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Spikes, Dice and Other Variables
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Life is over for Riley McMahon.
Well, it isn’t really, but when you’re the star setter of the volleyball team and on the brink of academic ineligibility, the actual end of Everything™ feels closer than you think. Terrified of failing math and losing her spot on the team, she’s desperate to do anything to save her grades.
So when she finds out about the gaming club run by Simon, the smart kid in her math class, she joins without a second thought in order to convince him to tutor her. The problem? She sort of told him she loves the game he plays. And she's never rolled a single D20 in her life.
But as they spend time together, Riley realizes she might feel something other than friendship towards Simon. Riley’s been avoiding relationships her whole life, and as her friends start to notice her not-so-platonic feelings for Simon, she’s forced to face her discomfort around dating, and what being in a romantic relationship means for her. Balancing her own fears against society’s expectations, Riley must figure out what matters most to her, and how to let everyone else’s expectations go.
Well, it isn’t really, but when you’re the star setter of the volleyball team and on the brink of academic ineligibility, the actual end of Everything™ feels closer than you think. Terrified of failing math and losing her spot on the team, she’s desperate to do anything to save her grades.
So when she finds out about the gaming club run by Simon, the smart kid in her math class, she joins without a second thought in order to convince him to tutor her. The problem? She sort of told him she loves the game he plays. And she's never rolled a single D20 in her life.
But as they spend time together, Riley realizes she might feel something other than friendship towards Simon. Riley’s been avoiding relationships her whole life, and as her friends start to notice her not-so-platonic feelings for Simon, she’s forced to face her discomfort around dating, and what being in a romantic relationship means for her. Balancing her own fears against society’s expectations, Riley must figure out what matters most to her, and how to let everyone else’s expectations go.
Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Harper Kinsley
5 books12 followersHarper Kinsley is an author, educator, and lifelong Midwesterner with a deep love of storytelling. When not writing novels, she enjoys creating stories through TTRPGs as the resident Forever DM and dabbling in whichever hyperfixation craft has most recently sparked her interest. She lives with her partner and the trash goblin in her house that she also calls her cat.
Harper can be found on Instagram at @harperkinsleyauthor
Harper can be found on Instagram at @harperkinsleyauthor
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 11, 2025
I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this for the author while they were editing. There is so much heart in this
is story and you fall in love with every character for so many reasons. Riley and Simon are amazing leads, and you go through this small snippet of their life rooting for them the whole time. So excited for more from Harper!
is story and you fall in love with every character for so many reasons. Riley and Simon are amazing leads, and you go through this small snippet of their life rooting for them the whole time. So excited for more from Harper!
June 11, 2025
I have read snippits of this book and loved what I have read I am in love. Can't wait for the book to come out. Read short stories from Harper Kinsley and she is very much a up and coming author would recommend you give this book a read when it comes out :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
This one caught my eye when I saw it on Netgalley, the ace and neurodivergent main character as well as the tabletop roleplaying aspect both appealed to me. I was glad to receive a copy and started reading it shortly after that. This was such a great read and I wished this book had been around when I was a teenager as I related a lot to Riley and it would've helped me so much back then.
This book is about Riley who loves volleyball, but to stay on the team she has to do well with her grades as well and that's where she struggles. When she meets Simon she has the idea to ask him for help with math and studying, so she joins the tabletop roleplaying he is part of so he will like her more. The two grow closer and Riley has to figure out how to handle things as she feels romantic feelings, but doesn’t want to have sex. While at the same time trying to keep her grades up so she can keep playing volleyball.
I really liked reading about Riley, she was such a relatable main character. I struggled a lot in high school too and some of her struggles felt very relatable and I also felt like I was broken and like I worked so hard, but it wasn’t enough. I do appreciated that Riley eventually does get some help and support, but her parents don't understand her and that was tough to read about. I think Riley is an ADHD'er, but this never actually gets stated in the book, but her learning struggles and concentration struggles point in that direction. I liked seeing her figure out she's ace and how much peace and clarity that gives her and how she eventually comes out to her friends as well.
I really liked the sweet romance between Simon and Riley. I liked seeing the two of them grow closer and get to know each other. There are some great scenes involving the two of them. I liked seeing Riley get into the tabletop roleplaying game, which was fun to read about. And it was nice seeing Simon try to learn more about volleyball. Both of them just felt so real and so did their relationship. There is a bit of conflict later on in the book, but I think it felt realistic how that got dealt with and got resolved.
