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Level Up for Love
Sparks fly as two former college rivals are forced together for a new D&D campaign—clashing both in and out of the game—in this fusion 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 Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing 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 channel 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?
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 Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing 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 channel 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?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
September 5, 2026
an academic rival at MY d&d session?
September 11, 2026
3.5? There were parts of this I loved. But nothing grinds my gears like a love interest who continuously self sabotages for absolutely no reason
August 13, 2026
Thank you Dell for the ARC! 💕
My D&D heart is SO happy after this one. 🥹🎲✨ Level Up For Love by Lenora Woods was such a cozy, nerdy, feel-good romance that felt like curling up with a warm drink while listening to your favorite D&D campaign unfold.
I absolutely loved the D&D elements woven throughout the story. Reagan and Wesley battling it out both in the game and in real life was SO much fun, especially with Reagan playing a sword-wielding knight and Wesley taking on the role of a merciless vampire lord. Give me a little enemies-to-lovers tension, some competitive banter, a tabletop campaign, and a second-chance romance, and apparently I am SOLD.
But underneath all the fun and games, I really loved the heart of this story. Reagan finding her way back to something creative that she loves, the family relationships, the friendships, and of course that unresolved spark between her and Wesley all made this feel incredibly warm and comforting.
And the romance?? 🥹 Watching these two slowly unpack their past while trying not to fall for each other all over again was exactly the kind of cozy romantic chaos I wanted.
This was such a fun read for my D&D-loving heart, and now I just want to find a local game store, roll some dice, and join a campaign. 🎲💕
If you love cozy romances, D&D, second chances, rivals-to-lovers energy, and characters who are just a little too competitive for their own good, definitely add this one to your TBR!
My D&D heart is SO happy after this one. 🥹🎲✨ Level Up For Love by Lenora Woods was such a cozy, nerdy, feel-good romance that felt like curling up with a warm drink while listening to your favorite D&D campaign unfold.
I absolutely loved the D&D elements woven throughout the story. Reagan and Wesley battling it out both in the game and in real life was SO much fun, especially with Reagan playing a sword-wielding knight and Wesley taking on the role of a merciless vampire lord. Give me a little enemies-to-lovers tension, some competitive banter, a tabletop campaign, and a second-chance romance, and apparently I am SOLD.
But underneath all the fun and games, I really loved the heart of this story. Reagan finding her way back to something creative that she loves, the family relationships, the friendships, and of course that unresolved spark between her and Wesley all made this feel incredibly warm and comforting.
And the romance?? 🥹 Watching these two slowly unpack their past while trying not to fall for each other all over again was exactly the kind of cozy romantic chaos I wanted.
This was such a fun read for my D&D-loving heart, and now I just want to find a local game store, roll some dice, and join a campaign. 🎲💕
If you love cozy romances, D&D, second chances, rivals-to-lovers energy, and characters who are just a little too competitive for their own good, definitely add this one to your TBR!
September 25, 2026
“Sometimes, hope is a symbol—but when necessary, hope is a sword.”
—3.5 stars—
In a campaign reminiscent of (my beloved) Curse Of Strahd, Lenora Wood’s Level Up For Love had all the vampires, D&D, and former college rivals forced to play a campaign together that i could ever want! Part of the reason i love nerdy/gaming related books is because of the deep love for the topic the author instils into each page, and Level Up For Love is the perfect example.
I thought the interweaving of their D&D game into the story was such a good touch, and i’m honestly quite attached to Sindra and her vampire now. Unfortunately, despite how much i liked it, the extra storyline did end up making the rest of the book feel a little short (particularly the end) and i wish there’d been a few more chapters!
I also (more surprisingly) liked the video game design elements! Both main characters are working on their respective games for a competition (where the prize money would fund the completion of the game), and i really loved the little insights into their process and individual strengths, especially when they critique each other’s work. Both ideas sounded incredible, and i’m honestly a little sad i can’t play them irl.
As a D&D nerd who grew up playing campaigns with my siblings and my dad as the DM, Reagan’s deep love of gaming and D&D resonated with me so much! Her protectiveness of her younger sister, Mona, was sometimes a little excessive, but made complete sense for her character, and was such a focal point for her development and growth.
Her love interest, Wesley—dungeon master with a perpetual smirk on his face and Reagan’s main rival in college—had a lot more depth than i initially thought, and i love a man who’s been obsessed with the FMC for years!
I thought both main characters felt very realistically flawed, and the conflict (and resolution) between them felt completely natural. Their relationship was more physical for the majority of the book (HUGE fan of how Wesley lost the alibity to function normally every time they kissed) and i honestly liked it! There were a few times i would get frustrated with the characters for not communicating properly, but again—that’s just human nature honestly.
Overall, this was really fun and i’ll definitely be picking up Lenora Woods’ first (and future) book(s)! She wrote both the romance and in-campaign aspects so well, and i would definitely recommend Level Up For Love to anyone who loves D&D or any sort of gaming or RPGs.
(many thanks to Arcadia, Lenora Woods, and Netgalley for the e-ARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own.)
—3.5 stars—
In a campaign reminiscent of (my beloved) Curse Of Strahd, Lenora Wood’s Level Up For Love had all the vampires, D&D, and former college rivals forced to play a campaign together that i could ever want! Part of the reason i love nerdy/gaming related books is because of the deep love for the topic the author instils into each page, and Level Up For Love is the perfect example.
I thought the interweaving of their D&D game into the story was such a good touch, and i’m honestly quite attached to Sindra and her vampire now. Unfortunately, despite how much i liked it, the extra storyline did end up making the rest of the book feel a little short (particularly the end) and i wish there’d been a few more chapters!
