Love Across the Tabletop

by Kait Disney-Leugers

Will love be a critical success or an untimely end to the campaign?

Mika Levenberg is over relationships. After her ex-girlfriend cheats on her, all Mika wants to do is make good food and play the tabletop role-playing game Bargains & Battles with her friends every week.

Ash Aguila is new to Washington DC. After escaping an abusive relationship, he’s looking to start over in the Capitol and try to rebuild himself. When his cousin invites him to play a game called Battles & Bargains, Ash reluctantly agrees to try something new. At least he can meet some new people.

When he meets Mika, he discovers that passion can spark across the tabletop. Will Mika and Ash take a chance and roll the dice on love?

Genres: Romance, Adult

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[Holly | Raise Your Words · Rating 1 out of 5]

| DNF | ☆☆☆☆​☆​

Trigger Warnings for Love Across the Tabletop: Heartbreak, losing friends, social anxiety, betrayal

Love Across the Tabletop is a Dungeons and Dragons inspired novel by Kait Disney-Leugers. This book follows Mika Levenberg and Sebastian (Ash) Aguila. Mika is a lifer when it comes to Bargains & Battles, the game very similar to Dungeons and Dragons, whereas Ash is just trying to learn. Their chemistry and flirting is immediately palpable when put into a room together.

Oof. This book was not for me on a multitude of levels. As someone who plays Dungeons and Dragons quite a bit, I was so very excited to read this book and was so very let down while reading it. I ended up not finishing this book around 20% in because I just could not believe the characters. Ash has severe social anxiety in the beginning and Mika is incredibly forward. I'm talking putting-her-hand-on-Ash's-leg forward. Nope, Ash would be gone if his social anxiety was so bad. Mika had a bad relationship, but she's throwing herself at Ash immediately? I'm sorry, that makes no sense to me.

Overall, I thought this novel was going to spark Love Across the Tabletop as the name suggests, but that isn't the case. This book felt like "two people want to hump, but Dungeons and Dragons is in the way." Thank you to Kait Disney-Leugers, Horsemen Publications, and Booksprout for an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Follow all of my reviews and content with LinkTree

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. The way the author wrote these characters I felt so deeply for all of them. The friendships felt authentic and real which I think a lot of authors usually struggle with. But not this book. I also really loved the mmc and his journey through his trauma and getting out and working on his social anxiety. As a tabletop player myself I was hoping for more scenes of the fmc and mmc flirting through their characters. The encounters that they do have in game are still very cute. 
I received this earc and leaving this honest review on my own. And I will also be buying a physical copy of this book 

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story. The characters are fun and the chemistry between them is top notch good. The writing style is fun and easy to read. Very relatable story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author through Booksprout and voluntarily reviewed it.

This one caught my eye when I saw it was about an couple meeting over a tabletop roleplaying game. I've played tabletop roleplaying games myself in the past and was excited to read a book set around a roleplaying game. I enjoyed the premise as much as I had hoped, it was fun to have the tabletop roleplaying game be such an important part of the characters life and it made for an unique first meeting.

I really enjoyed this book, both Mika and Ash were great characters and I enjoyed reading about them. I also liked their dynamic and seeing them interact together. Mika is a very bubbly character where Ash is more shy and quiet. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer and also seeing the whole friend group and how they interact and play B&B, the tabletop roleplaying game they play in this book.

It is a pretty slow burn romance and I liked how Mika and Ash became great friends before it turning into romance even though there was mutual attraction from the start. I liked seeing them give a relationship a try and thought they were great together. I also appreciated how very realistic and in character the first sex scene was, the rest were a bit less to my taste and felt more typical from what I expect in a romance book.

I liked the roleplaying theme in this book. I also liked seeing the type of jobs Mika and Ash had as it's not something you often see in books. I would've liked to see a bit more of where they both go with their dreams regarding their jobs as that was only touched upon. Both characters have a past and some struggles with past relationships and Ash actually is just out of an abusive relationship. That part was tough to read about at times with how Ash's ex treated him, but I thought the author did handled the topic well and showed how Ash was doing now and going to therapy to help him recover. I also liked reading about their friends from Marco, Stella and Nico who complete their B&B tabletop roleplaying group to Lena whose Marco's wife, then there is Mika's family and some new friends Ash makes as well. All the side characters had their own lives and personalities as well and were well written. I liked reading about them.

