I LOVED this book! I started it late at night read the first chapter and then when I woke up I read it all day to finish it. I really enjoyed Quinn's character and thought that she was very age appropriate with her feelings, actions, emotions, etc. And Logan was really swoony for a high schooler...almost too swoony with some of the things he said...like a really young Mr. Darcy. I enjoyed it being based around a D&D group and gaming in general. I thought all the "drama" was very believable for YA.

The best part of the book for me was the grandmother! Barbara was hilarious! The scenes with her were my favorite and honestly why I'm giving the book 5 stars. That's how great of a character she is in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce is a lighthearted romance that combines the thrill of tabletop gaming with the turmoil of high school. The narrative follows Quinn Norton as she makes her way through a new school and tries to fit in with a D&D group. Boyce immediately conveys the clumsiness of fresh starts and the excitement of entering a world where strategy and imagination clash.

Anyone who has ever used a hobby to meet new people will find Quinn's character immediately sympathetic. Her interactions with the gang, especially her relationship with Logan Weber, give the story more nuance. Their conversations are humorous and tense since Logan is initially the endearing, enigmatic man who soon becomes unbearable. The D&D group's rules, which forbid dating, provide the backdrop for some amusing and ingenious banter that propels the narrative along. Boyce finds the ideal balance between lighthearted competitiveness and emotional attachment as Quinn and Logan's relationship develops.

Boyce's ability to both capture the spirit of gaming culture and make it understandable to readers who may not be familiar with D&D is what truly makes Dating and Dragons stand out. The similarities between the in-game experiences and real-life difficulties give the plot an interesting depth, and the game itself becomes a metaphor for life's uncertainties—rolling the dice and hoping for the best. The plot moves along steadily because of the humor and the underlying love tension.

All things considered, Dating and Dragons is a fun book that combines sentimental moments with nerdy appeal. Readers who enjoy character-driven novels with a hint of fantasy, humor, and romance will adore it. A must-read for anybody who appreciates a new, contemporary take on high school romance, Boyce has created an engaging and accessible romance that will appeal to both gamers and non-gamers.

As a D&D player, I was morally obligated to read this. And also, that cover is just so cute ❤️

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Dating and Dragons follows Quinn starting at a new high school halfway through her junior year. Hoping to make some friends, she joins a D&D group that takes D&D... very seriously. There's some rules she needs to follow if she wants to play. No distractions. No side conversations. No phones. And most importantly, no dating other players.

Listen, I will scream it from the rooftops. The grandma was the best part of this book. Barbara Clarice Norton is who I aspire to be. Watch out because I'll be playing pickleball while trying to set up my granddaughter with the farmer's son in the near future.

Even though I mostly enjoyed it, I found this book to be unnecessarily dramatic while also not being dramatic enough. But I guess that's what being a 16-year-old is all about. The "no dating other players" rule was a large part of the romance, but it just didn't feel that deep to me. (Maybe because I'm the big age of 25.) It was like, "this is tearing me apart, I want to be with you so much... If only we didn't have this stupid rule that no one actually cares about!"

The much more interesting roadblock to Quinn and Logan's relationship was the events surrounding her past D&D group (no spoilers). So, thinking about being in a relationship with one of the players in her new group comes with it's own connotations. Especially as she just moved here and doesn't have many friends. That felt like the much more realistic reason to not date a player.

I just can never imagine 16-year-olds saying anything remotely mature. I remember being 16. I wouldn't have been caught dead being mature. I mean, I sure thought I was at the time, but no, teenage Jackie was operating on an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. I mean, saying things like "I'd have pressed you against that door and kissed you until the sun went down and I was your only source of heat"? No, sorry, a 16-year-old boy did not say that.

Overall, Dating and Dragons was an easy, cute read. However, I just wanted a little bit more out of it, especially those D&D scenes. Because they took the game so seriously, we couldn't have much fun banter or character growth when they played, which was a bummer. I was originally gonna give it 3 ⭐️ but it got an extra half a star because the ending was really cute and had me smiling from ear to ear.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for providing me early access to Dating and Dragons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Pre-read:
A D&D themed romance??? You best believe I swooped at the chance to get this on NetGalley. It’s my lucky day.

this was so damn cute. I’m not usually one for slow burns but this one works SO WELL and honestly the tension and chemistry was perfection. I would compete against Quinn any day for Logan because he is EVERYTHING. He is a full on goner for Quinn and his jealous and protectiveness moments 🥵 I love him. I love him. I love him.

Add to that the amazing cast of characters and there’s so much to swoon about here. I love the nerdy D&D background and scenes, it really feel like the game comes to life and I love how passionate the author is about the game and community.

As with her debut, this book is quirky and funny, lighthearted and sweet, and Quinn as the FMC is such a gem. She’s relatable and scrappy, but also so heartwarming with how she cares about those around her. You can’t help but just feel giddy and positive reading these books and I hope Boyce keeps writing more of them.

Is there a huge emotional driver or deep cut? No, and that’s ok because this is a perfectly good time on its own and so easy to get sucked into. 4.5 stars, thank you so much Penguin Random House for my galley!

