Level Up for Love: A Novel

by Lenora Woods

Forced together for a new D&D campaign, sparks fly as two former college rivals clash—both in and out of the game—in this blend of contemporary second-chance romance and fantasy from the author of Roll for Romance.

In college, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were constantly at each other's throats, competing to be the best in their video game design program, until their unexpected hookup and Wesley's sudden disappearance following it severed their ties for good.

Six years later, Reagan has set aside her game design dreams, opting instead to stay close to her family in Connecticut and channeling her creative energy into D&D. When her longstanding group falls apart, she and her sister join their local game store's new, advanced campaign—only to find the demanding Dungeon Master at the helm is none other than Wesley. In the game, he is Vadrien, a merciless, power-hungry vampire lord, and Reagan is Sindra, the sword-wielding lady knight who will stop at nothing to cut him down.

When a game design opportunity opens up in the real world, Reagan and Wesley find themselves doubly pitted against each other. But as their buried spark reignites and Reagan starts to question why Wesley left all those years ago, can they find a way to play nice—and are they playing for more than just to win?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 8, 2026

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I love discovering a new favorite author. Feels like a well deserved treat. Like, I'm already running to get her previous book right NOW.

I'm going to be honest — my knowledge for d&d only comes from baldur's gate 3, Dimension 20 and Stranger Things. Which is to say, not a whole lot. I still find myself obsessed with it. Like the vibes are perfect?? I love when authors who incorporate it make it easy to follow along.

And WOW, Lenora Woods did something so fun with this story. It's half a modern romance story about former college rivals to friends to lovers, and the other half is their campaign. Lenora fully immerses you in it and writes it in a way you slip so seamlessly right into the fantasy world before being dragged back to the real world. It was so much FUN.

The chemistry was on point. Had me going feral and crazy, begging them to just shut up and make out. The focus is definitely more on the plot than spice so that when the spice hits it's a nuclear bomb, so if that's your cup of tea this is perfect for you.

I fear this is also a case of loving the FMC too much. She was perfect and I won't take any slander against her. Reagan is my best friend. She can do no wrong. AND ALSO YES, Wesley is the perfect book boyfriend.

Thank you to Ballantine and netgalley for the arc!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reagan and Wesley were college rivals, always trying to outdo each other in their video game design program. After an unexpected hookup, Wesley vanished without a word. Six years later, Reagan’s sister Mona convinces Reagan to join an advanced campaign at their local gaming store, since their last group fell apart. When they arrive for their first sessions, Reagan is shocked to see that the Dungeon Master is Wesley, who is staying with a friend after being laid off from his game design job. The two quickly revert to old rival habits when a game design opportunity arises. But will they be able to let go of the past and see if the old spark between them remains?

I loved Roll for Romance, so I was thrilled to see Lenora Woods had written another fun romance. What I enjoy most is that this book tells two stories. One follows Wesley and Reagan as rivals. The other is a gothic Dungeons & Dragons campaign with Vadrien, the vampire lord, and Sindra, the knight who wants to defeat him. I was just as eager to find out what would happen next in the campaign as I was to see if Wesley and Reagan could put aside their differences, work together, and maybe become something more. I fell in love with both stories and their characters. Readers who enjoy adult romances and are interested in Dungeons & Dragons or gaming in general will fall in love with Level Up for Love.

Level Up for Love is out September 8th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for the opportunity to review Level Up for Love. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mimi Schweid]

I fear this one's for meeee.

[Analisia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Level Up For Love by Lenora Woods ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely LOVED this book. I fell in love with this story and the way Lenora writes. The way she blended the main story with their D&D campaign was amazing. I found myself fully immersed in not only the main story, but also the characters’ campaign as well, it was just soooo freaking good. I found myself metaphorically sitting at the edge of my seat while reading the D&D campaign lol. This author knows ball when it comes to gaming, and this book shows it for sure, she’s someone I’d love to chat with about everything nerdy. She absolutely killed it with this book and I need more of her writing, especially the fantasy writing, like if Lenora announces she’s writing a fantasy book about a D&D campaign, I’m 100% buying it and reading it. I loved the two main characters so much, their rivalry being tangible and seeing the growth in both of them. The reality of change is so hard for people and seeing how change affects the characters was just so well done. I could NOT put this book down and read it in one day. I highly recommend this book, especially for the lovers of romance, nerdy things, and D&D.

✨Level Up For Love releases September 8th, 2026!✨

[Shameez Papathanasiou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book so good I’ve flooded the author’s DMs with reactions and begged for more.

ADD TO YOUR TBR.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute 5 star read for me.
I haven’t been this invested in two people, and honestly a whole friend group, in a while. A perfect balance of an intricate D&D campaign with twists and turns and an equally balanced love story between two very misunderstood MCs.

Our FMC Reagan and MMC Wesley went to the same college together and were in the same major, video game development. TLDR after college they went their separate ways and had their own lives until 6 years later where this story takes place.
*brief vague spoilers*
Reagan and her sister (Ramona/ Mona) join a local D&D group that Mona’s girlfriend has been playing with and they’re starting a new campaign. I absolutely adored the push and pull between Wesley and Reagan. At first I found Reagan absolutely incredible rude how she acted after the first session and actually cringed thinking how I’d never let someone with that attitude back. But the more we got into the store the more Reagan (and Wesley’s) history and childhood start to paint the full picture
*no more spoilers*

I absolutely adored the D&D campaign story as well as our love story. Both of these being so well thought out and intricately detailed, I was enthralled through the whole book. I never wanted to put it down! Huge recommend this book (as well as the other D&D romance by Lenora Woods it’s incredible also)

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing/ Ballantine for this ARC!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenora woods does it again!!! and this time I was locked in the whole time. I felt more of a pull to these characters compared to her last novel. Using the same style as her last book; Lenora jumps back and forth between the d&d game with fantastical elements & combat into the real world with modern devices. She is able to seamlessly do these flips and shows her strength in both worlds. She had me tearing up towards the end too, and I do have a new favorite quote from it! (Will add after publication!)

only complaint is my anxiety regarding the third act conflict was so late in the book I was stressed. but I did love the ending and thought it was fitting and there was solid character development for the main characters.

thank you netgalley and Ballantine for the arc!

[Jenn (myspookybookishlife) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
3🌶️

Wow I am absolutely loving these stories both the actual characters Wesley and Reagan and their D&D characters Sindra and Valdrien!! I’ve been totally sucked into this story from the beginning and can honestly say I loved seeing Reagan and Wesley’s banter. It legit felt like they were flirting the entire time even when they were fighting over something as silly as how Wes was running his campaign. And the amazing look into everything even the small things was beautiful. Watching these two come together again after how things ended and how much trauma Reagan had dealt with in the years they were apart was the most heartwarming experience ever. And the D&D adventure was absolutely incredible I’ve said it before but it makes you want to join a D&D campaign and go on your own adventure!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Dell and Lenora for allowing me to read this early!!!

[Anna DiCiurcio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that is outside the norm for me! This book is a rivals to lovers, second chance, and found family romance that follows Reagan and Wesley as they navigate having each other in their lives again. What I love about this book is it encompasses so much D&D in it. It’s one thing when a book follows characters through their lives and their interests, but it’s another to do it so impressively! The love story was so good and the spice was brief but great! I highly recommend this book if you want romance with a different plot!!

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine, and Lenora Woods for allowing me to read this book!!

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Level Up For Love by Lenora Woods

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just love a D and D romcom 🥰🥰There was a few things I predicted like who the DM was. I love the tv and movie references such as Twilight and Game of thrones. There was mentions of vampires, necromancers, and dragons. Also Sadie from book one popping in for a second I love!! This was a hate love relationship. Raegan has a lot of things she had to work though to get where we wanted it to end.

[Bookish Baptist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. I absolutely loved getting the gameplay aspect of the story as well as the irl character development. It genuinely felt like being part of a campaign. Loved all the insider jokes and references too, it really made me connect with the story personally because I felt like I was spending time with my own friend group. This book is perfect for Ali Hazelwood fans who love gaming. Great banter, a steamy romance, and relatable characters.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ || 2.5 🌶️
Ugh, she’s blended another perfect mix of TTRPG and romance! Level Up for Love has the same split world flow as the first installment, and I think I actually enjoyed this storyline better. The number of blonde men I’m growing to love is actually alarming.

Reagan and Wesley have their own adventure both on and off the table when they first meet in their college game design program. The competition flares up after an *almost* one night stand, and Reagan is left confused by their entanglement even years later. As fate has it, Wesley appears back in her life as their new DM. Can he withstand the damage? 👀

Thank you to the author and Dell for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Tropes: rivals to lovers, he falls first, competition, second chance romance, romantasy side quest, one night stand, miscommunication

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.

This book was everything my nerdy little heart needed. I’m a total sucker for second-chance romance and rivals-to-lovers, so this one had me hooked from the very beginning. There’s something so satisfying about characters with history and the tension between them felt real, layered and just messy enough in the best way.

What really made this stand out for me was how seamlessly the D&D campaign was woven into the story. The in-game dynamics mirror and amplify what’s happening in real life and it creates this playful, clever contrast between fantasy and reality. Watching the characters interact at the table while they’re navigating their own rivalry and unresolved feelings outside of it added so much depth to their chemistry—it’s flirty, competitive and full of those little moments that make you root for them.

The character development was also such a highlight. You really get a strong sense of who each person is, not just on the surface but in what motivates them, what they’re afraid of and how they grow. Their individual journeys feel just as important as the romance, which makes everything hit even harder when those paths start to intertwine.

Overall, this was such a fun, heartfelt read with just the right mix of nerdy charm, emotional depth, and romantic tension. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves D&D, character-driven stories, and a romance that feels both playful and meaningful.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I loved this book!! The switching perspective between first person with the FMC and then to third person inside a DND campaign was fantastic and new for me. I was just ad engrossed in the story between the FMC and MMC as well as the DND campaign!! I loved how progression of the romance/relationship between Wesley and Reagan. You could feel the chemistry between them come off the page in so any ways!

