Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dungeons and Drama is the first book that I’ve read by Kristy Boyce.

It’s a very well written, well paced, clean and age appropriate YA fiction story about theater kid, Riley and the very realistic portrayal of being part of a divorced family.

When Riley does a super unsafe and boneheaded thing, her mom and dad give her the “punishment” of working at her dad’s store, Sword and Board, a gaming store that’s also a haven for the players of tabletop games.

Working at the store gives Riley a chance to develop her relationship with her dad further and she gains friends and made family through building connections and joining a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

Did I mention there’s also fake dating and Riley develops a crush and feelings on her fake dating partner, Nathan?

I highly recommend Dungeons and Drama and am looking forward to reading more by Kristy Boyce.

This book was so adorable. I really loved how nerdy it is. I also love how the majority of the setting was the board game store. I love that setting and I thought it was so unique. The romance between the two was so cute. They were meant for each other and you could just feel the tension between them. I loved it!

Dungeons and Drama is truly adorable. It made my nerd heart so happy and left me wanting more from this author!

Thanks to Random House Childrens for the advanced copy of this book!
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I work in theatre and quite literally read this book backstage of my current show. Riley is the epitome of a theatre-kid, and it was so lovely to see a character chasing a director role, not just wanting to be the star onstage. There are a number of Broadway references that might go over the heads of those without a theatre background, but I was living for them. I'm not as familiar with the DND world that the plot also revolves around, though one of my old roommates used to play and would recap the sessions for me like she was telling me about the latest episode in a television drama she watched. Altogether this book was like a perfect amalgamation for me.
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Riley and Nathan are super cute together, and I'm glad that the reader got to witness Riley's feelings changing in real time. It was like we got a peek behind the curtain that most authors try to keep hidden. I really thought that I had guessed what the ultimate Spring musical would be, so it was a fun surprise when I was wrong, and I would definitely revisit this universe in the future.

This was cute but definitely not my style. I was hoping i would like it, considering I am a theater nerd that loves DND, but I could not stop cringing. I fully had my audiobook at 2.5x speed to get through this and its only 8 hours. I think if youre in theater and new to DND, this might be more your style, and definitely for teenagers that love the angst, but there was just too much teenage drama for me (haha). I did think their flirting was cute, but again too much teenage pining XD

The dynamic between Riley and Nathan is both charming and authentic, filled with witty banter and genuine moments that evolve as they navigate their shared ruse. The role-playing game element adds an enjoyable twist, allowing readers to witness Riley’s growth as she discovers new interests and the joys of genuine connection.

While the premise is familiar, the story is refreshingly engaging, with well-drawn characters and a lighthearted yet heartfelt narrative. Riley’s journey of self-discovery, coupled with her determination to pursue her dreams, makes for an inspiring read.

Overall, Dungeons and Drama is a fun, uplifting tale perfect for fans of YA romance and theater, reminding us that sometimes love and dreams can blossom in the most unexpected places.

I don’t read a lot of high school fiction anymore because the over-the-top teen drama can be frustrating, but Dungeons and Drama was a refreshing surprise. This sweet, fun story felt authentic without diving into the usual angst-filled clichés. The combination of theater and Dungeons & Dragons made for an entertaining and unique backdrop that drew me in right away, and as a fan of both, I found it an absolute delight.

Riley's journey from a determined theater kid to someone discovering unexpected joy in tabletop gaming was charming and believable. Her interactions with Nathan, complete with fake dating hijinks and role-playing sessions, were engaging and added just the right amount of humor and heart. Their evolving relationship felt natural, and the D&D scenes brought a playful dynamic to the story.

This quick read is perfect for anyone who loves theater, D&D, or both. Dungeons and Drama strikes a nice balance between lighthearted fun and a touch of romance, making it an easy book to recommend.

I'm quickly learning that I love books that include a gamer girl, be it video games or tabletop games. Also, though I have never personally played D&D I will now read any romance book that features it. I'm always up for a good fake-dating romance story especially when the two people involved are obviously really attracted to each other. I'm excited for the next book in the series.

This was the most adorable read! It was super cute, full of fake dating and teenage butterflies. I giggled like a silly schoolgirl sooo much while reading this. Nathan and Riley are absolutely adorable. The nerdiness in this book is perfection. I went in knowing absolutely nothing about Dungeons & Dragons and ended up being super engrossed in those parts of the story.

I loved every interaction in this book, main characters, side characters, everything! I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a clean, geeky, sweet YA romance.


