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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you could write your perfect man, would you?
Ivy loves a few things: her favorite action-drama ‘Hot, Magical and Deadly’; the main character of H-MAD, Weston Razorbrook; writing and reading fanfiction about H-MAD’s Weston Razorbook; hanging out with her best friend Henry, playing video games. And watching H-MAD.
The one thing she hates? Her FORMER best friend, Mack. Her arch nemesis. The bane of her existence. Absolutely NOT someone she secretly misses dearly or definitely harbors a years-long crush for. Nope. Not at all. But there’s nothing to be done about any of that now.
Until Ivy wakes up one morning to a huge surprise in the form of Weston Razorbrook himself. He is suave, sweet, doting, and absolutely head-over-heels for Ivy. The dream come true, her perfect fanfic boyfriend is in her bedroom and claiming to be her soulmate. Every trope she’s written, every plotline, every twist, is suddenly happening to her, with Weston as her love interest. What could be better than a specially designed true love? Maybe… something, or some ONE, more real…?
As a not-so-former fanfiction writer/reader, I absolutely love this premise; I may or may not have a poorly written self-insert floating around in the bowels of ff.net. So with Ivy, I can relate. And the obsession with a television series that most people don’t get? Yeah. I’m there.
This fast-paced YA novel doesn’t feel rushed, despite so much happening in less than a week. Bouncing back and forth between current day and the past, when Ivy and Mack went from friends-to-nemeses, the story unfolds slowly, letting you understand both where the two stand, and how they got there. And while their falling-out may seem blown out of proportion, especially as you see how much both girls miss each other and wish to take back whatever was said, it is truly accurate to the teenage girl experience. A great example of a coming of age, with a twist of fantasy, and a splash of romance.
Four stars.
emotional
medium-paced
Ivy loves writing fan fiction for her favorite fantasy TV show. And then, it literally comes true with the main character showing up to her house. She has to figure out what the heck is going on enlisting the help of her friend Henry and estranged best friend (and crush) Mack. For me, the best part of this was the last 20% when the plot really picked up in a number of ways! I also appreciate the love this gave to the fanfic communities out there. I do generally like a dual timeline like this had, but I wish this one had "chunked" time together a bit more versus alternating every other chapter, so I could become more invested in each storyline before switching gears. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this March 2024 release.
What an incredibly fun book. The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist follows high school student Ivy in two timelines: first, the past, where we see her best friendship with Mack, the girl who lives across the street who Ivy's secretly in love with, break down; and the present, where Weston, the man of her dreams and starring character of her favorite TV show, comes to life. It's a lovely story about the way reality and fiction collide.
My favorite subplot is that Ivy has the most extreme helicopter parents and doesn't have the fortitude to tell them to back off. In fact, she doesn't really want them to! Ivy likes living in a world where she's never alone, where someone always has her back. As you follow her story, you can see how Ivy copes when the most important thing—not being alone—comes back to bite her.
Another five-star read from Sophie Gonzales!
My favorite subplot is that Ivy has the most extreme helicopter parents and doesn't have the fortitude to tell them to back off. In fact, she doesn't really want them to! Ivy likes living in a world where she's never alone, where someone always has her back. As you follow her story, you can see how Ivy copes when the most important thing—not being alone—comes back to bite her.
Another five-star read from Sophie Gonzales!
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I adored this book! As someone who wrote fanfiction as a teen, I loved it even more!
This book has all the perfect elements of an amazing rom-com. The characters, the angst, the surprise, the sweetness. It follows different tropes seen in the literature.
It was also SO funny and relatable. There were so many moments that I literally laughed out loud in the book. I never wanted to put it down!
I'd recommend this book to all readers! It's a perfect YA rom-com with LGBTQIA+ characters (which we need more of in books, especially YA for all teens to relate to!).
I have loved all books by Sophie Gonzales and was so excited to snag this digital ARC. I will be constantly recommending it until it comes out in March!
This book has all the perfect elements of an amazing rom-com. The characters, the angst, the surprise, the sweetness. It follows different tropes seen in the literature.
