Today’s review is about ROLL FOR ROMANCE by Lenora Woods. It’s a standalone contemporary romance that incorporates Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying. After losing her job in NYC, Sadie spends the summer with her best friend in small-town Texas. What starts as a small D&D campaign ends up drawing Sadie in and chasing summer love.
Author: Lenora Woods
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Dell
Publish Date: July 15, 2025
Print Length: 368
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Roll For Romance Synopsis
Synopsis
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.
When Sadie Brooks unexpectedly loses her marketing job, she flees New York City to spend the summer with her best friend in small-town Texas, where joining his Dungeons & Dragons campaign is the perfect distraction while she plans her next steps.
In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out—until she meets Noah Walker, the outgoing bartender roped into joining their party as Loren, an adventurous and charismatic lute-strumming elf. Just as Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.
As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie wonders if what they have might last beyond the game. But like his traveling bard character, Noah never stays in one place for long. When a new opportunity arises in New York, Sadie must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice.
Roll For Romance Review
I received a free, digital, advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own and reflects my honest opinion about this book.
ROLL FOR ROMANCE is another Dungeons & Dragons-inspired romance and I’m here for it. After losing her prestigious marketing job in New York City, Sadie decides to spend her unemployed summer with her best friend, Liam, in small-town Texas. Listless and depressed, she agrees to try something different. What starts as a casual D&D session with Liam and a small group of friends transforms into inspiration and flirtation. As the end of summer draws near, Sadie has to decide whether to return to NYC or start a new life in Texas.
This is an excellent read for anyone curious about D&D who also loves light-hearted contemporary romance. The author artfully incorporates actual roleplaying sessions into the text of the book. Instead of reading about the characters rolling dice, Woods sends the reader directly into the roleplaying story instead. I really enjoyed going back and forth from “real life” and “fantasy life.” It allows the characters’ fantasy selves to explore other facets of their personalities. But it also provides a mechanism in which Sadie and Noah, a bartender with lumberjack looks, can explore their attraction to each other. Thus, there is more of a fantasy element in ROLL FOR ROMANCE than in some other D&D contemporary romances I’ve read.
The characterization of Sadie, Liam, and Noah is great. Everyone is supportive and logical and there is no miscommunication, a trope I dislike. Sadie’s joblessness moves through various phases of grief, burnout recovery, and self discovery about what she wants to do next. Liam gives Sadie the space she needs after losing her job, but also subtly makes sure she doesn’t rot all day on the couch. Noah, an adventuring soul, is positive and sunny, but not in a toxic positivity kind of way. He listens and clearly cares about connecting with others.
The interactions of Sadie and Noah outside of the sheets were my favorite. However, I felt that the physical chemistry lacked some oomph. I felt there weren’t enough scenes depicting the physical attraction and pining leading up to their actual physical connection. Their day-to-day connection, though, was so healthy and “wholesome”–I loved it.
So, readers who love both fantasy and contemporary romance should definitely pick up ROLL FOR ROMANCE. It’s a nice change of pace from romantasy and incredibly easy to get into and enjoy.
Rating: 4.25
Content warnings: sexual content, infidelity (historical), alcohol
Reading format: Kindle e-book
If you liked this book, you may also enjoy DUNGEONS AND DRAMA and DATING AND DRAGONS by Kristy Boyce.
This sounds really cute, and I love the idea of incorporating the actual role playing into their story and romance. Plus, “lumberjack looks”!
It was cute! I need more dnd romances in my life.
Definitely adding this one to my list.
I can’t believe I haven’t read any D&D inspired romance, I have so many on my TBR!! And this one sounds too good to pass, so there it goes!
I love that they have a wholesome connection, is always nice to read about those!!
Oooo well then you’re in for a treat! Pick a D&D inspired romance, any one, and enjoy! They’re all good (so far haha).