Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Cute story. Love how the main theme is loving someone dispite there mistakes. Learning though what you are doing. Acknowledging when you fuck up and not denying or down playing what you have done. The growth from both of the them and how they become better people in the end.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
I was so excited when I found out Mason Deaver was writing an adult romance novel. Deaver has been one of my must-buy authors since I read I Wish You All The Best, a book I have reread at least once a year for the past few years.
I really like Deaver’s writing style and their character work. Eli and Peter were written in true romcom fashion. They’re both flawed people, but watching them grow and fall in love was so much fun. I found myself grinning at this book on more than one occasion, as their flirting was very sweet and although I wanted to reach through the book and shake Eli sometimes, I found this book to be very readable and so much fun.
The chapter titles were clever and made me smile when I saw them too!
I just think the conflict resolution was a little too easy, but I think the book wrapped up quite well, and I’m very excited to see what Deaver writes next!
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I listened to an ALC of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project and I ate up every second of it! I really enjoyed the narrator's performance. Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. This is the first book of Mason Deaver's that I've read, and I know it's their first adult romance, so I'm looking forward to reading their YA stuff next! TBaBP has trans rep (trans male MC and nonbinary sibling) and there's so much queer joy throughout the book.
This is such a cozy romance. I loved seeing these two characters slowly but completely fall in love with each other. When Peter was first introduced, I was completely gobsmacked. I totally had assumed he would be more confident and direct but he was such a shy, awkward boy!! I love how there's discourse around people's dating journeys, specifically around dating experience and expectations - I didn't go on my first date until I was 27 years old - that's just how things fell into place for me and that's OKAY. Peter's story really resonated with me. I loved learning about Peter's background as a queer POC growing up in the South (felt) and how that pretty much is what led to his lack of dating experiences. I LOVED that through Eli's article, Mason included how queer people exist in the South and that just because someone is from the South, doesn't mean they're ignorant and/or bigoted.
I did become frustrated with Eli throughout parts of the book. I hate that he risked hurting Peter - I know at first Eli didn't really care for him, but then even when Eli realized he has ACTUAL feelings for Peter, he still doesn't come clean about the article! I hated the whole situation with Michael and Keith and I could see all of it coming from a mile away. Eli had the WORST boss and Eli hated what he was doing for the company anyways, so it drove me nuts he continued to stay there. I know he wasn't entirely over Keith but sheesh - Eli you deserve better! Move on already.
I wish we had gotten more of Peter and Eli at the end of the book - the conflict-resolution just came off as too abrupt for me. I didn't mind it, but when I got to the epilogue (the NetGalley % tracker was glitched so I didn't know how much of the book I ever had left) I was so confused and disappointed because I thought we could squeeze a bit more into the story!
This book has a whole piece of my heart. The story was validating and uplifting in so many different ways. I felt so seen. Thank you for this beautiful story, Mason Deaver. 💛
This is such a cozy romance. I loved seeing these two characters slowly but completely fall in love with each other. When Peter was first introduced, I was completely gobsmacked. I totally had assumed he would be more confident and direct but he was such a shy, awkward boy!! I love how there's discourse around people's dating journeys, specifically around dating experience and expectations - I didn't go on my first date until I was 27 years old - that's just how things fell into place for me and that's OKAY. Peter's story really resonated with me. I loved learning about Peter's background as a queer POC growing up in the South (felt) and how that pretty much is what led to his lack of dating experiences. I LOVED that through Eli's article, Mason included how queer people exist in the South and that just because someone is from the South, doesn't mean they're ignorant and/or bigoted.
I did become frustrated with Eli throughout parts of the book. I hate that he risked hurting Peter - I know at first Eli didn't really care for him, but then even when Eli realized he has ACTUAL feelings for Peter, he still doesn't come clean about the article! I hated the whole situation with Michael and Keith and I could see all of it coming from a mile away. Eli had the WORST boss and Eli hated what he was doing for the company anyways, so it drove me nuts he continued to stay there. I know he wasn't entirely over Keith but sheesh - Eli you deserve better! Move on already.
I wish we had gotten more of Peter and Eli at the end of the book - the conflict-resolution just came off as too abrupt for me. I didn't mind it, but when I got to the epilogue (the NetGalley % tracker was glitched so I didn't know how much of the book I ever had left) I was so confused and disappointed because I thought we could squeeze a bit more into the story!
This book has a whole piece of my heart. The story was validating and uplifting in so many different ways. I felt so seen. Thank you for this beautiful story, Mason Deaver. 💛
I liked this a lot! I enjoyed the author's voice and the two main characters. Both characters are given lots of room for growth and learning (although Eli's behaviour is pretty frustrating to witness at times.) Even though it's a fake dating premise - it wasn't too over the top and I didn't find myself distracted by having to suspend disbelief - although the third act conflict was telegraphed from the very beginning. It's a slow burn and low steam book, which worked well for the story and the characters. I found the book quite well paced for the most part until the very end - it was a bit jarring there. I listened to the audio and I quite liked the narrator's voice, although there could have been more differentiation in the dialogue.
Overall I'd recommend this as a mostly sweet and tender romance with what seemed to be very thoughtful trans and Korean rep.
I received an audio Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult in exchange for an honest review
Overall I'd recommend this as a mostly sweet and tender romance with what seemed to be very thoughtful trans and Korean rep.
I received an audio Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult in exchange for an honest review
