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Gaming and Romance #3
Rolls and Rivalry
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp--from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!
Hazel’s senior year at band camp is set to be epic—until Max, her childhood crush turned drum-playing troublemaker, waltzes back into town.Their sections have always been rivals, but a shared love for Dungeons & Dragons pulls them together, sparking a romance Hazel never saw coming.
Just when things feel perfect, rumors Did Max ask her out because of a lost bet? With band drama mounting and her first D&D game spiraling, Hazel must prove their love—and her leadership—are the real deal.A swoony, nerdy romance full of rivalry, redemption, and roll-the-dice chemistry from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!
Hazel’s senior year at band camp is set to be epic—until Max, her childhood crush turned drum-playing troublemaker, waltzes back into town.Their sections have always been rivals, but a shared love for Dungeons & Dragons pulls them together, sparking a romance Hazel never saw coming.
Just when things feel perfect, rumors Did Max ask her out because of a lost bet? With band drama mounting and her first D&D game spiraling, Hazel must prove their love—and her leadership—are the real deal.A swoony, nerdy romance full of rivalry, redemption, and roll-the-dice chemistry from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 5, 2026
4513 people want to read
About the author
Kristy Boyce
6 books1,424 followersKristy Boyce lives in Columbus, OH and teaches psychology as a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University.
When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, putting together fairy gardens, or watching happy reality TV (The Great British Bake-Off and So You Think You Can Dance are perennial favorites).
Kristy is the social media coordinator for Central and Southern Ohio SCBWI.
When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, putting together fairy gardens, or watching happy reality TV (The Great British Bake-Off and So You Think You Can Dance are perennial favorites).
Kristy is the social media coordinator for Central and Southern Ohio SCBWI.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars
after thinking about it, i decided to raise my rating to 4 stars because this was SO CUTE 😭💗 (is 2026 going to be the year for me?!?) i felt like i was getting wrapped in a warm hug the entire time 🥹 THIS is what YA romances should strive to be — adorable, nostalgic, fun, and a little bit cheesy are all you need
’rolls and rivalry’ follows max and hazel, two members of the marching band.. but they’re in different sections that hate each other. when they meet again when max moves back to hazel’s city, their personalities clash, which is just fueled by their sections’ feud in band. throughout the book, we follow their journey in getting to know each other again. and let me say firsthand it was so cute! 💛 the book starts when they’re in a band camp over the summer and the vibes that that camp already gave off was amazing. having water balloon fights, playing childish games together, etc. warmed my heart. this book gave me such a pure sense of nostalgia and a yearning for the “american highschool experience”.
there were several moments that were cringy (e.g. the fmc saying “omigod” multiple times) but honestly, when i think about this book, the overall sentiment is pure happiness — so i’m willing to overlook those instances.
but overall, this was such a cute and fun book! i’m definitely going to be reading all of Kristy boyce’s backlist now 🫶🏻
thank you so much to netgalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
time for a cute romance in the midst of all these depressing reads ! and i have the honor of reading this with my beautiful girl rei 💛.
thank you to netgalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
after thinking about it, i decided to raise my rating to 4 stars because this was SO CUTE 😭💗 (is 2026 going to be the year for me?!?) i felt like i was getting wrapped in a warm hug the entire time 🥹 THIS is what YA romances should strive to be — adorable, nostalgic, fun, and a little bit cheesy are all you need
’rolls and rivalry’ follows max and hazel, two members of the marching band.. but they’re in different sections that hate each other. when they meet again when max moves back to hazel’s city, their personalities clash, which is just fueled by their sections’ feud in band. throughout the book, we follow their journey in getting to know each other again. and let me say firsthand it was so cute! 💛 the book starts when they’re in a band camp over the summer and the vibes that that camp already gave off was amazing. having water balloon fights, playing childish games together, etc. warmed my heart. this book gave me such a pure sense of nostalgia and a yearning for the “american highschool experience”.
there were several moments that were cringy (e.g. the fmc saying “omigod” multiple times) but honestly, when i think about this book, the overall sentiment is pure happiness — so i’m willing to overlook those instances.
but overall, this was such a cute and fun book! i’m definitely going to be reading all of Kristy boyce’s backlist now 🫶🏻
thank you so much to netgalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
time for a cute romance in the midst of all these depressing reads ! and i have the honor of reading this with my beautiful girl rei 💛.
thank you to netgalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Currently reading
January 16, 2026pre-read:
my first ever buddy read with ivy bb 🥹💛 i saw that she got the e-arc for this as well and just messaged her and ask if she wants to br it 🤭 fortunately, she agreed to read it with me so here we are! ✨🫧 i really enjoyed the first two books of this series and i hope that we’ll both enjoy this one too ✨🤞🏼💛
my first ever buddy read with ivy bb 🥹💛 i saw that she got the e-arc for this as well and just messaged her and ask if she wants to br it 🤭 fortunately, she agreed to read it with me so here we are! ✨🫧 i really enjoyed the first two books of this series and i hope that we’ll both enjoy this one too ✨🤞🏼💛
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Kristy Boyce, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Rolls and Rivalry releases on May 5th!
Overall Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 0 / 5 (It's YA!)
Did I stay up until 3am to finish reading this? Yes. Yes I did.
Rolls and Rivalry was suuuuuch a heartwarming, nerdy, fun read that transported me back to high school.
As a former marching band kid, and a lover of Dungeons and Dragons, I knew this book would be right up my alley! Kristy Boyce truly showcased her knowledge of both worlds in this one!
Hazel, our FMC, is sooo resonant of people pleasing eldest daughters who just want to make their parents proud. I felt like I could relate to her so easily.
And Max, our MMC, starts off acting like... well, a jerk, due to his own issues. But he quickly becomes such a sweetheart once things finally kicked off.
Reading about these two butting heads, competing against eachother, wanting eachother to lose... Then slowly rekindling their friendship, falling in love, and rooting for eachother to win and do their best? That was such amazing progression. It all felt so organic and so heartfelt.
I cannot forget about the friendship and relationships made between the side characters! Hazel's friends and the rest of the colorguard were so sweet. It lowkey made me miss my old section back when I was in marching band too.
Also, the cameos from the other books in this series? I was so happy to see past characters returning.
Overall.. Such a good book. I can't wait to see what else Kristy Boyce has in store for us readers!
♡ pre-read ♡
I was OVERJOYED when I received this ARC. This series is the cutest. Can't wait to dig in!
Overall Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 0 / 5 (It's YA!)
Did I stay up until 3am to finish reading this? Yes. Yes I did.
Rolls and Rivalry was suuuuuch a heartwarming, nerdy, fun read that transported me back to high school.
As a former marching band kid, and a lover of Dungeons and Dragons, I knew this book would be right up my alley! Kristy Boyce truly showcased her knowledge of both worlds in this one!
Hazel, our FMC, is sooo resonant of people pleasing eldest daughters who just want to make their parents proud. I felt like I could relate to her so easily.
And Max, our MMC, starts off acting like... well, a jerk, due to his own issues. But he quickly becomes such a sweetheart once things finally kicked off.
Reading about these two butting heads, competing against eachother, wanting eachother to lose... Then slowly rekindling their friendship, falling in love, and rooting for eachother to win and do their best? That was such amazing progression. It all felt so organic and so heartfelt.
I cannot forget about the friendship and relationships made between the side characters! Hazel's friends and the rest of the colorguard were so sweet. It lowkey made me miss my old section back when I was in marching band too.
Also, the cameos from the other books in this series? I was so happy to see past characters returning.
Overall.. Such a good book. I can't wait to see what else Kristy Boyce has in store for us readers!
♡ pre-read ♡
I was OVERJOYED when I received this ARC. This series is the cutest. Can't wait to dig in!
remind-me-once-out
October 25, 2025Yes please.
Want to read
October 23, 2025I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE WERE GOING TO GET ANOTHER DND ROMANCE
I literally didn't even read the synopsis before smashing that "request arc" button
edit the bat????? this cover is such a treat 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I literally didn't even read the synopsis before smashing that "request arc" button
edit the bat????? this cover is such a treat 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Want to read
September 26, 2025YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
December 4, 2025
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an early read.
It's so refreshing and nice to see a YA nerdy and cute story / series come out from this author. Each book gets better when it comes to characters, teen angst, D&D fun (without it sounded to obvious/easy). Books like this make me wish they were around when I was looking through the YA section for something to read.
I loved Hazel. I found her situation very authentic - she's a people pleaser and she also wants to feel like she has some self independence. Her confusion when it comes to Max, who is going through a lot regarding his mom and dad's divorce, gives some leverage to why he is acting distant and moody.
I loved seeing the previous characters from the other series show up or be mentioned!
I really recommend this series for the age group that it is written for. I can't wait to recommend this to some D&D teens I know!
It's so refreshing and nice to see a YA nerdy and cute story / series come out from this author. Each book gets better when it comes to characters, teen angst, D&D fun (without it sounded to obvious/easy). Books like this make me wish they were around when I was looking through the YA section for something to read.
I loved Hazel. I found her situation very authentic - she's a people pleaser and she also wants to feel like she has some self independence. Her confusion when it comes to Max, who is going through a lot regarding his mom and dad's divorce, gives some leverage to why he is acting distant and moody.
I loved seeing the previous characters from the other series show up or be mentioned!
I really recommend this series for the age group that it is written for. I can't wait to recommend this to some D&D teens I know!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
age rating: 12+
spice: none
language: 0.5/5
i was absolutely thrilled to be approved for the arc, but i sadly didn’t love this book as much as i anticipated. the pacing felt wonky and for me it often read as a middle grade novel rather than the YA book it’s marketed as. however, the character cameos made me smile!!
the story followed hazel, a senior in high school desperate to prove herself in her final year of participating in the color guard. i loved the friendships that were created within the group, and their overall dynamic was enjoyable to read. this poor girl though—her over-controlling and pressuring mother was ticking even ME off. 💀
max—the MMC acted jerky for the majority of the book and despite his and hazel’s history, i found myself not wanting to root for him at all. his behavior was just something i couldn’t look past. minor spoiler: even after him and hazel were romantically involved, he ended up being guilty of something that hurt her credibility and reputation. like—dude??
there were definitely some cute moments, but overall the romance felt very underdeveloped. i get that guard and band were important plot lines for these characters, but there really weren’t that many scenes that strengthened their relationship in the romantic sense.
i liked how out of the three books in the series, this one went into more depth regarding D&D. as someone who’s not familiar with the game outside of stranger things, i feel like i understand it a bit more. 😂
thank you netgalley for providing me with an e-arc copy!!