*A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts are my own.*

This was a wonderful rom-com mixing up two delightful hobbies for a cozy, sweet love story. The protagonist was loveable and the love interest was adorable. For any teens looking for a light-hearted and nerdier rom-com, I recommend checking out Dungeons and Drama!

Probably one of the cutest books I've read all year! As a massive fan of D&D, musical theatre, and rom coms, this one had the entire package. My hopes were high, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. I loved getting to see her fall in love with the game and other nerdy aspects over time, and loved her growth by the end of the book, both in her personal life and in her relationship with her dad as they found their common ground. As soon as I finished this book, I picked up my phone to let a friend know she needed to read it ASAP!

This book was fabulous! It’s perfect for fans of theatre and any level of D&D interests. I think this author writing style is so easy to dive into. The pacing is perfect and great for high school age students. The cover of this book couldn’t be any better either. I lowkey want to print it out and put it on my wall!

I think the character are so well written and the fake-dating plot always hits! The relationship with our main FMC and her father is also a great storyline. I’m not a child of divorce, but I think this gives a viewpoint of what a child of divorce might go through and we see the relationship with both parents play out in a, I think, well-timed pace.

All in all I loved this book and will be recommending it non-stop!

So so cute. Riely and Nathan's relationship was so sweet to read about and I loved the nerdy references throughout.

I did think Riley's constant references to musicals were slightly grating and did give me PTSD to college and people who were like that, but she shaped up in the end. Minus the star because the last 30% was very heavy in the main action, and the underfunded theatre program issue got solved fairly quickly.

This was a fun YA romance. Riley is forced to work at her dad's game store after she takes her mom's car and drives without a license to a traveling Broadway show. While working at the store, Riley coincides with Nathan, whom she knows from school but has barely interacted with. When her ex is goading her for being single, she lies and says she's dating Nathan. Will their fake dating rouse work to get Riley's ex off her back and to get Nathan noticed by the girl he's crushing on? It's an entertaining fake dating rom-com.

As a fan of romance and Dungeons and Dragons, this hit a lovely sweet spot for me. A cute YA romance that is funny and a great palate cleanser, if you like showtunes or boardgames this is a book to try.

MUST LOVE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS!

A very cute YA rom com! The premise was so much fun and very surface level. I’m a sucker for the fake dating/fake into you trope plus add enemies tension and it’s a winning formula.

My one complaint is that the characters motivations were a little to surface level.. overall an enjoyable book!

This was a super cute YA offering. I usually do not read YA much anymore but this was cute, cozy, and enjoyable.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

I really did not think I was going to like this one very much. Personally I am not a fan of the spoiled rich kid that does whatever she wants, fuck the rules and literally everyone else's safety??? yeah sorry but I do not think Riley's punishment met what her crime was. Oh no I broke the law so now I have to hangout with my dad at his store and play games with his hot employees :(

But then this book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. It was just so cute. And they really got me with the Shrek the Musical- my own Junior year production. The homecoming feels of finding a dress and going with your best friends just simply cannot be beat either. The only way this book could've been more targeted was if she was also in the marching band.

This book could've used more editing, like how did no one catch that Nathan is in the car at the very end of the story and not Paul (whos name was actually read). I don't love the girl hate with Sophia, but can recognize that Riley did try to be supportive for the most part overall. This was a solid 4.5 star read for me. Just cute, high school romance, fun.

When Riley gets caught taking her mother's car to go see the Broadway show Waitress, she is grounded for the next 8 weeks and stuck working at her father's gaming store. Riley knows nothing about D&D and gaming and has to work with her overly annoying coworker Nathan. When her ex-boyfriend Paul shows up at the store with his new girlfriend, she says that she has moved on from Paul and in her panic says that she is dating Nathan. In order for Nathan to go with her plan of fake dating, she tells Nathan that she will help get the attention of the girl in his D&D group who only seems to be interested in Nathan when Riley is around. The more time that she hangs out with Nathan and his friends, she realizes that there might be more to Nathan than she originally thought.

I am a huge fan of the faking dating trope, and this book was perfect. Not only did I enjoy the relationship with Nathan and Riley, but I also enjoyed the growing relationship with Riley and her Dad and new friends as she jumps into the world of D&D. It looks like Dungeons and Drama is the first in this series with book 2, Dating and Dragons scheduled to come out in February 2025. I am excited to see what is next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review Dungeons and Drama. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for granting me early access to this book! It was a delightful young adult romance.