Dungeons and Drama was one of my favorite YA reads of last year so I was incredibly hopeful for this one, yet at the end of it all it left me with a sense of disappointment. I truly wanted to like this because I genuinely enjoyed the characters and I’m always very down for a fun friendship group, but the will-they-won’t-they between the main characters got incredibly frustrating almost immediately when we already knew the end result. Maybe it’s because I’m older now but I couldn’t relate to the literal pages of teenage angst in the middle and I think the book definitely would’ve benefited from being shorter - or really, everyone being just a little more honest with each other. Still not a bad read, but definitely middle of the road.

I was SO EXCITED to get the ARC for this book because I LOVED the first one and this was just as good. The writing is so fun and I ate it all right up. The characters and the story are fun and I found this to be such a wholesome and relatable YA read. Just like with Dungeons and Drama, if you are a D&D lover, this book is for you. I loved the new approach that made this one different from the first, yet I was just as emotionally invested. I love this series so much and I can’t praise it enough.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC!

4.5/5 ⭐️
This book brought me so much joy! Was it cheesy at times? Yes. But boy did I melt! This was such an adorably cute romcom. I adored all the characters, though I did want to fight her parents at one point and want to die of embarrassment in others. But this story had me feeling all the emotions. But none more than pure joy as I giggled and kicked my feet. Was the love interest a little too smooth for a teenager? Yes. But I still swooned with a giggle every time. However, my favorite character might’ve been the grandma. I literally laughed out loud for five minutes towards the end. I also loved how the author did the third act breakup. It was refreshingly different than most in the genre.
I deducted half a star because there was some awkwardness between scenes. Or like we were rushing to the next big moment. However, this author clearly is skilled enough to make me forget this slight flaw with just how utterly adorable the rest of it is. So I highly recommend for anyone needing a feel-good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Kristy Boyce's first book, Dungeons and Drama, and this book Dating and Dragons is just as adorable and cute. Lots of D&D rep, great diverse cast of characters, a sweet grandma figure, and one of the sweetest teenage romances possible. The main character is starting over a bit, new school not quite "fish out of water". Logan is such a cinnamon role of a love interest (seriously, no flaws at all). The characters are good communicators, no awkward act three break up, yet a satisfying conflict resolution. Honestly, Boyce is now going to be an auto-read author for me. And this is so age appropriate for the target audience - kissing only!

you guys don’t know how long i’ve been wanting to not only read this book, but review it after i was finished because omg 🩷🩷🩷 i can stress enough how cute and funny and wholesome this book was (and it just might be one of my favorite ya romances in a long time). And i can’t thank it enough for pulling me out of a book slump because i was in the trenches

When i was first accepted to receive an arc, i was beyond excited since i loved the previous book, dungeons and drama, and couldn’t wait to tune into another kristy boyce original, and i can confidently say that it did not let me down! (rileynathan i love u, but i think quinnlogan dethroned you)

I loved everything about this story, from the romance and banter between quinn & logan, to the close friendship quinn shared with kashvi, to the bond quinn had with her grandmother (and how much she rooted for quinn and logan, she was their biggest fan 😭). I swear i could talk endlessly about this book and my favorite quotes (i added two in the collage) and chapters (9, 10, 17, 23 & 28) but we’d be here all day.

If you’re looking for a quick high school read with a bantering, cutesy couple, a d&d live-streaming group, a scheming grandmother, a boy obsessed mmc who is too charming for his own good, and a fmc who was villainized by a former friend-group but ended up finding her people who’d ride-or-die for her, i highly recommend this book 🩷

And of course i made them a playlist because any couple i fall in love with gets a personalized one by me 🙂‍↕️ i hope the top 6 songs convince you to read it

This book was fun and had some heat, but no fire, so to speak. I work in a Catholic High School library, and Romance is what flies off the shelves, so I'm always looking for stuff that won't get me fired. This book was cute, funny, and the D&D theme set it apart from other teen romances. I'll be buying this one for our collection!

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an advanced copy!

I loved Dungeons and Drama, so I was so excited for this next book by Kristy Boyce! I haven't played D&D, but I love any nerd-related romances. I loved all the characters in this one, and the tension between the main character and her love interest was really good. I still think Dungeons and Drama is my favorite, but this was another great gaming romance. :)

that's sure to win you over!

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D and D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she's invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn't your average D and D campaign - this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won't be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering - and bantering - intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can't help wondering: Is Logan's infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!"

Come on, risk it all on the roll of a twenty-sided die!

Such a cute romance novel!!! Absolutely loved it!!! Kristy, you're amazing!!! 😊 I highly recommend this book to any and every romance reader out there. You will not be disappointed.

I've yet to find a Kristy Boyce book I don't love and this is no exception. Dungeons and Drama was absolute perfection and if you're craving something in the same vein with different characters, location, and plot, this is for you! (Though, the "blonde girl dressed as a bard carrying a lute" during the ComicCon costume contest sounded familiar.....) Boyce uses a masterful touch as main character Quinn grapples with anxieties rooted in past toxic relationships while tenuously trusting new ones growing around her. And boy do those new friendships deliver (everyone needs a Kashvi!!). The family relationships felt authentic and I really loved how open Quinn's grandma was about her difficulties aging without letting anything overshadow Quinn's story or struggles. So glad to see D&D playing a central role and the livestream aspect was a fun touch that raised the stakes. And, of course, Boyce is a romance pro! The flirting, the tension, the barely-there-self-control!! So perfectly YA in every aspect; Dating and Dragons is such a fun read!

I adored Dungeons and Drama, so seeing that there was another book in the series had me so excited. I'm a little disappointed that it's not connected to the first book at all aside from title, but this one is a good standalone.

I absolutely loved the D&D aspects to it. The new friend group was amazing, and I definitely related to Quinn's anxiety about her past. This is very much a book about teenagers agonizing over teenage things, which is perfect for its target audience. Kashvi is my favorite character. She's fantastic, no notes.

I had a fun time reading it, and I desperately want Kristy Boyce to write an elderly D&D romance!

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

I ate this up in a day! It was adorable and nerdy and just enough teen angst plus swoon-worthy love to make me not be able to put this book down. At this point, I’ll read anything written by Kristy Boyce because they’re so fun!

Rating: 4.25 stars

This series of standalones speaks to my nerdy soul! Dating and Dragons is humorous and charming. It’s about friendship, family, and not letting the past hold you back from living your life. I love the diverse cast of characters. There is a unique quirkiness to all of them that made them felt very genuine and relatable. I simply love the mischievous, scheming grandmother. Her relationship with our main character, Quinn, was very heartwarming. She was definitely the best wingmate! All I can say is ice cream and pickleball is a great start to any romance!

The forbidden romance in this story was simply adorable and will make you smile. It will give you that heart fluttering, butterfly in your stomach type of feeling. Although I enjoyed the banter and the pinning, I did feel the issue that kept them apart dragged longer than necessary. However, the epilogue was super cute and I enjoyed seeing where everyone was at three months later.

This story also expands more on the D&D game, ranging from character designs as well as details about the campaign. However, I felt it was written in a way where it added to the story instead of taking away from it. The characters in the game playfully parallel the relationships of the characters in real life, and I just love the fun dynamic and comradery of the group.

Overall, I am really loving these stories. So refreshing and fun to read. Such a great balance of romance, gaming, and plot. I hope the author continues to write more romance surrounding D&D or other gaming settings. I would definitely pick them up in a heartbeat!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sweet, swoony YA romance. It's a quick, enjoyable read with a ton of heart. Kristy Boyce is an auto-read for me now. :)

It's so hard to read a second book from an author that's similar in subject matter to an offering you loved SO much without comparing the two. I was surprised to find that this wasn't connected to Dungeons & Drama at all. (I was at first a little disappointed not to get to see those characters again, but I digress.) This one isn't for the casual D&D fan. If I hadn't played in high school and had no working background knowledge, I probably would have zoned out. The campaign does take up a good bit of the plot. If that's not your jam, you may not enjoy this one as much. (I enjoyed it, but fair warning for others reading.) Kids who play are going to eat this up.

It does have a lot of good things going for it. The grandmother subplot is just so fun and I loved the strong female friendship. The whole farm thing was also adorable. While it was definitely cute, it lacked the magic of Dungeons & Drama. It's very short, so I think it probably needed more depth. I didn't feel like I knew Logan at all and even Quinn felt underdeveloped. The romance also got a litttttleeee bit silly at the end there (I'll let you all experience that one for yourself), so it impeded my enjoyment a little. (I even said out loud, "Oh, come on!") I know, I know... teenagers. Even still.

