Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and a chance to read this heartfelt piece of work.
This is the perfect romcom book! The cute, funny banter between Peter and Eli made this an easy read. I love how you could see that the two of them bring out the best verisons of themselves without even really trying. All their dates were so adorable and hilarious to read. They're such a hilariously awkward couple at times that you can't help, but find adorable.
Peter and Eli's character growth was heartfelt and inspirational. My favorite aspect of the book was seeing the two characters become better versions of themseleves because of how the other person inspired them.
I also really loved all the side characters because they were all so supportive and adorable! My heart goes out to the amazing cast of the friends and friends.
Also I really related to Peter so I really appreciate the author's intentions in Peter's background of being a gay Korean man from the South. I don't usually read the author's note, but I did and I was both inspired and heartfelt at the author's admission that they hoped Peter's background showed people that "life isn't a game of catch-up". I feel like more stories like this matter for the exact reason to spread awareness, inspire hope and bring community. And seeing as that was the author's intentions, I'd say they did a pretty good job in doing so.
This is the perfect romcom book! The cute, funny banter between Peter and Eli made this an easy read. I love how you could see that the two of them bring out the best verisons of themselves without even really trying. All their dates were so adorable and hilarious to read. They're such a hilariously awkward couple at times that you can't help, but find adorable.
Peter and Eli's character growth was heartfelt and inspirational. My favorite aspect of the book was seeing the two characters become better versions of themseleves because of how the other person inspired them.
I also really loved all the side characters because they were all so supportive and adorable! My heart goes out to the amazing cast of the friends and friends.
Also I really related to Peter so I really appreciate the author's intentions in Peter's background of being a gay Korean man from the South. I don't usually read the author's note, but I did and I was both inspired and heartfelt at the author's admission that they hoped Peter's background showed people that "life isn't a game of catch-up". I feel like more stories like this matter for the exact reason to spread awareness, inspire hope and bring community. And seeing as that was the author's intentions, I'd say they did a pretty good job in doing so.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
When a struggling journalist meets a bumbling techie, the worst date in the history of ever occurs—is it possible to salvage this situation and build the perfect boyfriend?
Eli Francis is stuck as an executive assistant at an online magazine by the name of Vent. He dreams of being a full-time writer, but he hasn't caught a break. Eli's also hung up over his ex-boyfriend of seven years, Keith. When his roommates get sick of his mopey behavior, they set him up with the gloriously handsome Peter Park. Unfortunately, the date is an epic disaster that only has Eli feeling worse. That is, until his boss takes interest in the incident and begs Eli to give Peter a second chance and convinces him to secretly write an article about how Eli is fixing up Peter to be a better dater. As Eli and Peter's fake-dating arrangement begins, Eli believes that he'll finally have the article that will grant him the promotion he deserves. But putting yourself in a fake relationship is never easy on the heart, especially when one has a hard time opening up to others. Will this end in disaster for the two men, or will their hearts manage to come out of the encounter unscathed?
This book showed up unexpectedly in my inbox one day, making me feel as though I had no obligation to read it. However, the title and the cover caught my eye; I tend to love MM romances, so I couldn't logically pass this one up. And boy am I glad I didn't. This story is filled with so much humor and heart, while also offering a window into what it is like to be a member of the queer community in various different ways. There are some very serious themes, and the romance has a realistic arc despite it also giving a rom com experience that made me want to kick my feet and giggle constantly.
From the very start of this book, I really liked Eli as a character. Seeing him stuck in a secretarial job that places so much burden on his shoulders made me pity him, but it also made me curious to see how his life would change throughout the course of this novel. The first few chapters honestly reminded me of "The Office," which I found to be quite fun. Seeing how stuck Eil was on his relationship with Keith really had Eli starting this book really down in the dumps. I think it is so easy to feel like a failure in today's society which expects one to be successful as soon as they graduate from college. Eli is certainly entering mid-life crisis territory, and I found this relatable despite the fact that I'm not even twenty yet.
When Peter finally entered the scene, I couldn't stop giggling. Their first date is an absolute disaster, but it is easy to tell that Peter is such a sweet boy who is truly just inexperienced. I loved Peter pretty much from the first interaction, so it was easy to start shipping these two early on.
After the two boys make their dating pact, the story truly comes to life. The dates that these two go on are all so cute. From ice skating, to bowling, to rock climbing, to jazz clubbing, the experiences that these two collect are priceless and adorable. The general bantering and flirting between Eli and Peter was so funny, and it had me wondering just how far this fake romance would go before it all fell apart.
Speaking of falling apart, I actually didn't hate the third act conflict in this story. It felt very reasonable, and I totally understand why both men made the decisions that they did. I don't fault either of them; I honestly would have accepted if their relationship didn't pan out in the end. This book really plays on classic rom com movies, but it does a great job of showcasing how real-life romance isn't like it is in the movies. The epilogue was pretty adorable though, so I'm not complaining about how everything panned out.
