesitance and frustration.
For me personally, I felt like some of the paragraphs were lengthy and some scene building was wordy. This is just my honest opinion! There were some slow moments with day-to-day life activity that could have been left out. I wanted more time with the other players and the bonds that were forming! Loved the girls date night! Liam was my favorite character, and I would be so down to join one of his campaigns! Then try and see if I could lockpick information out of him when he states the session is over! We get a great HEA!
This was a fun debut novel to read! Enjoy the D&D campaign within a story, newbie D&D players, fun romance, and wonderful moments with new and old friends! Don't forget to give the author some stars!
Thank you, NetGalley!
shutupandbookup.com
Releases July 15, 2025
"We can't control the wind, but we can always adjust the sails." - Liam
Sadie's down on her luck. After losing her job in New York she goes to stay with her best friend in Texas with her tail tucked between her legs. Sadie falls into depression and going through the motions. Having no clue what she should do with her life or what path to take. Until Liam announces she will be playing in his campaign! Enticing her with the idea of creating someone different from herself.
Sadie becomes Jaylie within Liam's game. Jaylie is confident, knows what she wants, and is a cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck! Jaylie isn't alone in this adventure as both her and Sadie meet new and wonderful characters. This D&D campaign may be just what Sadie needs and more! New friendships are forming, laughs, great memories, and possibly romance! Sadie can't help but be drawn to the lumber-snack who seems to be wanting to roll for romance with her! In and out of game?!
"You just run the game?" - Sadie
"Right. I'll be the Dungeon Master." - Liam
"Sounds kinky." - Sadie (I knew I'd love her from this point forward!)
I was excited to read this because of the D&D theme! I still really want to be a part of a campaign someday and this read doesn't help that want! I laughed a lot and loved how the characters came together. Alongside the blossoming romance there was also friendships. I love how Lenora broke the cliche mold with the love interest being the one the FMC moves in with/childhood friend. Liam loves Sadie but in a sisterly way/best friend because he's gay. Liam supports Sadie and always has his doors open to her with no conditions or strings attached. Well, maybe one condition. . . she has to join his campaign!
I loved getting to meet all the players and finding out who they designed for the campaign. Jules being the opposite of herself within game had me laughing! I enjoyed the transition from real life into the campaign and the MCs turning into their players. Storytelling within a story! I love Critical Role and several times I felt like I was watching one of Matt's games play out. I respected Liam as a DM and how he treated everyone fairly. Keeping his DM secrets and plots under lock and key even from Sadie. The cliffhangers he dropped when the session was up! He even had someone leave the table at one point because of something that occurred within the narrative!
"Noah, you look like you could casually pull a tree out of the ground." - Sadie
I enjoyed the sweet, fluffy romance that was building from the moment Sadie and Noah met. It was cute and I found it interesting how both of them were running from something. Neither ready to admit the honest truth to themselves or out loud. I could relate to both of them in different ways. Their banter was funny, and I loved the comments made when they biked out to a forest. They matched one another's energy and goofiness. I did feel like Noah was a little flippant and was worried how things would end. But understanding him more and seeing how he handled final scenes helped clear that doubt up.
This read does have language throughout. Sadie does go through depression and just being a zombie going through the motions of living. That does change! Very brief moment of an old man making homophobic comments about a bookstore display. It gets shut down quickly and respectfully. Feelings of doubt and self-doubt voice going rampant. Mentally spiraling and needing to breath. Things stay lighthearted but there are some moments.
"If you do decide to pursue romance, you have my blessing. Roll with advantage, Sadie." - Liam
The romance is instant attraction and interest but it's a slow burn. They finally kiss at the sixty-ish percent mark in the read! Fluffy, cute romance with some MF action. Though the two keep getting interrupted in inopportune moments for a while by someone or something after they finally agree to try this! Single POV through Sadie's eyes and understanding her hesitance and frustration.
For me personally, I felt like some of the paragraphs were lengthy and some scene building was wordy. This is just my honest opinion! There were some slow moments with day-to-day life activity that could have been left out. I wanted more time with the other players and the bonds that were forming! Loved the girls date night! Liam was my favorite character, and I would be so down to join one of his campaigns! Then try and see if I could lockpick information out of him when he states the session is over! We get a great HEA!
This was a fun debut novel to read! Enjoy the D&D campaign within a story, newbie D&D players, fun romance, and wonderful moments with new and old friends! Don't forget to give the author some stars!
Thank you, NetGalley!
shutupandbookup.com
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Roll for Romance is a delightful blend of contemporary and fantasy romance, told through a dual-storyline Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This slow-burn is packed with nerdy charm, heartfelt moments, and a party of memorable characters. Grab your copy and roll out on July 15!
Sadie, burned out from her NYC job, moves to Texas to room with Liam, her childhood bff/DM, while hoping to recover and rekindle her creative spark. Noah, taking a break from van life, makes a pit stop to help his old CU Boulder buddy run a brewery and figure out his next adventure.
What makes this book stand out is that D&D isn't just a nerdy hook, it's a clever storytelling device: the campaign parallels the characters' real lives and their in-game personas development, adds to the themes of found family, small-town connection, and how to discover or experiment with another version of yourself.
