Roll for Romance blends contemporary romance and fantasy in a way that is approachable, fun, and unabashedly celebrates the joy of being a nerd.

After burning out big time at her job in New York City, Sadie decides to stay with her friend in small town Texas for the summer. While coming to terms with the reasons why she left, she gets involved in her first game of D&D and a new set of friends. The story switches between her time exploring what small town life has to offer and the fantasy world of their D&D game.

The integration of the D&D aspect is done really well. The basics of the game are described so that someone with no experience will understand it, but in a concise way that shouldn’t be cumbersome for players who already know. The actual gameplay never gets bogged down by the math and calculations portion and really brings the game to life.

I appreciated how D&D gave Sadie the freedom to process and confront her failures and realize her future hopes in a safe environment where she can step outside of herself. Watching her be charmed by Noah and his golden retriever energy (both in game and out) was fun. What you end up with is a sweet romance with themes focusing on our own perception of self, the parts of us we show others, and being brave enough to go for what we really want.

Switching between the real world and fantasy world is done in a way that feels natural, but does leave the plot at a bit of a disadvantage. Because we’re splitting our time with two different worlds, neither ends up feeling very fleshed out. I didn’t mind it as much in the fantasy world, but the town of Heller felt really incomplete. Like all the places Sadie and her friends spent time in are just little bubbles surrounded by blank space. That kept me from fully getting invested with the story. Additionally there’s a one-off, alternate POV midway through the book that kind of threw me off.

Overall I’d still recommend this book to others. The fantasy aspect is really fun, the romance is sweet with reasonable challenges and growth, and the cast of characters are lovable. I think this would appeal to both long-time D&D players and readers with little to no experience.

I was drawn to it for the D&D element and at first loved the switch between regular life and their D&D campaign… until the storyline of the campaign started to drag on with heavy world building. However, the pacing picked back up and it was an enjoyable finish. I liked the accuracy of the game mechanics and the explanations of it (basically D&D for dummies in a romantic story)

Unfortunately, I am reviewing this a while after reading it and I truly have no memory of it. It just didn't stick out to me so I can't comment on any plot or characters, just that it's not in my brain anymore...

Roll for romance

Switching POV’s but it was all the same character, laid off, MMC bartender at Alchemist and moves around a lot, gay best friend who is DM.

Roll for Romance is a perfect book for those who love DND, fanfiction, and have ever experienced figuring out what is next after you have met all your goals. The book almost reads like half a contemporary romance an half romantasy and it really scratched an itch in my brain being able to bounce between Sadie and her DND cleric character, Jaylie Sadie’s journey finding herself through her Jaylie and using her hobbies to help find herself and where she wants to life to go is so familiar and play your heartstring better than any bard. Her storyline with Liam is so sweet and he gives hipster Kristoff from Frozen. The balance of the DND story portion is the perfect amount of easter eggs for people familiar but not so technica thatl you can’t enjoy if you have never played. I loved this story and I really hope we get more with the party. It is a DC 20 charisma save not to love this book!

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.
Jaylie is an amazing character, and I love how Sadie uses her to reflect the person she wants to become. Watching her navigate her path through art and the game tugs at your heartstrings better than any bard.
Her storyline with Liam is so sweet—he gives major hipster Kristoff from Frozen vibes. The balance of the D&D story portion is just right: filled with fun Easter eggs for fans while still being accessible to readers unfamiliar with the game.
I loved this story, and I really hope we get more with the party. It’s a DC 20 Charisma save not to fall in love with this book!


Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

3 ⭐️

Three stars may be a bit generous but I loved the ambition this book had! The idea of mixing what is essentially a romantasy with a contemporary romance is super unique and I’ve never read anything like it.

I actually liked both the fantasy story and the contemporary romance separately but because our time was split between both stories, I don’t feel like we got enough time with either. Realistically, the fantasy story should’ve been shortened and condensed to give the real life Noah and Sadie enough time to connect. The book told me that there was chemistry and tension but I can’t say I ever really felt it.

This book absolutely, 100%, reads like fanfiction. There are some paragraphs that feel like they were ripped right out of a wattpad fic and put into this novel. Sometimes it was charming and sometimes it was felt juvenile and annoying. I love fanfic, I love Ali Hazelwood and other fanfic turned romance authors, but this didn’t hit the right balance for me.

I also think the D&D stuff didn’t feel right. Sometimes Sadie seemed like she was a pro. She claims she has been drawing fantasy characters, RPing, and making OCs since she was in Elementary school but then doesn’t know what a D20 is? Even if she never played or didn’t understand the rules, you’ll telling me someone who watches anime and is THAT much of a nerd doesn’t recognize polyhedral dice? That felt weird. Like she was stupid just for the reader to go “aw how cute?!” I’m sorry but anyone reading this book, is already familiar with the concepts of D&D and dwarves and tieflings, you don’t need to hold their hand.

