Title: Dungeons and Drama

Author: Kristy Boyce

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 9780593647011

Two teens agree to a fake relationship so one can fool a crush and the other can fool her parents. As they start spending more time together, they each start wishing they could get rid of the “fake” part. Author Kristy Boyce is back with her latest YA romance in a fun, lighthearted read sure to make adults remember their own high school days in Dungeons and Drama.

In a small Ohio town, Riley is trying not to let the screaming get to her. Her parents’ screaming, that is. Okay, so she did borrow her mom’s car, and she doesn’t have a license, and she and her best friend, Hoshiko, drove long distance to see a cool Broadway musical. She gets why her parents are freaking out, because she and Hoshiko could have been pulled over or died or whatever, but, honestly? No regrets.

Not about the show, but Riley does regret the punishment she’s been handed. She’s supposed to spend from now until eternity—well, eight weeks, anyway—working after school in her dad’s game shop. Riley’s dad loves games of all kinds. In fact, he loves them so much he was okay getting a divorce from Riley’s mom to fulfill his dream of owning his own store. Where Riley will be stuck for infinity.

It doesn’t help that on her first day, she mistakes one of the employees for a thief. Nathan is a classmate, but they’ve never hung out. Now, despite her best intentions, they start to get to know one another. Crazy enough, Riley discovers Nathan isn’t a total dork. Even if he does like playing Dungeons and Dragons with his goofy friends in the back of the store on game nights.

But Riley doesn’t have time for the store. The school’s new drama teacher, Ms. Sahni, has announced that budget cuts have axed the big spring musical. Riley is a hardcore theater kid—it’s her dream to direct on Broadway one day, hence the risk to drive unlicensed—and she’s determined not to let the spring musical become another victim of dumb money decisions. One way or the other, she’s going to save the musical. Except she promised her parents she wouldn’t do anything related to theater during her punishment. 

Riley begs Nathan to cover for her when she needs to stay late at school for her “Save the Musical” project. Nathan agrees but wants something in return, so they agree to a fake dating scheme that includes Riley joining Nathan’s ongoing D&D game at the store to make his gamer-girl crush jealous. A bonus is that Riley gets to make her ex-boyfriend jealous at school, and a surprising benefit is that she starts getting to know her dad better. 

At first, Riley, ever the theater kid, sees the D&D game as another performance. Soon enough she finds herself getting into it. Even more strange, Nathan doesn’t seem like such a nerd anymore. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, she could swear she’s starting to like him. 

Nathan seems to be enjoying himself with her too. And once her parents hear that they’re “dating,” they get all gooey-eyed about it. Now Riley doesn’t know when, or if, she’ll be able to tell them the truth about sneaking behind their backs to work on the musical. All she knows is that she’ll have to figure out something fast if she wants to save the show and, maybe, her relationship with Nathan too.

Author Kristy Boyce writes with an ease and familiarity of her target readership. The coy flirtations and sweet blushes feel real and grounded. Riley and Nathan’s individual predicaments as well as their collective need to keep up the charade of dating will bring out lots of laughs and grins from readers.

At times the book comes across as a little cheesy, and as is common with so many other YA books the adults seem clueless. Riley’s ultimate proposal to save the school musical is simplistic, which might leave some astute readers wondering why Ms. Sahni didn’t come up with it herself. Riley’s attraction to Nathan, too, is easy to spot. It’s a wonder Riley doesn’t figure out sooner that she’s no longer faking her feelings.

For the most part, however, the book is fun and lighthearted and will leave its readers smiling at the end. Those looking for a classic YA romance with a fresh twist in its references to and uses of Dungeons and Dragons will definitely love this one. I recommend readers Bookmark Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce.