4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's for this advanced copy! You can pick up Dating and Dragons on December 31, 2024.

Kristy Boyce has done it again. She's just a master at crafting adorable, nerdy YA romances that pull at your heart strings. I love the new characters she introduced and how their journeys explored friendships and how difficult it is to navigate teenage life when your friendships implode. Quinn and Logan were adorable, and very angsty given their forbidden romance. But I do think the best parts of this book were the in between moments with Quinn and her brother, her grandma, and Kashvi. It just felt like a comprehensive look into how these relationships can change and evolve as people grow older, and it just made me cry a little, okay!!

I will eat up any and all books Kristy writes, and this book was no exception. Definitely pick this up if you want forbidden romance, D&D nerds, she falls first but he falls harder, forced proximity, and found family!!

OHHHH MYYYYY GOOOOODNESSSSS!!! As if I wasn’t already still recovering from the absolute perfection that reading Dungeons and Drama did to me months ago, this book put me right back. It’s official. IM OBSESSED!!

This plot and storyline is so cute! Quinn moves to a new town after going through a brutal best friend breakup and luckily makes a connection with a local D&D group that also happens to live stream their sessions. And she has an immediate spark with a boy named Logan, who also happens to play in this same D&D group. But the catch? They have a rule that prohibits any dating between any of the fellow players…
The tropes are friends to lovers, forbidden love, and he falls first.

This was such a fun and quick read, and I loved every single second of it. I’m not the biggest fan of YA Romance as a genre, but I can’t help but give this book 5 whole stars. 10/10 recommend.

I am beyond grateful that NetGalley and Random House Children’s gave me the opportunity to arc read this, because I don’t know if my poor heart would’ve been able to withstand waiting until December for the release date.

Compared to Dungeons and Drama, this one started out a little slower for me. However, I started to warm up to the main character Quinn (especially with her hilarious grandmother).

I've loved the family dynamics in Boyce's books and this is no different.

The relationship building between Quinn and Logan was well done.

4.75 STARS’ ⭐️

The scream i let out when my ARC request was approved! As a lover of this first book, the second installment has so much quirks and swoon worthy moments I loved seeing in Dungeons & Drama. The romance between Quinn and Logan are give me butterflies, with moments of genuine connection and emotional depth. Their chemistry is palpable, making readers root for their journey from the very start! Definitely a will they wont they situation ~ and most of all I love the friendships and group dynamics of their d&d group. Overall this was an entertaining read and fans of the first book will definitely enjoy this one!

A solid YA romance! I think my middle school self would’ve enjoyed this most. It felt a little young for what I was reading in high school (Twilight, Hunger Games, the final Harry Potter books). That being said, the friend group was fun, the Dungeons and Dragons sessions were interesting, and Logan was a cutie. I also respected Quinn’s loyalty to her friends and dedication to following their D&D group rules for the good of the team. Overall, this book was low angst, kisses only, lots of sweetness.

Funnily enough, my favorite thing about this book is the cover. Both it and the preceding book’s covers are DARLING.

I wish I could have skipped the dating and gone straight to the dragons.

The D&D sessions were so intriguing, especially for someone who knows very little about the game. It was almost an additional subplot and I appreciated the attention to detail in this part of the story. This was done much better than in the first book, but unfortunately it was the only improvement from its predecessor.

The main characters were so bland. There was no chemistry because they had no personality. The plot was predictable and boring. Outside of the D&D campaign, nothing really happened. The supporting characters were somewhat interesting, and grandma was funny, but it wasn’t enough to support the whole book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

While I don't know a whole lot about D&D, the nerdiness of this book spoke to me. It is a very sweet and clean YA romance that is such a heartwarming story. I wish I had a group of friends like this when I was in high school!

Two things drew me to this book: the pretty cover and the promise of Dungeons & Dragons. The adorable romance, friendships, and family relationships are what convinced me to stay. If you want a heartwarming story about two nerds in love, Dating and Dragons is right up your alley.

I may not know that much about Dungeons & Dragons, but the game has always intrigued me. The meetings where the D&D group got together to play were my favorite parts of the book. The cast’s passion for the game is infectious, fun, and wholesome. I love how close they are and how Quinn builds a friendship with each person individually.

I also appreciated that Quinn and Logan don’t play games (of the mind variety). As they do their best to figure things out, their honesty and straightforwardness is utterly refreshing. Their banter and dynamic was super cute, too!

As a whole, I really enjoyed the book. A recommendation: read this wrapped in blankets with a bowl of ice cream. It is a perfect experience.