On a similar note, this was a little TOO cringey nerdy for me (and that’s saying something). I’m so glad that we didn’t get an RPing sex scene (or play by post sex scene). I was mentally preparing myself for that. I’m happy for Sadie and Noah, I really am. But I kind of didn’t want to hear about their favorite animes and Noah’s old OCs. I found it cringey and I honestly skipped ahead so I didn’t get the ick.

As a fan of larger than life lumberjack men, I felt seen by the love interest in this, even if I never really bought the relationship between him and Sadie. In a few years they will 100% be broken up and he’ll be working a new job in Kentucky or some shit. Does someone want to give me his number once Sadie leaves the picture?

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book.

I Went into this book as someone who has only ever heard of D&D games from their spouse but never actually played the game myself.

The way the gameplay is written is so beautiful and totally unique - it reads like an inception movie as your pulled into a fantasy story inside of a romance. It’s done so well that I didn’t know which story I liked better, the characters storyline or the D&D fantasy!

I did have some hiccups with some of the characters relationships at the start of the book. I love the female main characters relationship with her best friend but a few of the inside jokes between the two didn’t land correctly and I felt like a 3rd wheel trying to understand the joke.

Also while I love the self discovery journey the FMC was going through after losing her job I feel like the male main characters didn’t have enough development - he felt flat/one dimensional.

That being said I love how the MC’s connected. It was so charming to see both main characters fall into the romance not only in “real life” but through the D&D game.

3.5⭐️
2 🌶️

Super cute book. I really enjoyed the cozy, slow burn vibes of the mfc & her romantic interest. Having never played dnd before, it made me really want to (with the right group). I liked how the dnd characters and "real life" characters were all friends/became friends. I loved how the dnd story was a great supplement to the "real life" story. It didn't seem awkward jumping back & forth. I liked the growth/more like development of the mfc. Sometimes the side characters feel very blah, but I liked hearing about everyone (dnd wise too). I usually read spicier books, so this was a sweet read between those. I also really appreciated the supplemental items after the story. I'm guessing this will be a standalone, but I totally would go for book 2 (the dnd story leaves it open). Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC opportunity.

Absolutely loved this. It was a great combination of fantasy, romance, and real life. The characters were all interesting and felt real, and I loved the story within a story. I've played some D&D in my day and this book made me miss it so much! I can't wait for future stories in this world.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book releases July 15, 2025

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an arc of Roll for Romance thanks to Dell and NetGalley.

The synopsis drew me in right away. Sadie is a marketing associate in NYC who just lost her job that she loved. Yet, she feels somewhat relieved. Liam invites Sadie to get away from NYC and stay with him in a small town in Texas. They start a Dugeons and Dragons game with Liam as the Game Master and Sadie assumes the roll of a healer named Jaylie. Noah, a new guy in town who moved to help a friend open a brewery, was invited by Liam to join their D&D campaign. Noah takes on the role of Loren, an elf. Throughout the story their relationship builds in and out of their game, and they are faced with the decision to stay in Texas or go their separate ways when Sadie returns to New York for work.

What I loved:
- [ ] I loved that the story wove in and out of reality through their D&D game. It was fun to see how the different characters interacted in real life, and how their personalities showed up through their D&D characters.
- [ ] I appreciated the found family element of the story, which is relatable especially for readers from younger generations that are breaking toxic family patterns.
- [ ] It was refreshing to see the healthy communication between Sadie and Noah. One of my biggest qualms of many romance novels is poor communication and unlikeable protagonists. Roll for Romance broke both of these patterns.


What I didn’t love:
- [ ] I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I didn’t love the D&D scenes in the storyline, and that is part of what drew me to read this book. I loved that it was focused on gaming culture but I just found myself feeling bored reading the scenes of their game quest. It took me about halfway through the book before I grew interested in the D&D storyline, but I still found myself wanting to go back to reality and read more about Sadie and Noah in real life.
- [ ] I struggled with how easily Sadie was willing to entertain the idea of uprooting her life and moving across the country for a guy who couldn’t commit to living anywhere longterm. Overall, it seemed like Sadie made the best decision based on what she really wanted at the end of the story, but she seemed immature and impulsive at times.

Thanks again to the author, Dell, and NetGalley for the chance to read Roll for Romance before it is published. I adored this book and highly recommend it to other romance readers and nerd lovers alike.

There were a lot of things I loved about this book, like the way Woods writes the DND sessions as their own separate story so it really immerses you in it. You get a taste for both contemporary romance and a light fun fantasy. However, I felt the characters in the contemporary romance land fell flat. Sadie, our FMC, is struggling after losing her job in marketing and you can see her struggle to figure out what she wants to do next, but I never really felt for her and her struggles. Noah, the MMC, bounced around from one job and place to the next and never really feels grounded, but I just didn’t ever get a sense that he cared about anything. He was very one-dimensional. The side characters are barely introduced. You learn about the other players in the DND party more in passing conversations rather than being properly introduced, The romance was also insta-love, which isn’t my favorite, so I don’t know that I was the target audience for the book. I really wanted to love it more than I did and it does have so much potential, I just feel the characters development could be improved.