I also (more surprisingly) liked the video game design elements! Both main characters are working on their respective games for a competition (where the prize money would fund the completion of the game), and i really loved the little insights into their process and individual strengths, especially when they critique each other’s work. Both ideas sounded incredible, and i’m honestly a little sad i can’t play them irl.
As a D&D nerd who grew up playing campaigns with my siblings and my dad as the DM, Reagan’s deep love of gaming and D&D resonated with me so much! Her protectiveness of her younger sister, Mona, was sometimes a little excessive, but made complete sense for her character, and was such a focal point for her development and growth.
Her love interest, Wesley—dungeon master with a perpetual smirk on his face and Reagan’s main rival in college—had a lot more depth than i initially thought, and i love a man who’s been obsessed with the FMC for years!
I thought both main characters felt very realistically flawed, and the conflict (and resolution) between them felt completely natural. Their relationship was more physical for the majority of the book (HUGE fan of how Wesley lost the alibity to function normally every time they kissed) and i honestly liked it! There were a few times i would get frustrated with the characters for not communicating properly, but again—that’s just human nature honestly.
Overall, this was really fun and i’ll definitely be picking up Lenora Woods’ first (and future) book(s)! She wrote both the romance and in-campaign aspects so well, and i would definitely recommend Level Up For Love to anyone who loves D&D or any sort of gaming or RPGs.
(many thanks to Arcadia, Lenora Woods, and Netgalley for the e-ARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own.)
September 29, 2026
Ah, I loved the last book and was so excited for this one! It did not disappoint at all. I loved the rivals to lovers trope that was about DnD! I think its fun to learn about DnD this way, I’ve never played but I know people who have. I appreciated the DnD players POV that was throughout the book. I’m not sure if I liked this one more than the first, but it was so close I don’t think that I could pick. I just love how the author blends together a great mix of TTRPG. Its just great and the story feels so natural.
April 20, 2026
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!
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!
September 9, 2026
Format: 📱
Spice: .5 🌶️
Series: Standalone
Welcome to my latest nerdy girl read, where an eldest daughter has daddy issues.
This has a lot of the same vibes as Roll for Romance, where the MCs fall in love through forced proximity and through the passion they have for their Dungeons & Dragons campaign - he’s the DM, she’s a former DM playing his campaign so CHAOS ensues.
I’ll be honest, for a good amount of the time I did NOT understand why Reagan was so willing to give this guy another chance when he ghosted her 6 years ago because I absolutely would not have. But then we find out that her creep ex-boyfriend Owen scared him off (which like…still a dick move to ghost her??) so I guess I can kind of understand after six years 🤷🏻♀️
But regardless, this was a cute contemporary romance.
Notable tropes & themes —
♥️ Eldest daughter syndrome
🎮 Daddy Issues
♥️ Second Chance Romance
🎮 Rivals to Lovers
♥️ Men Who Yearn
🎮 Witty Banter
♥️ D&D romance
🎮 He kept her shirt
♥️ Forced Proximity
I received this eARC from Ballantine | Dell as an opportunity to read and give my honest review.
Spice: .5 🌶️
Series: Standalone
Welcome to my latest nerdy girl read, where an eldest daughter has daddy issues.
This has a lot of the same vibes as Roll for Romance, where the MCs fall in love through forced proximity and through the passion they have for their Dungeons & Dragons campaign - he’s the DM, she’s a former DM playing his campaign so CHAOS ensues.
I’ll be honest, for a good amount of the time I did NOT understand why Reagan was so willing to give this guy another chance when he ghosted her 6 years ago because I absolutely would not have. But then we find out that her creep ex-boyfriend Owen scared him off (which like…still a dick move to ghost her??) so I guess I can kind of understand after six years 🤷🏻♀️
But regardless, this was a cute contemporary romance.
Notable tropes & themes —
♥️ Eldest daughter syndrome
🎮 Daddy Issues
♥️ Second Chance Romance
🎮 Rivals to Lovers
♥️ Men Who Yearn
🎮 Witty Banter
♥️ D&D romance
🎮 He kept her shirt
♥️ Forced Proximity
I received this eARC from Ballantine | Dell as an opportunity to read and give my honest review.
April 25, 2026
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.
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.
August 28, 2026
4.5 stars. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep, so figured I’d pick up my book. Considering it is now about four hours later and I finished it, I’d say it’s a damn good book.
I am of course a huge D&D nerd so I loved the opportunity to read about fellow nerds. Reagan was.. well, honestly, she was a bitch for a good chunk of this book, but it was honest and relatable and even more satisfying when she grew from it. We were all shitty in college. It’s the default personality of a college student.
It was nice seeing Reagan and Wesley mirror each other: I wouldn’t say they’re polar opposites (it’s not really black cat / golden retriever because the boy’s got a lot of sadness there) but they compliment each other well.
Does Lenora Woods play D&D??? Can I join her table????
Thank you to NetGalley, Lenora Woods, and Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am of course a huge D&D nerd so I loved the opportunity to read about fellow nerds. Reagan was.. well, honestly, she was a bitch for a good chunk of this book, but it was honest and relatable and even more satisfying when she grew from it. We were all shitty in college. It’s the default personality of a college student.
It was nice seeing Reagan and Wesley mirror each other: I wouldn’t say they’re polar opposites (it’s not really black cat / golden retriever because the boy’s got a lot of sadness there) but they compliment each other well.
Does Lenora Woods play D&D??? Can I join her table????
Thank you to NetGalley, Lenora Woods, and Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2026
Thank you Dell for the advanced copy via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
I loved this one! After reading Roll for Romance, I was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint!! I thought Reagan and Wes had great tension and the reader could feel the tension rooted in their history. I feel like I learn so much about Dungeons and Dragons through Lenora Woods’ books! I loved how the storylines switched between the real world and the D&D world. It was such a great way of allowing the reader to get to know the characters better! Overall, this was a great read!!