I did really struggle with the last 25% or so though. There is some conflict and I just did not like how it was handled. I really don't like the third act breakup or obligatory breakup scene as I often call them and this one was a good example of why I don't like them. The whole thing felt very forced and it felt out of character to me how they both acted. It just made me feel uncomfortable and sad and I wanted to get through it as fast as I could. It also bothered me how much groveling Ash had to do and ofcourse only the guy had to grovel. Sure he was mostly at fault, but I thought Mika could've handled things better as well. I am not a big fan of the groveling trope, but I know it's a thing in romance. I just didn't like this whole section. Then there was the whole political plot line, which felt like it came a bit out of nowhere and felt solely to give the characters something to do. It just felt off. And the ending lacked the right tone for me, it just left me feeling a bit disappointed as the rest of the book had been so good.

To summarize: I really enjoyed this book! The tabletop roleplaying theme was a fun one and I liked reading about it. The romance was great and I liked seeing Mika and Ash became friends and then later become a couple. I liked reading about them, their jobs and lives and then seeing them together. I liked their dynamic and liked how it's the guy here who is the shy one where the girl is the more outgoing, flirty and bubbly type. The side characters all have their own personalities and lives as well and I enjoyed reading about them. It could be tough to read about Ash' abusive relationship at times, but I thought the topic was handled well and it was good to see how he's doing now and be in therapy. The only thing that really bothered me is the last 25% or so and the third act breakup, to me it felt forced and out-of-character. The groveling felt overdone and trope-y. And I didn't like how that whole part was handled from how it started to the aftermath or reconciliation. It just left me sad the ending didn't end on a high note for me as the rest of the book was so good. Overall I definitely recommend this to fans of romance books or those who like tabletop roleplaying games.

[Rebecca Babo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, I was excited to read "Love Across the Tabletop." So many times, the only trope you find in romance books has to deal with sports, so it was nice to read something not only different, but something I understand the dynamics of.
I thought the book itself was well-written. The female and main characters were both believable in their motivations and in their relationship with each other. I appreciated that they were friends first before a relationship started. In most romance books, they go right into a relationship while knowing next to nothing about each other.
There were a few typos here and there, but nothing that was too serious or made my enjoyment of the book any less.
Would love to read more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanvi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb but felt betrayed by the plot. The characters didn't act in sync with how they were described and it felt like all they wanted to do was sleep with each other. Not a book for me.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the characters involved in a lot of role play as they meet up to play Bargains & Battles together. The story revolves around Mika Levenberg, who had given up on relationships after her ex did a number on her some five years ago. Quinn had been part of their friendship ring, who played together every two weeks, so she faced a loss of her boyfriend and possibly her friends and their role playing game, which was such a bit part of her life. Luckily, the rest of their friends stuck with Mika and threw Quinn out of their group. The rest of the group consisted of her best friend Stella Cordero, who is engaged to Elise, Marco Perez, who is the GM and whose wife is having a baby shortly, and Nico McLeod, who always flirts with Mika and plays in a band. Marco wants to invite his cousin Ash (Sebastian) Aguila to join them, to get him out of his flat after he moved away from his home in New York, and moved to DC a few months ago after escaping a really abusive situation with his now ex-girlfriend Adele. He had been abused mentally and emotionally for some four years, by a girlfriend who wouldn’t let him do anything unless she allowed it, and only if it was what she wanted to do.