Adorable YA romance again! This is a second book for this author and she did it again. i really enjoyed dungeons and drama and thought it was adorable. This is very YA, so if you are not looking for that, I would not recommend, bUT if you are looking fro YA cutesy fun romance, this is it! This is a completely different set of characters and story, so if you did not read the Dungeons and Drama book you can still read this one!

This is an extremely wholesome, clean, fun, and cute YA romance that adds bits of that quirky and nerdy elements of D&D and geeky ness into a book. This is a highschool romance, so issues like miscommunication and understanding are a lot bigger than the 'adult' world. so keep that in mind too.

I would recommend this for anyone in YA 'age' group or anyone who just wants to read something wholesome in the YA Genre!

Also a side note, I loved Quinn's grandmother, she was hilarious and added so much fun to the story!

I loved, loved, loved this book! A cute, geeky YA rom-com done perfectly! Plus, getting to learn a little about how D&D is played was a bonus since I’ve wanted to play but have always been intimidated. The writing and story pull you in immediately and keep you hooked wanting to read more. Very well done and a fun read!

An absolutely delightful romcom about finding one's place in a livestreaming gaming campaign. A lot of unsubtle yearning and friction, a touch of forbidden romance, and some heartwarming friendships make this a really fun read.

5/5! ⭐໋⭐໋⭐໋⭐໋⭐໋

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ I saw that this author had another book called 'Dungeons and Drama' and I hesitated reading it because it seemed too 'YA' for me. To be fair, I'm not a big contemporary romance girly to begin with, these kinds of book aren't ones I normally gravitate towards. BUTTTT, I am a lover of D&D, all things geeky & nerdy, and I spent most of my high school days at the local Denny's playing Magic: The Gathering and competing in video game tourney's with my group of friends. ( the good days (╥ ω ╥) )

What a giant hug this book was for me.

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ The dynamic between Quinn and Logan was fun, fresh and the perfect slow burn. All the characters were enjoyable, and grandma is definitely my spirit animal. YA or not, I think this is a refreshing, feel-good book that everyone can appreciate, especially if you love D&D. I am definitely gonna have to go back and read her other D&D inspired book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this e-arc!

I got this book as an ARC through NetGalley (thanks!) and I loved it. I grew up reading a lot of YA, but now normally I stick to more adult romance. However, this book sounded so interesting from the bio that I HAD to request it. I’m so happy I got a copy because this was so cute. I love D&D and you could tell that the author either knew what she was talking about or did the research and that made it so fun to read.
It was a perfect little YA and the chemistry was so unreal it had me kicking my feet
5/5 ⭐️
4/5 🤗 (no big spice since it’s a YA, but the tension and even the kissing scene???? Omg so good)

I absolutely ADORED this book!! It was everything!! From page 1 I was immediately hooked! I laughed out loud, I cried (of course, what's new?), I screamed, I blushed, this book was such a fun time! This series has been super fun to read but this one is definitely my favorite so far! I loved Quinn and Logan, and watching them become friends but know they were into each other and trying to stay away, oh the pinning was GREAT. I loved the friend group, how funny and supportive they all were, it made me wish I had a friend group like that when I was in High school. It's sort of healing to read about teenagers finding their footing in such a weird time in their life and finding friends with similar interests even if its something that others would classify as "dorky" or "nerdy", it just made me wish I wasn't so scared of liking what I liked when I was younger to make other people like me. I loved Quinn's family, her grandmother was so funny and such a matchmaker, I laughed every time she was on the page (well except for the accident, I was like MAAAAM PLEASE THAT'S NOT SAFE!). Logan was such a sweetheart, also he earned major brownie points when he was stern in telling Quinn that she owed nothing to anyone, even him! This book was so cute, and I hope others enjoy it as much as I did! Overall such an incredible book, it even makes me want to learn how to play D&D!

This was such a lovely little YA romance! I loved how authentically Quinn and Logan grew together as well as Quinn’s personal struggle to grow and adapt in her new setting! This book really focuses on family, friendship, and transitioning into new stages of life through the lens of a high school DnD group!

I do wish we got to know more about Mark, Sloane, and Sanjiv. There was so much good DnD campaign scenes and you can see the banter between the characters, but I kept wanting to know more about Mark and Sloane’s characterization! I think it would’ve expanded the whole scope of the DnD group as a whole more!