I loved this one! After reading Roll for Romance, I was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint!! I thought Reagan and Wes had great tension and the reader could feel the tension rooted in their history. I feel like I learn so much about Dungeons and Dragons through Lenora Woods’ books! I loved how the storylines switched between the real world and the D&D world. It was such a great way of allowing the reader to get to know the characters better! Overall, this was a great read!!
Want to Read
July 5, 2026🎲❤️ Level Up for Love ❤️🎲
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Second Chance Romance
• College Rivals
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Nerdy Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Video Game Designers
• Enemies to Lovers
_ __ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Second Chance Romance
• College Rivals
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Nerdy Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Video Game Designers
• Enemies to Lovers
_ __ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Did Not Finish
September 15, 2026 DNF: capítulo 8
Me da rabia dejarlo sin leer porque la forma de escribir de la autora me estaba gustando, los personajes estaban chulos y la historia tiene pintaza. Pero un libro con tanta presencia de juegos de rol me estaba costando mucho de leer, porque no entendía nada y al final lo he dejado.
Me da rabia dejarlo sin leer porque la forma de escribir de la autora me estaba gustando, los personajes estaban chulos y la historia tiene pintaza. Pero un libro con tanta presencia de juegos de rol me estaba costando mucho de leer, porque no entendía nada y al final lo he dejado.
Want to Read
March 4, 2026I fear this one's for meeee.
September 5, 2026
I'm a sucker for a DnD romance and this hit the mark!
This book started off with a snippet of Reagan and Wesley in college. This set the stage for the mail storyline. After what Reagan calls the cataclysm she finds herself walking into a gaming store to help her sister find a new DnD group. Faced with the challenge Reagan takes the last spot. What she doesn't expect is to find Wesley as the dungeon master. Tensions are taunt! There's a push pull between that can't be denying.
What I loved about this is part of the story is told through the gothic vampire campaign. It set the stage and the characters in real life worked through personal stuff in the game too. It was fantastic!
Thank you to Ballantine for the gifted ebook!
This book started off with a snippet of Reagan and Wesley in college. This set the stage for the mail storyline. After what Reagan calls the cataclysm she finds herself walking into a gaming store to help her sister find a new DnD group. Faced with the challenge Reagan takes the last spot. What she doesn't expect is to find Wesley as the dungeon master. Tensions are taunt! There's a push pull between that can't be denying.
What I loved about this is part of the story is told through the gothic vampire campaign. It set the stage and the characters in real life worked through personal stuff in the game too. It was fantastic!
Thank you to Ballantine for the gifted ebook!
October 10, 2026
I’ve never played D&D but I loved how it brought the story to life.
September 10, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine and Dell for letting me read this eARC, through NetGalley, of one of my most anticipated releases this year!! You’re the best!❤️
As someone who has never really had much interest in playing D&D, I simply cannot get enough of Lenora Woods writing about it!!
After reading Roll for Romance last year, I absolutely fell in love with Woods’ style of blending her characters story with the story of their D&D campaign. In Level Up for Love she accomplishes this again and even better than before! The two story lines blend seamlessly and are so fun to switch back and forth between!
Reagan is a video game designer who had an almost-one-night-stand with her academic rival in college. After years of resenting him, after he basically disappeared post-bailing said one-night-stand, she finds herself now unintentionally joining his D&D campaign, and the heat of their rivalry flares again.
Reagan is a new found favorite FMC for me and I loved her journey through this book! I think in both of her books thus far, Woods does an amazing job of helping her FMC’s go through and process hard emotions and difficult life experiences, in order to grow and find a future that’s going to support them and help them find joy in their lives. As someone going through some difficult turns myself, I really appreciated seeing someone struggle a bit and finding her way to being ok by following a new path.❤️ (see: me crying during the epilogue)
Wesley has joined the approved blonde MMC club guys, everyone clap!! I loved the way he pulled back and forth with Reagan and challenged her!! I don’t want to say much because I loved experiencing their relationship form, but just know that I came to really love him a lot and he had me TEARING UP near the end bc of it.
And what is a D&D campaign without the rest of the crew?! The entire team was so fun to see interact with each other! The found family goes hard in this and I am not surprised! I also love how their own personalities and stories also shine through in their D&D characters!
Whether you are a D&D lover who’s played countless campaigns, or someone who’s never played and barely knows anything about the game, I think this is the perfect fall romance to relax into as the leaves change. (It also takes place in Connecticut so you literally are getting the perfect New England fall vibes btw)
I highly highly recommend, and I hope Woods is far from done with writing these beautifully blended stories because I’ll be reading every single one❤️
As someone who has never really had much interest in playing D&D, I simply cannot get enough of Lenora Woods writing about it!!
After reading Roll for Romance last year, I absolutely fell in love with Woods’ style of blending her characters story with the story of their D&D campaign. In Level Up for Love she accomplishes this again and even better than before! The two story lines blend seamlessly and are so fun to switch back and forth between!
Reagan is a video game designer who had an almost-one-night-stand with her academic rival in college. After years of resenting him, after he basically disappeared post-bailing said one-night-stand, she finds herself now unintentionally joining his D&D campaign, and the heat of their rivalry flares again.
Reagan is a new found favorite FMC for me and I loved her journey through this book! I think in both of her books thus far, Woods does an amazing job of helping her FMC’s go through and process hard emotions and difficult life experiences, in order to grow and find a future that’s going to support them and help them find joy in their lives. As someone going through some difficult turns myself, I really appreciated seeing someone struggle a bit and finding her way to being ok by following a new path.❤️ (see: me crying during the epilogue)
Wesley has joined the approved blonde MMC club guys, everyone clap!! I loved the way he pulled back and forth with Reagan and challenged her!! I don’t want to say much because I loved experiencing their relationship form, but just know that I came to really love him a lot and he had me TEARING UP near the end bc of it.