🎵: long live - taylor swift
seems like old times - laufey
teenage dream - olivia rodrigo
spice: none
language: 0.5/5
i was absolutely thrilled to be approved for the arc, but i sadly didn’t love this book as much as i anticipated. the pacing felt wonky and for me it often read as a middle grade novel rather than the YA book it’s marketed as. however, the character cameos made me smile!!
the story followed hazel, a senior in high school desperate to prove herself in her final year of participating in the color guard. i loved the friendships that were created within the group, and their overall dynamic was enjoyable to read. this poor girl though—her over-controlling and pressuring mother was ticking even ME off. 💀
max—the MMC acted jerky for the majority of the book and despite his and hazel’s history, i found myself not wanting to root for him at all. his behavior was just something i couldn’t look past. minor spoiler: even after him and hazel were romantically involved, he ended up being guilty of something that hurt her credibility and reputation. like—dude??
there were definitely some cute moments, but overall the romance felt very underdeveloped. i get that guard and band were important plot lines for these characters, but there really weren’t that many scenes that strengthened their relationship in the romantic sense.
i liked how out of the three books in the series, this one went into more depth regarding D&D. as someone who’s not familiar with the game outside of stranger things, i feel like i understand it a bit more. 😂
thank you netgalley for providing me with an e-arc copy!!
🎵: long live - taylor swift
seems like old times - laufey
teenage dream - olivia rodrigo
November 17, 2025
4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up Rolls and Rivalry on May 5, 2026.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Kristy Boyce is the queen of adorable YA nerdy D&D romances. Every time I pick up one of her books, I just sigh in relief because it feels so familiar and comforting and RELATABLE. Maybe that's a symptom of these books being set in the Midwest, too, because every time she manages to inject just enough original Midwestern experiences into the books that it feels like coming home.
But at the core of Rolls and Rivalry is a strained mother-daughter relationship, a new friend/mentee relationship, and a sizzling second-chance romance with an old crush who moved away and just moved back. Hazel, our perfectionist eldest daughter, is doing her best to succeed in her senior year marching band season, matching her mother's high school success. Said mother also excels as a D&D Dungeon Master, something Hazel has been thinking about doing for years but has never had a group to try it with. Enter Max, a former childhood friend turned hottie nerd.
Seeing Hazel and Max rekindle their relationship over D&D was adorable, especially given the tension between their two groups in marching band. Even when butting heads, you can tell both characters care about one another and wish things could go back to the way they were as kids, even as they've grown up and evolved over the years.
Hazel also had a heartwarming relationship with her new color guard member, Li, who also joined her D&D group. The little/big sister dynamic and Hazel showing her the ropes just solidified how Kristy excels with multiple types of relationships in her books. I always find myself rooting for these moments as much as the romantic tension!! It just makes Hazel feel like a true, well-rounded character who's dealing with other issues outside of her connection to Max.
Overall, if you love adorable YA romances with D&D nerds, band geeks, and wonderful character relationships, this is your book!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Kristy Boyce is the queen of adorable YA nerdy D&D romances. Every time I pick up one of her books, I just sigh in relief because it feels so familiar and comforting and RELATABLE. Maybe that's a symptom of these books being set in the Midwest, too, because every time she manages to inject just enough original Midwestern experiences into the books that it feels like coming home.
But at the core of Rolls and Rivalry is a strained mother-daughter relationship, a new friend/mentee relationship, and a sizzling second-chance romance with an old crush who moved away and just moved back. Hazel, our perfectionist eldest daughter, is doing her best to succeed in her senior year marching band season, matching her mother's high school success. Said mother also excels as a D&D Dungeon Master, something Hazel has been thinking about doing for years but has never had a group to try it with. Enter Max, a former childhood friend turned hottie nerd.
Seeing Hazel and Max rekindle their relationship over D&D was adorable, especially given the tension between their two groups in marching band. Even when butting heads, you can tell both characters care about one another and wish things could go back to the way they were as kids, even as they've grown up and evolved over the years.
Hazel also had a heartwarming relationship with her new color guard member, Li, who also joined her D&D group. The little/big sister dynamic and Hazel showing her the ropes just solidified how Kristy excels with multiple types of relationships in her books. I always find myself rooting for these moments as much as the romantic tension!! It just makes Hazel feel like a true, well-rounded character who's dealing with other issues outside of her connection to Max.
Overall, if you love adorable YA romances with D&D nerds, band geeks, and wonderful character relationships, this is your book!
