Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children Books for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dungeons and Drama. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and when you through in YA, I am one happy camper.

I was neither a drama kid nor a D&D player, but that not did diminish my enjoyment of this book. If anything it made me realize all the fun I missed in high school. All I know about D&D (and it’s the bare minimum) I learned from The Big Bang Theory. But Kristy easily mixes drama and role playing into a fun bingeable read. Because isn’t D&D then ultimate drama play ?

Of course there are many life lessons our MC Riley must learn along the way. I mean what parent in their right mind wouldn’t discipline their car “borrowing” none-license holding teenager ? But this is one punishment that Riley will find life changing.

This book is truly adorable, funny and sweet all at the same time!
I just can’t stop reading, every chapter just makes me smile with the cuteness and the bantering of the main characters – Riley and Nathan!

I really love all the characters inside this book, makes me feel like I’m in the high school era again.
I really like how welcoming Nathan’s friends to Riley and also introduce her to the world of gaming. I’m also fond of how Riley's friends help her without her asking for it when it counts the most.

The fake dating romance is so cuteee, I was blushing and smiling while rooting for them to just get together for real without any pretending.
Nathan is a total sweetheart and I have to admit his flirting skill is next level~~~

The topics of gaming, musical theatre, learning your priorities, honesty, friendship and family are well written and in balanced so I could simply relax and enjoy reading the whole story.

Overall, this is a fun, entertaining and easy to read which is perfect for teenagers and also those who wanted something simple and quick.
I would definitely recommend this book and I’m gonna keep an eye out for the next book by this author!

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

First, Thank you Net Galley and publisher for a copy !! <3

I’m not entirely sure where to start. My opinions are all over the place because on one hand I enjoyed some piece of it a lot but on the other hand i was left with a sour taste from our female main character.

Dungeons and Drama follows Riley and her punishment after taking her mother’s car one night to see Waitress with her best friend, and Nathan who works at her dads gaming shop. Her parents are divorced and so her punishment was essentially being ground and forced to work at her dads gaming shop in hopes that it might teach her a lesson. This is where she meets Nathan, one of her dads employees. They devise this plan to fake date after her ex comes into the store and pities her for not having a boyfriend since their breakup. Riley says the first name that pops in her head, Nathan, and digs herself a whole. Lucky for her there was a girl he liked and her plan was as follows, you make my ex think we’re dating, and it’ll make the girl you like so jealous she’ll want you.

The idea was cute however the execution left me wanting more. I didn’t care much for Riley and i wasn’t too thrilled about how she spoke about her father. The entire book all she did was go “but he didn’t do this when i was growing up” and “He loved his shop way more than my mom and i” But never once attempted to sit down and talk to her father about any issues she had or Ty to get to. Know him. He could speak and she would get upset and pull the “Well he never did that before.” In the Ned after some harsh words her father does apologize and admit where he fell short, but he still was trying his best with what he was given. She was selfish and didn’t seem to actually learn a lesson and instead it took the entirety of the book for her to even change in the slightest and even still, I wasn’t impressed.

This was BVERY cute! I really liked Kristy Boyce's first book and this felt just as charming. I'm not a tabletop game nerd, nor a drama geek, but I loved both main characters and found them likable and fun. I love a faking dating trope, so this warmed my heart in winter, just when it needed it most!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Dungeons and Drama follows Riley, a theatre-loving high schooler who just got grounded and now has to work at her father's game store as punishment. She quickly becomes enemies with Nathan, a fellow classmate who works at the store and is snarky and nerdy which annoys Riley to no end. After an awkward interaction with her ex, Riley devises a plan to fake-date Nathan, and surprisingly he agrees after Riley convinces him that this will help make his own crush jealous. However, part of the plan involves Riley hopping into a game of Dungeons and Dragons with Nathan and all of his nerdy friends! Riley finds herself having to juggle school, her passion for keeping her theatre department alive, and building a relationship with her father all while trying to make her fake relationship with Nathan look believable!

I was immediately intrigued by this premise, and I was completely hooked after the first few chapters! I read most of this book in the span of two days, and if it wasn't for my busy work life, I would have finished this book in three days (which would have been a personal record!). Kristy Boyce's prose flows so beautifully which is a huge reason this book was such a page-turner! All the characters felt very grounded and realistic. The characters and their dialogue were so charming and funny that it made reading this book so enjoyable. Riley did say some cringey things every so often, but to be honest, that's very true to form for a high school theatre kid! This book deals with so many complex themes like being a child of divorced parents and feeling guilt from "picking a side," and the importance of community spaces. Kristy Boyce did a wonderful job weaving these themes and subplots into the larger narrative. I will admit that I was giggling like an idiot at Riley and Nathan's "fake" dating scenes-- they are so adorable! I also appreciate the parts where they discussed their boundaries and consent! That is so important to include in YA novels! All in all, this book was such a fun and lovely read! I truly didn't want to book to end; I could read a million books about Riley, Nathan, and the whole cast of characters, and that would still not be enough! If you are looking for a light, charming, and nerdy rom-com, this book is perfect for you!!