And what is a D&D campaign without the rest of the crew?! The entire team was so fun to see interact with each other! The found family goes hard in this and I am not surprised! I also love how their own personalities and stories also shine through in their D&D characters!
Whether you are a D&D lover who’s played countless campaigns, or someone who’s never played and barely knows anything about the game, I think this is the perfect fall romance to relax into as the leaves change. (It also takes place in Connecticut so you literally are getting the perfect New England fall vibes btw)
I highly highly recommend, and I hope Woods is far from done with writing these beautifully blended stories because I’ll be reading every single one❤️
September 16, 2026
Loved it
🎲 D&D Romance
⚔️ One-Sided Enemies to Lovers
❤️ Second Chance Romance
⏳ Dual Timeline
🔥 Men Who Yearn
💬 Witty Banter
I loved Roll for Romance, so when I saw Lenora Woods had a new book, I knew I had to grab it. And I’m SO glad I did!
Reagan and Wesley were college rivals in game design who ended up crossing a line neither of them expected. But after that night, Wesley disappeared without a word, leaving Reagan with a broken heart and a whole lot of unanswered questions.
Six years later, her sister convinces (lovingly bullies?) Reagan into joining a new D&D campaign. What she doesn’t know is that the person behind the campaign is the last person Reagan ever expected to see again: Wesley.
And guess who created it? Yep. Wesley. The man she swore she’d never forgive.
This was such a fun one-sided enemies-to-lovers because Reagan genuinely believes Wesley is her enemy, while Wesley is carrying a completely different version of what happened. The entire situation stems from a huge misunderstanding (and nefarious 3rd-party meddling), and watching them slowly untangle it was SO satisfying.
I loved the dual timeline because we get to see exactly how they got here and while I’m usually not a huge fan of single POV, it worked perfectly here. Since we only get Reagan’s perspective, I was just as confused and suspicious as she was. I wanted to trust Wesley. I really did. But I wasn’t 100% sure about him either.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, I questioned everything all over again. I was basically sitting there with Reagan thinking, “Okay, but can we actually trust this man?”
And the D&D campaign? SO much fun.
Watching Reagan and Wesley battle it out both in real life and at the gaming table (Reagan being a sword-wielding knight and Wesley as a mysterious vampire lord) was everything. Lenora did such a great job weaving the campaign into the story that I was equally invested in both worlds.
The chemistry, banter, friendships, family, healing, and slow rebuilding of their relationship made this such a fun and heartfelt read. Lenora gave me a second-chance romance AND a gothic D&D campaign, and apparently that is all I need in life.
Now I just need to find a local game store and figure out how to roll dice without embarrassing myself.
Thank you, Lenora, NetGalley, Ballantine/Dell for the ARC.
🎲 D&D Romance
⚔️ One-Sided Enemies to Lovers
❤️ Second Chance Romance
⏳ Dual Timeline
🔥 Men Who Yearn
💬 Witty Banter
I loved Roll for Romance, so when I saw Lenora Woods had a new book, I knew I had to grab it. And I’m SO glad I did!
Reagan and Wesley were college rivals in game design who ended up crossing a line neither of them expected. But after that night, Wesley disappeared without a word, leaving Reagan with a broken heart and a whole lot of unanswered questions.
Six years later, her sister convinces (lovingly bullies?) Reagan into joining a new D&D campaign. What she doesn’t know is that the person behind the campaign is the last person Reagan ever expected to see again: Wesley.
And guess who created it? Yep. Wesley. The man she swore she’d never forgive.
This was such a fun one-sided enemies-to-lovers because Reagan genuinely believes Wesley is her enemy, while Wesley is carrying a completely different version of what happened. The entire situation stems from a huge misunderstanding (and nefarious 3rd-party meddling), and watching them slowly untangle it was SO satisfying.
I loved the dual timeline because we get to see exactly how they got here and while I’m usually not a huge fan of single POV, it worked perfectly here. Since we only get Reagan’s perspective, I was just as confused and suspicious as she was. I wanted to trust Wesley. I really did. But I wasn’t 100% sure about him either.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, I questioned everything all over again. I was basically sitting there with Reagan thinking, “Okay, but can we actually trust this man?”
And the D&D campaign? SO much fun.
Watching Reagan and Wesley battle it out both in real life and at the gaming table (Reagan being a sword-wielding knight and Wesley as a mysterious vampire lord) was everything. Lenora did such a great job weaving the campaign into the story that I was equally invested in both worlds.
The chemistry, banter, friendships, family, healing, and slow rebuilding of their relationship made this such a fun and heartfelt read. Lenora gave me a second-chance romance AND a gothic D&D campaign, and apparently that is all I need in life.
Now I just need to find a local game store and figure out how to roll dice without embarrassing myself.
Thank you, Lenora, NetGalley, Ballantine/Dell for the ARC.
July 22, 2026
PLEASE this book was so good, so cute, so full of found family, and a yearning man who simps like no other!!!!! I loved roll for romance, so I was super excited to receive this ARC and I must say that Lenora has outdone herself with this one. Roller romance was a softer romance, and that it was two people meeting and falling in love pretty naturally whereas this book right out of the gate is rivals clashing with one another, but who have underlying chemistry and then, GASP! A BETRAYAL. Fast forward six years and they meet again still as rivals and still with that same underlying chemistry. And when I tell you this man is SO FOINE. Their banter and back-and-forth and tension was just so delicious and seeing the walls and inevitably crumble is one of the best parts of any good rivals to lovers. And I guess this is kind of also like a second chance if you think about it, which is one of my favorite tropes so really this was just a book made specifically for me as a lover of all these tropes and of Dungeons & Dragons.