Want to read
October 25, 2025I CAN'T WAIT. 😍
January 12, 2026
I had such a fun time reading this book! It was a delight and truly captured the essence of high school romance. Kristy Boyce is such a lovely pick-me-up YA author. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading her d&d series!!! This book combines d&d with marching band/color guard, which was so fun to read about. I enjoyed the premise of childhood friends to 'strangers' to friends again to lovers! It was too cute!!!!
I adored both characters, but Hazel took the cake for me. She was such a fun, caring, and kind fmc! I also just adored the nerdy vibes in this one, very cute.
Thank you so much, NetGalley, Delacorte Romance/Random House Children's Books, for an early copy in exchange for my honest review!
I adored both characters, but Hazel took the cake for me. She was such a fun, caring, and kind fmc! I also just adored the nerdy vibes in this one, very cute.
Thank you so much, NetGalley, Delacorte Romance/Random House Children's Books, for an early copy in exchange for my honest review!
future-releases
October 24, 2025These covers are all so iconic. Somehow each one is better than the last!
December 24, 2025
Adjusted Rating: 3.75 stars!!!
POV: 1st Person / Single
Book Spice: None
Content Thoughts:
This had a really fun concept, but the execution felt a little more surface level than I was hoping for.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the Dungeons & Dragons gaming world, which added a unique angle to the story and is my favorite part of this series.
The band and color guard representation was another strong point for me. I especially liked following the color guard’s growth, their challenges, and the competition aspects.
That said, I struggled a bit with connecting emotionally to the romance. I wish there had been a more grounded buildup early on so I could really sink into the characters and feel the chemistry develop. There were a few cute moments that made me smile, and those helped once the story started to pick up, but I wanted more of them overall.
The pacing at the beginning also threw me off. It took a while to understand the time period we were in. The story is set in Ohio in August, and I would have liked a bit more of the school setting to anchor the story. At times, the structure of events felt surface level, which made it harder for the emotional moments to fully land.
Book 2 , “Dating and Dragons”, remains my favorite book in this series. 🤭
Overall, this was a sweet, enjoyable read with some charming elements, especially as it went on, but I found myself wanting deeper character development and a stronger romantic payoff.
Thank you Delacorte Romance for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
POV: 1st Person / Single
Book Spice: None
Content Thoughts:
This had a really fun concept, but the execution felt a little more surface level than I was hoping for.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the Dungeons & Dragons gaming world, which added a unique angle to the story and is my favorite part of this series.
The band and color guard representation was another strong point for me. I especially liked following the color guard’s growth, their challenges, and the competition aspects.
That said, I struggled a bit with connecting emotionally to the romance. I wish there had been a more grounded buildup early on so I could really sink into the characters and feel the chemistry develop. There were a few cute moments that made me smile, and those helped once the story started to pick up, but I wanted more of them overall.
The pacing at the beginning also threw me off. It took a while to understand the time period we were in. The story is set in Ohio in August, and I would have liked a bit more of the school setting to anchor the story. At times, the structure of events felt surface level, which made it harder for the emotional moments to fully land.
Book 2 , “Dating and Dragons”, remains my favorite book in this series. 🤭
Overall, this was a sweet, enjoyable read with some charming elements, especially as it went on, but I found myself wanting deeper character development and a stronger romantic payoff.
Thank you Delacorte Romance for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 13, 2026
Kristy has a way of capturing that feeling of being a teenager. Having parents who love you, but you still find SO annoying. When your friends are your world and make you feel seen. When having a crush feels like your heart is exploding and you can barely look at them without becoming an embarrassing mess.
This book is sweet and the characters are so adorably nerdy, just like I’ve come to expect. Plus there are cameos that had me kicking my feet to see some of my favorite characters again.
Hazel is starting her senior year as the color guard caption. But to her surprise, her old friend who moved away, Max, has come back and joined this for percussion team. Max who she spent Saturday nights with while their parents played D&D. Max who she secretly had a crush on and was devastated to see move away.
Max isn’t who Hazel remembers and the two can’t stop trying to one up each other. But some of those old feelings can’t help but linger.
This book is sweet and the characters are so adorably nerdy, just like I’ve come to expect. Plus there are cameos that had me kicking my feet to see some of my favorite characters again.
Hazel is starting her senior year as the color guard caption. But to her surprise, her old friend who moved away, Max, has come back and joined this for percussion team. Max who she spent Saturday nights with while their parents played D&D. Max who she secretly had a crush on and was devastated to see move away.
Max isn’t who Hazel remembers and the two can’t stop trying to one up each other. But some of those old feelings can’t help but linger.
Want to read
January 16, 2026OH MY GOD THERES ANOTHER ONEEEE
Want to read
October 25, 2025MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR
January 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher,and Kristy Boyce for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!
—————————————⚔️—————————————
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—————————————🎲—————————————
Tw: Kissing, divorce, minor swearing
—————————————🐉—————————————
🏰- This book was so cute! Kristy Boyce is amazing at writing these D&D romances because they are all absolutely adorable, and this was not an exception!!