I was really excited to get this ARC and it was a pretty good read. This felt a little more YA than Dungeons and Drama and definitely more friends to lovers than enemies to lovers. The slow-burn burned looong. But it was really cute and low stakes.

I loved how well the main characters communicated. I also have never played DND and I love that she didn’t make it over complicated where we couldn’t follow but she also didn’t over explain. This series would be great for teens or preteens too.

I met Kristy Boyce at RomCon this summer and am excited to read more from this series.

This ARC was so cute and I loved seeing D&D being written into a YA romance, I haven't read Dungeons and Drama but now I NEED TO! Young Adult romance is my favorite book genre and this read was an immediate 5 stars from me for its nerdy references that won my heart.

Absolutely darling!

Just as quirky and nerdy and swoony as the last D&D romance.

Quinn and her family move to be closer to her grandma. Quinn is not sad to be leaving her old d&d group. They had a nasty falling out and she’s hopeful to find a friend at her new school maybe even a new d&d party.

✅forbidden romance
✅ dorky teens
✅hilarious grandma
✅ fun campaign
✅ adorable friends which kinda seem like found family

I loved it.
Thanks to netgalley and random house children’s for an eARC.

Dating and Dragons was SO CUTE! The cover caught my eye, but the story itself kept me reading. It really brought me back to my high school days. It's a delightful mix of romance and coming of age. The story itself follows Quinn Norton, who is starting over at a brand new high school after a massive falling-out between her and her old friends. She is quickly invited to join a D&D group comprised of a few other classmates, and is very hopeful that this group will be the key to new friendships.

Things start to look even better when she realizes that Logan Weber, the super cute guy she met on her first day at the new school, is part of the group. However, things take a turn when she learns of the strict rules the group enforces, including no dating other group members... no exceptions!

The first chapter was a little rough for me to get through, but I'm so glad I stuck with it! This book truly was so charming and I couldn't put it down! Quinn and Logan had the cutest banter, and I loved the forbidden romance aspect. I also really enjoyed how Quinn prioritized a close female relationship in the book. As a fellow nerd who grew up not feeling like she fit in anywhere - this was a very heartwarming read and I look forward to reading more by Kristy Boyce!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A super cute YA about D&D!! I think the grandma might be my favorite character.

Thank you NetGalley and RandomHouse for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Just look at how cute that cover is! Now, open the book and you will see that the story is just as cute!!!

This was a truly adorable YA contemporary centered around Quinn, who has moved to a new school and makes friends with a group of people who play D&D together. She likes a guy in the group, but they have a “no dating” policy so there is a slight forbidden romance element to the story.

I loved Logan from the moment he was introduced. They were so cute together and I liked the forbidden aspect of the relationship. There were plenty of will they/wont they moments and plenty of pining as well. I also liked seeing Quinn befriend another girl in the group. It was nice to see her opening up to a friend after going through a bad friendship breakup at her old school.

Quinn’s grandmother stole the show for me. She was so funny and supportive of Quinn and quite nosy but still so cute.

This was a fun contemporary with a lot of heart. It also read super quickly which I appreciated. Kristy Boyce has such a breezy writing style. I really enjoyed this one.

My goodness I LOVED this!

The flirting? The forbidden romance? Quinn's grandma? I just binged this in a day and I couldn't put it down, I loved every minute of it! Quinn and Logan had insane chemistry, and I felt that all of their choices and actions made sense instead of just keeping them apart for the plot. If you liked Dungeons and Drama you will absolutely love this one!


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for allowing me to receive an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kristy Boyce is definitely becoming a favorite author of mine. I absolutely loved her book “Dungeons and Drama”. When I saw that she was releasing Dating and Dragons, I jumped at the chance to get an ARC and was so excited to be approved!

It is a cozy nerdy read and as a fellow nerd who never really fit in anywhere until I found my group of friends this book is so relatable. The characters are super cute and I really enjoyed the story! I really cannot wait to see what this author writes next!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Quirky characters, one meddling old lady, and such a delight!

In my review of Kristy Boyce's Dungeons & Drama, I wrote "a reading slump cure" and her upcoming release, Dating & Dragons, was even better! How is that possible? Well, you just wait.

Quinn is a girl that resonates with nearly every teenage girl in middle and high school. The book opens when she is really struggling--and holding it all inside. This is a girl who, at first, looks like the typical teen who rolls her eyes at her younger brother and is embarrassed by her affectionate and extroverted grandmother. But readers quickly find out that Quinn has so much depth as a character. Her backstory and the whole reason for her story arc in Dating & Dragons.

The other characters, especially Logan *wink* *wink*, were perfect!

My favorite characters:
Quinn, obviously. If you read above, enough said!

