REVIEW: Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

[I received a free, electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Romance in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


While Quinn is somewhat relieved to have a fresh start after the friend drama at her old school, being the new girl at school in February is lonely. But she hears about a D&D group that is open to adding a new player. After everything imploded with her last group, Quinn has longed to get back to a regular campaign.

Logan Weber is the cute guy who helped Quinn out on her first day. And they seem to have real chemistry whenever they run into each other. But he is NOT interested in having Quinn join their D&D group. They livestream their high-energy campaigns, and they are trying to build a following. He thinks Quinn is too quiet and too easily intimidated for their style of D&D.

It’s soon apparent that Logan’s real problem is that he likes Quinn – but their D&D group has a STRICT no-dating policy. And that’s something Quinn can get behind after what happened before. But she and Logan can’t seem to shake the sparks between them.

Review


This was so sweet! I loved the D&D group in this book. These teens are exactly what Quinn needs to heal from what happened before.

Fans of book 1, Dungeons and Drama, should absolutely pick this up. The stories stand alone, so these could be read in any order. And for newcomers, you don’t have to play D&D to follow the story. The emphasis is more on the group dynamic and the dilemma for Quinn and Logan. That said, the D&D scenes are fun, and I would have happily read more of them. And I loved how the livestream led to other characters getting interested in trying D&D. (The epilogue is fantastic!)

If you are in the market for a fun and swoony YA romance, be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


Riley’s busted! Borrowing Mom’s car without permission and driving to see a Broadway show on tour, hours away from home, without a license. Since her parents feel she can’t be trusted at home alone now, she has to work at her dad’s gaming store as part of her punishment along with being grounded from her friends and extracurriculars.

The store inspires a lot of feelings in Riley – most of them negative. It was at the core of her parents’ divorce. And while an occasional board game over a holiday break is fine, gaming has never been a thing that grabbed her interest. And to make it worse, she has to work with Nathan who doesn’t even try to hide his disdain for her.

But when Riley’s ex shows up at the store, rubbing in the fact that he has a new girlfriend, Riley says she’s dating Nathan, who couldn’t be more horrified. But when Riley points out that a fake relationship could help him get his crush’s attention, he reluctantly agrees. What could possibly go wrong?

Review


What a treat! A funny fake relationship story with a side of Dungeons and Dragons and musical theatre. I LOVED it! The characters were my favorite part of this – both Riley and Nathan, but also the larger cast, especially the D&D crew. The romance is beautifully written, but the family growth for Riley and her folks, and the evolution of the D&D group were equally amazing.

There are some awkward moments, and of course, the lying can make these kinds of stories tense. And this is also one of those romances where you find yourself shouting, “Just communicate already!” But of course, that’s part of the fun of the story. There wouldn’t be as much satisfaction in the eventual resolution without that tension. And the wrap up for this is supremely satisfying. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½- I loved it! Would re-read.