🧝♂️- The characters were so fun! Hazel and Max were amazing characters to read about and I loved them together! I also loved all the side characters! Nova and her dog were so funny, and Li was such a sweetheart too! I definitely did NOT like Brody though!!
🔮- The romance was great in this book! I loved reading about Max and Hazel, they were TOO CUTE! When they were in the forest together… love them so much.
🧌- I loved the nerdy aspects of these books! Reading about not only dungeons and dragons but also the plot in the marching band was so much fun!!! I do wish that there had been more time spent focusing on dungeons and dragons like in the other book, because it did feel kind of overshadowed by the other things that were going on.
🗡️- Overall, this book was so fun! It was a super cute and easy read, and was altogether super enjoyable! I did prefer the other books over this one, but that isn’t saying too much since I LOVED THEM ALL SO MUCH!
———Definitely go read this when it comes out!———
—————————————⚔️—————————————
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—————————————🎲—————————————
Tw: Kissing, divorce, minor swearing
—————————————🐉—————————————
🏰- This book was so cute! Kristy Boyce is amazing at writing these D&D romances because they are all absolutely adorable, and this was not an exception!!
🧝♂️- The characters were so fun! Hazel and Max were amazing characters to read about and I loved them together! I also loved all the side characters! Nova and her dog were so funny, and Li was such a sweetheart too! I definitely did NOT like Brody though!!
🔮- The romance was great in this book! I loved reading about Max and Hazel, they were TOO CUTE! When they were in the forest together… love them so much.
🧌- I loved the nerdy aspects of these books! Reading about not only dungeons and dragons but also the plot in the marching band was so much fun!!! I do wish that there had been more time spent focusing on dungeons and dragons like in the other book, because it did feel kind of overshadowed by the other things that were going on.
🗡️- Overall, this book was so fun! It was a super cute and easy read, and was altogether super enjoyable! I did prefer the other books over this one, but that isn’t saying too much since I LOVED THEM ALL SO MUCH!
———Definitely go read this when it comes out!———
November 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a delight! I’ve loved every installment in this series, and once again, I found myself unable to put it down. There’s just something so magical about the mix of D&D adventures, heartwarming friendships, and swoony romance that keeps me completely hooked from start to finish.
Max and Hazel were absolutely adorable together! I’m so glad they mended their friendship early on, it made watching their relationship grow even more rewarding. That forest scene had me absolutely dying (in the best way)!! The chemistry, the tension, the sweetness… everything about it rolled a natural 20 for me.
I also really connected with Hazel’s journey to make her mom proud. That pressure to live up to expectations hit close to home. I definitely felt that in high school, trying to do everything “right.” Seeing Hazel’s parents express pride and unconditional love at the end was so touching.
And I have to shout out Li and Nova <3 They’re the kind of supportive party members every adventurer deserves loyal, funny, and always there when it counts.
One more thing, loved seeing past characters show up in this book! Please know I was screaming with joy!!!
Overall, this book was a critical hit! I can’t wait to see what this series rolls out next.
This book was such a delight! I’ve loved every installment in this series, and once again, I found myself unable to put it down. There’s just something so magical about the mix of D&D adventures, heartwarming friendships, and swoony romance that keeps me completely hooked from start to finish.
Max and Hazel were absolutely adorable together! I’m so glad they mended their friendship early on, it made watching their relationship grow even more rewarding. That forest scene had me absolutely dying (in the best way)!! The chemistry, the tension, the sweetness… everything about it rolled a natural 20 for me.
I also really connected with Hazel’s journey to make her mom proud. That pressure to live up to expectations hit close to home. I definitely felt that in high school, trying to do everything “right.” Seeing Hazel’s parents express pride and unconditional love at the end was so touching.
And I have to shout out Li and Nova <3 They’re the kind of supportive party members every adventurer deserves loyal, funny, and always there when it counts.
One more thing, loved seeing past characters show up in this book! Please know I was screaming with joy!!!
Overall, this book was a critical hit! I can’t wait to see what this series rolls out next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
how does she keep getting away with this... like ANOTHER amazing one!!!!!
anyway it was so good, i hope she keeps writing these forever because i will read them every. single. time!!!
and i want all my friends to read this so if you're my friend and you see this please read kristy boyce's dungeons and dragons romances (preferably starting with Dungeons and Drama), thanks! :)
anyway it was so good, i hope she keeps writing these forever because i will read them every. single. time!!!
and i want all my friends to read this so if you're my friend and you see this please read kristy boyce's dungeons and dragons romances (preferably starting with Dungeons and Drama), thanks! :)
Want to read
December 6, 2025where can I get an arc for this? seriously i have enjoyed this series so much and need this next book.
Want to read
October 29, 2025i am so ridiculously excited about this
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and Kristy Boyce for the opportunity to read Rolls and Rivalry in exchange for an honest review.
Rolls and Rivalry is the third installment to the Gaming and Romance series. While you do not have to read them in order to enjoy them, as each book follows a different cast of main characters, there are some little fun cameos. This is noticeable for fans, but not necessary for a new reader of the series to thoroughly enjoy the novel as an individual entity.