Ash has no idea how to play Bargains & Battles, and Mika takes him under her wing, helping him to prepare a character and give him some pointers and make up a crib sheet. She even gives him a set of dice to play with to start. Marco sets up behind his GM screen and leads the role play to start the game. Ash finds himself starting to come out of his shell and looking forward to the gaming evening. He works from home still and so doesn’t see other people much. Each time, Mika feeds everyone, loving to cook for others, and uses the dining table her father made for her, which converts to a fantastic playing table. Marco warned her that Ash had just got out of a bad relationship, so to be gentle with him. Her last relations was with a woman, but she is drawn to Ash and can understand his pain. The two begin a friendship with her showing him around to all of her favourite museums and other places. He needs to get himself fixed first, before he should consider any sort of relationship, realising he is still a mess. The attraction is certainly there, as Mika is very touchy, feely, and he goes red every time she touches him or even looks at him, as his cousin clearly notices. He is seeing a therapist to help him sort out the issues he had with his ex and the damage she did to him, but it is a long and slow process. He is even welcomed by her family to their Shabbos lunch, along with the rest of the friend group. Everything he had been rebuilding is suddenly thrown a curve ball, with an unexpected phone call. Just as he and Mika take their chance on a relationship, everything comes falling down, as his past comes back to turn the screws on his life once more! There is a lot more to come, as Mika and Ash have to figure out what their future may be and what will become of their gaming circle. A tale of two damaged souls who are drawn together and connect over the game, who have a huge bump in the road to overcome before their chance at love can progress. A brave story to show men can be abused and affected badly in relationships, not just women, and how to overcome it.

I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

4 ½ stars

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was a quick friends-to-lovers read that tackled some hard, important issues, especially on Ash's behalf. He was a long-term victim of extensive emotional and mental abuse from his former partner that has left him affected in a lot of ways, particularly noticeable are his severe social anxiety and low self-esteem. He's pretty self-aware when it comes to these issues and the impact they could have on a new relationship, which leads him to develop a friendship with Mika while simultaneously working through his issues in therapy, despite their instant and quite powerful attraction to each other.

There was a pretty substantial number of typos throughout the copy I received, and at times (particularly in the beginning), the writing was pretty disjointed. The first three or so chapters read a lot like my ADHD stream-of-consciousness, which made it difficult to get into the story at first. This issue did lessen as the book continued and only popped up in a few other places.

Those issues were worth it to me to get through, because domestic abuse of men is rarely discussed and acknowledged, even less so in romance books (especially when you compare it to how frequently previous domestic abuse is a large source of character-building for female lead characters). I'm very pleased Ms. Disney-Leugers addressed this in her book, while still writing a sweet friends-to-lovers romance for our main characters.

Spice: There is spice, but it's pretty low-key. The main characters trade power roles, which is kind of nice to see.

Tropes:
- Nerdy romance (our MCs meet and bond over Bargains & Battles, a tabletop roleplaying game pretty much identical to Dungeons & Dragons. You do not need to know much, if anything, about D&D to enjoy the book. It comprises a small part of narrative and because Ash is new to the game he, and the readers, get sufficient explanations when necessary).

- Friends-to-lovers

- Instalust

Triggers:
- Severe social anxiety (this is pretty much the key factor of Ash's identity. He is actively working through these issues and pushes himself out of his comfort zone many times throughout the book. There is substantial on-page description from both perspectives of his triggers and symptoms).

- Domestic abuse, particularly mental and emotional (it is very descriptive and consistent throughout much of the book. At the beginning, Ash is just a couple of months out of his abusive relationship of 4 years, he is making some progress in therapy, but there are a lot of on-page depictions of the abuse. If this is a trigger for you, please take a lot of care if you choose to read the book).

- Dubious consent/non-consent (this is a sub-facet of the abuse that Ash suffered. It does not occur between main characters. It is briefly described in the book).

- Covid infection (occurs pre-book, one brief, descriptive reference of the infection and a few offhanded references to the pandemic/lockdowns).

