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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I just do not care. The back and forth between the “real” story and the D&D characters is quite frankly doing this book a huge disservice in my opinion. There is far too much time telling the D&D story when it should be spent telling the “real” story and romance between the MCs. It feels like it’s 50/50 and I just don’t think it should be.
Previously this year I read a YA book with a similar premise and that book honestly had much better execution. There were small bits with the D&D story and characters, but most of the book was the “actual people” in the story developing a friendship and falling in love. I had hopes this book would be similar, but more adult (and obviously with spice).
Previously this year I read a YA book with a similar premise and that book honestly had much better execution. There were small bits with the D&D story and characters, but most of the book was the “actual people” in the story developing a friendship and falling in love. I had hopes this book would be similar, but more adult (and obviously with spice).
Tropes:
Small Town
Slow Burn
Found Family
Golden Retriever MMC
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Slow Burn
Found Family
Golden Retriever MMC
Forced Proximity
Loved this so much, and as I was reading it I kept thinking why isn’t there a show like this??? The way the storytelling perspectives were set up were so fun and well done! Need a Liam DM honestly. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lenora Woods, and the publisher for this book!
This book was just as cute as its cover! I loved that we followed our MC's in the real world as well as their characters in the fantasy world of their D&D game. It was so fun watching their romance develop in both realities and I was equally invested in both! I found this really impressive, because I usually dislike dual storylines and/or timelines (I always find one more interesting than the other and get frustrated when I'm pulled away from it), so I was really surprised when I felt equally happy to be in both worlds! I can't wait to see if there's more to come in this world and I would love to see Liam, the DM, find love too!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Thank you to Randomhouse Publishing Group - Ballentine | Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had a really amazing time with this story! It was such a fun and fresh approach to immersing the reader into the DND game the characters were playing! The way the story weaves fantasy within the contemporary romance by taking you along on a DND campaign was so delightful! I have watched ONE session of a DND campaign in real life and know hardly anything about it and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! What a fun and totally cute adventure! I really enjoyed the character growth our FMC goes through with the help of her found family. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
Check this out if you’re interested in these tropes:
💟 DND Gameplay
💟 Fantasy & Contemporary Romance
💟 Cinnamon roll MMC
💟 Found family
💟 Only one tent
💟 No third act breakup
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sadie just lost her NYC marketing job and moved in with her best friend Liam in small-town Texas to recalibrate. When Liam convinces her to join his new D&D campaign with a group of other first-timers, she’s unexpectedly introduced to a group of people who become like family. As she gets to know Noah, and his in-game character, she realizes there might be something to life outside the big city.
I loved Sadie, her burnout recovery journey, and her exploration of herself through D&D. I’ve never played, but it was so clear that the author has a deep understanding of the game and its dynamics. Noah was such a delight - a ruggedly handsome bartender who loves RPGs and writes fan fiction??? Truly unmatched. All of the side charcters were just as fun too! This was such a sweet romance with a few excellent steamy scenes and I ended up devouring the whole thing in one day!
I loved Sadie, her burnout recovery journey, and her exploration of herself through D&D. I’ve never played, but it was so clear that the author has a deep understanding of the game and its dynamics. Noah was such a delight - a ruggedly handsome bartender who loves RPGs and writes fan fiction??? Truly unmatched. All of the side charcters were just as fun too! This was such a sweet romance with a few excellent steamy scenes and I ended up devouring the whole thing in one day!
This was a cute, lighthearted read and definitely a nice twist on a typical rom com. I felt like the amount of time spent on what was happening in the D&D game made it take longer for me to get invested in the book and took away from the main storyline, but I did in the end find myself curious about how the D&D game would resolve. This was a bit out of my wheelhouse but a very good time, and the work anxiety/burnout for the FMC really rang true.
3.5 stars
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this nerdy romance! It was a heartfelt, fun, and easy read. One of the things I loved most about Roll for Romance was how it told two parallel stories, one in the real world and one in the D&D campaign. The shift into Jaylee’s perspective during the game was a great touch and gave the story extra emotional weight. The writing is warm and immersive, with just the right balance of humor, vulnerability, and fantasy. Highly recommend for fans of romance with a nerdy twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!