For this review, I receieved an E-ARC through NetGalley. Thank you!

What happens when a small town romance meets a the excitement and pure joy of a group of new D&D nerds learning the game? Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods, that's what!

This story follows Sadie as she moves briefly to Texas to live with her best friend while she figures out where to take her life next. Part of that transitional period is joining her best friend's new D&D campaign for new players - which includes the charming and effortlessly handsome Noah as the campaign's bard, Loren. The chemistry is immediate, but the burn is just slow enough to feel satisfying, without dragging the burn on for ages. Woods has found a beautiful balance of it being "just right." This is a story wherein both the FMC and MMC are both genuinely relatable and likable, which is no small feat for an author to make you understand them so thoroughly, yet giving them enough flaws to feel real. Similarly, I can say the very same about the cast of characters for the story's campaign. Woods does a phenomenal job of fleshing them all out enough to make them feel more than one note side pieces both in and out of game. The fact that I came away caring about all the major players says something about the skill of the author; it's rare that I want the best for ALL characters in a story, not just our leads.

Something I didn't anticipate was that the story is both told from Sadie's point of view as she navigates finding herself in a world after leaving life in New York City AND in gameplay, from Jaylie's point of view as she adventures off with the rest of her party to seek what they promised to return from the man who hired them. It was so unique to read the real world and then flip a page and find myself nestled neatly back into the fantasy. Often in books, when D&D is mentioned, it is an afterthought, a way to suggest that "haha, these people are dorks" and leave it at that. But Woods shows that D&D is for everyone, from all walks of life, and all skill levels.

My hope is that this can introduce the game to those who didn't know that it's not just nerds who enjoy it - although, we certainly do - but that it can be enjoyed by anyone willing to give themselves into fantasy and fun, And dice, so many pairs of dice. I truly hope Woods continues the story for this cohort of friends - both in and out of character!

This was a really a cute and unique read. In all honesty it took me a lot longer to get through as I typically exclusively read via audiobooks. I thought telling the romance along side the DND campaign was such an interesting idea. I loved how real these characters felt, it was like dropping by a friends house and getting to seamlessly intertwine with a new group of people. I will definitely check this one out again in audiobook form when I can!

Oh my goodness this book was so cute and so much fun to read! I honestly don’t know much about DND but my nephew helped me out with a few things. This book was so sweet

As someone who had never dabbled in DND, I absolutely loved this story.

Did I have to google an absurd amount of things to make sure I knew what was going on?

Yes, thanks aphantasia. 🙄

BUT, this was such a good time I don't even care about that!

Sadie and Noah are such a good fit for each other, they actually remind me a lot of my own spouse and I.

It's a slow burn and the slow was slowing, but when it got to burning, it was BURNING UP.

I really really enjoyed the book within a book aspect, where LW actually wrote the DND game like its own fantasy novel instead of just writing dialogue between the tabletop players.

It's cozy with a hint of intrigue and a plot that keeps you coming back for more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lenora Woods for the ARC!

Unfortunately this didn't work for me. While I liked the premise of the book and the initial set-up for how the characters would meet, the in-depth D&D play by play took me out of the story too much to enjoy anything else.

I received Roll for Romance through NetGalley through Random House Publishing.
Ugh I devoured this book!!! It was a perfect mix of D&D and romance (some of my two favorite things!). The author described the D&D sessions so vividly I felt like I was in the book. It was so beautifully written it’s easily one of my favorite reads this year! The FMC Sadie moves in with her best friend, Liam after a life change and she tries to navigate where and what she wants to do at this point in her life. She also meets Noah by playing D&D and starts to develop feelings for him. I highly recommend this book if you love fantasy and romance. You don’t even have to know what D&D is! It’s a good introduction to D&D if you want to find out more.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I am familiar with D and D, but this was really, really D and D heavy, which I understand given the title and premise.

