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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
💠#QOTD what book can you read over and over or what's your favourite comfort genre?
Title: Book Boyfriend
Author: Lucy Vine
Pages: 384
Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up to 3 where needed)
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷 FTB sex talk and relationships
#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 19th June 2025
This was a fun fluffy laid back filler read, great for the poolside!
The plot is predictable and a sweet romance. The relationships and friendships were silly and funny. It is written with different perspectives and the immaturity of the characters offered a care free light read. The silly jokes and culture references made me laugh. "pivot" reminded me of 90s and early 00s RomCom movies with the narrator perspective and the colloquial comedic style of writing. Were the characters likable? Full of depth and did this book change my life? No. But, It is low stakes, low commitment care free chick lit book that offers some light entertainment escapism.
You'll love this book if you like
- romcom
- library book romances
- slow burn
- friends
- nostalgia jokes and memorabilia
- chick-lit
Will you be reading this? Let me know in the comments
Title: Book Boyfriend
Author: Lucy Vine
Pages: 384
Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up to 3 where needed)
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷 FTB sex talk and relationships
#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 19th June 2025
This was a fun fluffy laid back filler read, great for the poolside!
The plot is predictable and a sweet romance. The relationships and friendships were silly and funny. It is written with different perspectives and the immaturity of the characters offered a care free light read. The silly jokes and culture references made me laugh. "pivot" reminded me of 90s and early 00s RomCom movies with the narrator perspective and the colloquial comedic style of writing. Were the characters likable? Full of depth and did this book change my life? No. But, It is low stakes, low commitment care free chick lit book that offers some light entertainment escapism.
You'll love this book if you like
- romcom
- library book romances
- slow burn
- friends
- nostalgia jokes and memorabilia
- chick-lit
Will you be reading this? Let me know in the comments
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another humour-filled and marvellously chaotic Rom-Com by Lucy Vine that had me thoroughly hooked and up way past my usual bedtime— I literally couldn’t put it down!
The writing style is gorgeously witty, with a Bridget Jones-esque conversational tone that brought a huge dose of relatability to the story (and our MCs) that had me eager to see them both thrive.
Exploring the modern ideals of love and intimacy, self discovery and sisterhood; Vine treats us to an endearingly uplifting story that follows twin sisters, Jemma and Clara. Who despite their differences, have far more in common than they like to believe (like using fantasy to distract from real life and their own personal struggles with commitment and emotional connection.)
I do have to admit I liked Jemma (our book loving, introverted, modern day Elizabeth Bennett) just a teensy bit more than her sister. And enjoyed exploring her emotional journey, as she opens up to a mysterious stranger (via notes found between the pages of her favourite library book) and comes to terms with the possibility of a real life romance of her own.
Clara was a bit more of a wild spirit than her sister, charging head first into every situation with a level of confidence and positivity that was rather infectious. But her approach to getting what she wanted did border a little on selfishness. Which meant it did take more time to warm up to her. But in exploring her insecurities, emotional struggles and character growth, I was completely invested in seeing her succeed as well.
The supporting cast were really great too and I really enjoyed getting to know them (Salma & Harry especially.) I also swooned over the reveal of Jemma’s mystery letter writer, which was a huge surprise as a few red herrings had me convinced it was someone else.
I can’t say anything else without spoilers, so I’ll just say this was a fun and satisfying Rom-Com that’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella or Jenny Colgan.
Also, thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for the stunning finished copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Gaslighting
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Lucy Vine, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.
Two women hopelessly in love with fictional characters? Yeah, I was interested. However…
As much as I wanted to love it, I’m stuck somewhere between intrigued and indifferent. The banter is fun, the concept is fresh, but something isn’t quite clicking for me… yet.
Still, if you’ve ever swooned over a book boyfriend and wished he’d step off the page, this one might just scratch that itch.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for this ARC.
Jemma and Clara, 28 are fraternal twin sisters who couldn't be more different in character. Jemma is a very reliable ghost writer and takes the same book out over and over again from the library, when one time she finds a note in it directed to her. She starts corresponding thinking the other person is a woman as it's a romance book. Her flatmates Harry and Selma convince her it is a man, so she asks for his name.
Meanwhile, chaotic Clara has returned from the US where she has lived for the last five years, just in time for their mother's wedding to a woman. Due to lingering resentment, Jemma is not happy to see her, especially as she moves in with her, Salma and Harry and is a very inconsiderate flatmate. In fact, she is selfish, useless and obnoxious, and when we are later given some background on her time in the US, it is a 180 degrees turn around on her character that I personally didn't swallow.
Clara falls in lust with an actor called Milo who has the main role in a series based on Jemma's favourite book, renamed Book Boyfriend. She tries to get near him in a series of events that are meant to be funny but are just plain embarrassing and display obsessive behaviour unworthy of a 28 year old.
We get some potential love interests for Jemma in the form of mountaineer Aarav and grumpy librarian Mack, probably trying go get the grumpy/sunshine trope going, but failing spectacularly. I didn't find the book funny, just silly, and why do we need a narrator? We could have done without him and lost nothing. I tried to like the romance but it was barely there and I got no sense of some of the guys at all.
A lot of words to say this book wasn't for me as I neither liked the plot, the characters or the writing style.
Jemma and Clara, 28 are fraternal twin sisters who couldn't be more different in character. Jemma is a very reliable ghost writer and takes the same book out over and over again from the library, when one time she finds a note in it directed to her. She starts corresponding thinking the other person is a woman as it's a romance book. Her flatmates Harry and Selma convince her it is a man, so she asks for his name.
Meanwhile, chaotic Clara has returned from the US where she has lived for the last five years, just in time for their mother's wedding to a woman. Due to lingering resentment, Jemma is not happy to see her, especially as she moves in with her, Salma and Harry and is a very inconsiderate flatmate. In fact, she is selfish, useless and obnoxious, and when we are later given some background on her time in the US, it is a 180 degrees turn around on her character that I personally didn't swallow.
Clara falls in lust with an actor called Milo who has the main role in a series based on Jemma's favourite book, renamed Book Boyfriend. She tries to get near him in a series of events that are meant to be funny but are just plain embarrassing and display obsessive behaviour unworthy of a 28 year old.
We get some potential love interests for Jemma in the form of mountaineer Aarav and grumpy librarian Mack, probably trying go get the grumpy/sunshine trope going, but failing spectacularly. I didn't find the book funny, just silly, and why do we need a narrator? We could have done without him and lost nothing. I tried to like the romance but it was barely there and I got no sense of some of the guys at all.
A lot of words to say this book wasn't for me as I neither liked the plot, the characters or the writing style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
funny
lighthearted
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