Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

This book is really adorable! I adore how, in addition to the romance and gaming, the story explores friendships and significant real-life issues. It's easy to fall in love with the characters because they are so relatable. The story is also very charming and enjoyable. This is for you if you enjoy heartfelt and humorous YA romances. I heartily endorse it!

I was so excited to get an advance copy of Dating and Dragons. I adored Dungeons and Drama, so I was very excited to see Kristy Boyce was writing another.

This book is younger YA but that should not turn you off from picking it up. Our main character joins a D&D group at her new school that has a strict no dating policy between the players. Which is a problem when our FMC realizes the cute boy from school is also apart of the group.

Between the pining over each other, the drama from our FMCs first D&D group, and our FMC’s grandma…the book really keeps you on your toes. This overall is a fun, light hearted and sweet book about falling in love, making friends and dealing with life changes.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a really cute slow burn YA read centralized a lot on Dungeons and Dragons; I personally have never played D&D and don't know much about it but this book really gave me enough to figure out what it's all about. The gameplay with them was great and I was slightly invested in it, their friend groups is amazing and so supportive, I felt for Quinn and what she went through with her old group; her reactions were completely justified. The cooky grandma was slightly annoying at first but she grew on me when she kept calling Logan to help and it brough Quinn and he together. Those two were great together, I love how they put everything in the open with each other and were both suffering together and just honest how they felt and what they wanted to do, those were probably my favorite parts of the book; its refreshing and a great change to have that open communication. The one thing I didn't really care for was Kashvi and Andrew, I saw it coming but was hoping it wouldn't happen, just felt off to me and kind of cliche honestly. But otherwise the book was great and I'd definitely recommend it, it was fun, sweet, supportive, and just over all entertaining.

This is the second book I’ve read this year involving D&D and I cannot get enough of it! There is something so fun about watching the gameplay and seeing how the character’s real life and problems can relate and influence how the game is played.

I really liked our main character, Quinn. She was very relatable and real. Her interactions with all the characters were interesting and genuine. Her feelings for Logan were very well-written and brought me back to my high school days.

While the banter could be fun and cute, sometimes the dialogue was inconsistent in tone and felt unnatural and childish. I also understand the insta-love, but needed more of a reason for why Logan and Quinn should be together. What kept them coming back to each other?

Overall, this was a cute and quick read. I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for more D&D romances.

YA romance, forbidden romance, meddling grandmother, mutual pinning, no third act breakup, found family, D&D campaign

I LOVE Kristy Boyce. If she writes it I'm reading it. I screamed (internally) when I got the notification that I had been approved for an early read of this! I loved Dungeons and Drama, so I was so excited and a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations for it, but I had absolutely no reason to be anxious! Dating and Dragons blew every expectation I had out of the water and did so much better!

Quinn was such an amazing main character. After going through what she did at her old school, being alienated by the people she thought were her friends, she was still able to open herself up to a new friend group and play D&D again. That takes some serious bravery for anyone regardless of how old you are. Her anxieties of breaking up the friend group because of her feelings for Logan and doing something that would make her new friends dislike her is such a real fear. Kristy giving her characters such real, human struggles will forever be my favorite thing about her books.

Also, Logan being mean to Quinn because he likes her is such a teenage thing to do and I was laughing. I saw right through it.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Delacorte Romance for an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

I adored this YA read! Centered around the popular role-playing game “Dungeons and Dragons”, this sweet romance gave full fledged characters and outstanding chemistry between the high school love interests, but also the friendships the main character cultivated in her new town. And granny??? We love a sassy, loving grandma! A perfect little read that made my heart so happy ❤️

I loved "Dungeon and Drama" I read it twice this year! This one was great as great. I absolutely adored this. Boyce has done it again, another five star read. The banter is hilarious. I cannot get enough of Quinn's Grandma.
I don't know how, she writes teenagers so well. I really hope she continues this lineup because it would became an instant auto buy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Delacorte Press and Random House Children for the e-Arc of Dating and Dungeons by Kristy Boyce for exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book was a YA romance about a D&D group. The main character Quinn was very cute and fun to read form her perspective. Logan was adorable and this book was generally just a light, fun read. I really liked the D&D elements of this novel, I got lost when they were doing the campaign and it gave a very nostalgic vibe. Very nicely done.

*Thank you to Delacorte and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I'd argue that there was almost too much D&D in this one?? Bizarre coming from me. I loved the livestreaming angle, especially as a Critical Role fan. I just wanted to see more of Quinn and Logan falling for each other. But that being said, it was still super cute! I liked how tight-knit their gaming group became and how Kristy Boyce focused on Quinn's family. Her grandma easily steals the show and made me want to learn how to play pickleball. This is such a cute and sweet YA for gamers and normies alike.

