Roll for Love

Gr 7 Up–Harper’s senior year is starting out rough. Her grandfather and woodworking inspiration has died, and her mom, who is barely speaking to her, has moved them out of Portland, away from all her friends, and into her grandfather’s old farmhouse. But when Harper runs into Ollie, the neighbor girl she had a crush on when they were younger, who is gorgeous, bi, and has a group of queer Dungeons & Dragons–playing friends who want to use Harper’s barn for sessions, things start to look up. With scenes that jump between senior year and the world of the game, months go by, and the barn becomes a haven for the group to explore aspects of life they struggle with. Like Ollie and coming out to her family. Or Brooks and his home life. Or Harper and her feelings for Ollie. This adds depth and complexity to the supporting cast and adds emotional weight to crucial core conflicts like Harper’s struggle over whether to go to college or not. The ending fully embraces small-town living and will have fans of England’s other works just as enamored with this one.