Today’s review is about DUNGEONS AND DRAMA by Kristy Boyce. It’s a Young Adult contemporary romance set in high school. Although Riley would much rather prepare for her school’s theatre production, she gets grounded. Her punishment is to work at her Dad’s game shop, where she ends up playing Dungeons & Drama and fake dating one of the players.

Author: Kristy Boyce
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Publish Date: January 9, 2024
Print Length: 304

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Official Synopsis

When it comes to romance, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to play games. A fun YA romcom full of fake dating hijinks!

Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school’s spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she’s grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop.

Riley can’t waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan–a nerdy teen employee–to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous.

But Riley didn’t realize that meant joining Nathan’s Dungeons & Dragons game…or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn’t require as much acting as she would’ve thought…

Dungeons and Drama Review

With DUNGEONS AND DRAMA, the synopsis is on point–what you see is what you get. (I love when a synopsis accurately markets the book!) Reading this Young Adult book as an adult, it all felt pretty low stakes. So it was a calm, enjoyable read for me, which was exactly what I wanted at the time I read it.

However, that isn’t to say there are zero conflicts. There’s the fact that Riley’s mom grounded her, which makes saving the school musical a trickly balancing act. Riley also has some unresolved emotions and presumptions about her dad that came about during her parents’ divorce. But working with him in his beloved game shop makes her question those presumptions and wish they were on better terms. And then the piece de resistance is the fake dating trope between Riley and Nathan.

One of my favorite parts about this book is that Riley joins Nathan’s Dungeons & Dragons game. Prior to reading this book I really had no concept of what this type of game entails. This book provides enough detail, however, that made me curious about the game. It seems like fun and a great way to build memories with friends.

DUNGEONS AND DRAMA is on the shorter side of a novel, but it doesn’t skimp on the characterization. It’s very clear that Riley has a strong will, passion, loyalty, and a pioneering attitude. The reader sees that in her dedication to musicals, her best friend, and her growing connection with Nathan. I also loved her professional attitude toward her ex even though he was annoying. While Nathan, Riley’s parents, and her best friend are secondary characters, all also have wonderful characterization. It was heartwarming to find out how proud Riley’s dad was of her.

I highly recommend DUNGEONS AND DRAMA for romance fans who want a light, low stakes read. The title makes it seem like a fantasy book, but it is very much a contemporary romance with fantasy-loving game players. Although it is a Young Adult book, I think middle grade readers would also enjoy it.* I look forward to reading more from this author.

*For those who need to know, the book is very chaste with two kisses on page: one consensual kiss at a school dance and another surprise, non-consensual kiss by Riley’s ex, after which she tells him to buzz off.

Rating: 4.25
Content warnings: divorce (historical)
Reading format: Paperback

For additional thoughts about DUNGEONS AND DRAMA, check out a review by Blogging With Dragons. If you liked this book, you may also enjoy CHECK AND MATE by Ali Hazelwood.