The way that this book dives into how being Asian and gay intersect with one another and often make it even harder to just exist in society was heartbreaking. I'm so glad Deaver also made it a priority to highlight all the good experiences that Peter had growing up in a Southern red state; they handled the nuances and complexities of interconnected identities so well.
I must admit, I wasn't a huge fan of all the steamy scenes in this book. There are only like two major ones, but they were still a bit too much for me. Some spicy scenes are starting to grow on me, but I still really don't like dirty talk while in bed; it just makes me really uncomfortable, so it was a little hard for me to get through these scenes. I did think they were an interesting learning experience about trans expectations and courtesies in the bedroom, though.
Overall, I found "The Build-a-Boyfriend Project" to be a fun MM adult rom com that offered plenty of insight on the publishing industry and the queer community. The fake dating element was pulled off well in this one and I didn't mind the third act conflict. Both Eli and Peter are great characters, and I came to love them both in their own right. This is my first introduction to Deaver's work and can say with certainty that I will definitely be checking out more of their work in the future!
Eli Francis is stuck as an executive assistant at an online magazine by the name of Vent. He dreams of being a full-time writer, but he hasn't caught a break. Eli's also hung up over his ex-boyfriend of seven years, Keith. When his roommates get sick of his mopey behavior, they set him up with the gloriously handsome Peter Park. Unfortunately, the date is an epic disaster that only has Eli feeling worse. That is, until his boss takes interest in the incident and begs Eli to give Peter a second chance and convinces him to secretly write an article about how Eli is fixing up Peter to be a better dater. As Eli and Peter's fake-dating arrangement begins, Eli believes that he'll finally have the article that will grant him the promotion he deserves. But putting yourself in a fake relationship is never easy on the heart, especially when one has a hard time opening up to others. Will this end in disaster for the two men, or will their hearts manage to come out of the encounter unscathed?
This book showed up unexpectedly in my inbox one day, making me feel as though I had no obligation to read it. However, the title and the cover caught my eye; I tend to love MM romances, so I couldn't logically pass this one up. And boy am I glad I didn't. This story is filled with so much humor and heart, while also offering a window into what it is like to be a member of the queer community in various different ways. There are some very serious themes, and the romance has a realistic arc despite it also giving a rom com experience that made me want to kick my feet and giggle constantly.
From the very start of this book, I really liked Eli as a character. Seeing him stuck in a secretarial job that places so much burden on his shoulders made me pity him, but it also made me curious to see how his life would change throughout the course of this novel. The first few chapters honestly reminded me of "The Office," which I found to be quite fun. Seeing how stuck Eil was on his relationship with Keith really had Eli starting this book really down in the dumps. I think it is so easy to feel like a failure in today's society which expects one to be successful as soon as they graduate from college. Eli is certainly entering mid-life crisis territory, and I found this relatable despite the fact that I'm not even twenty yet.
When Peter finally entered the scene, I couldn't stop giggling. Their first date is an absolute disaster, but it is easy to tell that Peter is such a sweet boy who is truly just inexperienced. I loved Peter pretty much from the first interaction, so it was easy to start shipping these two early on.
After the two boys make their dating pact, the story truly comes to life. The dates that these two go on are all so cute. From ice skating, to bowling, to rock climbing, to jazz clubbing, the experiences that these two collect are priceless and adorable. The general bantering and flirting between Eli and Peter was so funny, and it had me wondering just how far this fake romance would go before it all fell apart.
Speaking of falling apart, I actually didn't hate the third act conflict in this story. It felt very reasonable, and I totally understand why both men made the decisions that they did. I don't fault either of them; I honestly would have accepted if their relationship didn't pan out in the end. This book really plays on classic rom com movies, but it does a great job of showcasing how real-life romance isn't like it is in the movies. The epilogue was pretty adorable though, so I'm not complaining about how everything panned out.
The way that this book dives into how being Asian and gay intersect with one another and often make it even harder to just exist in society was heartbreaking. I'm so glad Deaver also made it a priority to highlight all the good experiences that Peter had growing up in a Southern red state; they handled the nuances and complexities of interconnected identities so well.
I must admit, I wasn't a huge fan of all the steamy scenes in this book. There are only like two major ones, but they were still a bit too much for me. Some spicy scenes are starting to grow on me, but I still really don't like dirty talk while in bed; it just makes me really uncomfortable, so it was a little hard for me to get through these scenes. I did think they were an interesting learning experience about trans expectations and courtesies in the bedroom, though.
Overall, I found "The Build-a-Boyfriend Project" to be a fun MM adult rom com that offered plenty of insight on the publishing industry and the queer community. The fake dating element was pulled off well in this one and I didn't mind the third act conflict. Both Eli and Peter are great characters, and I came to love them both in their own right. This is my first introduction to Deaver's work and can say with certainty that I will definitely be checking out more of their work in the future!