It was also SO funny and relatable. There were so many moments that I literally laughed out loud in the book. I never wanted to put it down!
I'd recommend this book to all readers! It's a perfect YA rom-com with LGBTQIA+ characters (which we need more of in books, especially YA for all teens to relate to!).
I have loved all books by Sophie Gonzales and was so excited to snag this digital ARC. I will be constantly recommending it until it comes out in March!
This was sUCH the perfect blend of magical realism and fanfic heaven!
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy is thrilled to have the house to herself while her parents go on a work trip. She’s ready to hang out with her best friend, Henry, and binge their favorite TV show, H-MAD– as long as she can avoid her neighbor and ex-best friend/crush, Mack. But her plans are turned upside down when she wakes up to find the main character of H-MAD, Weston, in her room. Somehow, Ivy’s fanfiction stories have come to life, and Weston claims to be Ivy’s soulmate. Now, Ivy finds herself teaming up with Henry and Mack, before anyone else finds out about Weston.
Sophie Gonzales has quickly become one of my go-to authors (I will forever rant about how incredible Perfect in Paper is). I don’t generally consider myself a fan of romance, but there’s just something about her books.
That being said, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish this book. Not that there’s anything wrong with it– but I am not necessarily the right audience for it. I have never been a fanfiction reader or writer. As mentioned above, romance isn’t really my thing. So a romance book about a fanfiction character coming to life isn’t really for me. However, I gave it another try and ended up binging it in two days.
I really related to Ivy in a lot of ways. Ivy is still struggling with the demise of her friendship with Mack, and she’s reluctant to seek out new friendships. She’s been hurt before, so why go through that again? I also appreciated the exploration of different types of friends– those who you share numerous interests with, and those who you don’t.
If I were a fanfiction enthusiast, I’m sure I would have enjoyed the different tropes that are played out. Unfortunately, some were just so cheesy and cringey for me. But, I’m sure they are delightful for a lot of other readers. Although I will admit the enemies to lovers part was pretty great.
Overall, as a book about overcoming differences and maintaining friendships, this is a good book. As a fanfiction-inspired romance story, it’s not my cup of tea, but still a fun read.
Ivy is thrilled to have the house to herself while her parents go on a work trip. She’s ready to hang out with her best friend, Henry, and binge their favorite TV show, H-MAD– as long as she can avoid her neighbor and ex-best friend/crush, Mack. But her plans are turned upside down when she wakes up to find the main character of H-MAD, Weston, in her room. Somehow, Ivy’s fanfiction stories have come to life, and Weston claims to be Ivy’s soulmate. Now, Ivy finds herself teaming up with Henry and Mack, before anyone else finds out about Weston.
Sophie Gonzales has quickly become one of my go-to authors (I will forever rant about how incredible Perfect in Paper is). I don’t generally consider myself a fan of romance, but there’s just something about her books.
That being said, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish this book. Not that there’s anything wrong with it– but I am not necessarily the right audience for it. I have never been a fanfiction reader or writer. As mentioned above, romance isn’t really my thing. So a romance book about a fanfiction character coming to life isn’t really for me. However, I gave it another try and ended up binging it in two days.
I really related to Ivy in a lot of ways. Ivy is still struggling with the demise of her friendship with Mack, and she’s reluctant to seek out new friendships. She’s been hurt before, so why go through that again? I also appreciated the exploration of different types of friends– those who you share numerous interests with, and those who you don’t.
If I were a fanfiction enthusiast, I’m sure I would have enjoyed the different tropes that are played out. Unfortunately, some were just so cheesy and cringey for me. But, I’m sure they are delightful for a lot of other readers. Although I will admit the enemies to lovers part was pretty great.
Overall, as a book about overcoming differences and maintaining friendships, this is a good book. As a fanfiction-inspired romance story, it’s not my cup of tea, but still a fun read.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
The LGBTQIA+ representation in this story feels realistic and is well done.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
if you’ve ever had a fanfic era, this book is for you!
in my 4am befuddledness (i swear this happened with itgo & negbt too, why am i always staying up til morning reading sophie’s books in one sitting??) the best way i can describe this book is “a fanfic within a story”. (okay okay but you bet I needed to read this book as SOON as i was approved!)
it’s dual timeline, and i don’t know if it’s just me, but one half feels like a story story and the other half a fanfic, which is something i never knew i needed till now
like, this gives me allll the fanfic reading feels! like i am still in full denial that i was once (okay okay and still am) a fanfic girly but after reading this… i’m like… yep i have definitely read fanfics featuring all these tropes mentioned
since it’s probably far *far* too early to say anything spoilery about the book, i’ll mention a couple things i loved about it instead! so if you want to go into this book knowing nothing, you’ve been warned!
firstly, ivy is a VIBE. i love slightly disastrous mcs and between ivy and weston i have all the “oh my god what the heck but i love” feels! but also, i just love the slightly disfunctional but completely amazing main trio. just andjdjdbd
i also absolutely love love love the friendship psych (??) undertones- especially everything relating to hobbies and how people view each other- abdjdjdjd my heart ACHES for mack, because god I know what it feels like when the thing I can’t say happened. like i’m pretty sure it’s not even a large part of the book, but it just resonated with me. i dunno, i’m just a lil’ social psych nerd and their whole relationship is hella fun to analyse. like the fanficcy bits were fun but if there was one thing i wanted more of, it’d be this!
ALSO WE CAN’T FORGET ALL THE FANFIC REFERENCES!!! LITERALLY TOO MANY TO LIST.
there’s this part in the middle of the book that is literally my favourite thing ever, all i can say is, I’M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THINKS LIKE THIS! also the fact that this book’s got the magic of making what seems like simple plots hit deeper than you expect - there’s so many bits i’ve highlighted being like oh my god I RELATE
anyways, i must sleep. i’m terrified to read this review in the morning
thank you so so much wednesday books + netgalley for the e-arc! totally worth the lack of sleep from reading it in one sitting and i’m so freaking honoured to be an early reader!
in my 4am befuddledness (i swear this happened with itgo & negbt too, why am i always staying up til morning reading sophie’s books in one sitting??) the best way i can describe this book is “a fanfic within a story”. (okay okay but you bet I needed to read this book as SOON as i was approved!)
it’s dual timeline, and i don’t know if it’s just me, but one half feels like a story story and the other half a fanfic, which is something i never knew i needed till now
like, this gives me allll the fanfic reading feels! like i am still in full denial that i was once (okay okay and still am) a fanfic girly but after reading this… i’m like… yep i have definitely read fanfics featuring all these tropes mentioned
since it’s probably far *far* too early to say anything spoilery about the book, i’ll mention a couple things i loved about it instead! so if you want to go into this book knowing nothing, you’ve been warned!
firstly, ivy is a VIBE. i love slightly disastrous mcs and between ivy and weston i have all the “oh my god what the heck but i love” feels! but also, i just love the slightly disfunctional but completely amazing main trio. just andjdjdbd
i also absolutely love love love the friendship psych (??) undertones- especially everything relating to hobbies and how people view each other- abdjdjdjd my heart ACHES for mack, because god I know what it feels like when the thing I can’t say happened. like i’m pretty sure it’s not even a large part of the book, but it just resonated with me. i dunno, i’m just a lil’ social psych nerd and their whole relationship is hella fun to analyse. like the fanficcy bits were fun but if there was one thing i wanted more of, it’d be this!
ALSO WE CAN’T FORGET ALL THE FANFIC REFERENCES!!! LITERALLY TOO MANY TO LIST.
there’s this part in the middle of the book that is literally my favourite thing ever, all i can say is, I’M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THINKS LIKE THIS! also the fact that this book’s got the magic of making what seems like simple plots hit deeper than you expect - there’s so many bits i’ve highlighted being like oh my god I RELATE
anyways, i must sleep. i’m terrified to read this review in the morning
thank you so so much wednesday books + netgalley for the e-arc! totally worth the lack of sleep from reading it in one sitting and i’m so freaking honoured to be an early reader!