Highly recommend for your classroom library. Grades 7 and up. Completely clean. (YAY! Clean YA!)

I was super excited to get an ARC of this upcoming release, so thanks Delacorte for letting me read early. Opinions are, of course, my own.

4 ☆
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Dating and Dragons is book 2 in the Dungeons and Drama series. This little series is just too cute and very YA!
In Dating and Dragons, we meet Quinn, who is moving to a new high school and wants to make new friends. So she joins the local D&D group with its own livestream and rules. The most serious rule is "No Dating Fellow Party Members." This story was just too cute, and I enjoyed it. It's the first book by this author, and it won't be my last. You don't have to read the first book to read this one.
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Randon House Publishing for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this one. I can totally relate to being the mew kid in town, and I never got to find a group that I fit into. This definitely hit home for me and love seeing stories of acceptance. I love the gaming aspects to this book as always. I have never played d&d but these books make me want to lol. Such a fun story. The romance was cure and exactly what it should be for high school students. Loved this one and love this author!

So stinking cute!!! This was my second Kristy Boyce book and this one takes the cake. It was so well written and didn’t read too young. As a late 30’s woman sometimes it’s difficult to find young adult books that don’t feel too juvenile so this one was such a fun read.

The characters were cute and quirky and carried some sense of maturity while still keeping their essence of youth. I’m not into Dungeons and Dragons but the way Kristy writes about it and her character’s love for it makes me love it. Reading about someone that truly enjoys something is a treat.

This was such a fast paced quick read that you can’t put it down. You just want to cozy up and finish it in one sitting. A must read!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the eARC.

I really do love a cute, quick, gamer centered read. I read Dungeons & Drama by Kristy and it was just as cute. This, like its predecessor is a YA book, so take that as you will. Sometimes I need a break from the heavy and traumatic things I read, so this was just the thing I needed. Thank you to Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for this ARC. Give this a read when it publishes December 31st, 2024!

Dungeons and Drama was one of my favorite books of the year, so I’ve been SO excited for this one ever since it was announced, and I’m so so grateful to NetGalley and the lovely folks at Random House for giving me an advanced copy!

This book was SO stinking cute. I loved how relatable these characters were as a dnd nerd myself. And the dice jewelry? 10/10 would buy all of it.

The characters were so fun. It just reminded me of how badly I want to find a good dnd group to get integrated into, because it is such a fun dynamic, and this book captured exactly what it feels like.

The only downside of this book to me is that the characters are high schoolers, and that’s not anything to hold against the book because it’s YA and I’m not the target audience for it. That being said, I think it’d be fun if the author considered writing more books similar to this style but about college students. I would loooove some college dnd romance novels! But this one and Dungeons and Drama have both been so adorable and so enjoyable and I absolutely adore them both.

I do wish we’d gotten a little bit more of their actual dnd games. I loved their characters and was intrigued by the plot of their campaign, so that would’ve been fun to see more of. But even so, the book was so wonderful and charming as it was.

Thank you again NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: bullying, cyberbullying

I LOVED Dungeons and Drama, and so I though I’d read this one by the same author. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ If you like Dungeons & Dragons (the game), you will probably enjoy this book. I’m neutral about it. I loved it in the previous book because it combined the game and the drama kids. I think this one is just most about D&D, which gives me more insight into the game.

+ The romance is cute, Quinn has joined a D&D group but one person in the group, Logan, doesn’t seem to want her there. It’s only because he doesn’t want his attraction to her to disrupt the group. Also Quinn is trying not to let her past haunt her.

+ The friend group was fun and I thought Quinn’s grandma was quite a personality!

Dislikes:

~ I’m an older reader, so I might just be too old for this kind of book now but there were some angsty, dramatic stuff that made me laugh. This one is definitely for the teen readers!

~ I thought it was interesting how for the most part the attraction is held back but when they couldn’t fight it anymore, Logan was saying some heated stuff and I thought, whoa this guy is 16? That was a little off to me.


Final Thoughts:

Can I just say I love whoever did the book cover for this book and the last one? This is what some of the adult romance books need for their cover art, especially when they do the cartoonish designs. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I loved Dungeons and Drama but I think teen readers will really like this one!