This was SO light, fluffy and fun to read. The characters were well rounded and entertaining. The store felt like a safe place (which I loved reading about) and the fake dating plot had me giggling 🤭.

*MINOR SPOILERS*
There was a lack of communication but if you hold on you see why. It’s intentional and I appreciated reading that perspective.

This is a totally PG read so it’s perfect for young adults and teens!

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for my ARC, I truly appreciate it!

4.25/5⭐️

★ ★ ★ ★ • 4

Cute young-adult contemporary romance with endearing characters. Perfect if you love opposites attract and fake dating tropes.

Can definitely admit that I picked this up based on the cover alone with absolutely zero prior knowledge on Dungeons and Dragons (other than that it’s a game and a recurring theme in Stranger Things). However, that didn’t really cause any hindrance on following the plot of Dungeons and Drama. This was also my first read from this author, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows the familiar trope of fake dating turning into real interest. I had trouble relating to the main character Riley, who is being punished for her "joy ride" to see a musical by having to work in her father's gaming store. For the majority of the book, she is only concerned about herself and how to achieve her wants. She continues to lie to her parents about her after-school activities and even after learning about health conditions for her father, she focuses more on herself. It takes a medical scare for her to look beyond herself. This title would have a niche audience; those participating will only understand the references to musical theatre and gaming fandoms.

This book was delicious! It was the most perfect light & fluffy fake dating book we all needed. A D&D gamer & a melodramatic high school theatre kid get them selves tangled in a sticky situation which leads to the cutest case of fake dating. I had major high school nostalgia feels while reading this, let’s be honest it would’ve been a girls dreeeeeeam to fake date a guy to get back at an ex. 😆 If you liked: better than the movies, to all the boys I loved, & the duff. THIS IS YOUR BOOK.

I lowered the rating because it did have the tendency to be a BIT melodramatic & the narration from the young MFC felt a little naive and immature at times (to be expected 😉) but that still fit the setting! Such a fun YA romance. 🫶🏼💕

Thank you to Random House Children’s & Delacorte Press for sharing this ARC with me! Will post my review on Instagram on or before 1/9!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

There's something to be said for the right book at the right time, and relatively low stakes teen drama among a fictional D&D group was a much-needed break from some real drama. This book isn't perfect - there are little things in the writing style that bugged me, and at least one thing that made no sense given my experiences with D&D. The group's DM claims he never gets to use his accents because he's always DMing, while I know DMs who would KILL to be able to do accents, so all their NPCs don't sound alike. All of that aside, I had so much fun reading this short but sweet fake dating story that I can look past some minor issues.

This endearing YA novel offers a delightful blend of musical theater and Dungeons & Dragons, catering to the hearts of nerds from both worlds. The sprinkling of fake dating elements adds an extra layer of enjoyment for those who relish such tropes. I found the fake relationship angle charmingly executed; it's a familiar trope that Boyce handled well.

While "fake dating" may sometimes seem frivolous, the exploration of 'does-he-actually-like-me-or-is-it-fake' was skillfully portrayed. As for the family dynamics, it was refreshing to see it as a subplot rather than the typical absent-parent scenario in YA novels. However, some lingering questions about Riley's parents' past and their divorce remained unaddressed, leaving the reader with a sense of frustration. The anticipation of discovering hidden facets about her mother, perhaps a secret nerd identity(?):, remained unfulfilled, which felt like a missed opportunity. Also, the lack of clarity on why the parents divorced and the mother's tendency to blame Riley's father without acknowledging her role in shaping Riley's perception was somewhat perplexing.

The novel leans toward the younger side of YA due to its slightly more juvenile writing style and the characters' age. Best suited for ages 15-16. Despite this, the book holds its charm and offers a light, enjoyable read for nerds of all ages!

Dungeons and Drama will be published on January 9, 2024

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolute delight! Theater girl and gamer boy was adorable! The chemistry between Riley and Nathan had me giggling and swooning. I love how bold and out of her shell Riley is and how reserved Nathan is.

*4.5

This was really cute. The moment when Nathan asked her if they could fake it all the time instead of just asking her out for real was so funny. I love two stupid high schoolers who don't know how to voice their feelings for one another.

I received an arc through netgalley.