Really enjoyed! I recommend!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

I loved everything about this book and I'm adding it to my top favorite books of the year! This was my first book by Lenora Woods and I will definitely be reading more. I loved how the story wasn’t just focused on the rivals-to-lovers romance between Reagan and Wes, but also friendship and community. I really enjoyed the side story of the Dungeons & Dragons game interwoven throughout. As someone who has never played D&D, that part was presented in a way that didn’t require an extensive knowledge of the game; it actually inspired me to want to learn how to play. :) However, a one page glossary upfront, giving a very brief overview of the concept and rules of D&D, would have been a great supplement to the book for any D&D novices!

As for the romance, the emotional connection and spice between Reagan and Wes was done perfectly IMO. The author doesn't just tell you about the romance between characters, she shows it a way that is balanced and intimate. I was captivated until the end. Five Stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

[Cadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Roll for Romance, so when I received an invitation on NetGalley to an ARC of Level Up for Love, I was delighted! After reading it, I can now say I've found my favorite book.

Roll for Romance was a lot softer tonally, whereas Level Up for Love had more bite (pun intended). Reagan had some hard walls up at the start of this book, and it took a lot of work to break them all down. They were realistic, though, and every time you wanted to just take her by the shoulders and shake her and say, "Get it together!", she did it on her own. Lenora Woods did such a fantastic job of making Reagan a real and relatable character, and despite her flaws, she was deeply loveable. She reminded me of me in a lot of ways - eldest daughters always understand something no one else will, and as an eldest daughter, Reagan really spoke to my heart.

Wesley was a delight of an MMC. He challenged Reagan, but he also showed her kindness and patience. I liked that he could balance going head-to-head with her while also showing her that not everything has to be a battle. It was nice, as a reader, to only get the bits and pieces of him that Reagan was getting. Sometimes dual POV can be fun, but sometimes it can take the joy out of the characters discovering each other. With the story only being told through Reagan's eyes, we get to learn who Wesley is right along with her. Some things she doesn't learn until later in the book, and at the same time she was learning it, I realized, "Huh, I never realized I didn't know that either. There's more for us to learn about him!" It made uncovering the character of Wesley that much more fun.

Their love story was at times infuriating but always believable. I liked how realistic their relationship felt, especially with the walls Reagan had up and the way Wesley gently tried to reach her beyond them. Even though a certain plot point towards the end of the book made me a little annoyed and frustrated, I loved how and when Lenora resolved it.

The pacing throughout the book was spot-on. Lenora never let something linger for too long. Sometimes books will drop a hint at the FMC or MMC's mysterious past at the beginning, and they'll just hit the reader over the head with this secret over and over again for ages without actually revealing what it is. It almost feels like they're proud of themselves for the mystery they came up with and delight in keeping it a secret. But Lenora balanced mystery with pacing beautifully. Small details and hints are dropped right at the beginning, but they're fleshed out and given more depth and explanation early on and aren't dragged out forever.

The D&D campaign within this book was phenomenal. As I am currently playing Curse of Strahd with my own D&D group, this was a special treat for me! I loved the way Lenora wrote her own version of the vampire overlord curse plaguing a kingdom. She truly gave it a lot of depth and new ideas and twists and made it her own in such a unique way. The way she wrote the in-game portions of this book was pure perfection. It felt exactly as immersive as playing D&D feels, and she captured the magic and epic fantasy and battles and sweeping emotions so wonderfully!

The side characters were just as much of a treat as the rest of this book. They were all written well and given distinct personalities that brought a lot of life and dynamic energy to both the book as a whole and the D&D party.

I feel like I could write a dissertation on how much I loved this book. I've already pre-ordered with Lenora's exciting pre-order campaign through Lovestruck Books because I simply cannot wait to have this book physically in my hands and on my shelf. It is truly my new favorite book and I look forward to rereading it over and over again for years to come!

THANK YOU to NetGalley for the ARC! Please continue to send me an ARC for everything Lenora writes!

[Aamira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was just as fun as the first novel. I really enjoyed the story within a story and thought that Woods interwove them quite seamlessly. With a delightful motley crew of characters and witty banter, Level Up For Love is an enjoyable romance that you don’t want to put down.

Reagan and Wesley first meet in college. The two become fierce rivals who try to outmaneuver the other. After years of competing against each other, the fire between them burns hot when the pair hook up at Reagan’s graduation party. Thinking they’ve turned a corner, Reagan is shocked to find that Wesley disappears the following day without a word. Six years later, the two run into each other when Reagan’s sister invites her to join a new D&D group that Wesley is the DM of. Can the two move forward from their past and play nice?

The set up for Reagan and Wesley’s previous relationship was really well done. There’s no need to linger in the past longer than we need to, and I was glad that there wasn’t a dual timeline. We get a sense of who they were and the relationship dynamic, and I felt it was just enough for us to see the arc of their relationship as the story progresses. Both characters were great, though I would say that Reagan had the stronger character arc. Reagan has had a difficult past. When she was in high school she and her sister were involved in a horrific car accident caused by her father who had been drinking. The result of this accident left her sister in the hospital for weeks followed by intensive rehab. Shortly after this, their father abandons them. Add to the mix a huge betrayal by her former D&D group, and you have someone with a fear of abandonment. While it’s admirable that she’s close to her sister, she has closed herself off from her dream of designing video games because she believes loving someone means staying. Is it any wonder she would hold a grudge towards Wesley for leaving without a word after an intimate night together? No. What Woods does well is that she doesn’t drag this grudge out for long. Reagan does come to see Wesley as the person he is in the present and though things do start off rocky, the relationship unfolds at the perfect pace. That’s not easy to do.

