3.5 stars.

This was a cute read. I would say this was a slow fizzle into a steady flame kind of romance, which is very much appreciated compared to the smut books that seem to be overly saturated in the market these days. I enjoyed the bits where we switched into the D&D world and got to experience their game as if we’re in the world itself, instead of being told about the action or having a fade-out at the start of the game.

However, the pacing felt a bit off and it felt like the relationship between Sadie and Noah was a bit rushed, considering this takes place over just a few weeks. We are also just kind of tossed into the players dynamic and are told who everyone is and it felt a bit odd that Sadie had instant friendship with just about everyone. There was no real conflict, and the one internal conflict Sadie had in regards to her job felt done and over with rather quickly.

That being said, this was still a light, interesting story that I think fans of D&D would enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this!

Roll for Romance is a very cute and cozy read great for romance and fantasy lovers. I enjoyed the storyline, character dynamics, and the unique premise of the book. While I do think most people would enjoy this book, I’d caution anyone unfamiliar with D&D, as the campaign storyline and other aspects of D&D might leave a less informed reader struggling to keep up.

I really wish I could get into playing D&D in real life because every new romance associated with this world sounds like a blast. But I'll just continue to live vicariously through works like author Lenora Woods newest triumph. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

If you’ve ever wished your D&D campaign came with a side of swoon-worthy romance, Rolling for Romance is the book for you. Lenora Woods weaves a charming, heartfelt story that blends the magic of tabletop gaming with the thrill (and uncertainty) of falling in love—both in a fantasy world and in real life.

Sadie Brooks is at a crossroads. With her marketing career in shambles, she retreats to small-town Texas, where she finally says yes to joining her best friend’s Dungeons & Dragons game. Enter Noah Walker, an adventurous bartender who gets roped into playing alongside her. As their characters—Jaylie, a fiercely independent cleric, and Loren, a flirtatious bard—embark on their in-game journey, the chemistry between them isn’t just limited to dice rolls and battle strategies. In both the fantasy world and reality, their connection grows, forcing Sadie to confront what she really wants: a second chance at her career in New York or a future with Noah in a town that’s starting to feel like home.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it parallels Sadie’s character arc with her in-game persona. In the fantasy realm, Jaylie is confident, decisive, and fearless, while Sadie wrestles with self-doubt and the fear of making the wrong choice. Watching her find her footing—both as a player and as a woman figuring out her next steps—adds depth to the romance, making it feel all the more rewarding. And Noah? He’s the kind of hero romance readers will adore. Charming without being overbearing, adventurous without being careless, and with just enough emotional depth to make you root for him from the start.

The book’s love story is a slow burn in the best way. The banter, the flirtation, the moments of quiet understanding—it all builds in a way that feels authentic and deeply satisfying. And let’s not forget the game itself! Woods does a fantastic job weaving the D&D campaign into the narrative, making it accessible even for readers who don’t know a d20 from a d8. For those who do love the game, the nods to mechanics and character dynamics add an extra layer of fun.

Rolling for Romance is a love letter to new beginnings, unexpected adventures, and the people who make us feel like we belong. Whether you’re a longtime tabletop RPG fan or just looking for a cozy, heartfelt romance, this book is well worth the read. Just be warned—you might find yourself signing up for your own D&D campaign by the end of it.

I’m a sucker for a DND themed rom com, so this was automatically on my list! if you’re looking for a sweet, low stakes nerdy romance, this definitely needs to go on your Summer TBR.
This book was cozy and cute which already made me smile but the dual POV made it stand out the most. Instead of a second character, the second POV was the DND party’s storyline told as an actual story within the story.
I will say that the only reason this wasn’t five stars for me is because I was a little more interested in the DND love story than the real one 😅 I would’ve liked a little more chemistry in the main characters out of the game.
but this was a super fun adorable read for any DND fan.