All Riley wants is to direct musicals including her high school one. However, everything goes awry when Riley gets punished to work at her father’s game store and then finds out the musical is cancelled. Not to be deterred, she has to bring the musical back, even if it means working with Nathan. She gets a chance to save the musical while he gets to make his crush jealous. It’s a win-win, right?
✨
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Boyce has created the perfect YA romcom for theater and game lovers alike not to mention those readers that love a fake dating trope. While mostly hilarity ensues, I was surprised by the depth of emotion this story brought out particularly in terms of Riley’s relationship with her father and the struggle between what they each believe balanced with Riley’s relationship with her mother. Not shocking at all though was the great banter between Riley and Nathan. The chemistry between those two was intense even when they think they’re just pretending. If possible, the supporting characters were even better than the banter. The D&D group was just so wholesome and fun. However, I must say I feel attacked by as a magic wielding D&D player who’s favorite move is to cast fireball. If you’re looking for a great fake dating YA romcom, add this to your TBR pile.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I am honestly kicking myself for pushing off reading this one so long - what a perfect little romcom! As a musical theatre nerd who also plays DnD (and is a sucker for the fake dating trope), I felt so connected to all of these characters. This book is perfect for all the warm fuzzies, laugh out loud moments, and embracing your nerd-dom moments it brings.

I Loved this book and this book just worked for me. I think as both a theater kid and a former dungons and dragons player. This book gave me both the saving element and also a a enemies to friends to more. I Also loved the complicated family dynamics and also the found family elements. I will not lie i def teared up a tad and just felt so connected to these characers and felt for the theater show they were trying to save! i would love to see more books in this world.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for sending me an advanced reader copy of Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce! All thoughts are my own!***

BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD!

Riley is a lover of all things musical theater and aspires to direct a Broadway show. Riley takes her mother's car without permission to see a Broadway touring production of Waitress with her best friend Hoshiko, and is grounded. Her parents stick her with the worst possible punishment she can think of: working after school at her father's gaming store, Swords and Board Games.

Riley can't waste her time working at the store when she has to save her school's spring musical from being cut from the budget. So she convinces Nathan, a nerdy employee from her school, to cover her shifts. They both exchange to fake date to prove to Riley's ex, Paul, that she can get a boyfriend after their relationship, and to make Nathan's gamer girl crush, Sophia, jealous.

But Riley didn't realize that working at the store would mean joining Nathan's friend group in their Dungeons and Dragons sessions, or that she would actually having fun playing it. But maybe acting to be together is not as hard as they both thought.

Ok, let me start off by saying I LOVE THIS BOOK! This story really related to me in so many ways. I was a theater kid growing up and I wasn't interested in Dungeons and Dragons until I met my husband who introduced me to the game when we were dating. The entire group of friends were so authentic, they reminded me of my friend group that I got to know when I started playing. And the dedication Riley has to keeping the spring musical going is so inspiring. I loved the moment when Riley got her first set of dice that Nathan chose for her (was kind of hoping we were going to see her becoming a dice goblin, cause I can totally see her loving dice collecting.) There is nothing like getting your first set of dice and using them play a character you really love. It was great seeing Riley's parents and their love for her and support for theater. We also got to see the relationship between Riley and her father grow over the course of the book, since they kind of drifted apart after her parents divorce, due to different interests. Her and her mother had the love of musicals, where her father just loved all things gaming. Toward the end, I started getting teary eyed when her father was in the hospital since their last conversation did not go well. It was great to see that in this high stress situation, they were able to reconcile. Seeing Riley's elaborate plan to save the musical succeed was amazing. Seeing how not only her friends coming together to help her, but the entire community, including the customers at the game store help her was absolutely heart warming. Riley and Nathan's fake dating throughout the book was so convincing, they were really selling it, but it was great for them to stop letting everything outside affect them and realize they should be together. This book just stole my heart.

I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves theater or Dungeons and Dragons. Even if you only like one over the other, this book will really make you enjoy both aspects of this book.

Dungeons and Drama is available January 9, 2024!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book was an absolute joy to read. Who would have thought that musicals and gaming would be such a perfect pairing in a fake dating rom-com? I adored Nathan and Riley and how their snarky banter and flirting evolved into real feelings. The side characters were a hoot too! This book gave me all the warm fuzzies and deep happy sighs.

4.5 stars

This review is short and sweet. Such a fun read, very cute. I loved this book. I am looking forward to reading more from Kristy Boyce. Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for this e-arc.

This just wasn't for me. I tend to be really picky about YA romance books so I'm not shocked this didn't work out. I wanted to like this one a lot because I found the concept so interesting and the cover was just SO CUTE, but it was just okay.