This book has a bunch of great side characters, from Riley's best friends Adri and Cooper, then there is Riley's brother, the volleyball team and the tabletop roleplaying party of Renee and Finn. I liked reading about these characters and also liked how supportive everyone was. There are also some teachers and the volleyball coach that play a role in the story as well. There is also a lot of diversity and representation among the side characters, everything from hypermobility to a nonbinary side character, a lesbian side character and an autistic and I probably am forgetting a few more or some that are hinted at.
I just wish this book had been even longer, but that's just because I loved it so much. There were some things I would've liked to see and I just wanted to read more about these characters. I wondered whether Riley ever talks to the teacher who sits in during their club meetings about being ace. And I would've liked to read the scenes when Riley comes out to some of her friends, which now got skipped over. I also would've loved to see Riley figure things out about being neurodivergent. And at the same time I do think the ending was great and very fitting for the book.
This book was so hopeful and encouraging. I just loved the messages this book had about being yourself and figuring out who you are. And the supportive group of friends was just so awesome to read about.
To summarize: I really liked this book. It's a great YA novel about figuring out who you are with a hopeful and supportive message. Riley figures out she is ace in this book and I am pretty sure she's neurodivergent as well. There's a lot of representation and diversity in this book in the form of realistic and likable characters. I liked reading about Riley, she felt so relatable and I am so glad she had a great group of supportive characters around her. Her romance with Simon was so cute and I really liked seeing the two of them grow closer. I really liked the tone and vibe of this book. It was so relatable and hopeful and I really liked it.
This one caught my eye when I saw it on Netgalley, the ace and neurodivergent main character as well as the tabletop roleplaying aspect both appealed to me. I was glad to receive a copy and started reading it shortly after that. This was such a great read and I wished this book had been around when I was a teenager as I related a lot to Riley and it would've helped me so much back then.
This book is about Riley who loves volleyball, but to stay on the team she has to do well with her grades as well and that's where she struggles. When she meets Simon she has the idea to ask him for help with math and studying, so she joins the tabletop roleplaying he is part of so he will like her more. The two grow closer and Riley has to figure out how to handle things as she feels romantic feelings, but doesn’t want to have sex. While at the same time trying to keep her grades up so she can keep playing volleyball.
I really liked reading about Riley, she was such a relatable main character. I struggled a lot in high school too and some of her struggles felt very relatable and I also felt like I was broken and like I worked so hard, but it wasn’t enough. I do appreciated that Riley eventually does get some help and support, but her parents don't understand her and that was tough to read about. I think Riley is an ADHD'er, but this never actually gets stated in the book, but her learning struggles and concentration struggles point in that direction. I liked seeing her figure out she's ace and how much peace and clarity that gives her and how she eventually comes out to her friends as well.
I really liked the sweet romance between Simon and Riley. I liked seeing the two of them grow closer and get to know each other. There are some great scenes involving the two of them. I liked seeing Riley get into the tabletop roleplaying game, which was fun to read about. And it was nice seeing Simon try to learn more about volleyball. Both of them just felt so real and so did their relationship. There is a bit of conflict later on in the book, but I think it felt realistic how that got dealt with and got resolved.
This book has a bunch of great side characters, from Riley's best friends Adri and Cooper, then there is Riley's brother, the volleyball team and the tabletop roleplaying party of Renee and Finn. I liked reading about these characters and also liked how supportive everyone was. There are also some teachers and the volleyball coach that play a role in the story as well. There is also a lot of diversity and representation among the side characters, everything from hypermobility to a nonbinary side character, a lesbian side character and an autistic and I probably am forgetting a few more or some that are hinted at.
I just wish this book had been even longer, but that's just because I loved it so much. There were some things I would've liked to see and I just wanted to read more about these characters. I wondered whether Riley ever talks to the teacher who sits in during their club meetings about being ace. And I would've liked to read the scenes when Riley comes out to some of her friends, which now got skipped over. I also would've loved to see Riley figure things out about being neurodivergent. And at the same time I do think the ending was great and very fitting for the book.
This book was so hopeful and encouraging. I just loved the messages this book had about being yourself and figuring out who you are. And the supportive group of friends was just so awesome to read about.
