Noah/Leon is so hot!
Conflict pacing is repetive and low stakes, while the plot flows mediumly.
I love the core friend group.
Yes Shira and Alora! My favorite ship.
Stories about burnout are so vital, especially in a capitalist society.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow where to start with this book? I guess with the obvious from the 5 star rating, I freaking loved it! This is actually my second D&D romance, the first being Dungeons and Drama which is YA. One thing unique to Roll for Romance was the storytelling within the game. Having the creativity to create an entirely separate world and characters to build on the primary storyline was incredible and thoroughly enjoyable for anyone who has dabbled in the D&D world before. However I truly believe it is not at all necessary to know any thing about Dungeons and Dragons to enjoy this book, it is just a nice perk. I really love the way that Woods utilizes her prose, everything was described to the point where I could easily visualize the landscapes and layout without being so wordy that my eyes cross halfway through. I would read this book again, hands down. I think I was as disappointed to reach the end as the characters were to finish their campaign.

Identical review currently live on Goodreads, link attached.

Hey Alexa, play Hannah Montana because as a contemporary romance AND romantasy lover, this book is the BEST👏🏼OF👏🏼BOTH👏🏼WORLDS. It was truly like two books in one. We got to see Sadie and Noah’s love story grow but on Sundays? The whole world changes and we get to see the quests of Jaylie, Loren, and the rest of the adventuring party! As someone who loves D&D, I had such an amazing time reading this book and it made Lenora an instant buy author for me!!

I thought this book would be good because I started a job where they all play Dungeons and Dragons and I think it is ridiculous. I was hoping to learn a little. Unfortunately this book did not hold my interest and I ended up DNF it.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ 𝟒.𝟓 ⇾

𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺
Sadie is completely burned out from corporate work and at a crossroads in life, 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 took my sweet time reading this because I was really enjoying it and simply did not 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.

This was such a sweet and wholesome romance, and I think the author did a great job of balancing both the reality and fantasy storylines, as they were both so engaging. Noah was such a cinnamon roll hero; he was so gentle and always eased her worries, making sure to give Sadie the support she needed, and it was so cute.

Lastly, as a D&D lover, I just want to 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.

P.S. Do yourself a favor and sprint to the author's Instagram; the book art is immaculate!

𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦
🎲 contemporary romance

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴
💜 slow burn
🎲 small town
💜 found family
🎲 friends to lovers
💜 cinnamon roll hero

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing—Ballantine, for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! :)

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I was really excited for Roll For Romance since I don’t typically read romance, but I do love a gaming theme. And in some ways, this book delivered—especially with how it handled the D&D element. Instead of getting caught up in mechanics and dice rolls, the story actually takes you into the game world, which I thought was a unique approach. It made the gameplay feel immersive and alive rather than just a backdrop for the romance.

I also liked how D&D gave Sadie a space to work through her struggles in a way she couldn’t in real life. But despite that, I never really connected with her or Noah enough to be invested in their romance. It felt predictable early on, and the real-world sections of the book honestly just didn’t hold my attention. I almost wished there was more D&D, because those parts were by far the most engaging.

One thing that really didn’t work for me was the role-playing story Sadie and Noah start writing together online. These sections pop up twice, and they felt totally random and unnecessary. By the second one, I just skimmed right past it.

I did appreciate the LGBTQIA+ representation, even if it was mostly coming from side characters rather than the main couple. It was nice to see that diversity present in the story.

That said, I do think this book would appeal to both longtime D&D players and readers with little to no experience. If you’re looking for a fun, light romance with a strong gaming element, it’s worth checking out—I just personally wanted more from the characters and their relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Dell, and Netgalley for the gifted eARC! I always appreciate the opportunity to read early. My reviews are always my honest thoughts.

Roll for Romance intrigued me immediately as a D&D player and dungeon master with 8 years of adventuring experience, and as someone that met my fiancee through the game! I have tried books in this D&D / TTRPG subgenre of Romance before, and I have never quite found a story that I felt represented the game in the way that I needed it to until now. Roll for Romance is a true love letter to the game and everything that comes with it when you sit down at the table with an open heart and open mind.