Also, I must rave about the author’s ability to write essentially two books in one because half of this book is the contemporary romance and half of this book is the Dungeons & Dragons plot line written out like a fantasy novel. Both had me equally enraptured.
Also pretty much all of the characters in this book had dimension and were more than just sounding boards for the main characters, which is something that always bothers me in these kinds of books. Everyone had their own stuff going on and it just made the group feel more well-rounded.
I truly loved this book so much, and I look forward to anything that the author writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced copy to review!
Also, I must rave about the author’s ability to write essentially two books in one because half of this book is the contemporary romance and half of this book is the Dungeons & Dragons plot line written out like a fantasy novel. Both had me equally enraptured.
Also pretty much all of the characters in this book had dimension and were more than just sounding boards for the main characters, which is something that always bothers me in these kinds of books. Everyone had their own stuff going on and it just made the group feel more well-rounded.
I truly loved this book so much, and I look forward to anything that the author writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced copy to review!
April 14, 2026
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!✨
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!✨
September 4, 2026
4.5
Rtc!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
—-
Reagan and Wesley were rivals in their college’s video game design program who spent one ~spicy~ night together before graduation. But, Wesley ghosted, leaving Reagan more bitter towards him than ever. Six years later, Reagan is tending to her emotional wounds after a devastating break-up exploded her social circle when her younger sister and best friend Mona asks her to join a new D&D group at the local game store. Reagan agrees, even though she’s used to being the DM, and is surprised to find Wesley is the one leading this game. The resulting story is a blend of fantasy and romance, with about 2/3rds of the story following Reagan and Wesley, and the remaining third set in the world of their D&D game, following Reagan’s character Sindra as she takes on a vampire in a cursed kingdom.
I ADORED this story. While I’d liked Woods’ first book, ROLL FOR ROMANCE, it skewed a little more cozy than I’m generally into, and the particular tropes and romantic dynamic weren’t really for me. LEVEL UP FOR LOVE is a little edgier, a little darker, and a little rougher around the edges with characters who aren’t afraid to say and take what they want. It has some of my favorite tropes and dynamics – rivals to lovers! Goth baddie and smug prep boy who is down bad! – with sharp dialogue and a flawed FMC who grows with the story. In ROLL FOR ROMANCE, the parallel D&D plot line were fun asides to the story, through which the characters had the chance to be a little bolder and more audacious than they are in real life, but it didn’t otherwise progress the actual book. Here, they felt much more complimentary to the main story – Reagan’s character Sindra grows in tandem with her, and the in-character revelations reflect her real world emotions and conflict. I am also a sucker for video game development stories (niche, but we’ve all got our things), so I loved the story of these two old rivals competing against each other again in a parallel plot involving a game design competition.
If you like cozy fantasy and romance, pick up ROLL FOR ROMANCE. If you want something a little sharper with the same fantasy bent, pick up LEVEL UP FOR LOVE!
Rtc!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
—-
Reagan and Wesley were rivals in their college’s video game design program who spent one ~spicy~ night together before graduation. But, Wesley ghosted, leaving Reagan more bitter towards him than ever. Six years later, Reagan is tending to her emotional wounds after a devastating break-up exploded her social circle when her younger sister and best friend Mona asks her to join a new D&D group at the local game store. Reagan agrees, even though she’s used to being the DM, and is surprised to find Wesley is the one leading this game. The resulting story is a blend of fantasy and romance, with about 2/3rds of the story following Reagan and Wesley, and the remaining third set in the world of their D&D game, following Reagan’s character Sindra as she takes on a vampire in a cursed kingdom.
I ADORED this story. While I’d liked Woods’ first book, ROLL FOR ROMANCE, it skewed a little more cozy than I’m generally into, and the particular tropes and romantic dynamic weren’t really for me. LEVEL UP FOR LOVE is a little edgier, a little darker, and a little rougher around the edges with characters who aren’t afraid to say and take what they want. It has some of my favorite tropes and dynamics – rivals to lovers! Goth baddie and smug prep boy who is down bad! – with sharp dialogue and a flawed FMC who grows with the story. In ROLL FOR ROMANCE, the parallel D&D plot line were fun asides to the story, through which the characters had the chance to be a little bolder and more audacious than they are in real life, but it didn’t otherwise progress the actual book. Here, they felt much more complimentary to the main story – Reagan’s character Sindra grows in tandem with her, and the in-character revelations reflect her real world emotions and conflict. I am also a sucker for video game development stories (niche, but we’ve all got our things), so I loved the story of these two old rivals competing against each other again in a parallel plot involving a game design competition.
If you like cozy fantasy and romance, pick up ROLL FOR ROMANCE. If you want something a little sharper with the same fantasy bent, pick up LEVEL UP FOR LOVE!
October 25, 2026
Ok, I REALLY enjoyed the author’s earlier D&D themed romance and this one was absolutely just as strong. I really loved how the emotional growth that our main characters experience is mirrored in the developments of the current game campaign and what the characters within that game experience. This was such a fun, fast and spicy read set in a world of gaming lovers. Rivals to lovers, so much family (found and otherwise) and characters that come out better at the end for having gone through the journey.
Thanks so much to Ballantine for the review copy. All opinions are honest and shared voluntarily.
Thanks so much to Ballantine for the review copy. All opinions are honest and shared voluntarily.
September 11, 2026
Okay I ATE THIS UPPPPP
This was such a great read, and I absolutely love how Lenora integrated the game play into the story telling, personally I’m a D&D player but I feel like even if you weren’t the content is given to you in a way that is easily digestible if you aren’t! The banter is incredibleeeeeee, and this is probably one of my fave second chance romances, frankly im a sucker for an “it’s always been you” moment like hello how can you not??
