I’ve been wanting to get into D&D more because it always looks so fun. And the romance subplots are to die for, so when I saw this I knew I had to read it.
I think it was so cool to switch between the characters irl and into the game. This book felt really steady and cozy, nothing too dramatic was going on but it was enough to see it to the end. Some parts were a little confusing as I am a newbie to the D&D world. Regardless, I still enjoyed it!

This was a really cute read to me. I loved that it was a contemporary romance based in reality but had the fantasy aspects with the Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This book surprised me with how well it incorporated the fantasy elements with the campaign. I love how some aspects of the characters relate to me. I would 100% pick this book up again.

i believe this is a debut novel from lenora woods? and it was phenomenal!! so perfectly nerdy, romantic & fun. i love that we switched from the main plot line to the actual dnd campaign. i loved sadie & noah, as well as the other characters in this book! i felt like their dnd campaign ended on a cliffhanger so, fingers crossed that she continues the story with these characters lol. this is a perfect palette cleanser in between all of the thrillers or fantasy that i read. i think this is perfect for anyone who is interested in a fun romance & also learning a bit about dungeons and dragons! 4/5 stars!

i was provided this arc in exchange for my honest review. thank you netgalley and random house!

Roll for Romance is a charming small-town romance book, about 2 beginner D&D players, exploring the game and the small town together. I enjoyed the romance and part set in "reality", but couldn't care less about the fantasy realm of this read. I understand the motivations and theming of this book, but I wish we spent more time with the actual characters learning about them and their personalities, rather than through a game. It made the characters feel less real, because they weirdly mixed their personalities with the characters. In the romance we do get I loved, it was so emotional and real. I would recommend this book to a fantasy and D&D-loving hopeless romantic.

This was an interesting read. Not horrible…just different. Maybe a little too much on the role playing, taking away from the actual story line. But it was still enjoyable for someone that knows nothing about D&D.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

2.5 stars

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I was really looking forward to it based on the blurb but it felt drawn out. I feel like I could see the end coming from miles away, which isn't necessarily bad, but when you want to bang your head against the wall from the decisions that the characters are making, it is painful. I was really looking forward to the D&D part of the book since I love a good roleplay trope. However, there is SO MUCH D&D roleplaying content that it ended up taking me out of the original story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would! This book is everything I’ve been looking for in a contemporary romance and more. The unique way in which the author weaves the stories of the campaign and Noah and Sadie’s love IRL is amazing. I’ve never felt so connected to a character like I do Sadie in a really long time.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this a lot. I really did. A D&D based romance? I don't necessarily think I've seen one before, but if more exist, point me in that direction.

Our main girl is down on her luck, recently fired from a high end NYC marketing job, and moves in for the summer with her best friend, a teacher in Texas and an avid D&D nerd. He convinces her to join a campaign for the summer, where we meet Noah, a local bartender at a new brewery, also huge gaming nerd, and avid traveler with wanderlust and the inability to settle down.

You get to watch them fall in love as they play their campaign, but also within the story of the D&D game as their characters can't help but flirt with each other.

I have some conflicting thoughts on the pacing here, though. I appreciated the campaign being told as though it was it's own story and getting to read about the world and characters they were falling in love with, but sometimes it felt as though it was taking away from the real people's story. Technically, it's one and the same, but it didn't quite feel that way and the switching could be a little jarring. I enjoyed it all, don't get me wrong, but I think the in-game part maybe could have been shorter or included as a bonus story.

Roll for Romance is an adorable, and unique love story showcasing ha hobby that isn’t typically showcased. Unfortunately it fell flat for me as it is a little slower than I expected, and at times I felt bored and out of touch with Sadie and Noah (the two main characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell Romance for a chance to review Roll for Romance!

Sadie looses her job and decides to spend some time away from New York with her Best friend, Liam in Texas. While in Texas she begins playing a game of DND with Liam and a couple of people from the small town. That is where we meet Noah! They soon fall in love in the game and in real life.

It’s such an interesting dynamic for a story to be told not only in first person POV, but to also have a story of the characters from their game. I’ve always been so fascinated with DND and the amount of creativity that goes into the game, this was really so magical. Being a contemporary romance AND fantasy? It was a really good idea.

I think the DND sections drug on a little too long for my liking. I didn’t really care for the Noah at certain times, I just didn’t connect with him. Their connection was a little off, I didn’t feel much chemistry. Their characters had more of a connection than them.