I absolutely loved the structure of this story, the way Lenora Woods used not just the fantasy story within the D&D games (and I LOVED the D&D game scenes) but other aspects of the D&D experience: a strong example being the between-game RP chats. These chats are a lowkey/unspoken and sometimes vulnerable piece of the D&D experience, not necessarily universal but very important to those that do indulge in them, and I was so touched to see them portrayed here in such an impactful way. She is so masterful at portraying how D&D characters have a piece of their player at their core; whether that piece is their fear, their hopes, or their flaws, there is always something deeply personal about a D&D character. As a result, this story did such a wonderful job at portraying how two characters interacting within this fantasy world, both at the game table and in private, can help their players get to know each other better and allow them to say things they may not be brave enough to say in the real world.

As a small note, I also really appreciated how little focus was put on the fact that this is a table of beginners - sometimes the "struggle" of learning the game is funny in real life, and it's definitely realistic, but in these books it's not quite as enjoyable to experience. The focus was on the story the table was telling together, rather than the mechanics, and I can't express how much of a relief that was!

I loved both our main characters, as well as the rest of the game table. This opposites attract trope is always fun, but I love that at their core they both were adrift in their own ways. Sadie is burnt out and learning to separate what she thinks she should be doing from what she actually wants for herself, and Noah is always on the move, outgoing and cheerful, but wielding that outgoing personality to protect the more vulnerable parts of himself. I adored the way they found comfort and peace in each other both in-game and in real life - the way Sadie's character would get scared or nervous and Noah's would comfort her mirrored the dynamic forming in real life?? true romance. I was swooning.

There's so much I could say about this book and the way it captures such an intimate and vulnerable part of Dungeons and Dragons. I can tell this author has so much love for this experience that comes from playing the game to connect with others and tell a story together. This is such a wonderful representation of the game and the bonds that are forged between everyone at the table, not just the romantic leads. I can't wait to see this adventure continue and the found-family around the table grow and strengthen!

I rated Roll for Romance 5 stars (I'd give it more if I could). I do feel that you will enjoy this reading experience more if you have some measure of exposure to D&D beforehand - whether through firsthand experience or liveplays such as Dimension 20, Adventure Zone (I caught that easter egg!), Critical Role, etc. But if you've ever experienced that magic of telling a story with your friends, or watching others do so, you'll love this book.

This was such a fun and unique story! This is my first D&D romance and I really enjoyed it. I thought the author did a great job of developing the two worlds and MC's both in and outside of the game. There had to be a real balancing act when writing this one given that it's kind of a contemporary romance and romantasy rolled into one, and the author did a brilliant job of making both stories captivating. If you're looking for a fun and different slow burn romance with some nerd culture mixed in, this one is for you!

This was such a one-of-a-kind story! I can honestly say I’ve never come across anything quite like it. The way Woods effortlessly blends two distinct worlds within the same romance was such a fresh concept and really kept me engaged.

The plot centers around Sadie, our female lead, who recently lost her high-powered job in New York and is now taking some time off in a small Texas town. She’s staying with her best friend, Liam, who has only one rule: she has to join his Dungeons & Dragons group. He gathers a few friends, and as they embark on their campaign, the narrative alternates between the fantasy world they create and the real-life events happening to Sadie. I’ve never seen anything told like this before! It was absolutely captivating. The group dynamic was so genuine and heartwarming, and there was a real sense of "found family" that I really appreciated.

Noah, the male lead, is one of the D&D players. He’s a carefree, laid-back guy, not bogged down by the stresses that plague Sadie. As she struggles with burnout, he helps her rediscover her old passions. She reconnects with her love for art by painting a mural for a brewery owned by Noah’s best friend (which, by the way, was a quirky and charming setting!).

The romance between Sadie and Noah was tender and felt so real. I really enjoyed how they each found something meaningful in the other, and they both ended up with a place they were willing to stay. What I loved most was how grounded the romance felt—it wasn’t over-the-top or full of melodrama; it was just a beautiful, realistic love story that could happen to anyone.