Thank you so much to Dell for the review copy 🖤🖤
This was such a great read, and I absolutely love how Lenora integrated the game play into the story telling, personally I’m a D&D player but I feel like even if you weren’t the content is given to you in a way that is easily digestible if you aren’t! The banter is incredibleeeeeee, and this is probably one of my fave second chance romances, frankly im a sucker for an “it’s always been you” moment like hello how can you not??
Thank you so much to Dell for the review copy 🖤🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free eARC of this book for voluntary review.
I really liked the first book but this one was better. At first I was a bit frustrated with the FMC because I felt like she was a little unfair to the MMC in the beginning but that may be biased because I really liked the MMC.
The best thing I like about this series is that you get 2 stories in one. You get the contemporary romance couple that develops their relationship in the story and a bonus fantasy adventure story of the D&D characters the main characters and their group are playing.
You do not have to read the first book first. The MMC and the FMC from the first book only make a very brief cameo but are not related to the second book’s characters in anyway.
I will continue to read this series and any other romance books Lenora Woods writes.
I really liked the first book but this one was better. At first I was a bit frustrated with the FMC because I felt like she was a little unfair to the MMC in the beginning but that may be biased because I really liked the MMC.
The best thing I like about this series is that you get 2 stories in one. You get the contemporary romance couple that develops their relationship in the story and a bonus fantasy adventure story of the D&D characters the main characters and their group are playing.
You do not have to read the first book first. The MMC and the FMC from the first book only make a very brief cameo but are not related to the second book’s characters in anyway.
I will continue to read this series and any other romance books Lenora Woods writes.
August 16, 2026
As a D&D player and a romance lover, this book was pretty much guaranteed to work for me, and OH did it ever.
I loved Roll for Romance, but somehow I loved Level Up for Love even more. Former college rivals thrown together in a D&D campaign? Second-chance romance? Competitive banter? And they’re battling each other as a sword-wielding knight and a vampire lord? Please. I never stood a chance.
I absolutely loved the way the story moved between Reagan and Wesley’s real lives and their campaign. The D&D scenes weren’t just something cute happening in the background either. I got completely invested in that world too, and watching their real-life tension follow them straight into the game made everything even better.
And Reagan and Wesley! The history between them, the rivalry, the chemistry, the unresolved feelings and I ate it all up. I wanted these two together so badly, and watching them slowly work through everything between them while very obviously still being drawn to each other was exactly my kind of romance.
This book made my nerdy little heart ridiculously happy. I had SO much fun reading it, I didn’t want it to end, and now I desperately need Lenora Woods to keep writing romances for D&D people forever because two books are absolutely not enough.
I NEED MORE.
I loved Roll for Romance, but somehow I loved Level Up for Love even more. Former college rivals thrown together in a D&D campaign? Second-chance romance? Competitive banter? And they’re battling each other as a sword-wielding knight and a vampire lord? Please. I never stood a chance.
I absolutely loved the way the story moved between Reagan and Wesley’s real lives and their campaign. The D&D scenes weren’t just something cute happening in the background either. I got completely invested in that world too, and watching their real-life tension follow them straight into the game made everything even better.
And Reagan and Wesley! The history between them, the rivalry, the chemistry, the unresolved feelings and I ate it all up. I wanted these two together so badly, and watching them slowly work through everything between them while very obviously still being drawn to each other was exactly my kind of romance.
This book made my nerdy little heart ridiculously happy. I had SO much fun reading it, I didn’t want it to end, and now I desperately need Lenora Woods to keep writing romances for D&D people forever because two books are absolutely not enough.
I NEED MORE.
March 23, 2026
Book so good I’ve flooded the author’s DMs with reactions and begged for more.
ADD TO YOUR TBR.
ADD TO YOUR TBR.
August 16, 2026
There is *literally* nothing I love more in a romance novel than when the girl thinks they HATE each other, but, in actuality, the guy has been obsessed with her from the very beginning (See also: The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer). It’s just so fun! You get all the delicious banter, all of the palpable tension, plus an insane level of yearning.
Needless to say, I was in love with Wesley from the prologue. He was so pathetically into Reagan. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Level Up for Love was so much fun, but I wish we could have spent more time with the main characters. Instead, what felt like 30% of the book was spent INSIDE the D&D campaign and, unfortunately, I didn’t care about that at all. Whenever we switched over to Sindra’s story, I was bored. I had to force my self to keep reading.
I would have preferred using those pages to really dig deep with Wesley and Reagan. There was so much more I wanted to explore with them.
Still, I had a lot of fun and would completely recommend, especially for video game or D&D lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced readers copy! Level Up for Love is out September 8th, 2026.
Needless to say, I was in love with Wesley from the prologue. He was so pathetically into Reagan. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Level Up for Love was so much fun, but I wish we could have spent more time with the main characters. Instead, what felt like 30% of the book was spent INSIDE the D&D campaign and, unfortunately, I didn’t care about that at all. Whenever we switched over to Sindra’s story, I was bored. I had to force my self to keep reading.
I would have preferred using those pages to really dig deep with Wesley and Reagan. There was so much more I wanted to explore with them.
Still, I had a lot of fun and would completely recommend, especially for video game or D&D lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced readers copy! Level Up for Love is out September 8th, 2026.
April 18, 2026
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!
April 22, 2026
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!
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!
September 8, 2026
4.5⭐ | As someone who so badly wanted to love the Gaming and Romance books by Kristy Boyce but didn't because YA romance doesn't really do it for me (except on rare occassions)... I LOVED THIS SM!!! This was the adult version I needed. AND it has one of my favorite romance setups: two people who supposedly can't stand each other only for one of them to admit they've been obsessed since day 1. Then add D&D, unresolved college history, competitive banter, and a man who has been carrying around feelings for six years, and yeah… I was bound to be obsessed with this.
