Thank you Netgalley for giving me access to this book. All thoughts are my own. A really cute and relatable read. I loved all the references to DnD. I love the low-key forbidden love aspect with the love interest. I thought the main character was very relatable and just overall loved her. I loved the side characters as well and the diversity of them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.75/5 stars

This was another delightfully adorable and nerdy YA romance from Kristy Boyce and I really enjoyed it! Fast and easy read that you can easily fly through while laughing and smiling along the way.

My complaint here was that it was insta-love but drug out....whereas in Dungeons and Drama the romance was there and central to the plot but not THE central plot, the 2 love interests in Dating and Dragons were instantly attracted to each other but then couldn't date for most of the book...but it was still ALL the main character could think about. That and rehashing their trauma with their old friend group (and seriously, screw them).

It just felt a little repetitive....but I still absolutely loved it and will continue to read most anything Kristy Boyce writes!

Kristy Boyce does it again!! Dungeons and Drama was such a pleasant surprise this year, so I was super eager to get my hands on Dating and Dragons. And it did not disappoint! I loved how fast-paced this book was without detracting from the main characters' arcs and the development of their relationship. The cast of characters was so fun - I'm obsessed with Quinn's grandmother. This was a sweet, romantic read that took me back to high school. 10/10 would recommend!

I typically don't go for YA books anymore and honestly i forgot this was a YA book when i requested the arc through Net Galley. This book was very cute and wholesome, and it honestly took me back to feeling like a teenager again. I think if i was 16 and read this would have absolutely ate and been 5 stars and i would be recommending it as my newest favorite rom-com to everyone. The characters were cute, the chemistry between Quinn and Logan was undeniable.

My only issue, and i am all for inclusivity, is using the pronouns They/Them when writing about a GROUP of characters and using those pronouns for only one of them was super confusing at times.

The cutest thing I've ever read! And who doesn't love DND!!!

I am not a huge romance person but, this YA book had me wanting to read more!!!

In DATING AND DRAGONS, Quinn Norton and her family move in the middle of the school year to be closer to her grandmother. It's not easy to make new friends, so Quinn joins a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) group at her new high school. But they're not your average D&D crew and have a strict no dating group members rule. This puts a roadblock in Quinn's attraction to Logan, the cute, nice guy she met on day one at school. Despite fighting the attraction, the chemistry remains. Quinn must decide whether to give up D&D and lose her friend group or abide by the rules and lose out on a love match.

After enjoying DUNGEONS AND DRAMA, I had high hopes for more lower stakes, nerdy YA romance. In short, this one definitely delivers. However, I felt the beginning was a little stilted, mostly with respect to the dialogue. Quinn overexplains things, which made me feel as though the reader couldn't be trusted to infer what was going on. Then again, perhaps this was also a way to portray Quinn's nervousness during her first week of school. Regardless, once Quinn becomes more settled, the story fell into its elemence and kept a good cadence.

In fact, I ended up liking DATING AND DRAGONS just a bit more than DUNGEONS AND DRAMA for several reasons. First, Quinn's grandmother is hilarious. She reminded me of Devi's grandmother from Netflix's Never Have I Ever. She speaks her mind and has a mischievous streak, particularly when it comes to matchmaking. Second, I love that this book portrays more of the role playing element in D&D. I have never played D&D, but it really made me interested to learn more. It was also a great way to show the group dynamic as well as the angry tension between Quinn and Logan.

This book also has excellent tension, which surprised me considering this is a YA romance. As an adult reader, though, I had to suspend some disbelief that a 16-year-old boy would have the sense to flirt in that particular way. The dialogue is something I instead expect to see in a New Adult or Adult romance. I enjoyed it, but I don't think it was realistic.

I also liked that DATING AND DRAGONS tackled group friendship drama. Before switching schools, Quinn fell out with her original D&D friend group. I don't want to spoil the reasoning, but her ex-friends scapegoated and slut-shamed Quinn. Despite some progress in current Western society, I know this kind of stuff still happens, including with adults. I thought the author, and ergo Quinn, handled it well. Quinn's new friend group also lends her the confidence and support to move past that drama.

Overall, I definitely recommend DATING AND DRAGONS to anyone who appreciates a focus on both D&D and YA romance. It's relatively low stakes with a satisfying ending. And it focuses on following your passion, both in hobbies and relationships, as well as positive and affirming friendships.

Dating and Dragons is the perfect blend of cuteness and sincerity. I loved the friendship dynamics, the sweet grandmother trying to set up her granddaughter, and the relationship progression. I loved that there were actual healthy friendships juxtaposed against her former friend group.