Logan, of course! He is a charming, respectful, and, somehow, a sweet talking teen who sweeps Quinn right off her feet. I'm not sure how he made me, a grown ass adult, blush, but it wasn't weird and I loved their chemistry! He comes to her rescue, figuratively and literally. Without giving too much away, he is exactly what a girl like Quinn needs. She's been hurt in the past and betrayed by her old dnd friends and her story arc NEEDED to have a Logan. <3

Sloan: They are the DM of the campaign. At first glance, they appear to be quiet, but you quickly realize that they are super powerful spokesperson of the group and a force to be reckoned with. Everyone respects them and their individuality but Quinn really makes a point to highlight Sloan's uniqueness. I love that they had a Quinn. Overall, Sloan is a person that you don't want to cross but also would be so lucky to have on your side.

Andrew: the younger brother you really hate in the beginning because it appears that he's the secret favorite and their parents' world not-so-secretly revolves around him. *no spoilers* but he has a great redemption arc.

In reading Dating & Dragons, be prepared for one of the best YA romances with age-appropriate spice, complex characters, and a unique plot with a strangers to enemies to friends to lovers trope. <3 <3

***Thank you Delacorte Press and Kristy Boyce for providing me an e-ARC of Dating and Dragons.***
All opinions expressed are my own.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this prior to release.

I read the previous book, saw potential, and when this one dropped I had to give it a read. I am happy to say the story is much better, stronger, and full of better swoon-y moments. Perfect for D&D fans that are girls.

You have poc / non binary / and cis relationship (main couple) in this. I felt the story did well with the 'forbidden' (to the group) relationship struggle the ML and the FL had.

The family and friends all had something to do with the plot ; the grandmother was a hoot, too.

Thankfully, there was no 'issues' between the ML & FL. They were mature enough and had a great support system of friends. The book also ended on a note in which if the author wanted to explore a secondary story with other characters in the friend group or them in general it could work!

OMG. This was so cute. Logan and Quinn were absolutely adorable. I loved the D&D. I loved the friends group. I loved the grandma. Those cute scenes of Logan and Quinn fighting their attraction and chemistry had me blushing. This is probably my fave YA romance ever. 💓

I might be too old for this book. Don't get me wrong, I love a little teenage drama. The will-they-won't-they. The angst and longing. But this one just felt a little too serious. I do love the D&D, although I wish there was more of it. Overall a cute book, but maybe just not meant for me.

Another hit from Kristy Boyce. She writes such relatable, nerdy teenagers and I love it every time. While this one is not a sequel or even related to Dungeons and Drama, I will ALWAYS recommend that. So to anyone who sees this and hasn't picked that one up yet, please do!

Anyway, this book follows MC, Quinn, as she moves to a new school and finds a new D&D group to play with. I loved seeing her find her people and could absolutely relate to letting past friend group drama keep her skeptical of making new friends.

Her romance with the LI, Logan, was sweet and filled with chemistry from the very first interaction.

Whatever Boyce is putting in her books, I will devour every time. I can't wait to force this one on all my friends now.

Where to even begin with this review? I absolutely adored it and almost finished it in one night because I was so hooked. I own and have read Dungeons and Drama, so when this book was announced, I knew I had to try my luck at getting an Arc copy. I found myself relating to Quinn the most and loved the insight to her inner monologue. Also, Logan is being added to my favorite male characters, I loved how fleshed out he was and how he added to both the story and other characters' arcs.

Quinn's grandma had me laughing everytime she had a scene and also helped Quinn alot.Finally,The D&D scenes were so well written it felt like I was actually playing with them and who doesn't love that feeling.
I don't want to spoil too much, so I will stop here, but honestly, I implore readers of all ages to check this out.

One of my most anticipated releases of the year and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Kristy Boyce writes the most spectacular, delightful, hilarious, AND swoony true YA novels and they have become forever favorites of mine.

I love how her casts of characters are diverse and they’re real teens working through relatable young adult life experiences - moving and transitioning to a new school, toxic friendships, crushes, sibling squabbles, and making new friends. I really appreciate how Boyce balances these topics with lighter moments, and ultimately reminds young adult readers to find their people AND that sports are not for everyone and that’s okay (nerdy, former music kid here).

I adored this friend group and how supportive they were of each other, always having each others’ backs… even if they referred to the 80s as being ancient. I also loved watching Quinn’s relationship with her parents deepen and evolve - I was protective of Quinn in the beginning when her parents were pushing her to get involved in a sport, and I’m so glad they took an interest in her D&D games and saw her creative spark.

All of the characters were abundantly charming, but it was Quinn’s grandmother who stole the show for me. She was hilarious and I never thought a scene where two seniors crushing teens at pickleball could be so funny - I was in tears from laughing so hard.

I cannot recommend these books enough and truly love how they are true YA books and there is no aging up. Once again, I laughed, swooned, and was utterly charmed by Boyce’s spectacular storytelling and had a total blast reading!

As a huge D&D nerd who grew up moving around a ton this book hit me with a type of longing I didnt know I had. It was amazing to see an experience like this pan out. I loved how it was played out and all the characters felt so well rounded to me that I found myself wanting to learn more about everyone not just the main characters. Loved stepping away from my comfort books to read this book and cannot wait to see what else Kristy Boyce cooks up.