To summarize: I really liked this book. It's a great YA novel about figuring out who you are with a hopeful and supportive message. Riley figures out she is ace in this book and I am pretty sure she's neurodivergent as well. There's a lot of representation and diversity in this book in the form of realistic and likable characters. I liked reading about Riley, she felt so relatable and I am so glad she had a great group of supportive characters around her. Her romance with Simon was so cute and I really liked seeing the two of them grow closer. I really liked the tone and vibe of this book. It was so relatable and hopeful and I really liked it.
July 26, 2026
Thanks to Harper Kinsley for sending me an eARC of her book!
I’m not sure words can accurately convey how absolutely wholesome and inspiring this book is, but I’m going to try.
This book is for everyone who has ever felt they are “too much” or that they are “broken” because they don’t fit into society’s typical mold. It’s also an amazing learning opportunity for everyone else. I truly believe this book should be stocked in every bookstore and classroom for the teen who needs it. I wish I had this book as a teenager.
Riley’s journey of self-discovery is eye-opening and heart wrenching but also so sweet and heartwarming. It’s a coming-of-age depiction of asexuality and it hits the reader right in the feels. I don’t want to spoil the journey that Riley goes through so I won’t say specifics. You just have to trust me and read it.
Riley also has undiagnosed ADHD. Her struggle with “being enough” for her parents, her teachers, even her friends at times… it’s a rough read. It’s also a necessary read. So many kids are looked down upon for their neurodivergence when they should instead be treated with kindness and respect. Simon’s sister is also on the autism spectrum. What I loved about how Kinsley wrote both of these fantastic females is that she celebrated their differences while not hiding their struggles. Both of these depictions felt real and raw.
There is also a big found family aspect to this book with Riley’s friend group. My favorite scene is when her new Dungeonpath friends come to one of her volleyball games. They know nothing of the sport; they just go to support Riley. That’s it. That’s the only reason. They didn’t need to “gain” something from going. They just wanted to be there for her. It’s a reminder that I think we all need, especially as adults. So few of us are still able to be that 100% supportive friend, not because we don’t want to be but because now we have responsibilities: kids, spouses, pets, jobs, hobbies, etc. We view our time as adults with “what do I get out of this” / “I don’t want to do that” instead of “you want to do this; I’ll be there for you.” The genuine wholesomeness of these teenagers… it makes you want to go back to that time, when you would go to an event simply because your friend wanted to go.
One more thing I will say about this book. There are times when diversity representation in media can feel like an author checking boxes. Spikes, Dice, and Other Variables has a lot of representation but it NEVER feels like a checklist. It truly feels like, “these characters were written exactly how they needed to be, exactly how they simply ARE and that is beautiful.” 💖
I’d recommend this specifically to readers who are neurodiverse or identify as asexual - but I would also recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about exactly how it feels to be either or both. I hope everyone can learn to love Riley and all the other characters for exactly who they are, differences and all.
Some quotes from the arc copy that need to be highlighted!
“You are not broken because the world refuses to make space for you.”
“I want every part of me to be enough.”
“Maybe there’s not a right or wrong choice. Maybe we just make the best decision we can and hope it doesn’t screw us over.”
“Your feelings might be a little bigger than others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed to feel them.”
“Nobody makes fun of an athlete for enjoying what they do.”
I’m not sure words can accurately convey how absolutely wholesome and inspiring this book is, but I’m going to try.
This book is for everyone who has ever felt they are “too much” or that they are “broken” because they don’t fit into society’s typical mold. It’s also an amazing learning opportunity for everyone else. I truly believe this book should be stocked in every bookstore and classroom for the teen who needs it. I wish I had this book as a teenager.
Riley’s journey of self-discovery is eye-opening and heart wrenching but also so sweet and heartwarming. It’s a coming-of-age depiction of asexuality and it hits the reader right in the feels. I don’t want to spoil the journey that Riley goes through so I won’t say specifics. You just have to trust me and read it.
Riley also has undiagnosed ADHD. Her struggle with “being enough” for her parents, her teachers, even her friends at times… it’s a rough read. It’s also a necessary read. So many kids are looked down upon for their neurodivergence when they should instead be treated with kindness and respect. Simon’s sister is also on the autism spectrum. What I loved about how Kinsley wrote both of these fantastic females is that she celebrated their differences while not hiding their struggles. Both of these depictions felt real and raw.