Diversity and representation: Lots of it here. Mika (the female lead) is bisexual and Jewish. Ash (the male lead) is Puerto Rican. Stella (a main side-character) is lesbian. Lots of people of color throughout the story.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
This is my first book by this author and I was really impressed. This book deals with some very difficult themes but it was handled in a beautiful way. We have a FMC Mika who found herself involved in a B&B group through her ex and the group embraced her after their bad breakup. She's independent, isn't afraid to be herself and will always be there for the ones she loves. When her friend brings along his cousin Ash who just moved to town, she doesn't hesitate to open herself to him and becoming one of his first friends in town. The fact that he's insanely hot, definitely doesn't hurt. Our MMC Ash is withdrawn, socially anxious and is only attending game night because he needs to start getting out of the house. He moved to town to escape his life back home after years of suffering mental and emotional abuse from his ex girlfriend and is trying to rebuild himself and his life. Despite still processing everything that happened, he can't help but be drawn to Mika and her charm and beauty.

The journey these two went on was not an easy one. There was plenty of angst and flirtation before they decide to give in to their mutual feelings. And when Ash's ex tries to make a reappearance things are truly tested. I really appreciated the authors care and attention with the way she approached Ash's c-PTSD and the fact that his therapy played such a big part in his story. I also thought the fact that we have a male as the abuse victim is an important social comment of this book. Men are not represented as victims of abuse but rather the perpetrator in most cases but it is a thing and the way the author handles it was beautifully done. It's a hard topic no matter the victim or perpetrator but it was handled with care and thoughtfulness.

I definitely recommend giving this book a read. It has some nerdy elements with the B&B game nights (the author's love of D&D is very evident), great friend dynamics and found family vibes. I feel like the author may also be a foody because there was plenty talk of all sorts of yummy dishes going on which spoke to my foody heart.
Another important factor for many romance readers is spice level. I would say this is pretty mild but it is open door so you will get a few scenes but this is absolutely more heavily plot driven. All in all a great read!

[Celeste Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kait Disney-Leugers' Love Across the Tabletop is a heartwarming exploration of romance, healing, and nerd culture, set against the vibrant world of tabletop gaming. The novel follows the intersecting journeys of Mika Levenberg and Ash Aguila, two individuals who have been scarred by past relationships and are trying to rebuild their lives.

Mika, a skilled cook and passionate gamer, has sworn off relationships after her ex-girlfriend’s betrayal. For her, weekly sessions of Bargains & Battles with friends offer comfort and stability. Meanwhile, Ash, new to Washington, D.C., and fresh out of an abusive relationship, is hesitant to try new things, including joining the same tabletop campaign. When Ash’s cousin invites him to join Bargains & Battles, he reluctantly agrees, hoping it will be a fresh start.

As Mika and Ash bond across the tabletop, Disney-Leugers beautifully illustrates how passion can ignite in unexpected ways, even in the midst of past trauma. The characters’ shared experiences with heartbreak make their emotional connection even more authentic and touching. Their chemistry feels natural, and the gaming sessions provide a unique metaphor for trust, strategy, and collaboration in both love and life.

The novel’s mature themes, including recovery from toxic relationships, are handled with care, adding depth to the romantic plot. Love Across the Tabletop doesn't shy away from the realities of emotional healing, making it a heartfelt and relatable read.

Kait Disney-Leugers successfully balances the lightheartedness of geek culture with meaningful explorations of vulnerability and resilience. Readers will appreciate how tabletop gaming serves as both a plot device and a symbol of Mika and Ash’s personal growth, underscoring that sometimes, love is about rolling the dice and taking a chance.

In short, Love Across the Tabletop is an engaging and quirky romance, filled with emotional depth, nerdy charm, and the courage to heal. Whether you're a fan of tabletop games or simply enjoy a good love story, this novel is a delightful read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[amyreadthat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ash has just moved to DC after getting out of a 4 year long abusive relationship. In an attempt to get him out of the house and help him make friends, his cousin Marco invites him to join his weekly Battles & Bargains campaign. At his first game, he’s surprised to find that Mike is actually pink haired, bubbly, and very attractive Mika. Mika’s own last relationship didn’t end so well, either, and she’s been avoiding relationships ever since. When very anxious Ash shows up at her door looking like he’s ready to run away, she can’t help but take him under her wing and make him feel welcome. As they spend more time together, Ash and Mika become closer and what began as friends starts to develop into wanting something more. Just when everything is falling into place, Ash’s past barrels into this new live he’s made and it seems like everything he thought he could have is out of his reach all over again.

Love Across the Tabletop was a sweet, funny, adventurous story that had me falling a little in love with Ash AND Mika. The sweet way they treated each other, being mindful of each other’s issues was such a refreshing take for a romance story. The third act breakup reason was well done. As someone that has been in Ash’s position, I totally understood his point of view and why he reacted the way he did. I loved the growth that both Ash and Mika both did (and Nico, too). It was refreshing to not see toxic sweeping under the rug or over reliance on each other to be everything for the other. I also loved that we got more campaign interaction with the group, as these were some of my favorite scenes. While we had a bit of a slow burn, the spice, when it did come, was so hot. I only wished we had more of it. I absolutely recommend Love Across the Tabletop.

[Morgwyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read and for me it's a solid recommendation if you want some sweet romance in which they fall immediately with some roleplay on the sides. I think the characters are complex, they aren't perfect or ideal. The book does a great effort in portraying difficult and important things such as males being abused in relationships and working on yourself like going to therapy and how to have healthy relationships and such.

However, there are some bad points too. I feel the writing is a bit messy at the start, I feel like the characters are dropping a lot of information on their internal monologue that is there for the reader, not because it makes sense and to me it was too much. The thing I didn't like the most is how the characters aren't believable, while they have some great consistency in some details, in others they contradict their description and supposed behaviour a lot. To me they behave more like teenagers than like the almost 30-years old they are supposed to be, especially when there is conflict. And it might be because I'm not native in English but the dialogues felt really forced, like I didn't feel that's real people talking.

Personally I was also disappointed in the little role that the roleplay part has. I understand the author can't include a whole session, but there where very few and short interactions between the characters in roleplay that I feel could be used to develop their relationship better. Due to the title and cover I expected this book to focus more on playing Battles & Bargains (D&D).

But in general it's fine if you want something short and light to read between other more heavy books.

This is an ARC review, however this is my honest opinion.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My previous exposure to D&D-style gaming before reading this book was minimal. I have a friend who wrote a curriculum using gaming to teach values and cooperation, and I feel like I should send him a copy of this book!

The two main characters here, Ash and Mika, are both damaged from their previous relationships. Mika’s last love was also part of the Battles & Bargains (D&D) group that meets regularly at Mika’s house in Washington, D.C. When they split up, the group kept Mika. Ash is freshly out of a long, abusive relationship, in which his girlfriend destroyed his self-esteem, and prevented him from having regular contact with his family and other friends. Related to Marco, the group’s Game Master, Ash shows up early for his first game, nervous and unsure. Mika makes him welcome, offers playing tips, and Ash begins to relax. As Ash becomes more comfortable with the group, he and Mika begin hanging out, and eventually, dating.

I appreciated that Disney-Leugers takes the time to build the relationship between Ash and Mika slowly, as they interact with each other and with the others in the group. The author also takes the time to show us more about the secondary characters. We see Nico and his band playing at a bar, Stella taking leftovers to her girlfriend, and Mika and the group all joining Mika’s family for Shabbos lunch.

Obviously, I’m a big fan of the slow burn romance. This one also has a few intense romantic scenes, a satisfying conflict, and believable resolution. I recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a giant nerd who met my boyfriend through D&D, "Love Across the Tabletop" by Kait Disney-Leugers REALLY spoke to me. The many similarities between our relationship and Mika and Ash's made the story feel incredibly personal. The entire friend group is an absolute BLAST, and I could seriously imagine myself having a wonderful time playing with them. I also related to them as a group of 30-somethings, navigating life and love.

The way the book deals with past relationship trauma and its impact on daily life is very genuine. Mika's journey from heartbreak to healing through cooking and gaming, and Ash's efforts to rebuild his life after an abusive relationship, are portrayed with such authenticity. Their relationship's natural progression from friends to something more was beautifully done and didn't feel rushed or unrealistic.

