Book Review: Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce

Official Synopsis: 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 .

Hazel had a crush on Max for as long as she could remember but then he moved away and they haven't really been in contact since. When he shows up at the first day of band camp, looking better than ever, she wonders if they can go back to the friendship they had before. That is until she goes up to talk to him and he immediately snaps at her, falling into the rivalry between percussion and the color guard. Hazel doesn't know what has changed in the years since Max has been gone, or why he would lash out at her, but she choses to instead concentrate on her senior year of color guard and beating out percussion and their ruthless leader Brody. As things heat up during band camp, Hazel wonders if this color guard team can everything she wants, especially when her parents hold the band to just a high standard.

When Max's mom decides to join Hazel's parents weekly Dungeons and Dragons game again, it means being forced to hang out with Max for hours like they used. Hazel isn't sure they are meant to get along again, but when they finally have a heart to heart about what has happened, she starts to see why Max acted the way he did. They decide to have a truce, by starting their own Dungeons and Dragons game at the same time, with Hazel as the DM. Hazel doesn't need more on her plate, but her and Max, and her best friend Nova, have been discussing having a game forever, and now they finally have the chance, along with two other members of band. Seeing Max outside of band brings back a lot of old feelings, especially when he starts to bring up old inside jokes of theirs, and now Hazel is even more confused about her feelings for him.

As the group moves through their DnD campaign, while also struggling in real life during band competitions, Hazel hopes the lines between the two don't start to blur. She doesn't need Max as a distraction and he definitely can't have the same feelings for her...right?

A cute, nerdy young adult romance, Rolls and Rivalry is a treat, much like the other books in this world. Each book can be read as a standalone, with only some brief cameos by characters from the other books. Similar to the others, it follows a romance that breaks out during a DnD campaign and how the has impacts in their out game life. I think all of Kristy Boyce's books are really great and I love how nerdy they all are. This light hearted young adult romance is a great easy read that also has some stakes that feel real within the world the characters are in.

I rated this book 4 / 5 stars!

Rolls and Rivalry is out now!

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