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literarypenguin 's review for:
Dungeons and Drama
by Kristy Boyce
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
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:
Yes
This was such an adorable and cute YA romance that felt enjoyable to me! It had such a charm to it and featured a game that not many romance books feature in such a positive way like this!
The plot was what you would typically find in a romance especially one featuring the fake dating trope. One thing I did appreciate that this novel did was the characters involved made their friends aware that they were not really dating and just doing it to make other people jealous. That was a nice breath of fresh air after reading so many other books where the main characters don't say a word about their plan to fake date each other. Also how the author weaved in DND, how the game was played and how it means a good deal to people. Gaming in general is well represented as it shows how it can bring people of all kinds together and inspired a sense of community and friendship. It was believable that these two teenage would want to make people jealous somehow, so their plan was thought out right.
The characters themselves were the stars of the show! I really enjoyed Riley, she wasn't the typical stuck up popular girl. Instead she had big ambitions about becoming a director and genuinely enjoyed the theater and the people in it. She was also really kind to people and wasn't mean to them but she still made her own share of mistakes as a teen. I liked her sense of fashion and how colorful it was, not caring what others thought of how she dressed. Nathan was the polar opposite of her, quiet, reserved but secretly a sweetheart of a guy. He really cares a lot about his friends and the game store that he works at. He looked up a lot to Riley's father Joel for reasons that are truly sad and made my heart break for Nathan and his circumstances. Nathan and Riley's friends were great characters, I especially loved Hishiko and Lucas's evolving romance! They were so cute and I wish we could get a whole book following them and their growing relationship!
Their were themes of discovering the kind of person you want to be and finding something that is really important to you whether that is family, friends, or a passion you are pursuing. Through Riley it showed how kids deal with divorced parents, how they feel a certain pressure to make both parents happy or fear of losing them if they don't do something they want them to do. Riley soon gets reassured that she is fine the way she is and both of her parents love her regardless of what she does or doesn't do. I thought that was really sweet and a good message to send to kids in those same situations.
Overall I loved this book and am eager to read the second one in this series! I hope I can find more cute and cozy romances like this one in the near future!
The plot was what you would typically find in a romance especially one featuring the fake dating trope. One thing I did appreciate that this novel did was the characters involved made their friends aware that they were not really dating and just doing it to make other people jealous. That was a nice breath of fresh air after reading so many other books where the main characters don't say a word about their plan to fake date each other. Also how the author weaved in DND, how the game was played and how it means a good deal to people. Gaming in general is well represented as it shows how it can bring people of all kinds together and inspired a sense of community and friendship. It was believable that these two teenage would want to make people jealous somehow, so their plan was thought out right.
The characters themselves were the stars of the show! I really enjoyed Riley, she wasn't the typical stuck up popular girl. Instead she had big ambitions about becoming a director and genuinely enjoyed the theater and the people in it. She was also really kind to people and wasn't mean to them but she still made her own share of mistakes as a teen. I liked her sense of fashion and how colorful it was, not caring what others thought of how she dressed. Nathan was the polar opposite of her, quiet, reserved but secretly a sweetheart of a guy. He really cares a lot about his friends and the game store that he works at. He looked up a lot to Riley's father Joel for reasons that are truly sad and made my heart break for Nathan and his circumstances. Nathan and Riley's friends were great characters, I especially loved Hishiko and Lucas's evolving romance! They were so cute and I wish we could get a whole book following them and their growing relationship!
Their were themes of discovering the kind of person you want to be and finding something that is really important to you whether that is family, friends, or a passion you are pursuing. Through Riley it showed how kids deal with divorced parents, how they feel a certain pressure to make both parents happy or fear of losing them if they don't do something they want them to do. Riley soon gets reassured that she is fine the way she is and both of her parents love her regardless of what she does or doesn't do. I thought that was really sweet and a good message to send to kids in those same situations.
Overall I loved this book and am eager to read the second one in this series! I hope I can find more cute and cozy romances like this one in the near future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Death