REVIEW: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods: Sadie cant help but feel bit lost and out of sorts after losing her job in New York, which is how she finds herself in Texas, spending the summer with her best friend and having a major reset. It also happens to be how she finds herself joining the local Dungeons and Dragons campaign as a way to pass the time, she just didn’t expect to actually enjoy the gaming world or to form such a strong connection with fellow new comer Noah. Soon Sadie beings to find her groove again, thanks to both her new group of friends but also the connection that she is forming with Noah, inside the game and out. But when a major job offer comes in from New York, Sadie is forced to decide whether she wants to join the rat race again or if this thing with Noah is worth throwing caution to the wind and exploring…

Going into Roll For Romance, I was pretty intrigued by the idea of a D&D centred romance. While I’m not a gamer myself, the concept did have me intrigued and for the most part I have to say that it really did work. I will say that I liked the fact that this was more than just a romance, we get to see our main characters dealing with burn out and feeling creatively empty which are things that most people are facing.

Sadie just stood out for me. There was just something so relatable about her and the fact that she was dealing with burn out and lack of motivation. I loved the fact that Woods made this a journey for Sadie to be seen and find herself again, rather than a fix you kind of story. We get to see her be more bold and expressive through her character Jaylie and take risks. Jaylie allows Sadie to express herself in a safe place without fear of getting hurt which helps her build the courage to transfer this to her real life. Now for Noah our wandering bartender that was to scared to stick around until he meets Sadie. I just loved seeing their connection unfold and the way they supported and bettered each other. Noah’s character Loren displayed the emotions that Noah himself was so scared to show, we get to see this little flirty elf give Noah the courage and freedom to be venerable and raw.

There was a really nice slow burn element to this book that worked for me, we get to see both Noah and Sadie slowly lower their walls and allow each other in. One of the things that I really liked about Noah was the fact that he listened to Sadie, he actually took her feelings and what she wanted into account before acting. What I liked is that it felt real, two people carrying their own fears and histories trying to figuring out how to meet each other halfway. There were definitely moments where I wished for more intensity and tension between them, but at the same time there’s something comforting about the way they simply see each other and gave that unquestioning support.

I will say that while this book did not blow me away, I did really enjoy reading Roll For Romance and all the soft sweet moments that we got see between Sadie and Noah. If you are a fan of D&D and romance then this will be a dream to read!

Book Info:

Publication: July 15, 2025 | Dell |

For years, Sadie Brooks has declined her best friend’s standing invitation to join his Dungeons & Dragons campaign. But when she unexpectedly loses her marketing job and flees New York City to spend the summer with him in small-town Texas, she also runs out of excuses to say no.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful and self-assured human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck with spells to heal her companions. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out, and she hopes the distraction will give her time to clear her head and plan next steps.

She never expected Noah Walker—the handsome, outgoing bartender roped into joining them—to factor into that plan. Like Sadie, he’s new in town. But with a taste for adventure, Noah never stays in one place for long. He’s something of a traveling bard—just like his character Loren, the charismatic, lute-strumming elf. While 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 can’t help but wonder if they might last beyond the game. But when a surprising new opportunity opens in New York, she 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.