In Kristy Boyce’s novel Dating and Dragons, Quinn Norton moved across Ohio to be closer to her eccentric grandma and to start a fresh chapter in her friendships, but now she has to face entering a brand-new school in the middle of her junior year. Things start looking up for Quinn when she meets and flirts with a cute guy named Logan Weber. Additionally, she is invited to join a D&D party at her new school, perfect since her last one utterly imploded. When Quinn arrives for her first session with this new group, she is shocked to discover that 1) the group live streams their sessions, 2) Logan is a part of the D&D party, and 3) there is a strict no dating rule amongst the group!
Dating and Dragon is one of the cutest high school romances that I have read, while still feeling fresh and new with the incorporation of D&D into the novel. D&D is not just a passive part either. Boyce does an amazing job with using the D&D roleplay to elevate the characters and give a better glimpse into character dynamics and quirks. One thing that often grinds my gears in regard to YA Romance is that most characters do not know how to communicate, but that could not be further from the case when it comes to Quinn and Logan. They don’t leave the other in the dark and actively make an effort to let the other know the reasoning behind their actions. I truly enjoyed Quinn’s character overall, I found her to be both fun and relatable. The manner in which she reacted to her past negative experiences and her growth throughout the book pushed me to root for her. Additionally, Quinn’s entire friend group was quite wholesome and heart-warming. Quinn’s best friend, Kashvi was hilarious and always had the best in mind for Quinn. There was only one big thing that stuck out to me in a negative way, and that was the dialogue which could sometimes be jarring, especially from Logan. It would sometimes be very intense for a situation that truly isn’t that serious. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys high school romance and nerdy characters!