Rolls and Rivalry

By: Kristy Boyce

Narrated by: Louisa Zhu

Roll 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!

Questing for love . . .

Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D&D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max—her former best friend and longtime crush—returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.

Hazel and Max can’t help bickering every time they’re together, and thanks to meddling parents, he’s invading her D&D game too. As Dungeon Master, she’s ready to shut him down, but D&D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned . . .

Critic reviews

"Fans of both marching band and D&D will find much to love in the detailed descriptions of both activities and how they resonate through the characters’ lives....A satisfying rivals-to-lovers romance played to the beat of marching bands and D&D dice rolls." —Kirkus Reviews

"Boyce fans will appreciate the fun and flirty vibe between the two leads as well as the ever-present role-playing game element. Newcomers will enjoy the familiar trope of enemies-to-lovers that reaches a satisfactory ending." —School Library Journal

"Boyce writes an energetic story that centers on the complexities of teen social dynamics....the romps and antics will certainly appeal to those who like their rom-coms as boisterous as a fight song." —Booklist

Lighthearted Band/ D&D Romance

Hazel was so full of life! She perfectly embodied a competitive go-getter. Through her character we were able to see the anxiety she felt from the pressure to be the best. The best color guard captain, the best DM, the perfect daughter. Even with all these out pressures she was able to overcome all the hurdles placed in front of her.

Max was your classic high school heartthrob. The new drum player who has returned from Hazels past. He’s dealing with things in the beginning of the book that set him up to be slightly villianesk but was able to redeem himself throughout the book.

The two of them had amazing chemistry. After they were able to get through the initial growing pains of coming back together and learning their new selves, they got together seamlessly.

The side characters in this book were just as precious. I adored Li and Felix. They both were able to come out of their shells over the course of the book. I wish I could have a book just about them. Nova was just the kind of friend everyone would want to have backing them. She could read Hazel like a book and had her back the whole time. And last but certainly not least, Zoinks! The best D&D member out of them all. It was cute to see how they incorporated him into the game.

Suddenly after reading this book I’m craving nachos 😋

Their Relationship

I loved the nature walks they did and the performance Max did for Hazel. It was so sweet.