The novel follows the first-person perspective of Hazel, a girl in her senior year and Color Guard captain. Her family expects her Guard to be the best, with high expectations of her own winnings. They have always clashed with the percussion section of the band, and the back-and-forth rivalry is so intense, it could easily be called bullying at one point.
Enter Max, Hazel's childhood friend who moved away without a word in Middle School, only to return for senior year as a member of the percussion section. He doesn't seem like the same Max he was before he moved, and she is certainly not the same Hazel. Their rivalry is infuriating, but eventually, Hazel DM's (DM=Dungeon Master) a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, featuring her best friend Nora, Guard freshmen Li, sophomore Felix, and none other than Max. Hazel and Max's moms are best friends, so what would they expect?
It's a rivalry turned romance, once Hazel and Max fess up to their own feelings, but if the Guard and percussion found out...sparks would fly. Thus, it must remain a secret!
While Dungeons and Drama is still my favorite, this one hits all the spots in a more unique way. How many people write about Color Guard? This was an extra fun one for me because it brought me back to my Color Guard days. I adore the covers of these books. Take a moment to look at all the details. When you read the book, be sure to look back at the cover for new insights!
I love the writing style. The pacing felt a bit slower than previous novels, but I believe that is because Color Guard and Band are a major focus for the characters, and the Dungeons & Dragons aspect doesn't really pick up until a bit later. It is fun to see Hazel grow as a leader, both in Color Guard and as a DM as she learns the needs of those around her. All elements of this novel are fun, from band, friendship, games, and rivalry. Rolls and Rivalry is certainly a fun one for teen readers. If you haven't you must also read Dungeons and Drama and Dating and Dragons for more high school D&D romantic adventures.
Rolls and Rivalry is the third installment to the Gaming and Romance series. While you do not have to read them in order to enjoy them, as each book follows a different cast of main characters, there are some little fun cameos. This is noticeable for fans, but not necessary for a new reader of the series to thoroughly enjoy the novel as an individual entity.
The novel follows the first-person perspective of Hazel, a girl in her senior year and Color Guard captain. Her family expects her Guard to be the best, with high expectations of her own winnings. They have always clashed with the percussion section of the band, and the back-and-forth rivalry is so intense, it could easily be called bullying at one point.
Enter Max, Hazel's childhood friend who moved away without a word in Middle School, only to return for senior year as a member of the percussion section. He doesn't seem like the same Max he was before he moved, and she is certainly not the same Hazel. Their rivalry is infuriating, but eventually, Hazel DM's (DM=Dungeon Master) a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, featuring her best friend Nora, Guard freshmen Li, sophomore Felix, and none other than Max. Hazel and Max's moms are best friends, so what would they expect?
It's a rivalry turned romance, once Hazel and Max fess up to their own feelings, but if the Guard and percussion found out...sparks would fly. Thus, it must remain a secret!
While Dungeons and Drama is still my favorite, this one hits all the spots in a more unique way. How many people write about Color Guard? This was an extra fun one for me because it brought me back to my Color Guard days. I adore the covers of these books. Take a moment to look at all the details. When you read the book, be sure to look back at the cover for new insights!
I love the writing style. The pacing felt a bit slower than previous novels, but I believe that is because Color Guard and Band are a major focus for the characters, and the Dungeons & Dragons aspect doesn't really pick up until a bit later. It is fun to see Hazel grow as a leader, both in Color Guard and as a DM as she learns the needs of those around her. All elements of this novel are fun, from band, friendship, games, and rivalry. Rolls and Rivalry is certainly a fun one for teen readers. If you haven't you must also read Dungeons and Drama and Dating and Dragons for more high school D&D romantic adventures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kristy Boyce has absolutely mastered the art of writing the nerdy teenager experience. This series overall has been so sweet and charming, and Rolls and Rivalry is my new favorite! (Is that at all influenced by the fact that I was also a nerdy guard girl in high school? Perhaps.)
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WHAT I LOVED
- Obviously loved all of the color guard/band events that took place in the book. So much nostalgia. (Is percussion not getting along with color guard a universal band thing??) I was unsurprised to learn from the acknowledgements that Kristy was also a guard girl. She clearly knew a lot about the color guard experience.
- As mentioned above, I love how Kristy writes her teenage characters so realistically. Hazel grapples with her time in high school band ending, the pressure to succeed from her mom, wanting the color guard to improve (and wanting her fellow guard members to love it as much as she does, and with the feeling that she is not good enough. Though we don't get Max's POV, we learn that he's dealing with his parents' separation, being the new kid at school and a bully of a section leader. They both dealt with these challenges in ways that made sense for teenagers.
- Kristy also always does a good job of writing friendships. I really liked Nova and Li in particular, and though I wish we got to spend more time with them, I do think they added a lot to the story (Nova with her fierce protection of Hazel, and Li with teaching Hazel to be more patient and less rigid).
- The little cameos of characters from the previous 2 books?! Loved!