I also think Woods struck the right chord as to the dynamic of their relationship. They were competitive with each other and fully acknowledged that they made each other better as a result, but they were never cruel to one another. I dislike enemies to lovers novels in which the MC’s are downright mean to each other because it makes you wonder how in the world are these two meant to fall in love. This had the perfect balance and witty banter to pull it off.

Wesley was a great character as well, though his backstory wasn’t as rich as Reagan’s. It makes sense as it’s told from her point of view, but I would’ve loved to know how he fell in love with D&D. That being said I enjoyed how much he believed in Reagan. Sure he egged her on, but it was never done maliciously. I particularly enjoyed the gym scene. It was a nice turning point in the novel.

The side characters were fun, and I enjoyed their alter egos. Reagan and Mona had such a lovely, supportive relationship. I genuinely enjoyed their shared love of D&D. It was heartwarming to see them be a part of something together. The camaraderie of the group really shines through even more in the D&D scenes. It was fun to see each in their characters, which I felt were realistic extensions of themselves in their real lives.

I’ve never played D&D, but this novel makes me want to try it out. The endings in both the D&D campaign and the novel were extremely satisfying. I can honestly say that I enjoyed both stories equally. That’s a credit to Woods’s talent.

[Rachel F · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded, with highlights for readability, enjoyment, and the setting/world building.

Reagan Riley lets her college rival Wesley Locke thaw her heart out just a little, only for him to disappear on her. Six years later, after her D&D party implodes in an event dubbed the Cataclysm, Reagan has her walls up and is coping poorly. To support her sister Ramona, Reagan joins her in a new D&D campaign only to find Wesley, her college rival and ghoster, is the beloved D&D Dungeon Master. The old sparks fly and competition heats up in and out of the dungeon room as old wounds resurface. Learning parallel lessons, the story follows both Reagan and her D&D character as they navigate new worlds, new relationships, old wounds, and determining when to fight when to let go.

This was a fun and nerdy book that was quite easy to read. The format is maybe 3/5 real world with Reagan and 2/5 in the D&D world which helped the plot go along well. Besides the fun of it, especially for the nerds out there, the world building is this book’s biggest strength. The real-world setting is in New Haven, CT, in the Fall, and the descriptors were great. The D&D campaign takes place in Moros which has fallen under a curse of some sort that physically has blighted and cast an oppressive air upon the land. Woods does a good job building Moros to the point that Wesley’s reputation as a great Dungeon Master is completely believable. Then, we see both Reagan and her D&D character go through their own stories which produce parallel lessons in the end.

That leads me to the things that I feel could have been better. The themes of the book were barely there until they were hit hard in the last 10%. While they are not bad in and of themselves, they could have been interwoven better. Shown rather than told. I think part of that, though, was due to how shallow the characters were. Clearly the FMC was relationally stunted and continued to make poor decisions for much of the book. While there was some growth and letting go in the end it felt fairly minor and pretty basic. The romance itself, though we were rooting for them, felt primarily based on attraction, intimacy, and shared hobbies rather than a relational connection. Meaning, this was an entertaining, yet somewhat shallow, book.

Content: recreational drug use, partying, casual sleeping around, swearing (1-5 words per chapter), devil worship and devil bargains in the gameplay, and a prominent LGBT relationship. Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for me. Several open-door scenes but the descriptions were not crude. The decision to round down was mainly due to these considerations.

This book is great for the nerdy readers out there who enjoy gaming and happy endings. Not for someone who hates gaming or would be disappointed at the lack of relational depth.

Many thanks to Lenora Woods, Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some niche romance novels rely on gimmick. Level Up for Love succeeds because it understands the niche from the inside. This is not simply a romance novel decorated with dice and dragons. It is a romance built with real affection for tabletop gaming culture, and that authenticity gives it real charm.

Lenora Woods once again delivers a reading experience that feels like getting two stories at once. On one side, there is a contemporary romance built around tension, chemistry, and emotional payoff. On the other, there is an imaginative tabletop campaign that runs alongside the relationship arc. Rather than competing with each other, the two threads strengthen one another. The fantasy adventure adds fun and momentum, while the real-world romance gives emotional stakes to what happens around the table.

Character work is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Wesley is especially effective because of how aggressively unlikable he feels at the beginning. The story asks the reader to carry real frustration toward him, which makes the eventual reversal all the more satisfying. When an author can take a character from disliked to desirable without feeling manipulative, that is skill. His chemistry with Reagan is strong throughout, and once the emotional walls begin to drop, the relationship becomes easy to root for.

Pacing is the one area where the novel occasionally loses some momentum. The opening is engaging, and the payoff is rewarding, but the middle section drifted for me more than I expected. I never disliked the book, but there were stretches where I felt less urgency to keep turning pages. That is a minor issue rather than a major flaw, but it keeps the book just below top-tier status.

Where Lenora Woods truly separates herself is in voice and authenticity. The references to class-specific abilities, premium gaming tables like Wyrmwood, and virtual tabletops never feel forced or performative. They feel lived in. This book reads like it was written by someone who genuinely knows the joy of a home game and understands why those spaces matter. That makes the story feel welcoming rather than market-tested.

⭐ Category Breakdown ⭐
Storytelling: 5.0
Two stories in one: a strong romance and a fun tabletop adventure.

Character Work: 4.0
Wesley’s full reversal arc works beautifully, and the chemistry lands.

Pacing: 3.5
Mid-book loses some urgency, though the ending rewards sticking with it.

Prose & Style: 5.0
Authentic, warm, and full of real gaming culture details.

Emotional Impact: 4.0
Easy to recommend, especially for romance readers and gamers alike.

⭐ Final Rating ⭐
Average: 4.3 -> 4.0 stars

Final Thoughts
Lenora Woods is quickly becoming an auto-read author because she understands something many crossover novels miss: loving a hobby matters more than referencing it.

This book has heart, humor, and enough tabletop soul to feel genuine. If you enjoyed Roll for Romance, this one deserves a spot on your radar immediately.

[Rachael Jakubowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for the arc!

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️ Nat Twenties all around

Lenora Woods’ Level Up for Love is an absolute triumph of contemporary romantic fiction, deftly executing a dual-narrative structure that bridges the mundane realities of adult compromise with the vivid, high-stakes topography of a Dungeons & Dragons tabletop campaign. It is, to borrow a phrase from game design itself, a masterclass in ludonarrative resonance—where the mechanics of the characters' fictional gameplay perfectly mirror their psychological friction in the real world.

At its core, the novel interrogates the classic enemies-to-lovers trope through the specialized lens of academic and professional rivalry. Six years post-grad, Reagan Riley is a protagonist defined by her sublimated ambitions; having anchored herself to Connecticut for family reasons, her creative agency has been compartmentalized into the safe, structured confines of TTRPGs (Tabletop Role-Playing Games).

Enter Wesley Locke: the ghost of her collegiate past, former academic competitor, and the architect of her most profound vulnerability. When Wesley resurfaces not just as an adversary for a coveted game design position, but as the literal Dungeon Master of her new campaign, Woods brilliantly establishes a dual battlefield:

* The Macrocosm (The Real World): A tense, zero-sum competition for professional validation and answers to a six-year-old abandonment.
* The Microcosm (The Tabletop): A metaphorical blood-feud between Wesley’s villainous, control-freak vampire lord, Vadrien, and Reagan’s relentless, righteous paladin-archetype knight, Sindra.

What elevates Level Up for Love above standard contemporary romance fare is Woods’ refusal to treat the gaming elements as mere window dressing. The D&D sessions function as a psychological sandbox. Safe behind the shields of their respective character sheets, Reagan and Wesley engage in a subtextual dialogue that they are too proud, or too wounded, to initiate in reality.

The prose is sharp, witty, and deeply steeped in the lexicon of the subculture without ever becoming exclusionary. Woods understands that a great Dungeon Master manipulates the environment to test the players, but a great author manipulates the environment to break the characters' emotional defenses.

The tension is palpable, balanced beautifully between the cerebral thrill of intellectual combat and the agonizing, slow-burn heat of unresolved attraction. When the narrative inevitably forces them to question the validity of their past rivalry, the resolution feels earned—less like a concession of defeat, and more like a perfectly executed cooperative campaign.

For readers who appreciate a romance with a high intelligence quotient, meticulous pacing, and an authentic reverence for nerd culture, this book is an essential addition to your shelves. It is a poignant exploration of second chances, the terrifying vulnerability of laying down one's armour, and the realisation that sometimes, the ultimate endgame isn't winning—it's finding a co-op partner for life.

[Amber Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you so much Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and Lenora Woods for approving me to read the Level Up for Love as an ARC! This book is my first EVER NetGalley approval! Believe me when I tell you that the squeal that came out of my mouth when I got the email was so loud that dogs can hear it, my dogs can tell you definitely true haha

Reagan Riley is about to graduate college and is throwing a party with the whole video game design class. There is a knock at the door and as Reagan answers it, she sees that it’s her class rival, Wesley Locke. She is beyond furious that he is here at the party. When she notices him snooping through her room she confronts him, but somehow they turn their confrontation into a video game challenge. That challenge turns into a moment of weakness as they start kissing! The next morning Wesley is gone and Reagan is heartbroken. 6 years later, Reagan had a terrible falling out with her D&D group and is trying to just live her life when her sister Mona wants to join a D&D game her girlfriend is apart of. Reagan is hesitant at first but decides to join for her sister’s sake. When they arrive to their first session, the Dungeon Master is none other than Wesley Locke himself. Debating on ripping his head off or leaving, she decides to stay and play his incredibly challenging Vampire campaign. When their old sparks starts to reunite as a video game competition they are both participating in is approaching, should Reagan roll for initiative and pursue Wesley or should she just leave the past where is lies and say game over?

I adored the first book, however, this book had me LOCKED IN! I loved this book so much! The fall setting, the video game and D&D romance concept, the characters, were just so well done! Reagan and Wesley have such a great chemistry in and out of game! I was obsessed with them and was so engaged in their story! The D&D campaign was AWESOME! I loved the story for this one and it would be fun to recreate with my husband and friends! The author does an amazing job with balancing the contemporary romance and the D&D campaign yet again! So fun having 2 stories in one! I loved the little nod to the first book as well! I thought it was adorable and fun to see those characters again!

As a lover of D&D, video games, and Fall, this book was perfect! I enjoyed it so much! I hope there is another book in this series because I desperately want another one haha Thank you so much for the opportunity again! Level Up for Love releases September 8th! ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rival gamers Reagan and Wesley get a second chance at love when, after a kiss-and-run in college, the pair cross paths again at a local D&D campaign.

I liked this! Quite Ali Hazelwood flavored. Tough, smart girl with a bit of chip on her shoulder, nerdy but smooth guy who wins her over with his respect for her brains and talents. I found Reagan to be a little hard to connect with at first (maybe that was the point? She was pretty prickly and really do be holding grudges out here), but grew to appreciate her willingness to sacrifice for her sister and friends. She also wasn’t so set in her ways that she was unwilling to grow and change; I liked that about her as well. This must be the new era for leading men in romance - nerdy, smart, snarky men who like to push their female rival’s buttons but are secretly smooshy, yearning for and want the best for them. I feel like I have read three books with this kind of hero this spring! All that to say, Wesley was a solid guy. The “he wears HER clothes” bit was kind of iconic. Regarding them as a couple, I am not sure how I felt about the miscommunication that caused their initial conflict. I don’t know if I totally buy into that… But! I did like how they matured over time and were experts at pushing the other to be the best versions of themselves.

(The side characters were a little “meh” for me - not super memorable.)

I am not necessarily interested in video games or D&D but this story was well-written and quickly helped me become interested these things! I felt like I was given a satisfying amount of “beginner” information. I could understand what was happening, but the author did a good job of not dumping out huge piles of rules, characters types, lore, etc. We got just what we needed to follow along and connect with the gamer world, but not become bored or overwhelmed. I really enjoyed the duel storylines - the D&D fantasy world and real life. It was fun to see the character and plot parallels. That definitely helped me stay engaged for the whole book. This story felt very unique, which can feel like such a treat when you read a lot of romance.

I think you’d like this book if you like rivals to lovers stories, are familiar at all with games or Dungeons and Dragons, like both fantasy and romance books on their own… it was a good one.

Thank you, thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Bethany The Romance Paleontologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roll for yearning, rivalry, facing your fears, and letting yourself enjoy life again. Two enchanting stories in one, take the initiative and read Level Up for Love✨

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for giving this DnD girl the privilege of reading Reagan and Wesley's adventure!


Quick backstory: My first big girl job out of college was in the videogame industry. For a subsidiary of a company with something to do with magicians on the beach (iykyk). Imposter syndrome was real. I related so much to Reagan in this because even when she is so deserving of praise, she isn't able to accept it. It's difficult being a woman in gaming, and while I'm no longer in the industry, this story healed something inside me I wasn't aware was still wounded.


REVIEW:

Reagan is a star in the game design department, and every star needs an archenemy. Enter Wesley, frustratingly blunt, frustratingly handsome, and frustratingly gifted in game design. When Wesley leaves right when he and Reagan are becoming more than rivals, so begins a six year grudge.

Something this story excels at is clean character development and almost sneaky background development. As the story unfolds you get the answers to why a character responded the way they did earlier in the book.

The yearning in this story is top notch. Banter is right up there too! The spice payoff is absolutely worth it!

Several times throughout this book I found myself crying because of how much the story reached me. I also was laughing my head off!

Another charming element of this book is that there are chapters written in the perspectives of the d&d campaign! It's two stories in one!

The love between Rea and Wes was heart wrenching, realistic, beautiful, and many times humorous. I absolutely adore the conclusion to their story.


For all of my fellow nerds who take out too much pressure on themselves, read this triumph of a rom-com and learn along with Reagan that love is not just a fantasy!

4.5/5 stars - Romancimals aka The Romance Paleontologist

Tropes:

Yearning
Banter
Top tier character arcs
Women in STEM
Learning to love yourself and others
Magic swords
Rivals to lovers

TW:

Infidelity experienced by main character (off page)
Serious car crash (off page but having theme consequences)

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reagan and Wesley spent their college years butting heads as rivals until it culminates in an unexpected encounter during a party. Despite finally finding some common ground and some very unlikely sparks, Wesley disappears. Six years later, Reagan finds herself face to face with him once again.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between the two, and they both have very compelling and interesting personalities and reasons for how they are. Reagan especially comes across as unlikable to the other characters in the story and I can see why. I truly love how flawed she is, and her reasons for it. All the supporting characters are super fun and interesting too. I really like how much it focuses on the game stuff and I love the D&D table scenes!

That being said...the addition of the secondary story within the story of the campaign took me completely out of the story itself. I really do like the D&D aspect, but the way it is, it's just a supernatural fantasy story that interrupted the story I wanted to read. The characters in the secondary story weren't really interesting to me personally and I found myself groaning every time I had to go from the main story to switching back to that. While this may be a fun time for others, it's not for me. I love hearing about them playing, but I really didn't enjoy it told like just another story. For me it took the entire D&D aspect out and just gave me another fictional book.

I felt like more effort was put into the D&D storyline in the latter half of the book, and I really wish some more of that was directed at Reagan and Wesley. Their actual story started to feel rushed and skimmed over. I get that a lot of their struggles were explored that way, but it just didn't give me that fun D&D tabletop vibe I had been hoping for.

While I would give the secondary D&D storyline a 2.0 star rating because I wasn't here for that kind of story, I would absolutely have given this book a 4.5 star rating if I didn't have to be sidelined from it as much as I was. This definitely wasn't it for me, but I absolutely know that others may love the way this was broken up! I truly love the main story and I want more of them. Especially sad that the huge buildup of the contest was just glossed over, I feel letdown over that.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine and Dell Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Reagan and Wesley, two former college rivals in their video game development program, and what happens when they end up in the same D&D group years later. It switches back and forth between Reagan and Wesley in the real world, and their D&D characters, Sindra and Vadrien, in the group's current campaign. It has a very strong found family element, and there is a good amount of emphasis on the supporting characters as well.

I really enjoyed the interplay between Reagan and Wesley - I thought that had very fun chemistry and the beginning even made me giggle a little bit. I also really enjoyed the relationships with all the additional characters, though I wish some of them were fleshed out a little bit more (I want to know more about Arthur and Hana because lets be honest they sound like a great couple). The spice level was also very good in my opinion - it's definitely spicy, but not in a way that felt overdone to me. I also really enjoyed this author's writing overall, particularly the banter and spicy scenes, and will look out for more books from her.

A unique aspect of this book is the D&D campaign being interwoven with the real life romance, which I haven't seen in anything I've read before. My only experience with a D20 is using it to help me with task paralysis, so I can't speak to how accurate any of it was, but I thought it was enjoyable on the whole. As a big fantasy reader, I didn't feel like the fantasy aspect was fleshed out enough, but as this was a story within a story I can see how fleshing it out more would make the book drag on. I also didn't like the relationship between Sindra and Vadrien nearly as much as their real life counterparts - it seemed a lot more forced to me. But I do think that the supporting characters really got to shine in the D&D sections, and they added to the story overall.

I think if you like romance and are interested in a little bit of fantasy, this is a good place to start. I think this would also be great for anyone who enjoys D&D and romance novels to see the two interact in a new way. Happy reading everyone!

[Khali Hearon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenora Woods 👏DID 👏IT👏 AGAIN👏!

Level up for Love might be my favorite romance book this year. The tension & yearning, the side characters/friends, the themes and overall plot were all top tier and perfectly executed. As somebody who read Roll for Romance last year, I knew this book would be for me. A D&D romance will always capture my attention. But what I didn't expect was how much more I would enjoy this compared to RfR (but don't get me wrong, I loved that too)! I felt more connected to the characters. Reagan & Wesley are both so enjoyable to read. Reagan's backstory added so much depth to her character and made her actions and inner thoughts so justified. Wesley was such a green flag and possibly the first blonde man I am simping for in a book. I highlighted SO many quotes by him I will share after publication.

Level up for Love follows two former college rivals who end up in the same D&D campaign 6 years after a messy falling out and one night stand after graduation. Tension and sparks are flying between them, both inside and out of the game. The two have to play nice though, for the sake of the party...

One of my favorite parts about Level up for Love and Roll for Romance is how the author integrates fantasy elements from the D&D campaign into the book. When the group joins up to play every Thursday, you are transported directly into that world and reading as if it were a fantasy book. This felt like such a fun way to incorporate fantasy elements into a romance book and was the perfect fusion of the two. You don't need to know much about D&D to enjoy this, but from my knowledge of the game, it was fun to guess what they were rolling as things unfolded.

This book also has fun references to video game development, cons, discord game nights, LOTR references and other stuff people would call me a nerd for loving growing up 😅😂 (I feel seen). This one is for us nerds.


Reading this has solidified that I am locked in as a Lenora Woods superfan, and if she writes it - I'm reading it.

Thank you to Dell Romance / Random House Publishing Group for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Topo Chicas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but it was a surprisingly fun read!

Reagan Riley has been trudging along in life. She has a steady job, but life hasn’t turned out exactly as she had planned all those years ago. When her sister, Ramona convinces her to join a Dungeons and Dragons group at a local game shop, Reagan reluctantly agrees and is (lowkey) excited. That is until they show up for the group and learn that the Dungeon Master is none other than Reagan’s college rival, Wesley Locke. To make matters worse, Reagan and Wesley learn they are both competing against each other in the same game design competition. As the two spend time together on their campaign and as they work on their games for the competition, emotions continue to climb. But is it tension the two are feeling, or something a little more?

This was the first book like this that I’ve read and I found the premise to be very unique. I loved that the characters’ D&D campaign became a story within a story. It was so cool to read about Sindra, Moss, Antoni, Vera, Mortimer, and Vadrien, and I could see how the personalities mirrored that of their novel characters. There were times I forgot I was reading a contemporary romance novel because I was swept away by the fantasy story.

I will admit that I did go in to this book with very limited knowledge of how D&D worked. Most of that knowledge came from reading Kristy Boyce’s YA novels, Dungeons and Drama, and Dating and Dragons. This was very different from those books but no less fun to read. I came out of this book learning a lot about D&D campaigns.

I loved the angst and tension between Reagan and Wesley throughout the book. I would have loved more flashbacks to their college rivalry, but it was exciting to see the progression of their relationship. The relationship that really shined for me in this book, though, was Reagan and her sister Ramona’s. I loved how supportive they were of each other throughout the entire book.

Overall, this was a unique romance with a fun fantasy sub story! A special thank you goes out to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC!

[Tanisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy romances that bring something a little different to the table, and this one definitely did. While I had heard of Dungeons & Dragons before, I had never really understood how it worked. Between the gaming elements, the second chance romance, and the video game design backdrop, this book immediately caught my attention. I was curious to see how all of those pieces would come together, and I ended up enjoying the journey quite a bit.

I really liked Reagan and Wesley as characters. It was obvious from the start that there was a lot of unresolved history between them, and I found myself eager to learn what had happened all those years ago. Reagan is carrying around a great deal of guilt and responsibility, while Wesley is trying to figure out what comes next after some major setbacks in his own life. I especially appreciated that neither character felt perfect. They both had moments where I wanted to shake them a little, but that only made them feel more realistic. Once the truth behind their falling out finally came to light, it made so much of their relationship make sense.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the way the D&D campaign was woven into the story. Even as someone with very little experience with the game, I was able to follow along without feeling lost. In fact, I found myself doing a little research along the way just so I could better appreciate what was happening. The campaign added another layer to the story and gave the characters opportunities to work through things both inside and outside of the game.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It balanced romance, friendship, family relationships, and personal growth in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end. The ending left me feeling happy for both Reagan and Wesley, and I loved seeing them finally take a chance on the future they both wanted. This was a fun, unique read that introduced me to a world I knew very little about, and I am glad I picked it up.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Caitlin Teaches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't want a romance that tries out something a little playful with the format and storytelling? And if you like a solid TTRPG experience? This is definitely calling out your name.

Level Up for Love starts in the all too real world where Wesley Locke shows up at Reagan Riley's pre-graduation house party. After years of critique and competition in their video game design program, Reagan can't stand the man but is bullied into letting him in by her roommates. A fair amount of alcohol and dancing later, it looks like they might actually get to resolve some of that tension and start the enemies to lovers conversion. Except Wesley disappears on her part way through in a way utterly sure to humiliate Regan to her friends.

Cue a time jump. Regan's personal life has imploded and the only steady relationship she seems to have is with her sister, with whom she has weathered some pretty traumatic stuff. She does, however, have a steady nine-to-five, but not in the industry she loves. Her sister drags her to join a new D&D group in hope of reviving Regan's social connections and creativity. Guess who is back in town after being fired from his own dream job and just happens to be the DM of the new game? That's right, Wesley.

The rest of the novel plays out in a combination of real life alternating with sessions of their game written in a narrative form. It's a neat little storytelling trick that keeps the reading pace quick even as dense emotional realities are explored. I was impressed by the fact it stayed pretty fun despite some of the topics. There's found family, solid bi/pan and lesbian representation, emotional connection, fun (explicit) spice, and complicated family dynamics throughout. Mild CW about descriptions of a car accident with resulting disability, which occurs before the events of the novel. The over all themes of growth, healing, and embracing what you love make this a really solid read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.. I really enjoyed Roll for Romance as it was a fast and fun read and was excited to get another book from this author. Reagan and Wesley met in college and have a rivalry with gaming skills and knowledge. They have a bonding moment, but unfortunately it goes sour as Reagan thinks Wesley left without saying anything. Years later they meet again when Mona's sister, Reagan, asks her to join a Dungeon and Dragons game with her girlfriend, Shay. Shay, her friend, Colin, her dad, Arthur, are starting a new quest where Wesley is the running the game. The rivalry is still there, but they agree to be civil and play the game. As they get immersed in the game, the group starts to bond and form a solid found family. Unfortunately, It also brings up past feelings/trauma for Reagan. She had previously played with her ex and group of friends, but that ended badly. Reagan and Wesley see they are more alike than they thought. You see their connection build in real life, during the D and D storyline, and when they work together playing the video games they are designing for the NEWT competition. They then start a friends with benefits relationship and are slowly falling hard for each other. Unfortunately Reagan's past traumas resurface leading to miscommunication/tension between her and Wesley that sends them separate ways. After talking with others, we see Reagan grow as she recognizes her past traumas, embrace the feelings she has for Wesley, and give their relationship a real shot. I really liked Reagan and Wesley as they had fun banter and chemistry. Like Roll for Romance, I loved the blending of storylines. The contemporary romance and fantasy elements of the D and D storyline weaved together perfectly creating a sweet romance and wonderful found family This was a heartwarming and fun read. I can't wait to see what Lenora Wood writes next. :)