I thought this was a very cute story, and I loved the addition of scenes from the actual D&D campaign, instead of just being a story *about* people who play D&D. The writing was well done, wasn't clunky in any spots, and the pacing flowed well. It was also clear; I was never confused about how much time had passed, although I also was surprised to realize that the entire summer had flown by throughout the book's pages. Well done on that balance! A personal preference would've been to see more of the other players and their blossoming friendship with the main character, but I know it would be hard to rectify that additional page count needed with the dual storyline. The romance between Sadie and Noah is believable and adorable, not quite a slow burn but also not insta love thankfully. As a bonus, there is NO third act breakup, and the couple talks through things together (communication, imagine!). So it hit all the right notes for me there.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read this eARC!

I really wanted to love this book! The concept, the stunning cover, and Sadie’s burnout all spoke to me. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to connect with the characters. The instalust Sadie felt toward the Noah combined with switching to the D&D game made me feel frustrated. Mr. Cinnamon roll Noah gave me the ick. Maybe it was the right book at the wrong time?

I have friends that run a D&D game and they would LOVE this book! I will still recommend it but I wasn’t the target audience for this one.

(My first ARC review- please be kind. 😭💜💙)

Just finished “Roll for Romance” in the nick of time before it disappears from my @netgalley shelf. Like our beloved main character, Sadie, I have been experiencing massive burnout. So, it was quite healing to read a novel about reconnecting with life.

I loved the Dungeons & Dragons sections- dare I say, Jaylie and Loren’s romance may have moved me in a way that I haven’t experienced in a while.

This is definitely a book I will be ordering a physical copy for displaying proudly on my shelf.

Thank you to @lenorawoodswrites and @penguinrandomhouse for giving me a chance!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This story was super cute - very fluffy, feel-good, minimal drama. (I love when we can skip the 3rd act break up, miscommunication, etc.) The reader does not need to have any knowledge of D&D to understand the game aspect of this book. However, reading this makes me want to find a D&D campaign to join.

I really loved how you're not just narrated through the characters' game play, but rather, transported into their D&D game. It's like two stories in one! A very cool concept to blend contemporary and fantasy.

📚Trope(s): Cinnamon Roll MMC, Independent FMC / Supportive MMC,
What you get: 🧝🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♂️⚔️🍺🏕️
⭐️Plot: 4/5
🔥Chemistry: 4/5
🌶️Spice: 3/5

The story in this book was really cute and I loved the journey the characters go on- I just think this book wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review! <3

I honestly loved this book so much. I love anything fantasy, and this was the type of cozy fantasy mixed with modern romance that I wanted. I love D&D, and I enjoyed all of the D&D elements in this book a lot. I feel like even if you don’t have a lot of knowledge of the game the author helps make it easy to understand. The romance was cute, I loved Sadie and Noah, and I loved the dual plot lines of their D&D campaign. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to purchasing a copy when it releases :)

Unfortunately this book was not for me. It was hard for me to get through all the D&D story line. It’s very immersive and great with details but I was not vibing with the romance portion. I did DNF around 26%. I do think if you love D&D you will probably enjoy this book

When I say I thoroughly enjoyed this book... I MEAN it. Like I've not had as good of a time reading a rom com in a while as I did while reading this nerdy little novel. Like I'm unequivocally in love with our MMC, Noah. Nerdy? Hot? A bard? Insanely intentional? Encouraging? FUNNY? (again) a siLly SwEet bArD???? Say less. And the spicy bits we had an open door to definitely hit the spot for me. Lenora, bless you for all the tension you built into these pages, as well as the pay-off bits. I thought they were all perfect moments in my book!

Also, something I just HAVE to rave about for a second is the way the story so seamlessly would transition from in-campaign DND to the real world. I just adored watching the different friendships between the characters develop in and out of game. It made for such a fun read! I also really loved this found family friend group! Such a fun, supportive bunch!

On a more serious note, I really connected with Sadie's story of burnout at her previous job and felt very validated in the way she chose to take a step back when she needed to without having a game plan for her next step. Sometimes we don't have a game plan when making a big decision because we're imperfect and that's okay. Sometimes you find something you didn't know you needed along the way 😉

For fans of books like "Dungeons & Drama" by Kristy Boyce (of which I'm a huge fan 🥰). But who read it as were like "I'd love an Adult romance version" – this one's for you! And see you at the next ren faire 😉