But I think Kashvi and Quinn’s friendship was so real and authentic and I loved the relationships between all the characters and their siblings! This is an adorable, nerdy romance that any young adult would have fun with!

this book was such an easy and delightful read. Part of me was hoping it was a direct sequel to Dungeons and Drama, but I was surprised that it was a completely different set of teens. therefore, this book can be a standalone.

I also liked that this book had such a strong message of friendship as the new group did everything they could to protect the protagonist, even without knowing all of the details.

The romance tension was done just right for a clean romance and YA book. I actually love seeing the build up like this.

Overall such a cute book and beautiful cover.

I plan to share this title with my instagram followers a few days before publication in December.

Oh my gosh I’m obsessed with this series! These characters are so cute, and Kristy has the ability to write teenagers perfectly. The teenage angst is written so well, and these characters feel so realistic. It’s so much fun, and seeing Quinn connect with these friends was so nostalgic. Finding a group like that and doing something you love together, is truly such a joy and getting to see Quinn do that in a new town and get past the drama of an old friend group is so good to see, I almost feel like a proud parent watching her. Just like I said about Dungeons and Drama, this book reads like a Disney channel movie in the absolute best way! The writing style is right up my alley, the characters are fun, the story is nostalgic, and I’m thrilled that I was able to snag an arc copy from NetGalley! Thank you to NetGalley, and Random House for the opportunity to ARC read this latest story in the DnD series!

Quinn's journey into the world of D&D is a whirlwind of emotions, and I couldn't help but feel every twist and turn. Her chemistry with Logan is electric, igniting a tension that kept me on the edge of my seat. Their banter? Pure gold! It’s the kind of playful back-and-forth that makes your heart race and your cheeks flush. But beneath the witty repartee lies a deeper exploration of connection and vulnerability. Quinn’s struggle to find her place while navigating this complicated friendship felt so real, reminding me of my own high school days. The stakes are high, and the twenty-sided dice are only part of the thrill, it's the risk of opening up and the fear of heartbreak that makes this story resonate. I was utterly captivated by their journey, and I can’t get enough!

Book Review: Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce is the delightful teenage romance I wish I had read in high school! Filled with humor, charm, and heart-fluttering moments, this book is a wonderful addition to her Dungeons and Drama series. Boyce masterfully weaves a relatable teenage world brimming with budding romance, D&D livestreams, meddling grandmas, and an adorable baby cow.

In this story, we meet Quinn Norton, a teenager navigating the challenges of moving to a new town and starting at a new school. With the loving and humorous support of her spirited Grandma, Barbara, Quinn’s first day takes an unexpected turn when Barbara insists on capturing the moment with a photo. Enter Logan Weber, who steps in to help—and this seemingly simple act sparks an adventure for Quinn as she makes new friends, joins a new D&D group, and bravely confronts her past.

Reviewer's Overall Thoughts:
• Boyce’s portrayal of teenage life is both believable and relatable. The diverse cast of characters feels authentic, and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know them. I’m hoping some of these characters return in future installments!
• As a newcomer to Dungeons and Dragons, I was captivated by the way the livestream sessions were depicted. The chapters focusing on these sessions became my favorites, brimming with excitement, fun, and unexpected turns.
• Geared towards a younger audience, the romance is tastefully handled and age appropriate. The balance between romantic elements and the overarching plot is skillfully maintained, which I greatly appreciated while reading.

In summary, Dating and Dragons is a charming, heartfelt read that appeals to both teenagers and older readers alike. For older readers, especially fans of books like Ali Hazelwood’s Love Theoretically or Love Hypothesis, I believe this book is thoroughly enjoyable and I highly encourage you to check it out. I look forward to reading future books in this series!!

Thank you to Random House Children’s Publishing, Delacorte Romance, and to NetGalley for this electronic advanced reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.

Kristy, my girl, where were you when I was a teen in desperate need of YA novels like this? I wish I had something this wholesome and healing when i was going through the throes of puberty. I knew i loved Kristy after Dungeons and Drama, but this has cemented my status as her number one fan (seriously, I’m making t-shirts, hit me up about it)

This story was delightful, I adored both main characters (i think they were so much more relatable and likable than her first book). And even though reading about high school kids tossing around the L word (love—not lesbians, though I’m here for that) isn’t usually my jam… dang it. it if this wasn’t the most entertaining, adorable story. I stayed up much too late, kicking my feet at the witty banter and the sweet sweet slow-burn tension. Can’t recommend this enough for any fans of D&D, YA, slow-burn, forbidden romances.

Thank you so much, Kristy and Random House for the ARC. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next! (please let it be NA D&D romance!)