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce is a wonderfully wholesome story that captures the real struggles many young teen girls face. Such as first crushes, bullying, and the complexities of friendship.

Quinn's journey is heartfelt and relatable as she navigates the challenges of starting over in a new town and school. The way the D&D group becomes a safe space for her to find acceptance and build meaningful friendships adds a charming touch. This book beautifully balances light-hearted moments with important themes, making it a delightful read for anyone looking for a story about growth, belonging, and young love.

My favorite character has to be Quinn's grandmother, Barbara. Every time she appeared, I knew I was in for a good laugh with her witty remarks and quirky antics. Barbara's vibrant personality brought so much charm to the story, and I loved how she always knew how to lighten the mood. Of course, leave it to Grandma to step in as the ultimate matchmaker! Her playful meddling made the romantic moments even sweeter, and her presence added warmth and humor throughout the book.

This is definitely a great youth read

Book Name: Dating and Dragons
Author: Kristy L. Boyce

ARC
Thank you to Random House Children- Delacorte Romance and Netgalley for an ARC

Stars: 5
Spice : 0 (YA)

Anthology Style Series
Fast Paced
FMC POV
Contemporary YA Romance

- Thoughts.
- So much going on
- Eccentric FMC
- Crazy Beloved Grandma
- can't fight this feeling ANYMORE
- No Dating Rule
- some of the MMC’s lines feel very intense for a High Schooler… wish this was a college romance because of these lines
- The dynamics of the friend group were believable and fun
- Finding your people themes

<b>3.25 — 3.5 ★</b>
⊱ <i>young adult romance
⤿ arc review</i>
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

: ̗̀➛ <b><u>i. the plot</b></u>

<i>quinn has just transferred to a new high school and is really eager to make some friends. she decides to join a dungeons & dragons group that not only streams their sessions online but also has some strict rules, including a no-dating policy among players. however, things get complicated when she finds herself attracted to a another player — logan weber, the cute charming guy she met of her first day. on top of that, some former friends from a previous campaign begin causing chaos. now, quinn has to navigate her feelings and decide where her true loyalties lie, both in the game and in her heart.</i>

<b>my thoughts</b> .𖥔 ݁ ˖ </b>┆ i’m gonna start with what’s “negative”. my main (and only) issue with this book is that there was a little too much happening for its length, which took away from us being able to see quinn and logan’s relationship grow. other than that i loved the plot, i just wish we had a it wasn’t as overly packed with plot lines.

· · ─── ·𖥸· ─── · ·

: ̗̀➛ <b><u>ii. characters</b></u>

⟢ <b>quinn</b> i really like her character, but there’s one issue: sometimes she seems a bit dull. i think it’s mainly because she lacks a lot of depth.

⟢ <b>logan</b> excuse me who gave him the right to be so perfect? he had no right. i was giggling and kicking my feet at everything this man said. no but in all seriousness i love him and his love for quinn is adorable

⟢ <b>kashvi, marc, sloane and sanjiv</b> i loved them all, just wasn’t as interested in them as the other characters. i loved the dynamic between quinn and the d&d group and the found family aspect

a little moment for paige. paige when i catch you paige. you better be sleeping with one eye open at night

· · ─── ·𖥸· ─── · ·

: ̗̀➛ <b><u>iii. the romance</b></u>
— <b>minor spoilers in quotes!</b>

⊹ <i>“what could he possibly say other than you’re gorgeous?”

⊹ “you’re addicting, quinn. i talk to you for a minute, and it makes me want to talk for an hour. i touch you for a second . . .” “and i’m going to want more.”

⊹ “then i’d have pressed you against that door and kissed you until the sun went down and i was your only source of heat.”

⊹ “i love her, and if you say she has to leave, then i’m leaving with her.”</i>

the romance had me smiling from ear to ear. their scenes together were the cutest, just one thing i didn’t love was the instant attraction they had for each other but that’s just a personal thing and you could still tell they genuinely loved each other