I loved seeing the bits and pieces of the other characters' lives revealed as they continued to grow and change. The dynamics within the group added depth and humor, making it feel like you were part of their weekly game nights.

Reading this book was like rolling a nat 20 on romance! This was a very sweet, thoughtful story that captures the essence of finding love and healing through shared passions. I encourage anyone with even a passing interest in tabletop adventures to check it out. Even if you're not into gaming yet, this book might just convince you to "take a chance and roll the dice on love!"

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LyTysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, to Booksprout, for the opportunity to read this book.

This book caught my eye initially because it was based around the author’s made up version of Dungeons and Dragons (Bargains & Battles - B&B) and was a romance. This sounded like it was right up my alley. While I do not play D&D, I like the idea of it and have always been fascinated by the game.

This book had a lot of great “microtropes” or plot points that kept me interested in the book throughout. Some of these are:

-Jewish representation
-D&D-type gaming (Bargains & Battles)
-SPICE
-Bisexual representation
-Trauma bond
-SLOWWWW Burn

I will admit that it took me a bit to get through the first half of this book, as it was a slow burn and it just seemed to drag just a little bit. But once we hit around the 55% mark, it really picked up and I finished it out pretty quickly.

I greatly love the friendship first between Ash and Mika. Best friends to lovers is my absolute favorite (since that’s how my marriage happened) and this was done VERY well.

I do not love 3rd act, miscommunication break ups and unfortunately, this book had this, BUT……it was also done well, for what it was! I did not hate the break up and felt that it added more to the story in this case.

I genuinely loved this book and cannot wait to read more of Kait’s books in the future!

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was a very enjoyable story and an easy read. I loved all the characters, not just Ash and Mika! I truly felt like part of the group and wished I had friends like them.

The two characters have distinct voices at the start and kind of merge into one later on, but the names at the beginning of each chapter help keep it clear.
I prefer a greater variety in sentence length and subject, as it did sometimes felt like actions were being listed rather than a story being told. However, this was mostly at the beginning of the book and cleared up as the story gained momentum. There are a few formatting errors and typos (including spelling and name changes, possibly continuity errors too, but I’d have to double-check), but nothing egregious.


It's nice to see instant attraction but for the story to still take the time to build and show the blooming friendship. Ash is a very well-developed character; his anxiety was very relatable. Mika was less so, not to say I didn’t like her—she was adorable. However, she did give off manic pixie dream girl vibes, being so perfect, sweet, happy, and quirky. I would have loved to see more about her insecurities and problems to make her more relatable.

I love a good friends-to-lovers trope, bi representation, D&D, and cozy romances with realistic drama. I’d definitely recommend this book to RPG playing romance readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sydney Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book, but with one big caveat. First of all, it's a super sweet-and-spicy contemp romance full of found family and cozy D&D antics. I loved the MMC and FMC - Mika and Ash had so much chemistry, and that slow-burn longing kept me flipping through the pages. The romantic scenes (it's open-door spice) are excellent. I loved the found-family cast of characters, the visits to the DC museums, and the fact that it portrays a MMC recovering from an abusive relationship (it doesn't only happen to women!). The D&D spells are knockoffs for copyright reasons, and they all gave me a laugh. Especially the use of dice jail!

But what really threw me was the ending. I was rooting so hard for this couple, so for there to be a third act breakup that seems completely out of character for the MMC was a bummer. They did get back together and have a HEA, but the breakup was rough since it went against everything the MMC had been working towards the entire book. Minor spoiler - I wish he'd told his ex to F*** off instead. It would've been such a victory for his character.

Overall, this was a super sweet and cozy D&D book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd just skip over the breakup parts.

[Tricia Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Love Across the Tabletop!


This book has LGBTQIA+ representation, as well as representation for male survivors of abuse/SA and those with anxiety and c-PTSD. I laughed out loud more times than I could count, related to both the main characters - Ash and Mika - and secondary characters, and was sad to see the story end. I would honestly say this book gave me sitcom vibes in how the story was told and how well fleshed out most of the characters were - think Friends, HIMYM, Cheers.