That said, the first half of the book felt slow for me. The pacing felt a little off, and I didn’t connect with some of the characters the way I hoped, even though I liked them on paper. I could see their potential but didn’t feel as emotionally invested. In fact, I ended up liking their D&D personas more than the real versions of them!

Despite that, if the author decides to continue the story with any of the other characters, I’d definitely be on board, especially after the cliffhanger in the D&D campaign.

I received a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and these are my personal thoughts.

When two novice D&D gamers meet, it doesn't take a roll of the dice to see they have a magic connection! Sadie Brooks loses her marketing job and goes to live with her best friend in a small town in Texas, where he runs a local Dungeon & Dragons game. As a human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck in the game, Jaylie has found her calling. Outside of the game, though, Sadie is lost. Until she meets Noah Walker, a bartender outside of the game and Loren, a lute strumming elf in the game. Loren helps Sadie find herself, but which self is it - the marketing exec or the free spirit? Lenora Woods crafts a sweet romance with this adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, Dell and Lenora Woods for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two fledgling tabletop gamers find themselves falling for each other—both in and out of their weekly D&D sessions—in this charming, fantasy-tinged romance.

Roll for Romance is a sweet story of found family, friendship, and discovering who you are when it turns out your dreams weren’t what you thought they were.

Recently unemployed, Sadie moves to a small texas town and joins her best friends Dungeons and Dragons campaign for the summer. We follow Sadie, and her D&D character Jaylie, on an adventure of self discovery and romance. This book is nothing like i have read in the romance genre, Lenora Woods does an amazing job switching between the real and fantasy world. You can tell that this was written by someone who truly loves Dungeons and Dragons, it has inspired me to be a little more “in it” during my campaign with my friends.

The male love interest, Noah, is the sweetest and most wholesome man I’ve read in a romance book lately. He truly cares for Sadies happiness, no matter what.

If you are looking for a nice, low stakes romance and either love Dungeons and Dragons or have never played before…read this book!

If you enjoy
* Found family
* Small town feel
* Fun side characters
* Healthy Communication

Then this is the book for you

I’ve been vibing with the D&D romances, this is the second one I’ve read and I’m really enjoying them. I like that this one goes more into their game and you even get chapters from the games perspective and that was a new one for me but I really liked that. I love the vibes around all the characters. They were all really fun and it made the romance between the main characters so fresh and it flowed so beautifully. Noah and Sadie were so cute together and I really liked that there was communication between them and it made it seem so much more believable.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for letting me read a free copy of this book in exchange for a review

ROLL FOR ROMANCE will be one of my favorite books of the year. Call it one of my heart's favorite ever. I'm so enchanted by Lenora Woods' storytelling - charming slice of life wholesomeness side by side with a fantasy quest action adventure.

Sadie is spending summer with her best friend sharing his small-town Texas life after her's in NYC suffered traumatic burnout. She joins his Dungeons and Dragons to escape the uncertainty of her reality. In game, Sadie plays as the cleric healer, Jaylie, an adventurer seeking freedom to choose her own destiny. Through Jaylie, we see her take risks, execute a plan, support her team, and persevere through hardships. It's a joy to see Sadie's confidence grow after every game session.

The game also connects Sadie to new friends and a community of support. Her DnD party quickly bond over the shared goal of keeping their characters alive. But when the session ends they invest time in each other's real life. Sadie isn't putting on her professional coworker mask around them. Theres no transaction or expectation of performance. Sadie is accepted and valued for her authentic self.

Enter Noah. I have feral keyboard smash all caps thoughts about Noah. Green flag, cinnamon roll, golden retriver, best good boy Noah. His easy-going wanderlust lifestyle is opposite of the structure and routine and stationary settling Sadie had in the city. But that one-day-at-a-time pace is also so alluring to someone just out of a toxic work environment where her value was based onetrics and output and productivity. With Noah, theres no pressure - regarding commitment or otherwise. And thats equal part alarming and alluring so Sadie.