· · ─── ·𖥸· ─── · ·

<b>bottom line</b> if you’re in search of a cute young adult romance then i’d definitely recommend this book

dating and dragons - Arc Review

i absolutely loved Boyce’s first D&D themed read, and this one is no different. Quinn quickly became another soul character for me, i see so much of myself in her. as an avid D&D player and a lover of the color green, this series has completely stolen my heart. you absolutely do not need to read the first book in order to read this one, but you definitely should because it’s just as good - you also don’t need to have an understanding of D&D to enjoy or know what’s going on. Quinn’s quirky grandmother made me giggle often, and i loved the dynamic between the characters in Quinn’s friend group. i love reading YA for so many reasons, but the way they heal things that young haley needed ( and often still do ) is a big reason. Boyce uses so much wisdom to deal with the emotional fallout of a friendship breakup that felt like balm to my soul. i’m genuinely hoping that Boyce comes out with another D&D themed novel so that i can continue to combine two of my favorite hobbies together 💗

tropes 🎲
- YA romance
- found family
- enemies x lovers
- forbidden romance
- diverse characters

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5

Kristy Boyce writes the most adorable young adult romances out there. I was excited to read this book following Dungeons and Drama, and Dating and Dragons was even better. Boyce does such a great job creating groups of characters that feel very real and relatable.

The romance in this was straightforward, cute and the best kind of fluffy. Teenage me would have loved this book and its nerdy protagonists Quinn and Logan.

I hope more D&D-centric books are to come from Boyce because they’re simply so cute and make such fun reads.

after loving dungeons and drama, i was so excited for dating and dragons! this was such a fun experience to read, i couldn't stop giggling and smiling throughout. a highlight was all the dynamics between quinn's family and her new friend group- they all felt so genuine and i appreciate how the conflicts played out. compared to dungeons and drama, there was a lot more D&D in this book, which i liked- i wish the D&D story tied more into the plot, but i loved seeing quinn's dynamic with logan as they played. logan was so sweet and kind, i liked how their "enemies" to lovers played out, but i would have liked a little more "will they / won't they" versus the instant love that they seemed to have. i love how unabashedly nerdy this book is, and i'm happy that there's books like these that embrace all different sorts of hobbies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC!

Dating and Dragons is a delightful little young adult novel! It's swoon worthy, the characters are adorable, and although I don't know much about D & D, I loved it. This is perfect for readers middle school past middle age (haha). Dating and Dragons is a quick read, but one that it worth the time! I will be picking up Kristy Boyce's other standalone D & D romance as well. Well done!

In Dating and Dragons, Kristy L. Boyce delivers a wonderfully layered blend of romance, friendship, and the nerdy camaraderie of tabletop gaming that feels both authentic and refreshingly relatable. Following her bestselling Dungeons and Drama, Boyce once again gives readers a romance set against the world of D&D, but this time with high-stakes high school dynamics and the vulnerability of starting over.

Our protagonist, Quinn, is immediately endearing. Moving to a new school, she’s eager for a fresh start and connection, leading her to join an established D&D group with an unexpected twist: a no-dating rule among party members. This unique setup immediately sets up a fun, underlying tension—especially when Quinn’s character collides with a cute (and frustrating) player whose chemistry with her is undeniable. But what could have been a light romantic subplot gains depth as Boyce introduces Quinn’s complicated past, with old friends resurfacing and testing her sense of belonging and loyalty in ways that resonate beyond the game.

Boyce’s writing is witty and packed with warmth. She captures the joy, tension, and sometimes clumsy efforts of teenage relationships while honoring the vibrant world of gaming culture. The balance between humor and heart in Dating and Dragons makes for an engaging read, and Boyce gives weight to Quinn’s character growth, showing her journey of self-discovery as she navigates friendship, first loves, and the courage to stand her ground.

Overall, Dating and Dragons is both fun and heartfelt, exploring the intricacies of friendship and love with the bonus of an immersive, geeky backdrop. It’s perfect for fans of romantic comedies, tabletop gaming, and anyone who remembers the thrill (and awkwardness) of finding your people. Boyce has once again delivered a charming and insightful story that’s sure to win readers over.

This is such a cute book! I started and finished reading it in one sitting. Quinn's dilemma of not wanting to break up the friend group by dating a fellow player is such a relatable quandary for anyone who games with friends or just has a really close friend group. I enjoyed how Boyce dived a bit more into the actual D&D games with this book - it was a lovely nod to the fans. I also appreciated how she didn't lean too much into the miscommunication trope; the MC and her love interest communicated with one another far sooner than I had honestly expected, which then perfectly set up the do-we-or-don't-we slow burn romance. Overall, I really enjoyed Dating & Dragons and hope to read more D&D-inspired books from Boyce in the future!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

This is one of the sweetest little romances and as a girl who once played and loved DnD it really took me back to that magical time in my life. I adored the romance and craved the story. It's a special book and I'd recommend to anyone looking for a YA romance with a DnD or similar gaming interest. The characters are well developed and I love seeing how their stories unfold.