I took one star off because i wanted more from the ending. Something about it just didn't feel fitting after the rest of the book.

Ash really went through it before the start of this book, and speaks about his past throughout the book, I would avoid reading it if mentions of past SA, past mental/emotional abuse, severe anxiety, and c-PTSD make you uncomfortable or could be harmful to you in any way.


A subplot of this book involves pregnancy/new parenthood in the friend group.



You'll like this book if you like: strangers to friends to lovers, slow-burn, dual POV, strong FMC, LGBTQIA+ representation, D&D, nerdy/geeky characters, quirky characters, open door romance, rom-coms.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Across the Tabletop is a charming romance between new friends. Ash recently escaped an abusive relationship where his toxic ex abused and manipulated him to believe he was not worthy of anything good, especially love. He escapes this relationship and moves to DC where his cousin invites him to join a B&B tabletop game. Here he is introduced to a wonderful collection of friends, all who are amazingly supportive of each other. Being a new player with social anxiety, Mika takes him under wing and helps him learn the game. Although they are both attracted to each other from the start, Mika also recently ended a relationship so they try to keep things casual and hang out together as friends, but inevitably feelings develop and they start dating. There is a third act breakup, a trope I'm not too fond of, but the impacts of previous toxic relationships was a driving factor and the trauma of such was handled with care. Overall it's a lovely slow burn friends to lovers and the tabletop game elements were intriguing enough to have wanted a little more of this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gabriella Laborde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in ONE DAY y’all sooooooo y’all know it’s good

If you’re a fan of Hannah Bonham Young, you will enjoy this book. It’s sweet, emotional, but fun.

I was rooting for Mika and Ash from the get go. The anxiety/trauma representation is there and the journey Ash makes is definitely not linear. Mika is so sweet to him and their friends to lovers journey is messy and tender. I truly enjoyed this and definitely earned a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ especially since I read in one day. I couldn’t put it down
I enjoyed the B&B roleplaying because it reminded me of watching my husband play balders gate and their crazy adventures that occurred because of the dice.

Nico is such a himbo and I love it. I love how diverse the friend group was and I need a table like Mika’s.

As soon as the political plot line came up, I did guess correctly on what would happen (which doesn’t happen often as I am usually surprised with twists) but it still hurt when it occurred. Adele is an ice cold Meanie and needs to stay away from Ash because does deserve love .

Thank you Kait for popping up on my instagram with this book! Can’t wait for release day

[Emma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Across the Tabletop by Kait Disney-Leugers is a heartfelt and refreshingly relatable romance that beautifully intertwines healing, friendship, and the shared joy of gaming. Mika and Ash's journey feels authentic, with their cautious approach to love reflecting their emotional scars and need for personal growth.

As someone new to tabletop gaming, I found Ash’s initial awkwardness relatable and endearing. Mika’s warmth and desire to create a welcoming environment for everyone stood out, even if her strong personality took some warming up to. Their chemistry is subtle yet undeniable, growing naturally over shared moments at the gaming table.

The book’s strength lies in its realistic portrayal of how past relationships shape us. The thoughtful pacing of their romance makes it all the more rewarding. Love Across the Tabletop is an adorable, feel-good story that captures the magic of finding connection in unexpected places. Highly recommend for fans of gaming and sweet, slow-burn romance!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I played some D&D in college but was not hardcore, so I wound up googling some terms in Across the Tabletop by Kait Disney-Leugers. However, I thought the author did a good job of balancing the game Bargains & Battles with the events in the players’ lives. Since the game is hosted by Mika she is introduced to us first. The other players represented an array of personalities from himbos to nerds. Ash, a transplant from NYC, is cousin to one of the players and joins in an effort to restart his life. I loved seeing all the players grow and mature from their twenties to older by the time the epilogue ties everything up neatly. Even though living in politics central, everyone had nonpolitical jobs, most of them interesting. The author made the issues Mika and Ash face seem very real and no one was too stupid to live, a nice change from some high-angst books. The author is new to me and I would read them again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[J Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy for review. This is my opinion.