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A little cliche at times but it has a good message. Peter is such a great character and I loved seeing him develop throughout the book. The company Eli works at is literally buzzfeed and you cannot tell me otherwise. Also I loved the chappell roan reference lol
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
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
At this point, if consider myself a Mason Deaver fan. This is my third read by then and so far, I've enjoyed them all.
I've consistent found their writing, and especially their characters to be cozy and heartwarming, even when they occasionally have unlikable qualities. Deaver's characters are full and rich and are the driving force behind their stories so if you're big on great and likable characters, I'd recommend this one.
Even though this is an adult romance (Deaver's first), it did still have some YA vibes. I don't inherently dislike that, but I do kinda wish Eli had been a little bit younger to help support the less complex writing style in his POV. Maybe I'm too old to judge this, but his pesos felt more like 24 than nearly 30 to me.
Another note on the "adult" aspect of this book: There is really only one and a half spicy scenes (one spicy, one almost spicy) and while I don't personally love spice in my books, and this one didn't shy away at all from the descriptions, I also really appreciated that the scene sorry of tied-in/ for with the character arcs very nicely. It really helped the scene not feel unnessecary and gratuitous while also not having any content so vital to the plot that it wasn't skippable for sensitive readers. In other words, I think it was really tastefully done even though some of the characters seemingly have some fairly kinky preferences/ideas.
I don't really have any deeper thoughts on this one. It's a very straightforward (or maybe queer-forward?) romance. It's sweet and fun and full on cozy/ guilty pleasure reading. And these two characters will probably stick with me for quite some time.
I've consistent found their writing, and especially their characters to be cozy and heartwarming, even when they occasionally have unlikable qualities. Deaver's characters are full and rich and are the driving force behind their stories so if you're big on great and likable characters, I'd recommend this one.
Even though this is an adult romance (Deaver's first), it did still have some YA vibes. I don't inherently dislike that, but I do kinda wish Eli had been a little bit younger to help support the less complex writing style in his POV. Maybe I'm too old to judge this, but his pesos felt more like 24 than nearly 30 to me.
Another note on the "adult" aspect of this book: There is really only one and a half spicy scenes (one spicy, one almost spicy) and while I don't personally love spice in my books, and this one didn't shy away at all from the descriptions, I also really appreciated that the scene sorry of tied-in/ for with the character arcs very nicely. It really helped the scene not feel unnessecary and gratuitous while also not having any content so vital to the plot that it wasn't skippable for sensitive readers. In other words, I think it was really tastefully done even though some of the characters seemingly have some fairly kinky preferences/ideas.
I don't really have any deeper thoughts on this one. It's a very straightforward (or maybe queer-forward?) romance. It's sweet and fun and full on cozy/ guilty pleasure reading. And these two characters will probably stick with me for quite some time.
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
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:
Yes
"The Build-a-Boyfriend Project" is a really fun and cute read. Peter is a great character, endlessly endearing and such an awkward sweetheart that you just want to reach into the book and give him a hug. Eli is also a good character, though I struggled sometimes with his line of thought and motivations -- it was easy to see exactly where it was all going to blow up (in quite spectacular fashion) and he was quite arrogant about how right he was and how nothing would go wrong. Which, I will admit, is the point of his character so that he can develop, but knowing their love would need to hit a rough patch before it could properly bloom made me anxious for a good portion of this book and hoping against hope this would be a happy ending. Overall, this an enjoyable read and I think a very strong start for an author branching into the adult romance space!
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a free and honest review.
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a free and honest review.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On one hand, I wanted to tuck Eli and Peter in my pocket and carry them both with me forever. On the other, I wanted to shake them until they saw sense (mostly Eli). This was my first Mason Deaver read and I was immensely grateful for the ARC from Netgalley. I'm a sucker for an adult fake dating trope, if an author can successfully make me believe adults would make this choice, I am usually all-in. And I was intrigued by the sort-of journalism-Bridget-Jones'-Diary-Never-Been-Kissed of it all, but ultimately it fell slightly short of the mark for me. I bought into Peter's side of things, but Eli's got too convoluted for me and my frustration therein kept pulling me out of the book. I had a hard time cheering for him.
That said, I really loved the shape and build of Eli and Peter's relationship. The disaster > almost colleagues > fragile friendship > real connection > romance was brilliantly paced and exhibited. I also loved that when the shoe finally drops, and really you're watching it slowly fall the whole book, Eli can't fix it immediately or easily. We love consequences. We love a careful consideration of whether to give someone another chance after they've done something so egregiously selfish. We just also felt like Peter deserved better.
That said, I really loved the shape and build of Eli and Peter's relationship. The disaster > almost colleagues > fragile friendship > real connection > romance was brilliantly paced and exhibited. I also loved that when the shoe finally drops, and really you're watching it slowly fall the whole book, Eli can't fix it immediately or easily. We love consequences. We love a careful consideration of whether to give someone another chance after they've done something so egregiously selfish. We just also felt like Peter deserved better.