- Hazel and Max had good chemistry, and I liked the whole "we were childhood best friends and I had a crush on him, but now I think he hates me" thing.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
- The ONLY reason I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5, is that I wanted more happy Hazel and Max moments! Other than the stargazing and the big apology performance (both really sweet!) we don't really get to spend time with them as a couple.
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Overall, I had a great time with Rolls and Rivalry. It made me feel like a teenager again, and I NEVER thought I would ever find myself missing band camp.
Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the ARC!
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WHAT I LOVED
- Obviously loved all of the color guard/band events that took place in the book. So much nostalgia. (Is percussion not getting along with color guard a universal band thing??) I was unsurprised to learn from the acknowledgements that Kristy was also a guard girl. She clearly knew a lot about the color guard experience.
- As mentioned above, I love how Kristy writes her teenage characters so realistically. Hazel grapples with her time in high school band ending, the pressure to succeed from her mom, wanting the color guard to improve (and wanting her fellow guard members to love it as much as she does, and with the feeling that she is not good enough. Though we don't get Max's POV, we learn that he's dealing with his parents' separation, being the new kid at school and a bully of a section leader. They both dealt with these challenges in ways that made sense for teenagers.
- Kristy also always does a good job of writing friendships. I really liked Nova and Li in particular, and though I wish we got to spend more time with them, I do think they added a lot to the story (Nova with her fierce protection of Hazel, and Li with teaching Hazel to be more patient and less rigid).
- The little cameos of characters from the previous 2 books?! Loved!
- Hazel and Max had good chemistry, and I liked the whole "we were childhood best friends and I had a crush on him, but now I think he hates me" thing.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
- The ONLY reason I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5, is that I wanted more happy Hazel and Max moments! Other than the stargazing and the big apology performance (both really sweet!) we don't really get to spend time with them as a couple.
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Overall, I had a great time with Rolls and Rivalry. It made me feel like a teenager again, and I NEVER thought I would ever find myself missing band camp.
Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Quick Notes:
*Book 3 in a Series
*Childhood Friends to Rivals to Lovers
*Marching Band
*Pressure to Succeed
*Grand Gesture
My Thoughts:
This was another enjoyable book in the series! As someone who was in color guard in high school, I really enjoyed the memories this brought back. And now that I've read all 3 books in the series, I feel like I know a lot about Dungeons and Dragons. I was even able to impress my husband with my knowledge about the game!
Hazel was somewhat relatable to me, since I can put pressure on myself to perform better. I did think she was a bit too hard on herself at times, but it probably made sense considering she's in high school. I liked how Hazel took Li under her wing and tried to bring the color guard together by the final performance.
Max was definitely a guy I would have crushed on when I was younger. His pranks were very fitting for a high school guy, and his attitude in the beginning fit with the drama going on in his life. The second half was where Max really hit his stride and had some super cute, sweet moments. And that grand gesture at the end put such a smile on my face. What a great way to end the story!
I don't know if the author plans to write any more books in this series, but I'd definitely read them or be interested in whatever new series she might be working on!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Quick Notes:
*Book 3 in a Series
*Childhood Friends to Rivals to Lovers
*Marching Band
*Pressure to Succeed
*Grand Gesture
My Thoughts:
This was another enjoyable book in the series! As someone who was in color guard in high school, I really enjoyed the memories this brought back. And now that I've read all 3 books in the series, I feel like I know a lot about Dungeons and Dragons. I was even able to impress my husband with my knowledge about the game!
Hazel was somewhat relatable to me, since I can put pressure on myself to perform better. I did think she was a bit too hard on herself at times, but it probably made sense considering she's in high school. I liked how Hazel took Li under her wing and tried to bring the color guard together by the final performance.
Max was definitely a guy I would have crushed on when I was younger. His pranks were very fitting for a high school guy, and his attitude in the beginning fit with the drama going on in his life. The second half was where Max really hit his stride and had some super cute, sweet moments. And that grand gesture at the end put such a smile on my face. What a great way to end the story!
I don't know if the author plans to write any more books in this series, but I'd definitely read them or be interested in whatever new series she might be working on!
December 1, 2025
Listen - Sometimes I love and enjoy me some young adult romance. The focus is more on plot and character growth. It's cute and it's clean. I always go in with the perspective of 'Yeah, these characters are teens so they're going to act like teens.' Like they're my little siblings for real.
Unfortunately, this is one that had me sighing more often than not. Reminding me that I'm not the demographic here, which is completely fine. While it was cute and an easy ready, it was also so so soooo corny. The characters made some of the dumbest choices but again, I can't say anything because they were young lmfao
The color guard part annoyed me so bad because why was there just Hazel and Li and taking it seriously? Everyone else acted like they were forced to be on the team which was baffling?? Girl, just quit??
Besides that, I can't say it was bad. The writing was good. The characters were all so full of life and fun. It was a cute little second chance romance with other layers besides the romance aspect, which i honestly found it wasn't very heavy in. It just obviously wasn't for me lol I think it's perfect for the age group it's in.
Thank you to Random House and netgalley for the arc!