If you’re looking for an adorable romance where our MCs meet at a dnd-inspired game, this is for you!

What you can expect from Love Across the Tabletop
🎲dual pov
🎲gameplay (roleplaying but not like kinky🤣)
🎲awkward introvert x bright haired extrovert
🎲found family
🎲shitty exes (only one shows up and they are a DOOZY)
🎲food as love language
🎲mental health/therapy rep (we love to see it)

Mika and Ash are so cute, and sweet awkward baby Ash is just like a helpless newborn woodland creature at first. Bless him. But playing b&b (their rpg) helps him open up after a bad breakup, finding new friends along the way. Anyway, I really enjoyed this, and it was a pretty quick read. I loved the cast of all their friends and families. Definitely recommend!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️ (4.5⭐️)
What a story with a big heart, from beginning to end our main characters Mika and Ash have both experienced so much hurt and betrayal by partners they trusted. Ash is a nervous newbie at the table when his cousin (the GM) invites him along to help him get out of his apartment after moving to DC and Mika is the wonderful host, immediately sensing Ash's nerves and helping him into their little nerdy friend group. Their friendship is the foundation of this book, beautifully developed throughout their interactions each respecting the other until they decide that maybe they could be a little more. A great read, but make sure to check the TW for some difficult topics dealing with toxic relationships and manipulative partners.

[Jeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! Ok, I did so I could eat, sleep, work… but any free time I had I was reading and finished in a couple days (which isn’t too shabby for a working mom). It took me back to my twenties playing D&D with my friends, the friendships and boyfriends I had that I would play characters in campaigns with. The story was relatable, full of heart, and compelling. I gently cared about these characters, even the side characters. The conflicts in the story made sense and made their journey worth the ride.
I can’t recommend this book enough if you are a tabletop gamer who loves a dash or two of spicy romance.

[Verena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.

While it did incorporate difficult themes (domestic abuse and trauma, cheating) each character was relatable and realistic in their learning and growth.

It was so refreshing to read a romance novel that included real life things like therapy, mistakes and communication, understanding, and empathy, rather than overblown drama and grand gestures.

I love reading queer characters and chosen family, and this book had those in spades.

I cannot recommend enough!

Though it did make me miss my DND days, so maybe I need to take a page out of Ash (the MMC)'s book at step out of my own comfort zone to meet new people and find a local group.

[Shania Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book! I immediately related to Ash as someone who just recently started playing D&D (or B&B in this case) and had no idea what to do. Mika came off strong at first but I can also relate to her wanting to make everyone feel welcome. I enjoyed that the romance wasn't forced, they were both aware they needed to take their time and not rush into anything. I do think they were very cute together even from the beginning. The real portrayal of how their past relationships affected them also drew me in and made me feel like these were my real friends. Overall I really enjoyed it and I thought it was a super cute book!

[Erin W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved watching Mika and Ash get closer, especially watching Ash as he worked through his anxiety and trauma from his abusive ex and how Mika supported him. The game scenes were good--it felt very much like watching a real D&D group. I usually read sapphic or f/f romance, not m/f, so liked having queer characters normalized as part of a friend group (and their identities not tokenized) was great to see. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

A fabulous story about a boy and a girl connecting over a D&D type game (called B&B in the book), and finding friendship, acceptance and healing as they navigate the ups and downs of life. I loved the friend group, and appreciated the differences each individual brought to the group, and how they accepted each other, and used each other's strengths to become a greater whole as a group, and became their own kind of family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emilee Valken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knocked Kait's book out in a day. The cast of characters was so endearing and relatable touching on new romantic relationships and old, marginalized communities, the importance of friendships, social anxiety, and growing after emotional abuse. The snippets of DnD-like game play were easy to follow and a fun addition to the story even if you haven't delved into the world of table top role-playing games. I would definitely recommend this book as a refreshing love story to add to your shelf.