Roll for Romance is for the fantasy readers!! This book follows Sadie, who has decided to spend the summer in Texas with her best friend, Liam, after losing her job in the big city. Wanting to recharge herself, she agrees to join Liam and a few other people in playing a D&D campaign. Throughout the campaign, the reader is able to join Sadie on the adventure as her character and see the story outside of the campaign as Sadie struggles to find the sprinkle of happiness and love.
While reading, the setting and atmosphere quickly sweeps the reader up in a big hug. Sadie, as a character, struggled to find her creative outlet, which I connected with so much. Struggling with wanting to do something you love for a living and wanting to do something in order to survive, was also a key point in the story. There's also a cute romance with a manbun bearded redhead, named Noah, who is a new D&D player, and the ultimate extroverted partner Sadie needs. The man was so sweet and encouraging with Sadie. However, I did find their relationship sudden and didn't really grow enough or build.
All in all, rejoice D&D followers, this super adorable romance is one for you! Roll for Romance released July 15, 2025! Thank you to Dell Romance for an arc copy!

This book was fun, but the concept was better than the execution. I enjoyed the DND portions of the book so much but both the romance between the mains and the romance between their DND counterparts felt incredibly rushed and neither were really believable. Noah felt flaky and I didn't believe he was really invested in the relationship. Overall it was a really fun read, unlike anything I've read before, but the characters fell a little flat to me.

Something about a dungeons and dragons romance will always pull me in! In my experience these books have the best characters and the cutest romances. Loved it!

DNF at 12%

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. Unfortunately this did not work at all for me.

So, this FMC has gone to anime conventions and cosplayed but doesn’t know that a 17 is a good roll for a d20? Also, this is a group of newbies playing D+D. It doesn’t quite make sense why the world is intensely immersive while IN the pov of the FMC’s character. Unless she had read a ton of lore, it doesn’t really feel like this is a newbie game and this isn’t a typical newbie experience? I have only played a few times and while I adored playing, this is just so over-the-top that I couldn’t enjoy it. I didn’t even want to read the second in-game chapter because honestly I didn’t care about their story. 🤷‍♀️ And this is coming from a fantasy reader 😂

This is getting critical below hahaha
Also… just pointing out: the FMC goes over her expenses after her lay off. She says nothing about any severance payout nor any unemployment paychecks. Even if her massive marketing company didn’t give her a severance (which I DOUBT), she would still have unemployment which is typically half her salary. That feels like it would be a LOT more than her selling her artwork. 🤷‍♀️ It just seems like the author has never been laid off before and has no idea what actually happens when you get laid off from a huge company.

Anyway, this one just isn’t for me and I’m calling it quits.

I love a good DnD story, and Roll for Romance was everything I hoped it would be! This book was really unique in the way that Woods created a fantasy storyline for the DnD game within the book, and it was really well done and seamless between the two stories!

Our two main characters, Sadie and Noah, were so cute and I loved watching them flirt and fall in love both in the main story and within the DnD storyline. Their communication was so refreshing, and I really liked how real their romance felt.

This was such a sweet & nerdy romance, and I’ll definitely pick up the next book Woods writes!

Things I loved:
- finding yourself again
- slow burn
- found family
- cozy vibes
- story within a story

Thank you to Ballantine for an early copy of this book!

I love stories about nerdy people who have the same interests as I do. Sadie loves to draw and get roped in to playing DnD with her best friend. Stepping into a new world and making up stories inside of it is truly such a blast to do and I love reading about others having fun as well. I enjoyed the way that instead of us reading them playing with them calling out rolls and such, we just got passages of their in world stories. Occasionally, the relationships seemed a little young for the 30 Something's they are but I still had a lot a fun reading it

This book was very well written; however, I don’t think this book was for me. It was very D&D heavy. I know what feels like enough about D&D but clearly I didn’t know enough for this book. I unfortunately had to DNF at 27%. I kept reading in hopes the actual romance would make it worth it, but the D&D sessions were very lore heavy. It felt like I was reading two different books combined into one. And as someone who realized their D&D knowledge was limited, it felt like I was vaguely being excluded. The writing and general romance plot was good! Like I said it was unfortunately too D&D heavy for me, I think this would best suit those who have a better understanding of D&D or actively play. I will definitely recommend to my fellow booksellers but for me it simply didn’t work. Hope to see more from this author!