Reagan and Wesley have the kind of history that immediately makes you want to know what the hell happened between them because the prologue ends with you going WTF?! They were college rivals in video game design, hooked up once (BARELY, I wouldn't even call it a true hook up tbh), and then Wesley disappeared from her life. Six years later, Reagan walks into a new D&D campaign and discovers that her Dungeon Master is none other than the guy she has spent years being angry with. And somehow they are even more competitive in a fantasy world where she’s a sword-wielding knight and he’s a terrifying vampire lord.
I loved how the D&D campaign mirrored what was happening between them in real life. It wasn't just a fun gimmick layered on top of the romance. The two storylines genuinely reflected each other, especially when it came to control, trust, vulnerability, and learning how to work with someone instead of constantly trying to beat them. Watching Reagan and Wesley clash at the table while their IRL feelings kept getting harder to ignore was ridiculously entertaining.
Let's talk about the yearning because oh my GOD. Wesley is such a good example of the quietly obsessed love interest. There is so much history and tension between these two, and I loved watching all of those old feelings slowly come back to the surface. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry was VERY there, and every interaction had this underlying sense of are you two ever going to admit what is happening here? Or talk about what happened in the past?
I also really appreciated that this wasn't a romance where every problem could be solved by one dramatic conversation. Reagan and Wesley both have baggage, assumptions, and their own reasons for making the choices they do. Reagan can be prickly and frustrating, but I actually loved that she wasn't written to be endlessly agreeable or easy to root for. She has flaws, makes mistakes, and has to reckon with some of the ways she’s been protecting herself. Her growth throughout the story was one of my favorite parts.
And then there's the D&D group, which I unexpectedly became very attached to. The found family aspect worked so well, and I loved getting to see these characters develop relationships outside of Reagan and Wesley. Mona was a particular favorite, and I genuinely enjoyed watching the group dynamic take shape. Also, as someone who is not a D&D expert (I have very limited knowledge, almost everything I know is due to watching Stranger Things lol), I appreciated how accessible the campaign was. You don't need to know every rule or understand every piece of D&D lore to enjoy it. And honestly, the fantasy portions were so entertaining that they made me want to spend more time in that world. The vampire lord and lady knight dynamic? Absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way.
I have two main critiques. The first is that I occasionally wanted more time with Reagan and Wesley outside of the campaign. There were moments where I was so invested in their relationship that I wanted to stay with them a little longer instead of moving back into the game. Not because the D&D storyline wasn't good but because these two had so much emotional history that I could have happily read another hundred pages of them figuring each other out. The second is that I am so mf tired of characters in books taking whatever a minor character says as fact. I don't want to give any spoilers, but so much of their conflict stems from one night because of something a side character tells one of the MCs (and the MC DOESN'T EVEN REALLY KNOW THIS PERSON)... it's super annoying. I hate miscommunication, and I wish instead of running away they had just talked and been like "is this true? no? great! let's move on!"
Still, I had an absolute blast with this book. It's nerdy without feeling inaccessible, romantic without losing the plot, and genuinely thoughtful underneath all the fun. I loved the exploration of how people can get stuck in the roles they've created for themselves, how hard it can be to let other people help you, and how sometimes moving forward means admitting that the version of yourself you've been protecting isn't necessarily the version you want to keep being. Give me competitive nerds with unresolved feelings, a D&D campaign, ridiculous amounts of tension, and a found family any day of the week. Looks like I need to read Roll for Romance asap!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this ARC!
Reagan and Wesley have the kind of history that immediately makes you want to know what the hell happened between them because the prologue ends with you going WTF?! They were college rivals in video game design, hooked up once (BARELY, I wouldn't even call it a true hook up tbh), and then Wesley disappeared from her life. Six years later, Reagan walks into a new D&D campaign and discovers that her Dungeon Master is none other than the guy she has spent years being angry with. And somehow they are even more competitive in a fantasy world where she’s a sword-wielding knight and he’s a terrifying vampire lord.
I loved how the D&D campaign mirrored what was happening between them in real life. It wasn't just a fun gimmick layered on top of the romance. The two storylines genuinely reflected each other, especially when it came to control, trust, vulnerability, and learning how to work with someone instead of constantly trying to beat them. Watching Reagan and Wesley clash at the table while their IRL feelings kept getting harder to ignore was ridiculously entertaining.
Let's talk about the yearning because oh my GOD. Wesley is such a good example of the quietly obsessed love interest. There is so much history and tension between these two, and I loved watching all of those old feelings slowly come back to the surface. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry was VERY there, and every interaction had this underlying sense of are you two ever going to admit what is happening here? Or talk about what happened in the past?
I also really appreciated that this wasn't a romance where every problem could be solved by one dramatic conversation. Reagan and Wesley both have baggage, assumptions, and their own reasons for making the choices they do. Reagan can be prickly and frustrating, but I actually loved that she wasn't written to be endlessly agreeable or easy to root for. She has flaws, makes mistakes, and has to reckon with some of the ways she’s been protecting herself. Her growth throughout the story was one of my favorite parts.
And then there's the D&D group, which I unexpectedly became very attached to. The found family aspect worked so well, and I loved getting to see these characters develop relationships outside of Reagan and Wesley. Mona was a particular favorite, and I genuinely enjoyed watching the group dynamic take shape. Also, as someone who is not a D&D expert (I have very limited knowledge, almost everything I know is due to watching Stranger Things lol), I appreciated how accessible the campaign was. You don't need to know every rule or understand every piece of D&D lore to enjoy it. And honestly, the fantasy portions were so entertaining that they made me want to spend more time in that world. The vampire lord and lady knight dynamic? Absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way.
