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Review

Dungeons and Drama is a contemporary YA romance novel written by Kristy Boyce and published in 2024. I read it within about eight hours total. I wanted something lighthearted as I entered my summer semester.

As I take this journey into reading more YA romance, a very comfy journey indeed, I find myself faced with how times are changing (and how I am aging). Despite feeling my bones turn to dust at a few points, I really enjoyed this cute story.

Fake dating? Check. Musical theater? Check. Bardic Inspiration? Double Check.

Boyce’s novel makes the passion behind Riley’s interest in the theater easy to support and understand. Any plot to do with the main character saving what they love is a good story in my book.

I never had a personal interest in participating in theater. Friends of mine in school did, though. On the other hand, I’ve seen a few productions. The Lion King and Hamilton were ones I was lucky enough to see in-person. Witnessing all of the choreography, the talent, and the joy on the performers’ faces? Incredible.

There is a level of self-awareness in the story with the involved tropes that I greatly appreciated. It makes it more believable.

Dungeons and Drama is short and sweet at only 293 pages (clearly, I have grown quite used to 400+ page novels). As far as the reading time allowed for character and relationship development, I find myself wishing there was more. I am a greedy reader. I want more of everything.

In all honesty, I would read about the Dungeons & Dragons campaign this novel’s cast played as an independent story. The way the cast played their characters was quite amusing.

It might be less immersive for a more mature audience, but if you enjoy rooting for silly little romances, the fake dating trope, and a little bit of D&D thrown in, I recommend reading Dungeons and Drama.

Posted — 2 June 2024