There is also a big found family aspect to this book with Riley’s friend group. My favorite scene is when her new Dungeonpath friends come to one of her volleyball games. They know nothing of the sport; they just go to support Riley. That’s it. That’s the only reason. They didn’t need to “gain” something from going. They just wanted to be there for her. It’s a reminder that I think we all need, especially as adults. So few of us are still able to be that 100% supportive friend, not because we don’t want to be but because now we have responsibilities: kids, spouses, pets, jobs, hobbies, etc. We view our time as adults with “what do I get out of this” / “I don’t want to do that” instead of “you want to do this; I’ll be there for you.” The genuine wholesomeness of these teenagers… it makes you want to go back to that time, when you would go to an event simply because your friend wanted to go.
One more thing I will say about this book. There are times when diversity representation in media can feel like an author checking boxes. Spikes, Dice, and Other Variables has a lot of representation but it NEVER feels like a checklist. It truly feels like, “these characters were written exactly how they needed to be, exactly how they simply ARE and that is beautiful.” 💖
I’d recommend this specifically to readers who are neurodiverse or identify as asexual - but I would also recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about exactly how it feels to be either or both. I hope everyone can learn to love Riley and all the other characters for exactly who they are, differences and all.
Some quotes from the arc copy that need to be highlighted!
“You are not broken because the world refuses to make space for you.”
“I want every part of me to be enough.”
“Maybe there’s not a right or wrong choice. Maybe we just make the best decision we can and hope it doesn’t screw us over.”
“Your feelings might be a little bigger than others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed to feel them.”
“Nobody makes fun of an athlete for enjoying what they do.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think this book is the equivalent of a warm hug; so charming, lighthearted, and emotionally driven. What I liked most about this one was how gentle the pacing was and how the author managed to insert the feeling of this unidentified weight, whether it’s rooted in our own personal worries in life or lots of stuff that makes our heads spin, as depicted by the characters in this.
Riley’s character feels authentic, genuine, and relatable; she’s so well-written! I resonated with her character at times. So did Simon; he’s wonderful, sensible, and a wise person. Not only them, but almost everyone in this story, including Riley and Simon’s friend groups were lovable. The found family trope will always get me! I also appreciate how diverse the characters were. Can’t get enough of them.
Learning and discovering about our sexuality, gender, and identity as a person should not be a forbidden discourse. Hence one of my favorite quotes from this is: “You are not broken because the world refuses to make space for you.”
Though it was not necessarily a book that everyone can relate to, I think this one was well-written enough to feel emotionally connected with the characters and hear their story, at least. Because the world is indeed so beautiful, and one of these things is adorned by beautiful human beings.
Thank you to Harper Kinsley, NetGalley, and Inked in Gray Press for this arc!
Riley’s character feels authentic, genuine, and relatable; she’s so well-written! I resonated with her character at times. So did Simon; he’s wonderful, sensible, and a wise person. Not only them, but almost everyone in this story, including Riley and Simon’s friend groups were lovable. The found family trope will always get me! I also appreciate how diverse the characters were. Can’t get enough of them.
Learning and discovering about our sexuality, gender, and identity as a person should not be a forbidden discourse. Hence one of my favorite quotes from this is: “You are not broken because the world refuses to make space for you.”
Though it was not necessarily a book that everyone can relate to, I think this one was well-written enough to feel emotionally connected with the characters and hear their story, at least. Because the world is indeed so beautiful, and one of these things is adorned by beautiful human beings.
Thank you to Harper Kinsley, NetGalley, and Inked in Gray Press for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5 - This book was so charming and sweet. It was the perfect young adult coming of age story. The main character, Riley's journey to discovering herself as she develops feelings for someone for the first time was such a delight. I loved her story. Every part of it. It wasn't just romance or self discovery that was amazing, it was also about self acceptance and friendship - finding people you fit in with and trust and can be yourself around. And Riley finding that made me so so happy. Her and Simon were so cute together, every scene with them shone with how well they got along and liked each other. The conflicts and angst she went through with her friends and her parents were also enthralling. I did hate her parents for a bit, but it just felt so authentically teen to have that kind of conflict. I also did find that the bully character felt a little too comical in the bully behavior, but it had a reason in the narrative for the characters self growth and standing up for themselves so I didn't mind so much. Another thing is I want more Ellie! And more of them playing the dungeon game, haha. All in all this was such a wonderful story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A YA Book Full Of Heart That Combines The World Of Volleyball And TTRPG, I Was Hooked From The Very First Page.