I am gonna call this one of my absolute favorite romances. Noah and Sadie's relationship has no gimmicks. They meet. They flirt. They tentatively see where it goes from there. And it's the most delicious of slow burns. The greatest challenge for them is figuring out how their life plans align, not wether they have feelings for eachother. The drama and high stakes is reserved for their DnD campaign. That's not to say they're all sweetness, because when that slow burn catches fire, they are scorching hot!

At it's core, ROLL FOR ROMANCE is Sadie's journey from career burnout to deciding what's the next right choice for her life. DnD might help her escape her problems but it's not the solution. Through gaming and the support she surrounds herself with, Sadie has the confidence to take the next step in rebuilding a life more alligned with her authentic self. She's ready to roll for initiative and make the next right decision for herself.

Also! I was 40% into the book when I was inspired to look up my local game shop and buy a set of dice even though I have no plans to play DnD. Yet.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Upon the unfortunate event of becoming jobless, Sadie Brooks travels out of NYC to Texas to be with her best friend Liam. While there, she gives in to the idea of being a part of a new group of Dungeon and Dragons players. The story then shifts into the narrative of their campaign, and each week, we get to see what the characters are choosing to do. While in real life, Sadie slowly starts to come out of her shell, she gets to know each of the players in real life, and makes friendships. One person in particular - Noah, a bartender at a themed bar, holds her interest. They both gravitate towards each other, friends at first, eventually turning into something more. Sadie struggles with the idea that she was only supposed to be in Texas for the summer. She's got an interview at another well-known marketing agency back in NYC. She's excited about the opportunity, but apprehensive after the last job sucked every happiness out of her. Sadie has a decision to make. Will she stay in Texas or back to New York? I liked this book. While I am not a player of D&D, I could see the appeal to it by how the characters navigate the crafted campaign. It is a fun way to escape to an exciting world, much like reading. I liked the characters in the book, but I did struggle with the transition to the D&D campaign chapters, I wanted to get back to Sadie and Noah! It was equivalent to having two books in one. It was a slow burn as far as romance books go, over half the book before anything of spice happens. But I love slow burns, so it was great for me! It has 1.5 spice scenes with details. Overall, it was a fun, lighthearted, nerdy read. 
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House publishing group (Dell Romance) for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC!


This book was such a cute story. I really like how Sadie was just burned out instead of having something traumatic happen in her life. It felt alittle but more realistic. I definitely wasn’t expected the back and forth chapter of the d&d campaign and the real life but once I got used to iy, I kinda liked it.

This was a great read! The story was very unique, I loved the blend of romance and hints for magic. The romance was so cute! I would recommend

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods is a charming and fun read that combines the world of tabletop gaming with romance. The characters are likable and relatable, and the story is filled with humor, heart, and a bit of adventure. The blend of fantasy elements and romantic tension makes for an engaging and unique experience, especially for fans of gaming culture. The chemistry between the main characters is sweet and builds gradually, creating a delightful story. Overall, Roll for Romance is an enjoyable and lighthearted read perfect for fans of romance with a geeky twist.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars rounded down

This was a strange book for me. Why? Because my favorite things in this romance book was basically everything except the real life romance xD I cheered on Sadie as she figured out her new place in life, loved the depiction of how you can just gradually burn out rather than one life-shattering event occurring, and I was soooo invested in the D&D campaign. I can see why some may not love the way the real story pauses for basically whole chapters of seeing the D&D campaign through Jaylie's eyes, but I enjoyed that, especially since it was used in the end to reflect back on real-world happenings.

There were moments I enjoyed the romance between Noah and Sadie, but overall... The pairing just wasn't for me? That's not to say it's a bad one. I just couldn't feel the chemistry, personally. The bantering never bantered enough for me. I think this just wasn't a couple that speaks to me, personally, but I can totally see and understand why others would love them.

Overall, though, despite my disconnect from the romance, I enjoyed the story, and I do recommend it for any fellow nerdy romance lovers.

This was a cute, cozy book. I was relieved it worked out for the characters. I found both the storylines entertaining but I personally enjoyed the contemporary plot more than the fantasy one.