I think it's a phenomenal young adult book, and I can't wait for my daughter to read it after it is published. These books make great mother-daughter reads. There's so much heart and growth. You'll be kicking your feet one moment and laughing so loud the next. This book has the kind of FMC I would have especially loved as a teenager. Definitely a fantastic book for fans of Dungeons and Dragons and Comic Cons.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and the author for the free e-ARC. This is my honest review!

I absolutely loved Dungeons and Drama and was extremely excited for Dating and Dragons! Dating and Dragons is a stand-alone and has a seperate cast of characters then Dungeons and Drama. This story follows Quinn who just switched schools mid-year and worried about once again, being the new girl. After having to leave her old school and "friends" behind, she luckily comes across someone with the same interests in D&D as her! However, will Quinn run into the same hiccups she had with her previous D&D group? Only time will tell if these new friends will turn on her or if she will finally find a group where she belongs.

I ADORE Quinn! She's quirky and shy but also really blossoms when playing D&D! Honestly the whole case of characters in this book are amazing and each had such a unique element to bring to the friendship! Logan is not only super charming but respectful and I love how he boosts Quinn when she is feeling unsure of herself. Sloan might be my favorite of the friend group as they give the "sees alls, and you better not cross them" vibe! The twins Kashvi and Sanjiv are extremly fun bouncing off one-another and Mark gave such a laid-back but also the friend-group's goofball!

While I am no longer part of the YA genre's target audicence, I still wholly enjoyed the story. I think this would be a fantastic read for any young adult looking to fit in and find friendship but also still enjoyable for adults who want to reminisce finding that perfect group of friends with the same interest as you!

Such a good book! I was invested in the characters the whole way through and I never lost interest in them. Just like the first book I had fun getting I know a new set of characters and watch their personalities evolve. It was a slow burn and because of the context of why they can’t together it makes sense. I do wish things progressed a little bit quicker.
Overall I really enjoyed all the nods to geek culture and D&D and I recommend others to check this one out when it’s published.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an early release copy of Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce.

After enjoying the first book in the series (it can be read separate) Dungeons and Dating I was very excited to find out that there was going to be a next book! I’m happy I got approved for this book, I really enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons. The group dynamics for the dnd game were cute, I enjoyed all of our characters especially the twins! The roleplay scenes were some of my favorites aside from the romance and feel good friendship scenes.There were also plenty of funny scenes in here that had me laughing, these characters have such a great feel good feeling to them that I’m sad to see them go so soon.

I was a little iffy with Logan at first but he honestly grew on me rather quickly, compared to the first book the romance here feels more fleshed out yet awkward but in a good way however I do feel that I liked the first book better. It’s just something with the fake dating element that had me in a choke hold. The only thing I’m a little disappointed about thought it could have been left out since this is the arc version are the little swords and dice illustrations that were included in the first book as chapter headers/chapter breaks. I miss the illustrations, I feel they added a bit more to the nerdy vibes these books have. Overall I’m very happy with this book and I hope we get more books out of this series!

As someone who played a lot of D&D as a teenager, and had a fair amount of relationship drama while doing it, Dungeons & Drama was an absolute blast to read. I’m glad to report that Dating & Dragons, Kristy Boyce’s newest D&D-focused romance, is similarly delightful. Though this one lacked just a little of the sparkle of her first, I still had a wonderful time and absolutely devoured this (speaking of which, be warned: this book will definitely make you crave diner pancakes). I would have enjoyed the whole thing being fleshed out a bit more, but at the end of the day I couldn’t put it down, and what more could you want from a book?

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This cutesy YA read had me transported back into my high school days, feeling like a giddy lil teen again. I had read Dungeons and Drama previously and loved it, so knew I needed to pick this one up as soon as I could!

Quinn, our FMC, is thrilled to find a welcoming close-knit group of friends following her mid-year move to a new school. She joins their D&D campaign, accepting a few rules in doing so.. no distractions, no cancellations, and absolutely no dating another member of the group. These rules prove a bit harder to follow than Quinn originally thinks, especially if her Grandma has anything to do about it.

The D&D elements explored throughout the story were fun and added a lot to an already enjoyable, heartwarming young love story. This is a story for many young people, like myself, who just don't/didn't fit that typical mold in high school. A feel good read for anyone, especially those with a nostalgic lil heart like me.

Thank you to Net Galley & Random House Children's for the opportunity to read an E-ARC of Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This book was cute. However it felt short. It felt like their friendship was well developed but their love wasn’t. It could use a little more development on the love aspect.

“Different doesn’t mean bad ... sometimes different is better.”

