Dungeons and Drama was my first book read by Kristy Boyce. After finishing this adorable book I am a complete admirer of her writing and story telling. It’s been a while since I have been hooked on a book from start to finish. I loved the characters but especially the fake dating trope. This was such a cute fluffy fun read. The characters were adorable. I had such a great time reading this amazing story. I will continue to support Kristy Boyce because her writing was outstanding! Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity. Can’t wait to purchase a physical copy because the cover is amazingly cute and I need it on my personal library.

I really enjoyed this one! I have not heard of the author, but the cover and title completely caught my eye and I'm so glad I decided to give it a try.

I have played Dungeons and Dragons once, enough to know it could be fun if I had the opportunity to play it regularly (but I'm not going to go out and find a game). I also enjoy the occasional musical and I have friends and students who are theater kids even if I am not one myself. But when I read books like this, I wonder if I missed out by not become involved with theater in some way.

This story uses the fake dating trope, which can be hit or miss with me, but I really loved it. Part of it is that I really liked both characters, even if I occasional wanted to tell them that the other one was into them! While their romance was ultimately very sweet, what I loved more was the group of friends, including her best friend falling for one of Nathan's friends. THAT was a fun love story. I loved her desire to save the school musical and how it may have started out as her dream, but it became a group dream as many kids ended up becoming fully invested. For me, that's what made the story.

Overall, I loved Riley's love of color, all things musical, the dynamic with Nathan's friends with D&D, the relationship she started developing with her dad, and the whole plot of saving musical theater in the school. Too many schools have to cut the arts so it's fun to read another story about saving the arts! I also loved how Riley was able to see her dad's nerdy obsession as something that was related to her love of theater after all.

I would recommend this story to any theater kid or theater-kid adjacent, those who "get" gaming, and someone looking for a light teen romance.

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

Thank you to the publisher for lending me a digital arc of this book.

I'm going to be adding this to my school library's collection. This forced proximity, enemies-t0-lovers romance also features some growth for the female main characters--mostly relating to her relationship with her divorced parents. I think it will definitely appeal to our theater students, but the romantic elements mean that it will likely also appeal to a broader audience.

I'm a sucker for a story where teens are fish out of water, but find that they like their new environment. Charming and heartwarming!

Oh, I loved this so much. Dungeons and Drama is about a theater kid who, as a punishment, has to work at her semi-estranged dad's gaming store. She spends half her time trying to persuade school officials not to cancel the spring musical, and the rest of her time turning into a total Dungeons & Dragons nerd. And then there is her fake dating one of her dad's employees, and chemistry and chemistry and roadtrips and poptarts and chemistry. I was in love with watching Nathan and Riley fall in love in such a genuine way, and watching this wonderful community of friends build. The move from fake to real (spoiler?) was a little clunkier than I generally like, but it still very much worked. I'd recommend having some D&D knowledge before going in (which I conveniently got, unrelated, like a week before reading) in order to make the story more fun, but it's not 100% necessary.

After Riley risks everything to "borrow" her mom's car to go see a musical, her parents decide the best punishment is to work in her dad's game store for the next 8 weeks. While Riley finds this to be devastating, some people have found the game store to be like their second home, intro Nathan. Riley's ex-boyfriend visits the game store one day flaunting his new girlfriend and feeling sorry for Riley, she impulsively tells him that she is actually happily dating Nathan. One problem- Nathan doesn't even like being around Riley, much less date her. After much convincing, Riley and Nathan pretend to date, beginning the year of typical teen shenanigans and self-discovery. I love that the fandoms of musicals, role-playing, and gamers are woven together in this cozy romance.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest opinions.

When theater aficionado and aspiring director Riley borrows her mom's car--without permission and without a license--to drive to see the touring production of Waitress her parents are understandably ticked. As punishment, Riley is grounded and forced to work after school in her dad's gaming store, with her grumpy classmate Nathan. When her ex-boyfriend, Paul, walks in with his new girlfriend and leading lady on his arm, Riley insists she has moves on and blurts out Nathan's name when asked who with. Despite their rocky start, Nathan and Riley agree to fake date--her to convince Paul she's moved on to greener pastures, him to catch the eye of the hot gamer girl in his D&D group who seems to only want what she can't have. But as the two grow closer and their friend groups merge, the lines between fake and real begin to get ever so blurry.