You don't need to know D&D mechanics to enjoy the rich world-building or recognize that, like in life, sometimes you just get a bad roll of the dice. The supporting cast shines too, especially Liam and Morgan, who totally deserve a side-quest of their own (Maybe book two or bonus chapters?!)
Whether you're a die-curious newbie, a seasoned DM, or just love a smart, slow-burn romance with humor and heart, Roll for Romance is a campaign worth rolling initiative for. Bonus XP for diverse characters, emotional growth, and joyful geekery.
Big thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts!
thank you netgalley for this arc (this was the first ever arc i was approved for actually, but i only just got around to reading it). i actually loved it so much. i loved the d&d pov’s, and i loved everyone d&d characters as much as i loved their characters. i actually wish we got more of jules, morgan, and liam because i loved them all so much. i just wanted more moments with the whole gang.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for a complimentary early release copy of Roll For Romance by Lenora Woods.
I’ve been really into books with Dungeon and Dragons game elements lately so when I seen Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods I knew that I need to read it. I’m happy to say that this story is well worth the read! I feel in love with these characters immediately, I loved Sadie and Noah. Their romance was so cute both in game and in person/reality. Noah has my heart, he was so charismatic and charming but not in an annoying way. Noah comes across as overly friendly and gentlemanly, I absolutely love it. Sadie was a decent character to follow, I liked reading about her work aspects and art hobby. I’m happy with how things had played out with her! I enjoyed the friendships that she had made with the DnD group, the dynamics between all of them were fun & enjoyable to read about.
The Dungeons and Dragons game in the book was formatted in a rather unique way. The book could almost be splitted into two genres: Romance and Fantasy because the book switches between Sadie and her dnd character Jaylie! I liked that we got to switch between the two worlds, some of my favorite parts of the book to read was the fantasy world. I loved the fantasy characters as much as I loved their real life counterparts. The characters and plot line were unique, the storyline for the fantasy world was easy to follow and it had lots of funny and touching moments. The story even had a few twist that were unexpected but overall made a really good story. Overall I’m pleasantly surprised with this book and would recommend it, if your looking for something similar and don’t mind reading Young Adult books I recommend the Dungeons and Drama series by Kristy Boyce!
I’ve been really into books with Dungeon and Dragons game elements lately so when I seen Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods I knew that I need to read it. I’m happy to say that this story is well worth the read! I feel in love with these characters immediately, I loved Sadie and Noah. Their romance was so cute both in game and in person/reality. Noah has my heart, he was so charismatic and charming but not in an annoying way. Noah comes across as overly friendly and gentlemanly, I absolutely love it. Sadie was a decent character to follow, I liked reading about her work aspects and art hobby. I’m happy with how things had played out with her! I enjoyed the friendships that she had made with the DnD group, the dynamics between all of them were fun & enjoyable to read about.
The Dungeons and Dragons game in the book was formatted in a rather unique way. The book could almost be splitted into two genres: Romance and Fantasy because the book switches between Sadie and her dnd character Jaylie! I liked that we got to switch between the two worlds, some of my favorite parts of the book to read was the fantasy world. I loved the fantasy characters as much as I loved their real life counterparts. The characters and plot line were unique, the storyline for the fantasy world was easy to follow and it had lots of funny and touching moments. The story even had a few twist that were unexpected but overall made a really good story. Overall I’m pleasantly surprised with this book and would recommend it, if your looking for something similar and don’t mind reading Young Adult books I recommend the Dungeons and Drama series by Kristy Boyce!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay I loved this!! The sort of dual timelines with real life and the D&D game was *chef’ kiss* and so fun! I loved the found family that Sadie created for herself in Texas. The romance between Sadie and Noah was so sweet with a little spice. I really really enjoyed seeing their romance flourish. As a person that related a lot to Sadie, Noah’s character stressed me out a bit with how freewheeling he was, but I did love the character too. This was just super cute and I would recommend!
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy of this book.
I play D&D, but I do not think you'd need to I order to enjoy this story! It was a cute romance that starts as insta-lust but ends up being a pretty slow burn. I found some of the conflict in this to be fairly contrived, and some of the romance to be incredibly cheesy...
BUT I loved how the D&D campaign was woven in. I thought their characters were all fun and I liked getting a story within a story. My favorite parts of this were the long-form RPG writing they did just between Sadie and Noah because that's how I did most of my story building with friends as a teen and it brought back a lot of solid memories.
Overall I think this was an accessible D&D story with likable characters.
I play D&D, but I do not think you'd need to I order to enjoy this story! It was a cute romance that starts as insta-lust but ends up being a pretty slow burn. I found some of the conflict in this to be fairly contrived, and some of the romance to be incredibly cheesy...
BUT I loved how the D&D campaign was woven in. I thought their characters were all fun and I liked getting a story within a story. My favorite parts of this were the long-form RPG writing they did just between Sadie and Noah because that's how I did most of my story building with friends as a teen and it brought back a lot of solid memories.
Overall I think this was an accessible D&D story with likable characters.