I have two main critiques. The first is that I occasionally wanted more time with Reagan and Wesley outside of the campaign. There were moments where I was so invested in their relationship that I wanted to stay with them a little longer instead of moving back into the game. Not because the D&D storyline wasn't good but because these two had so much emotional history that I could have happily read another hundred pages of them figuring each other out. The second is that I am so mf tired of characters in books taking whatever a minor character says as fact. I don't want to give any spoilers, but so much of their conflict stems from one night because of something a side character tells one of the MCs (and the MC DOESN'T EVEN REALLY KNOW THIS PERSON)... it's super annoying. I hate miscommunication, and I wish instead of running away they had just talked and been like "is this true? no? great! let's move on!"
Still, I had an absolute blast with this book. It's nerdy without feeling inaccessible, romantic without losing the plot, and genuinely thoughtful underneath all the fun. I loved the exploration of how people can get stuck in the roles they've created for themselves, how hard it can be to let other people help you, and how sometimes moving forward means admitting that the version of yourself you've been protecting isn't necessarily the version you want to keep being. Give me competitive nerds with unresolved feelings, a D&D campaign, ridiculous amounts of tension, and a found family any day of the week. Looks like I need to read Roll for Romance asap!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this ARC!
September 10, 2026
***Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Dell for sending me an unsolicited e-ARC of Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods! All thoughts are my own!***
In college, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were constantly at each other’s throats, vying to be the best in their video game design program. But when Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing their ties for good.
Six years later, Reagan has set aside her game design dreams, staying close to her sister in Connecticut and channel her creative energy into D&D. When the group she DMs falls apart, she and her sister join the local game store's new advanced campaign—only to find the Dungeon Master is none other than Wesley. In the game, he creates Vadrien, a merciless, power-hungry vampire lord, and Reagan is Sindra, the sword-wielding tiefling 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?
I could not put this book down! Lenora Woods really seamlessly weaves a story with two different story lines, from one world to another. This campaign was so well thought out, the party was well balanced. The way the suspense was building the farther they went through the campaign, I related to in my D&D sessions. I felt this story was even more for me than Lenora's first book, Roll for Romance. Both stories seem so different from each other. Luckily, this is a complete standalone from Roll for Romance, but who doesn't need more D&D romances? I never want to miss a Lenora Woods D&D story, and am so fortunate to get to review them.
I loved the different references throughout the book that D&D lovers would get, cause let's face it, ALL. PLAYERS. WANT. A. WYRMWOOD. TABLE!!! In that moment, I wished I was Reagan; I have always wanted a Wyrmwood playing table. And when are players gonna realize you never split the party! Nothing ever goes well that way.
I really enjoyed the dark campaign story, and that Wesley was also using the background of his campaign for his game development.
I don't think I have ever read a D&D story where both main characters are DMs, which was so unique to me. It definitely was the perfect way to show off how headstrong these characters are.
Reagan is such a relatable character to me, I really felt like she was me, especially with the fact that she is a gym girl. I love the gym scene we get where Wesley spots her for her lift, even encouraging her that she can lift heavier. I love a guy who pushes a woman at the gym to lift to her best potential. On the subject of characters, I really enjoyed the cast of characters apart of the table. The characters have established chemistry and banter together.
Wesley and Reagan have a chaotic romance that you cannot help to root for, even as they learn to unpack their past.
If you love cozy D&D romances with competitive rivals to lovers, you are gonna definitely gonna want to add this to your TBR, especially for the end of the year months.
Tropes
• Second Chance Romance
• College Rivals
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Nerdy Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Video Game Designers
• Enemies to Lovers
Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods is out now! Thanks again to Netalley and Ballatine and Dell for sending me an unsolicited e-ARC to review!
In college, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were constantly at each other’s throats, vying to be the best in their video game design program. But when Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing their ties for good.
Six years later, Reagan has set aside her game design dreams, staying close to her sister in Connecticut and channel her creative energy into D&D. When the group she DMs falls apart, she and her sister join the local game store's new advanced campaign—only to find the Dungeon Master is none other than Wesley. In the game, he creates Vadrien, a merciless, power-hungry vampire lord, and Reagan is Sindra, the sword-wielding tiefling 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?
I could not put this book down! Lenora Woods really seamlessly weaves a story with two different story lines, from one world to another. This campaign was so well thought out, the party was well balanced. The way the suspense was building the farther they went through the campaign, I related to in my D&D sessions. I felt this story was even more for me than Lenora's first book, Roll for Romance. Both stories seem so different from each other. Luckily, this is a complete standalone from Roll for Romance, but who doesn't need more D&D romances? I never want to miss a Lenora Woods D&D story, and am so fortunate to get to review them.
I loved the different references throughout the book that D&D lovers would get, cause let's face it, ALL. PLAYERS. WANT. A. WYRMWOOD. TABLE!!! In that moment, I wished I was Reagan; I have always wanted a Wyrmwood playing table. And when are players gonna realize you never split the party! Nothing ever goes well that way.
I really enjoyed the dark campaign story, and that Wesley was also using the background of his campaign for his game development.
I don't think I have ever read a D&D story where both main characters are DMs, which was so unique to me. It definitely was the perfect way to show off how headstrong these characters are.
Reagan is such a relatable character to me, I really felt like she was me, especially with the fact that she is a gym girl. I love the gym scene we get where Wesley spots her for her lift, even encouraging her that she can lift heavier. I love a guy who pushes a woman at the gym to lift to her best potential. On the subject of characters, I really enjoyed the cast of characters apart of the table. The characters have established chemistry and banter together.
Wesley and Reagan have a chaotic romance that you cannot help to root for, even as they learn to unpack their past.
If you love cozy D&D romances with competitive rivals to lovers, you are gonna definitely gonna want to add this to your TBR, especially for the end of the year months.
Tropes
• Second Chance Romance
• College Rivals
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Nerdy Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Video Game Designers
• Enemies to Lovers
Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods is out now! Thanks again to Netalley and Ballatine and Dell for sending me an unsolicited e-ARC to review!
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