I loved this book soooo much. When I first heard Riley went joyriding in her mom's car without a driver's license, I was skeptical--the adult in me coming through to think how unbelievably stupid that is. But Riley quickly wormed my way into my heart, with Nathan right alongside her, until I shipped the pair so much. I loved the integration of various musical theater and Dungeons and Dragons elements. I, myself, have never played D&D and really appreciated the explanation and interesting manner in which it was presented. This story is just too cute and I can't recommend it enough.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a fantastic job--I couldn't recommend it enough. She really captures all the characters' voices so well, both male and female, and helps the story come alive.

Thanks to PRHA for my ALC and Get Underlined for my physical copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

4.25 stars

This was adorable! I loved the theater nerds and gaming nerds falling in love, the fake dating, and the fun side characters to round this out. This was fast paced and fun and almost made me want to try Dungeons and Dragons....

"Dungeons and Drama" is an entertaining story that blends gaming, theater, and teen drama spectacularly. This story was so cute and I loved everything about it.

Riley lives and breathes musicals and isn’t afraid to stand out. She’s very energetic, outgoing and a natural leader. I can see her effortlessly directing Broadway shows in the future. Stealing and lying aside, I really admire Riley’s effort and tenacity throughout the story.

Fake dating was the perfect trope for this story since both Riley and Nathan's interests (acting and D&D, respectively) involve playing a role. What made it better was how they went from annoying co-workers to genuine friends to unexpected lovers. Their entire relationship was just too cute.

I liked how the story explored the effects of divorce on children. In Riley’s case, the confusion, bitterness, and betrayal she can’t help but feel toward her dad. Working at her dad’s store forces Riley to process and confront the distant relationship she always seemed to have with her dad versus the close one with her mom. It’s very nicely done.

"Dungeons and Drama" is a wholly accessible and relatable story that anyone can enjoy. I knew more about musicals and very little about D&D going into this but thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned so much from those chapters where Riley, Nathan and their friends were playing the game. I adore the fact that this story was based on the author’s own experiences.

"Dungeons and Drama" was a fun, well-crafted YA romance. I loved the character development, the conflicts, the family dynamics, and the friendships.

Thanks again Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read with the perfect combination of gaming and musical theater. I truly enjoyed this nerdy setting and group of characters. It was just what I needed.

✨💗 Book Tour Spotlight 💗☀️

This book has the following :

💜Fake Dating
💛Close Proximity (they work together)
💜DD and theater references
💛Teen slow burn
💜The cutest cover (and it’s pink!)

I loved reading Riley and Nathan’s interactions. Even though this is a more teen YA than what I usually go for (characters are still in high school), I felt like I could connect with both characters and the plot.

This book also made me appreciate games like Dungeons and Dragons which was played out in such a way that I didn’t have to know much about the game beforehand to understand. It felt like combination of LOTR with Jumanji, as you feel immersed in the fantasy game within while you read the character’s dialogues. It was very lighthearted and the romance a slowburn. It was quite enjoyable 💕

I highly recommend if you’re looking for a light romance with a touch of cozy fantasy. 💛

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours and @kristylboyce for the opportunity to participate in this tour. For more information on the schedule for this tour, check the link in my profile to find out more.

#DungeonsAndDrama #TBRBeyondTours #KristyBoyce

Looking for a lighthearted, breezy book that’ll make you smile? Look no further! This book is simply adorable!