A new town, a new school, and a new friend group are some of the first things that greet Quinn, a junior in high school, when her family moves closer to her grandma. Quinn is delighted to find that Kashvi, the one friend she has made since starting her new school, is interested in D&D like her and that her group is looking for another player. When she accepts the invitation to join their campaign, she is both shocked and thrilled that Logan—a cute boy with whom her meddling grandma orchestrated an awkward encounter—is also a part of the D&D group. However, Quinn soon finds out that this group has many rules, the most important being this: don’t date anyone in the group. As the distance between Logan and Quinn begins to diminish, Quinn fights her feelings for Logan to keep her new friends that she’s grown to love.

As someone who is unfamiliar with D&D, Dating and Dragons was such a fun read that I didn’t mind my gap in knowledge. That being said, while the target audience for Dating and Dragons is D&D fans, I would have appreciated more explanations or even a small D&D guide in the back of the book. I really enjoyed all of the characters, but some of them did not feel as flushed out as they could have been. Quinn and her brother, Andrew, were especially interesting to me, but I would have enjoyed a more thorough exploration of their relationship. Throughout the book, Quinn feels like her parents favor her brother, and the conflict is resolved as she grows closer to Andrew and finds out her parents are trying to be supportive in their own way. Despite this, she never fully addresses her concern with them. I think including a conversation between them would show younger readers that they can safely voice their feelings to their support systems. My absolute favorite part of the book was Quinn’s grandmother, who was effortlessly funny and the perfect wingwoman! Dating and Dragons is the perfect read to show that embracing change can often lead to the best outcomes.

GENUINELY THIS MADE ME SO HAPPY KRISTY I LOVE YOUUUUUU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL MIND!!!!!!!!! I loved dungeons and drama so so much, and this book was no different. The vibes were incredible and the characters were some of my favorites I’ve read in a YA romance genuinely ever???? As with the first one, the concept of these books is such an amazing one to come to life through these pages and THE GAMEPLAY OF D&D IN THIS?? I was smiling and giggling my heart out from start to finish. CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH!!!!

This was so cute! I loved how much focus the friendship got. It was really great to see teenagers valuing friendships. I totally got why Quinn was wary to start something with Logan. A boyfriend is great but a friend group is so precious and not something to hastily throw away. Logan was such a sweetheart and I was just as torn as Quinn when he turned out to be very sweet and thoughtful. I had a great time with this cute, closed door romcom and recommend it even if you're not a big Dungeons and Dragons person! All the lingo was explained and as someone with only passing DnD knowledge, I never got confused.

Super cute book, but definitely on the younger side of YA. I liked the first book so I was happy for this one. However I was really hoping it would be about one of the characters in the first book. If you like DandD then this book will be a cute read.

This was such a fun book! I recently just started playing Baldurs Gate 3 which is a take on D&D so I really enjoyed this more than I would have before playing the game. This was a super cute rom com and I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Such a cute high school love story that touches on family bonding, family issues, friendships and drama. I loved this story just as much as I loved Dungeons and Drama!

𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 ✨️𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑✨️ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬

Thank you @delacortepress and @kristylboyce for the #gifted arc to travel all over the states to be read by a bunch of different book influencers. You've made all of our holiday seasons bright. [PUB DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2024]

You guys know I am obsessed with Dunegons and Drama, that romance is easily one of my favorites of A L L T I M E then Kristy announced "Dating and Dragons," your girl nearly lost all her marbles.

I can confirm that she lives beyond the standards. This new D&D is everything you may want, all wrapped in a cutie package.

The first thing I want to mention is that there's a TON more actual campaign play between Quinn & her friend group which I ✨️LOVED✨️ It made me want to start a deep search in Jax to find a group to join a campaign with. (Anyone out there looking for a Druid Elf who talks to animals *wheeze*)

I think my all-time FAVE thing about these nerdy lil cutie romances is that they're these light stories that will bring joy to your soul. I constantly found myself giggling and smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt while I was reading.

Don't even get me started on all the characters she sparkles into your world unsuspectingly... ✨️GRANDMA✨️ is the best & I truly cannot wait for all of you to meet her!!!! Eeeee!!!

If you're someone who deep down knows you're the ✨️BIGGEST NERD✨️, has felt the anxiety of going to a new school, loves Mythical creatures and needs a little bit of sweet in your life, Kristy's new book is what you N E E D!!!

There's something to be said about a book that can completely wipe away your stresses of the day & "Dating and Dragons" did that for me.

🩵 Dungeons & Dragons, duh
🩵 Critical Role
🩵 Forbidden Love
🩵 Slow Burn
🩵 The BEST Fictional Grandma
🩵 Baby Cows
🩵 That Going to a New School Feeling
🩵 Nerdy
🩵 Green Pepper Spice
🩵 The Lightest & Brightest Read