I just did not connect with the characters more than I liked,

The concept of this book was really interesting. Following our FMC from her real life where she is facing some major turmoil into the world of d&d was a really fun experience. The switch between real life and the game was a cool way to tell the story of the characters inside and outside of the game’

Lenora Woods’ Roll for Romance was my first D&D romance book. I’m a big D&D nerd and am currently running a campaign, so I was a bit nervous that errors in the D&D rules might ruin my immersion in the story. Thankfully, that didn’t happen! I found myself invested in the storylines of both the players and their characters and enjoyed seeing where they interconnected.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and felt like I was part of the campaign as I read. I even stayed up late and woke up early just to keep reading! If you enjoy D&D or are simply curious about it, this is a great book to check out.

I absolutely ADORED this novel! Fantastically lovable characters and an amazing DND side-story to boot! I really loved Sadie’s character, and loved her relationship with Noah even more. It’s a wonderful thing to meet someone who can both relate to your struggles, while also providing exactly what you need to help overcome them. Loved it, five stars, 10/10!

OMG this book was so FUN! Not only that but it made my nerdy little heart so happy. It was actually two stories in one because there's the main story between Sadie and Noah, and then another between their D&D characters Jaylie and Loren.

Sadie is in limbo. She lost her job and she doesn't know what to do next. Sooo, she moves to a small town in Texas for the summer. Her friend invites her to join his D&D campaign and she meets Noah. Noah is exciting and full of life and she's drawn to him, just as her D&D character Jaylie is drawn to his Loren.

Please read this if you like:
*Slow Burn
*Small town
*Friends to lovers
*Cinnamon Roll hero
*found family

Thank you to Lenora and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Perfect Book For Romantasy and Role-Play Fans! Roll for Romance is exactly what you would want out of a Dungeons and Dragons inspired romance story. It blends an IRL love story between Sadie and Noah with the equally engrossing story of Jaylie and her group of adventurers. Rather than describing DND play, Lenora Woods builds the world (within a world) and immerses readers into the DND game the characters engage in. There is cute banter, a little spice, and TONS of DND. Highly recommend to any DND, table-top role-play, or LARP lover. If you loved Dungeons and Drama or Dating and Dragons, add Roll for Romance to your list right away!

Roll for romance is a delightful Dungeons and Dragons story about 2 players who meet and fall in love during the campaign. Roll for romance covers their story of coming together as an unemployed artist and a new brewer. We also get to see the story of their D&D party on their adventures to save the damsel. Pick up this book if you love D&D, breweries, senior cats, and general adventure.

As someone who has wanted to join a D&D campaign for years now, and is a huge Dimension 20 fan, this book was perfectly niche for me. Romance, but make it uber-nerdy? Put me in, coach. I got live out my campaign fantasies by reading Roll for Romance, as the author not only writes the love story between our MCs, but the actual campaign they play, as well.

I identified a lot with Sadie's quest on figuring out what she should do with her life, now that what she found her identity in (her job) is gone and she's left burnt out and questioning "what's next?" I am also a big lover of the found family trope, and this book had it in spades.

The pacing was a little slow at first and took me a minute to get into the book, but, nonetheless, RFR was a fun ride of a novel. A great debut for Lenora Woods; I hope she continues to write more books like this one!

First, thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All of my thoughts, reactions & feelings are my own.

That being said, just, WOW!! I loved everything about this book. The plot, the character, the funny little quips. Just, everything. The structure of this story was phenomenal! I was absolutely thrilled when I realized that we will be reading the D&D campaign, as well as Sadie & Noah's story! It just warmed my little nerdy heart. Not to mention, the explinati0n of the different classes/races when designing characters for D&D can be really overwhelming, especially to those who have never played the game before! Lenora wrote everything so well that anyone from novice to pro would would understand.

The characters in the book were written so well. Sadie went through some very real mental health struggles and experienced significant burn out, something a lot of us can really relate too. The strength of Sadie's character really reflects through the writing & I loved the way she grew more confident in herself throughout the story. Noah, aka a big cinnamon roll, was the most supportive and loving character in this story. He always supported Sadie and never let his feelings get in the way of her life decisions. I just think a bear hug from him *might* cure me. I also really enjoyed all the characters in their little D&D group, specifically Jules. Sometimes, I too just want to go into a barbarian rage and smash everything to smithereens.