The Story Is Set In An Immersive World Full Of Real & Authentic, Vibrant Characters That Sucks You In Deep. I Loved Riley And Simon A Lot And Their Friend Group Was So Warm And Accepting. The Are And Pan Rep In The Book Is Fantastic And As A Neurodivergent Reader, I Thought That Riley's Undiagnosed ADHD Was Written Really Well And Showcased Riley's Strengths Instead Of Just Purely Focusing On Her Struggles. The Friend Group's Banter Was Really Funny And I Liked How The Book Explained The Knowlege Of The Worlds Of Netball And TTRPG In An Easily Accessible Way To A Total Newbie To Both Worlds. The Scene Where Simon Helps Riley Choose Books In The Library Was Just Pure Joy.
Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.
The Story Is Set In An Immersive World Full Of Real & Authentic, Vibrant Characters That Sucks You In Deep. I Loved Riley And Simon A Lot And Their Friend Group Was So Warm And Accepting. The Are And Pan Rep In The Book Is Fantastic And As A Neurodivergent Reader, I Thought That Riley's Undiagnosed ADHD Was Written Really Well And Showcased Riley's Strengths Instead Of Just Purely Focusing On Her Struggles. The Friend Group's Banter Was Really Funny And I Liked How The Book Explained The Knowlege Of The Worlds Of Netball And TTRPG In An Easily Accessible Way To A Total Newbie To Both Worlds. The Scene Where Simon Helps Riley Choose Books In The Library Was Just Pure Joy.
Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who was a very anxious, asexual and a teenage 'disaster' not very long ago, I think that this book is very important.
The writing was at times light, but whenever breaching an important topic; it was treating it with utmost care and seriousness.
Characters were absolutely lovable (well most of them... iykyk) I loved their diversity and how they each got their own struggles.
I really appreciate how the topic of asexuality and being a 'failure' were portrayed. I cried more than once, because of how relatable it was.
Overall I was a really good book and I cannot wait to get it on my shelf.
The writing was at times light, but whenever breaching an important topic; it was treating it with utmost care and seriousness.
Characters were absolutely lovable (well most of them... iykyk) I loved their diversity and how they each got their own struggles.
I really appreciate how the topic of asexuality and being a 'failure' were portrayed. I cried more than once, because of how relatable it was.
Overall I was a really good book and I cannot wait to get it on my shelf.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 out of 5 stars
YA Sports Romance - Volleyball
Riley is struggling to keep her math grades up so she can play volleyball, she meets Simon in her math class and gets the idea to join his Dnd club in order to get him to tutor her. Riley starts to discover more about herself as her friendship with Simon grows into something more.
This was a quick read for me, I love volleyball and I have always wanted to play a roleplaying game so I was vibing with this book a lot. I think I will reread this book again when it comes out.
YA Sports Romance - Volleyball
Riley is struggling to keep her math grades up so she can play volleyball, she meets Simon in her math class and gets the idea to join his Dnd club in order to get him to tutor her. Riley starts to discover more about herself as her friendship with Simon grows into something more.
This was a quick read for me, I love volleyball and I have always wanted to play a roleplaying game so I was vibing with this book a lot. I think I will reread this book again when it comes out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm so happy we have another queer YA romance that this time focuses on the jock with undiagnosed ADHD, who slowly comes to terms with the fact that she's asexual and that that's totally okay (and even cool).
Simon was very sweet and the whole D&D Club (all 3 of them 😂) are the best!
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
Simon was very sweet and the whole D&D Club (all 3 of them 😂) are the best!
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really appreciated this book. There is something about reading about asexual characters that heals something in me. It's amazing to read and experience. The story itself was also cute and fun. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future novels by this author.
Want to Read
July 3, 2026Aww the MMC looks like one of my OCs when he was in high school, so cute!
![Profile Image for Nonagesimus Reads [Em].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1785771992i/164257338._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so good omg
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded to 4. Full review to come!
Did Not Finish
August 2, 2026Mentioned The Percy Jackson books, Rick Riordan has taken a both sides stance on Palestine in the past, so personally I don’t support him and won’t support books that mention him after that time.
July 18, 2026
I had the extreme honor of reading an early version and let me be the first to say you need to add this to your TBR! Harper Kinsley is laugh out loud funny, with three dimensional characters you will love and hate (and love to hate). The undiagnosed ADHD rep and the ace rep is so sincere and healing. In the best way possible, I think I experienced every emotion known to man while reading because Harper is so skilled at immersive storytelling. I cannot wait to have a copy in my hands!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews