Book Review: Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

A lovely mix of everything nerdy.

Dungeons and Drama is a young adult novel expected to come out in January. Riley is forced to start working in her dad's game store as a punishment after using her mom's car to get to a musical. (while not having a license).

Riley is at first apprehensive, her relationship with her dad is strained as their hobbies are so different but her mom insists that Riley must build back their trust. Meaning, she will work in the shop with its cast of characters until her parents think she can trusted at home alone again.

At the shop Riley meets Nathan, a boy from her school who spends most of his time at her father's store, both working and hanging out. He helps her dad host game nights, plays D&D with his friends, and has a crush on a girl who frequents the shop.

Riley is determined to gain back her parents trust, but is even more determined to save the spring musical at her high school. In order to figure out both of these tasks, she decides to help Nathan woo Sophia, by pretending they are dating.

And as most fake dating goes...it is a mess. As they start to develop feelings for each other, they don't know what to do. Riley starts off her punishment looking for her way out, and for the time where she can return to her one true love. But as the end nears, she starts to wonder if she wants to stop working there, and seeing Nathan.

There is also a really good dive into what it feels like spending time between two divorced parents and how you don't have to feel like you are betraying one by spending time with the other.

I absolutely adored this book. It is a perfect mix of two nerdy things I love, with nerdy characters who aren't those like 'awkward' stereotype. They are all passionate about their crafts and have deep loves for those things, even to the point of doing something stupid, but they are still just high schoolers. We have plenty of D&D talk, as well as references to many, many musicals (which I love). Heck, Riley 'steals' her mom's car to see Waitress, which I can totally understand.

I also really liked the growth Riley goes through as a character. She learns to sort out her priorities, as well as learning that being with one parent does not mean she has to abandon the other.

I think overall this is a lovely fluffy nerd story and I'm excited to see what others think when it comes out in Jan.

5 out of 5 stars for me!

Dungeons and Drama is scheduled to come out January 9, 2024.

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