Super fun read! Love the relationships between the characters and as someone whos never play dnd it wasnt hard to get the gist of what was going on with the book! Thanks for the ARC

Thankful to Penguin & Dell for reaching out and offering me Roll for Romance in exchange for an honest review. I had a fun time reading Sadie's story. This is about a corporate burnout girly (who can relate? I CAN!) who flees NYC to her best friend's home in smalltown, TX to recoup, recover, and decide what's next. Her bestie happens to be a Dungeon Master, and he starts a newbie campaign with first time D&Der's he met in town. Of course there's a hot AF lumberjack of a wanderer named Noah. It was fun watching both the relationships, the self-love, and the D&D campaign progress over the book. This is a pretty low-stakes book, so good if you're just looking for a cozy little story. I do not have a background in D&D, but I found it entertaining and easy to follow. Overall 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 because I, too, have a Chili's addiction.

I love being a certified "nerd" and the concept of this book is so unique and perfect. The fmc is really funny to me and I could relate to a lot of the situations she finds herself in.

This was the perfect amount of cute, cozy fantasy and romance. I really liked how seamless the transitions between real life and the D&D game felt.

My only critique is that I didn’t feel like it was believable that it was everyone’s first time playing D&D. The campaign seemed to go too smoothly for them all to be complete beginners.

Overall I would recommend this to anyone who wants a nerdy cozy romantic read. Perfect for a rainy day.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

The cover drew me in instantly! A romance with D&D, yes please. I’m new to D&D so it took me a bit to get into the parts of the story where the world building of the campaign took place. But the romance between Sadie and Noah was easy to love. I really enjoyed that Sadie’s best friend was a male character (Liam) and how sweet their friendship was and the little things he did to draw her out of her funk. A fun first book by Lenora Woods.

I had an absolute blast reading about Sadie’s adventure in small-town Texas! When she unexpectedly loses her marketing job, I could totally relate to her need to escape and find some distraction. Joining her best friend's Dungeons & Dragons campaign sounded like such a fun and unique way to cope with life's challenges. I loved how Sadie transformed into Jaylie, the powerful human cleric, and how her gaming adventures paralleled her real-life journey. Meeting Noah Walker, the charming bartender-turned-elf, added an extra layer of excitement to the story. I found myself rooting for Sadie and Noah both in the game and in real life as their chemistry blossomed. The way their relationship progressed was so heartwarming and kept me hooked. Overall, this book was a delightful mix of romance, adventure, and self-discovery.

If you're looking for a light and fun read with charming characters and a touch of fantasy, I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Roll for Romance is lighter on the romance and heavier on the D&D. While the romance plot is a central focus, this book was very much a love letter to D&D. I think the author did a great job of bringing the game to life, and fans of the game will be sure to enjoy this book. Even as someone who’s never played the game, I could appreciate her storytelling.

Although I’m a big romance reader, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book and didn’t enjoy it as much as I could’ve. I don’t think Noah was introduced well and he wasn’t a romance hero I loved.

Roll For Romance by Lenore Woods follows Sadie, a young woman who has recently lost her job and decides to move in with her best friend while she tries to get her life back together. Her bestie, Liam, just happens to be a dungeon master for Dungeons and Dragons and he enlists Sadie to play a beginner campaign with some other newbies. While she really loves the game, she also starts to grow close to the bard character who happens to be played by Noah, the cute new bartender in town. While their in game flirtations turn into a real life romance?

For a debut book, I thought this was super cute. I loved how part of it was told from the perspective of Sadie’s DnD character in the campaign and I loved Sadie’s character arc through the book. I think the side characters were great and I loved learning about their motivations.

My biggest issue with this book was that the pacing was off. It felt like it was way longer than it needed to be. And I also didn’t love Noah’s character. There wasn’t anything wrong with him but he just felt very plain. I wanted a little more from him.

That being said, I had a fun time with this book! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by this author. I think she has amazing potential and I can see her becoming an all time favorite! I’ll be recommending this book a lot and picking up a finished copy when it releases!

Last summer I came across a YA novel titled, Dungeons and Drama. It was because of that book that I discovered my love for nerdy/gaming book boyfriends and have been on a mission to find another book that compared to it ever since. So when I saw Roll For Romance and realized it was basically an adult version of D&D with some spice I knew right then and there that I absolutely had to get my hands on this book. Let me tell you, it lived up to my expectations and then some. Woods did a phenomenal job at incorporating the Dungeons and Dragons game and culture into her romance novel. Her writing style had me engaged the entire book. If I wasn’t giggling I was swooning over the adorable romance. I will definitely be adding this book to my home library and have been recommending it to everyone I know.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Lenora Woods and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Roll For Romance in exchange for my honest opinion.

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods is a charming romantic comedy that blends tabletop gaming with sweet, slow-burn romance. The relatable characters have great chemistry, and the gaming elements add a fun twist to the story. While predictable at times, the book’s warmth and humor make it an enjoyable, feel-good read. Perfect for fans of geeky romance and lighthearted stories.