With excellent pacing & plot progression, not to mention all the moments where I was giggling & kicking my feet at the tension between not only Saddie and Noah, but Loren & Jaylie too, this was an easy 5 star read! A perfect rom-com for Summer & anyone who is a little interested in table top gaming!

interesting romance with D&D chapters. loved that they found romance while playing their characters and loved the friends. Like the cliffhanger and hope that the other characters find love too.

Roll for Romance is a charming mix of heartfelt storytelling and geeky fun. The story follows Sadie Brooks as she rebuilds her life after losing her job, weaving her personal struggles with the fantasy adventures of her Dungeons & Dragons character, Jaylie. The slow-burn romance between Sadie and Noah, both in the game and in real life, is sweet and engaging, making it easy to root for them. Lenora Woods does a fantastic job capturing the excitement of D&D sessions, adding an immersive layer to the story. Whether you’re a longtime fan of tabletop games or new to them, this novel is a fun, feel-good read about self-discovery and unexpected love.

This was such a cozy cute but nerdy romance. The characters were relatable (especially Noah for me) and its true, food and brews are one of the best things about traveling. I also liked how this did not have a 3rd act break up, which is very common in romances but this was a nice break from the typical. I did like how it jumped from real life to D&D characters and their story. I wish the D&D story and characters had a little more depth but over all, a very enjoyable read!

Es un libro que mezcla romance y el mundo de Dungeons & Dragons, ofreciendo una experiencia única al alternar entre la vida real y el juego de rol. La historia sigue a Sadie Brooks, una joven neoyorquina que, al perder su trabajo en marketing, se muda a un pequeño pueblo en Texas para pasar el verano con su amigo Liam. Allí, se une al grupo de D&D de Liam y crea su personaje, Jaylie, una poderosa clériga bendecida por la diosa de la suerte. En el juego, se encuentra con Loren, el carismático elfo interpretado por Noah, un bartender local con quien empieza a desarrollar una conexión tanto en el mundo de fantasía como en la realidad.

La novela destaca por su enfoque en el juego de rol, que se convierte en una metáfora de las aventuras personales de Sadie. La interacción entre su vida en Texas y su personaje de D&D ofrece un contraste divertido y reflexivo. Sin embargo, las partes de la vida real pierden algo de ritmo en comparación con la narrativa del juego, los capítulos del juego son como el 60% del contenido y en algún momento (yo como no jugadora) me aburrí.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Summary
Sadie is completely burned out trom corporate work and at a crossroads in life, loses her job but her luck soon changes when she moves from NYC to a small town in Texas and joins her best friend's D&D campaign. Sadie is unsure of many things, but as her relationship with Noah unfolds, she slowly realizes she has to choose between a gloomy familiarity or exciting uncharted territory.

Personal thoughts & feelings
I read this book so fast but I didn’t want it to end. This story intertwines the real-life romance between Sadie and Noah and the fantastical romance between their D&D characters, Jaylie and Loren.
I think the author did a great job of balancing both the reality and fantasy storylines, as they were both so engaging. Noah was so gentle and always eased her worries, making sure to give Sadie the support she needed, and it was so cute.
As a D&D lover, I say don't let the Dungeons and Dragons subplot deter you away from this book. The best way I can explain the D&D portion is like reading an immersive, ongoing romantic fantasy novella within the story. ROLL FOR ROMANCE IS A PERFECT BOOK FOR THOSE WHO LOVE D&D, FANFICTION, AND HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGE OF FIGURING OUT WHAT'S NEXT AFTER ACHIEVING ALL THEIR GOALS. THE BOOK ALMOST READS LIKE HALF A CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE AND HALF ROMANTASY, AND IT REALLY SCRATCHED AN ITCH IN MY BRAIN-BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE BETWEEN SADIE AND HER D&D CLERIC CHARACTER, JAYLIE.