What I loved:
✨Fun romance tropes: Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, and opposites-attract create swoon-worthy moments between Riley and Nathan. Riley struggles with fake dating when she realizes she's falling in love! I love how realistic these moments felt.
✨“Nerdy” hobbies you don’t typically see in YA novels: The worlds of musicals and gaming beautifully collide here. Riley captured my heart in the opening scene when she steals her mother’s car to see Waitress with her best friend. Riley doesn’t have a driver’s license (oops)! But I get it! Waitress was the last musical I saw before Covid 2020. 🤩 Nathan and his gaming friends embody true friendship; friends who constantly have each other’s backs!
✨Divorce kid/parent: A new representation for me. Boyce handles this dynamic with care, thoughtfulness, and realism.
✨Witty banter: oh my, did I laugh - the dialogue, the body language, the scenes!
✨Eva Kaminsky’s narration is quite perfect. She is the soul of Riley! Kaminsky delivers all the joy that Boyce pens in the novel!

Truthfully, my list of loves could go on. Overall, a fun and cute storyline with perfectly developed characters that will fill you with the joys of young love. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about this book!

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.25 | 😘=2 | 🤬=1 | 12/13+

summary: bickery coworkers at a board/card/video game store fake date to get the attention of non-love interest crushes/make exes jealous. will they fall in love?????

thoughts: if you think LARP-ing and D&D and drama kids belting show tunes at unsuspecting Denny’s waitstaff is cringe, you’ll probably think this is cringe. mostly it’s just cute and overall pretty okay! it’s dorky! and that’s the point! the MC is rather aggressively not like the other girls, but that’s become such a genre staple that I don’t care that much? it’s very silly––like at the end of the day none of the stakes or the drama or the romance was ever that serious for our girl Riley, but I still had fun! it’s still cute! good for them I guess!

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce is an absolute rollercoaster of emotions and excitement! Set in the quirky world of a high school Dungeons & Dragons club, the story follows a group of misfit teens as they navigate the challenges of both the game and real life. Boyce skillfully weaves together the fantasy elements of the game with the drama of high school, creating a narrative that's both hilarious and heartwarming. The characters are relatable, each with their own unique quirks, and the witty dialogue adds a layer of charm to the entire experience. As a high schooler myself, I found the book to be a refreshing and enjoyable read, blending the magic of fantasy with the all-too-real struggles of adolescence.

What makes Dungeons and Drama stand out is its ability to capture the essence of friendship and self-discovery. The characters undergo personal growth throughout the story, and the bonds formed within the D&D group feel genuine. It's a tale of finding your tribe and embracing who you are, all while battling dragons (both in the game and in real life). Whether you're a seasoned D&D player or completely new to the world of tabletop gaming, this book offers a delightful journey that any high schooler can relate to and enjoy.

🧼 - squeaky clean YA romance. I'm not a huge fan of teen romance, it's usually too cringy, but I LOVED this. It was just delightful and quirky and I couldn't put it down. Riley is a theater kid, Nathan a tabletop gamer, and through a fake dating scheme, they realize those two things are so different. Delightful characters and side characters. I definitely will be recommending this.

Read if you like:
•Forced Proximity
•Enemies to Lovers
•Fake Dating

Looking for a stand-out YA rom-com filled with fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, nerds, theatre kids, and tons of adorable moments? You absolutely must pick up Dungeons & Drama.

This book took me by surprise in the best way possible. Over the last couple of years, I've found myself less drawn to YA romances, because while they can certainly be cute and fun, there's something about the age gap that disconnects me from the story. However, every once in a while, there's a novel that stands out to me and fully captures my attention. That was precisely what happened with Dungeons & Drama.

I saw a lot of myself in these characters. Riley is a theatre kid to the max and since I was a theatre kid in high school, with the same tendencies to wear vibrant clothing and have a flair for the dramatic, it felt a little like reading about myself nearly 15 years ago. Sometimes, she really irritated me with her lack of honesty and inability to communicate, but she experienced so much growth throughout the book and I loved seeing how it only enhanced the best parts of her character.

Nathan is a gamer nerd and I love him to bits and pieces. He reminds me a little more of myself at this stage of my life: more likely to want to stay in for a quiet game night than take the stage for a school production. He had some of the cutest moments in the book since it was absolutely a "he falls first" situation, and I loved every second of it. His interest in Riley, despite her intensity, was really precious.