Over all 3.5/5!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book since I know basically nothing about Dungeons & Dragons. I enjoyed the switch between the game and real life and how the characters developed in both settings.

A huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.75 stars, rounded up.

This story is light and fun! As someone that doesn’t know anything about Dungeons and Dragons, it was an easy way to ease into the role play. Lenora Woods does a great job of explaining the basics without making the reader feel dumb. Overall, it was an interesting experience to get to follow the main characters in their real lives and within their D&D personas. I would recommend for anyone that is interest in and/or enjoys the game!

@randomhouse Thank you so much for the ARC of Roll for Romance by @lenorawoodswrites @dellromance I absolutely fell in love with Noah and Sadie as well as their game characters Loren and Jaylie. I love how the story wove between the Noah/Sadie love story and their game campaign over the summer. I feel like the story shows relatable examples of a person struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I have never played an immersive tabletop game, but after reading this book I would love to try it! Looking forward to many other stories from this author.

Getting the opportunity to read this ARC has been amazing! Thank you netgally and Lenora! Starting off I loved this book so much! It was stunning and the concepts were just there for me! Absolute Critical Hit! While reading I felt so immersed in the story whether it be during the DnD campaign or getting to explore more with Sadie and Noah!! I honestly couldn’t put the book down! I needed to know more! I grew to love each character that was created but also the friendships that were made throughout this book as well! I wish I could know each back story for the dnd characters!!! I would highly recommend this book

This book is an absolute delight, blending swoony romance with the magic of Dungeons & Dragons in the best way possible! Sadie and Noah’s story unfolds both at the game table and in real life, making every interaction feel twice as charming. Sadie, a down-on-her-luck cleric in search of direction, and Noah, a bard with a wandering heart, bring the perfect mix of humor, chemistry, and emotional depth.

Their in-game flirtation mirrors their real-world romance in the sweetest way, making you root for them both as adventurers and as a couple. Whether you’re a seasoned D&D player or just love a heartfelt love story, this book is a critical hit of warmth, fun, and romance. Roll the dice and dive in—you won’t regret it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NegGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine | Dell and the author for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited to read Roll for Romance—a romance with Dungeons & Dragons elements? Sign me up! But sadly, I just couldn’t stay invested and ended up calling it quits at 40%.

The story follows Sadie, who visits her best friend in a small town after losing her job. She joins her friend’s D&D campaign to take her mind off things. There, she meets Noah, a bartender and bard in the D&D campaign, and their in-game chemistry starts to mirror real life. Sounds fun, right? Unfortunately, it felt way too familiar. The quirky FMC....the effortlessly perfect love interest. The predictable push-and-pull. I’ve read this before—just swap out D&D for another hobby.

I think my biggest issue was that I just didn’t like Sadie enough to want to spend a whole book with her. And if I’m not vibing with the main character, it’s hard for me to care about her journey. The D&D aspect, which was the reason I picked this up in the first place, didn’t feel fresh enough to hold my interest either.

That said, if you love cozy rom-coms with geeky elements and don’t mind familiar tropes, this might still work for you! It just wasn’t a critical hit for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

Wow!! What a great book!! This one was a page turner! Had me hooked from the first page! This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the writing style!!

I love dnd and the idea of this book really had me excited! The characters and the first session! I love the rich history in this story and then meeting him. Omg!! I like the together so far! Really addictive to read so far which is always a good thing! I totally feel the job thing myself because that is something that im currently dealing with. I love the flip between the DND characters and the real people in the book! The date and omg them just keeping it going that was so sweet! The pancake date omg!! The girls night and they definitely like each other!! The almost kiss!!! The complicated situation going on and a job interview? Roleplay?! The date on the water was so cute. I really love where this story is going but sad that it is coming to an end. The whole job thing, how confusing! That scene in the tent omg!!! The whole trip to New York! The mom visit and the end of the mural! SHES STAYING?? The last session! The renfaire was everything I loved this book!

Quote: "everyone walks the edge between panic and determination as the reality of their situation sinks into their stomachs like stones."

Rated four out of five stars!

I’m not a big Dungeons and Dragons fan, but my partner is a Dungeon Master and I was very intrigued by the plot of this story. Safe to say, it feels very similar to how real campaigns are. It was very unique and creative being immersed into a story within a story and I enjoyed how the relationship grew throughout.

A D&D romance is such a fun idea. I loved this book. I'm absolutely living for the swoony nerdy romance. I love the multiverse pov, it added such fun fantasy whimsey to the story. Perfect amount of spice. Immediately one of my 2025 favorites