Unfortunately, this is one that had me sighing more often than not. Reminding me that I'm not the demographic here, which is completely fine. While it was cute and an easy ready, it was also so so soooo corny. The characters made some of the dumbest choices but again, I can't say anything because they were young lmfao
The color guard part annoyed me so bad because why was there just Hazel and Li and taking it seriously? Everyone else acted like they were forced to be on the team which was baffling?? Girl, just quit??
Besides that, I can't say it was bad. The writing was good. The characters were all so full of life and fun. It was a cute little second chance romance with other layers besides the romance aspect, which i honestly found it wasn't very heavy in. It just obviously wasn't for me lol I think it's perfect for the age group it's in.
Thank you to Random House and netgalley for the arc!
December 3, 2025
Rolls and Rivarly follow Hazel, who is gearing up for her senior year in the band. Everything seems to be going great until her childhood crush, Max, returns to town. He joins the band, but the sections have always been rivals. So they are supposed to hate each other. But then they both find out that they love the game Dungeons & Dragons. Max ends up asking Hazel out, and she thinks it might be a joke. But soon she realizes that it might not be.
I think this series is so cute. My favorite book in this series has been the first one, Dungeons and Drama. But this is a close second. I thought Hazel and Max were really cute. I loved the friends / ememies to lovers vibes. This book also did not shy away from more serious moments. Overall, I had a really fun time reading this. I have also read the second book, Dating and Dragons, but that has been my least favorite. These books are just super cute YA books. If you don’t know anything about Dungeons & Dragons, don’t worry, you don’t really need to read these books ( I don’t know much about it, and I still enjoyed these books). If you are looking for a lighthearted, fun YA series, I would highly suggest this series.
Thank you so much, Delacorte Press and Kristy Boyce, for the ARC of this book. This comes out May 5.
I think this series is so cute. My favorite book in this series has been the first one, Dungeons and Drama. But this is a close second. I thought Hazel and Max were really cute. I loved the friends / ememies to lovers vibes. This book also did not shy away from more serious moments. Overall, I had a really fun time reading this. I have also read the second book, Dating and Dragons, but that has been my least favorite. These books are just super cute YA books. If you don’t know anything about Dungeons & Dragons, don’t worry, you don’t really need to read these books ( I don’t know much about it, and I still enjoyed these books). If you are looking for a lighthearted, fun YA series, I would highly suggest this series.
Thank you so much, Delacorte Press and Kristy Boyce, for the ARC of this book. This comes out May 5.
November 24, 2025
Another fun read by Kristy Boyce! YA is such a nostalgic genre for me, and it’s always great to jump back into it. I will say I didn’t connect with Hazel and Max as much as I have with Kristy’s previous characters, although they did have some really cute romantic moments that I wish we had gotten to see more of. I think the band aspect didn’t quite work for me and pulled me out of the story at times, but that’s purely a personal preference and I can definitely see a lot of readers loving it.
I really enjoyed the pacing, and Hazel’s heart to heart with her mom was a highlight. It was such an important moment and felt much needed. The cameos from characters in the previous books were also so cute. I hope there is more to come in this series.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for the eARC!
I really enjoyed the pacing, and Hazel’s heart to heart with her mom was a highlight. It was such an important moment and felt much needed. The cameos from characters in the previous books were also so cute. I hope there is more to come in this series.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for the eARC!
December 22, 2025
This was a cute young adult romance. I enjoyed following Hazel as she reunited with her childhood friend Max in this story. I liked the band camp and marching band elements of the story and the rivalry between color guard and percussion. I loved the cast of characters and seeing how they grew and developed over the course of the book. Overall this was a great addition to the Gaming And Romance series.
Read this if you like:
📖 Dungeons & dragons
📖 Marching band
📖 Second chance romance
📖 Rivals to lovers
Thank you to Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the gifted arc.
Read this if you like:
📖 Dungeons & dragons
📖 Marching band
📖 Second chance romance
📖 Rivals to lovers
Thank you to Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the gifted arc.
Want to read
December 23, 2025PRE-READ
SOOO WHAT??!?!??! I LOVED THE OTHER TWO AND THEY MATCHED MY INTERESTS SO WELL WHEN THEY CAME OUT/ WHEN I READ THEM AND NOW THERE'S A GUARD ONE COMING OUT LITERALLY A YEAR AFTER I JOINED GUARD???? AND WHEN I HAVE A CRUSH ON A PERCUSSION GUY???? HOW IS THIS REAL BRUHHHHH???!?!??!?
SOOO WHAT??!?!??! I LOVED THE OTHER TWO AND THEY MATCHED MY INTERESTS SO WELL WHEN THEY CAME OUT/ WHEN I READ THEM AND NOW THERE'S A GUARD ONE COMING OUT LITERALLY A YEAR AFTER I JOINED GUARD???? AND WHEN I HAVE A CRUSH ON A PERCUSSION GUY???? HOW IS THIS REAL BRUHHHHH???!?!??!?
January 5, 2026
Got an ARC from my friend the bookseller for secret Santa!! Delighted to continue in this universe. I wasn’t a band kid, so I didn’t connect to this one quite as much as the theater kid first book, but def have some friends I want to pass along to…
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