The romance was adorable in every way. I'm a total sucker for fake dating, and while I don't always love when it's paired with "trying to prove something to my ex," I think it was well done in this book. The author did a great job showing what a healthy relationship can look like versus one that would definitely be filled with toxicity.

I also appreciated the relationship development between Riley and her dad. Things started out really rocky and I felt myself getting frustrated with Riley's assumptions and unwillingness to have hard conversations--leaning towards outbursts instead--but the more I read, the more I understood the dynamics and loved how their growth together was handled.

There's no doubt in my mind that this is a book I'll read again. It gave me the same gleeful feelings I have when reading Emma Lord's YA rom-com books (and she's been my favorite contemporary YA author for quite some time). It's lighthearted, funny, and was one that I couldn't get out of my brain even weeks after I finished reading it. A stand-out novel for sure!

I am OBSESSED with how cute this one was. Fake dating is my favorite trope, and you may think I would be bored with how repetitive it can be, but it gets me in the feels every time. It’s predictable and formulaic, and you can bet your sweet tookus I’m still going to be sobbing anyway when one of them breaks it off because they don’t believe the other one could be in love with them the same way they have fallen.
I enjoyed how these two came from two different interest areas- she’s a theater kid and he’s a gamer guy. Her dad’s game shop is a punishment to her and a safe haven to him. But when they start fake dating— to make the girl he has a crush on jealous, and for her ex to stop hounding her— they find it easier and easier to flirt, and harder to remember it’s all fake. Cue the AWWWWWs.
Thank you to the author and TBR and Beyond Tours for the copy! I loved this one so much.

Be sure to check out TBR and Beyond Tours site for the rest of the tour!

I just love fake dating and this one was the cutest 💕 Riley is forced to work at her dad’s game shop and soon enters into a fake dating partnership with Nathan her classmate and coworker. Riley is trying to show her ex she’s moved on and Nathan wants to make Sophia interested in him. I enjoyed all the parts to this book! The D&D parts, trying to save the school musical, the father/daughter relationship, and of course the oh crap this isn’t fake anymore.

Dungeons and Drama 4⭐️ 1.5🌶️

Young Adult contemporary romance
16yo FMC
Theatre kid
Divorced parents
Fake dating
Opposites attract
Coworker romance

This was a very cute YA romance following two high schoolers, one a theatre geek and the other a gamer. This unlikely pair see sparks fly when the FMC had to work in her dad’s gaming score as punishment for taking her mom’s car for a joyride without being licensed!

The cover makes me think it was a YA contemporary fantasy book instead of just a YA Romance. But it’s a cute cover!

I loved that this was an Ohio setting, since I am from central Ohio. I’m also a theatre nerd! So really this book was right ip my alley.

The pop culture references of Broadway original casts, movie quotes and song lyrics can easily date a book, pigeon holing it into a very specific timeframe. I’m not quite a fan of that, but the references were so well done, I can’t be annoyed.

Some of the topics covered are the hard work and preparation that goes into performing. There was really good flushing out of a child of divorced parents and what that can be like. The book even touched on what toxic crushes can look like. This is an easy recommendation for any high schooler. Bonus if they are a theatre nerd or gamer/D&D geek!

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

SUPER CUTE!!

Theatre geek meets Dungeons and Dragons gaming master in this YA romance.

Riley is grounded for taking the car without permission. As punishment she’s working at her dad’s gaming store. She struggles with her parents divorce anyway, and doesn’t have the best relationship with him. She’s so much closer to her mom.

Then, the school cancels the Spring Musical, and her ex is pitying her because she’s single. Nathan goes to her school and also works at her dad’s store. He’s willing to fake date in exchange for a favor of his own. Join his DD game and help make his crush jealous.

I liked how Riley’s relationship with her dad grew over time, and how she never lost sight of who she was. She didn’t change for anyone, but grew in terms of understanding and self-awareness. Great pacing, great supporting characters and a really fun read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wonderful for a middle school or high school library! It is a great combination of theatre and nerdy fun. It is a romance, but very clean and innocent and it has a strong message of life balance between needs and wants/work and fun. This was a really fun, cute read!