Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
on January 9, 2024
ISBN: 0593647017
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce is a low-stakes romantic comedy for the underdogs. The protagonist, Riley, is a bubbly, showtune-loving theater kid who dreams of directing the school’s spring musical and Nathan is the nerdy, grumpy coworker she is forced to interact with at her father’s gaming store. What starts as bickering quickly turns into banter and (a bit mean-spiritedly) they agree to fake-date each other to make her ex and his crush jealous. This is a clean, slow burn romance that is easy to recommend and would be appropriate for middle grade readers. Though the main characters are straight and white, there is some diversity in the side characters. The story isn’t revolutionary, but it is surprising that there hasn’t been a theater kid/gamer kid romance yet – it’s a modern pairing that feels as classic as PB&J! 

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME