Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance, #3) by Kristy Boyce
on May 5, 2026
ISBN: 0593899229
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

It’s Hazel Buchanan’s senior year, and she has plans: lead her color guard team to superior ranking, win the MVP award, and even start her first Dungeons and Dragons game. But when her childhood best friend, Max, transfers back to her school, her plans quickly come crashing down. They quickly begin a rivalry when Max joins the drum section in the marching band. Their overbearing parents even coerce Max into Hazel’s D&D game. Will the game bring them closer together? And will their rivalry turn into something more?

Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce is a cute rom-com that’s easy to read and perfect for reading slumps. It’s very relatable to teens as it embodies the high school experience. From teenage angst to complicated relationships, this story has realistic and multidimensional characters who are likeable. Hazel especially goes through a lot of character growth as the protagonist. Watching her journey from becoming a strict perfectionist to an empathetic friend is incredibly gratifying as the reader. Of course, Rolls and Rivalry is a romance at its core. And, there’s no doubt that Hazel and Max’s enemies-to-lovers romance brings butterflies to your stomach. But, Rolls and Rivalry is also a coming of age story. That’s what makes it special and worth putting on the shelves. Recommended for Grade 7 and up.

Reviewed by Kristen Simmons, Medomak Valley High School