Member Reviews
This was such a fun premise! We all fall in love with at least one book boyfriend in our lives, so reading a book where a book boyfriend comes out of the book and becomes real was so fun! This was a super enjoyable story, very unique, and the characters were lovable!
What a cute premise.
When she’s ghosted by yet another Tinder match, Leighton swears off dating for life. Who needs apps and blind dates when she has the perfect-in-every-way (apart from being fictional) heroes of her beloved romance novels?
That night, Leigh finds a second-hand book on her TBR pile that transports her to the small-town of Lakeville Hills, where the heroines wear shorty-shorts and the men drink bourbon. And as Leigh drifts off to sleep, she dreams of billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair, who could win a gold medal for smouldering and bicep flexing.
For a while, Leigh finds it easier to stomach misogynistic supervisors, newly coupled friends, and extravagant bridesmaid duties knowing she can return to Lakeville Hills each evening. Until one day she wakes up to find she’s brought a bit of Lakeville Hills back with her: the impossibly sexy and entirely implausible Killian St Clair is in her apartment.
However it took way too long to get to the point of him showing up in the real world. And until he does it’s just a really weird story of a girl wanting to sleep and dream all the time. Is it an easy fluffy read? Yes. Am I going to remember this for long? No
Leighton is fed up with her friends coupling up and being the only single one in the group.
So soon her nights turn quiet and while romance is lacking in her life, it's always nice to get lost in a romance novel; and it's more perfect when the book character shares your same name.
But strange things are happening and book boyfriends are very real.
Wow! This book is a cross-genre of romance and a little science fiction. But works perfectly. Told in first person point of view throughout the character of Leighton I loved how we were absorbed into her world.
This novel can be split into two parts, which I didn't see coming, and although I felt the first half was a faster pace than the second it was still an engaging narrative.
Killian and Leighton were perfect characters and I kept wondering what book boyfriend I would want to have.
I did want a bit more justice for Leighton when it came to Dr Hammond but I was pleased Leighton stood up for herself in the end.
This was a crazy but perfect narrative and is a book I want to read for the first time again and again.
It Started with a Book was different from any romance I had read. Leighton, aka Leigh, is frustrated when she is ghosted by yet another Tinder date. With no real-life plans for the weekend, she grabs a random book from the shelf and starts reading. Soon, Leigh begins to dream of Lakeville Hills and the super hot billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair. Each night she returns to her story, and begins to fall more in love with her book boyfriend, Killian. Then, one day she wakes up and Killian is there with her, in her time.
I'm not one to have book boyfriends, but I know many people do. This book takes that to the next level, when Leigh's book boyfriend comes alive, leaving the book and arriving in her bed. I enjoyed this story, but I had to just go with the flow. It is a fun premise and I enjoyed how they got to know each other. The idea that they were writing the story together made for an interesting ride. Of course, things change when Killian becomes real, and he and Leigh had to get him ID, so he could live, work and exist in real time. There was some great banter and sizzling kisses, but Killian was a gentleman and wouldn't take advantage of Leigh until she loved him, I really liked that. This was a fun story, with great characters, laughs and slow burn romance. I do enjoy Camilla Isley's books and recommend this one to those who enjoy a fun, romance with some magic thrown in.
I thought this was really cute. I loved the romance in a book coming to life. I enjoyed the banter and the chemistry between the two main characters. I wish we knew more about their past and even more details about their relationship. Much of the book felt very surface level. I wanted a little more heat and drama. This book is fun, adorable and a quick enjoyable read.
After another terrible date, Leighton swears off dating, except in the fictional world of books. When she picks up a second hand book that transports her to Lakeville Hills and Killian, she finds him entering her dreams. Until she wakes up and finds him in her apartment. Will she be able to help him navigate the real world? Will she be able to protect her heart from the possibility of him disappearing back into a book?
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.
It was a real treat to read another book from Camilla Isley as I enjoy her writing. This time, we explore the concept of book boyfriends as Leigh is transported to the fictional town of Lakeville Hills. She immediately encounters the brooding but gorgeous Killian St Clair and is profoundly irritated by his arrogance despite being attracted to him. The manner in which the story progresses is well-considered, and I particularly liked the idea of the book writing itself based on her dreams.
Leigh is a definite challenge as a female lead, but her lack of success in the dating game speaks more about her bad choices than her attractiveness. As a computer programmer, Leigh is no slouch on the brains front, but she loses all reason when it comes to affairs of the heart. Frustratingly, Leigh’s family are determined to fix her up with Mr Right. There’s a delightful section that looks at fake dating as a trope that I really enjoyed.
Killian is every bit the swoon-worthy leading man, and his cowboy manners are precisely what I needed to read about. I’m not saying all male leads should be passive, but there’s room for a helping of good old cowboy charm. I really did enjoy the witty exchanges between the couple and loved how well-considered the ramifications of bringing Killian into the real world proved to be.
This is a terrific story and I would highly recommend it if you fancy escaping for a few hours and hanging out with a cowboy billionaire.
This was such a fun lighthearted read! It was such a fun cute book idea. I’ve never read anything like this and as a book lover it’s always to fun reading a book about a book lover! I definitely recommend. 3.5
This book is just as fun and delightful as the cover and blurb suggest it would be! It’s a light-hearted romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism that I simply blew through in a day and a half. The entire concept felt unique and that made it so enjoyable. Yes, readers must be willing to suspend disbelief as you read, but for me, that’s half the reason I read–I want to escape! I’d love for a bit more about the magic behind the fictional boyfriend becoming real, but could also see how that might have distracted from the story. I honestly didn’t think about the hows until I finished because I was so engrossed in the story! The writing is fun and some scenes and banter are truly so funny. If you’re looking for a summer reading escape with a little bit of magic, look no further–this would be perfect to read by the pool or if you’re stuck at home when it’s a billion degrees outside!
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
This is a fun contemporary romance. On first impressions, I really liked the protagonist, Leighton. I found her funny, relatable and a little bit endearing. As a book lover, I related to that element of her personality too.
As I got more into the story, I felt the need to embrace Leighton's love of books more and more. I think that from time to time, I have sometimes wished for a “book boyfriend” myself, so that was something else that I could relate to. I enjoyed the book-related dialogue, and in general, the story was entertaining and a little bit humorous.
This was a fun read which made me smile, and I would recommend it if you're a romance reader, especially if you consider reading to be a big part of your personality.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
You have to suspend belief to read this. This combines reality and magic. It didn’t start with a bang but when it picked up there was the curiosity and suspense to know exactly how this will pan out.
It follows the story of Leigh and Killian, a book character who magically becomes real.
I enjoyed this in parts. I enjoyed Leigh and Killian’s interactions in the magic book. I had a topsy turvy time with it. For one, where did the book come from? I didn’t like how the mystery of the book was left unresolved. Also, Leigh’s supervisor I felt that should have more than the conclusion it was given.
There was also the overuse of romance tropes that it became nauseating afterwards.
If you enjoy magical realism and like the idea of a book boyfriend come to life then this is your book.
I was excited to read this book as it sounded cute and funny and it lived up to that expectation. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would even though I laughed out loud lots of times. There were elements that I loved; the witty banter, one liners, book trope references and the crazy escapades that Leighton got caught up with in the dream book world. At other times, the story was quite slow and there wasn't much character development. Killian was a romantic fictional character with no back story or substance and he never broke out of that box for me.
I did like the side characters. Oliver was a favourite of mine and I was expecting the book to be passed on to him so he could find the spark with someone special in a sequel but his story went in another direction.
I listened to the audio version of this book on spotify and the narration is excellent.
It Started with a Book is Camilla Isley’s newest stand-alone story. It is a fantasy romance featuring a STEMinist heroine and a fictional romantic hero who comes to life.
Leighton is a graduate student who is unlucky in love and swears off dating after another bad Tinder match. She is content with escaping into her favorite romance novels set in beautiful Lakeville Hills. After dreaming about the perfect hero, billion cowboy Killian St Clair, he appears in Leigh’s apartment. She helps him navigate the real world, and of course falls in love with him. The conflict in the story is if Killian can remain in the real world or if he will vanish back into fiction.
I have read all of this author’s stories, and It Started with a Book is very different from her previous works. It contains all of her usual elements: a wonderful story that is full of sparkling banter between the main characters, a successful STEMinist heroine, colorful co-workers and friends, and excellent closed-door romance. The challenge for readers is accepting the improbability of a book character coming to life without an explanation about how the magic happened. The romantic advice from the couples was my favorite parts of the story.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Just not for me. The writing was messy and I found the book within a book story to be very annoying.
Enjoyable story, but kind of devoid of conflict.
Props for the original meet-cute.
Leightin finds a book on her shelve she doesn't remember buying. She starts reading, but soon enough it seems the book was a misprint: before the romance got spicy the book runs out of printed pages. A little bothered, Leigh goes to sleep and in her dream she continues the story from her book. It doesn't take long for her to fall for the book's hero.
The feeling seems to be mutual, but Leigh is convinces Killian is not real. She gives him a push and both tumble into her world.
There's lots of couple getting to know each other stuff, but very little "how the heck did this fictional character end up in my life? Am I hallucinating? Do I have a brain tumor?'
Story dragged a bit towards the end.
It Started with a Book is a super cute concept. Who wouldn't want a swoon worthy Alpha male full of romantic tropes book hero to jump off the pages of your romance novel and into real life?! Unfortunately, I did not find Killian St. Clair to be swoon worthy. I also wasn't a fan of the FMC, Leighton, to bemoan the fact that she was 24 and perpetually single while all of her friends doled out wise coupled up advice. I'm 10+ years older and still single. I don't need a child (even though she's just a book character!) complaining that she's a lonely old maid.
I have loved Camilla Isley's other books, but I just didn't devour this book like I have her others.
"It Started with a Book" by Camilla Isley is undeniably cute and even has a touch of originality. The premise of a magic book and the adventures that ensue was intriguing at first. However, as a fellow bookworm, I found that the book leaned too heavily into every bookworm cliché imaginable. While some readers might find this endearing, it felt a bit overdone to me.
Another aspect that left me unsatisfied was the unresolved mystery surrounding the magical book itself. I was hoping for more answers or at least some deeper exploration of its origins and powers. Instead, the mystery remained just that—mysterious, which left me feeling a bit let down by the end.
Overall, while the book had its charming moments, the overuse of clichés and the lack of resolution for the central mystery prevented it from being a standout read for me.
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Go with the flow and enjoy!
Leighton is frustrated when she is ghosted by yet another Tinder date. With no real-life plans for the weekend, she grabs a random book from the shelf and starts reading. Soon, Leigh begins to dream of Lakeville Hills and the super hot billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair.
This becomes a routine for Leigh, a wonderful escape for a few hours. However, one day she brings Killian to her apartment. Real life and dream worlds collide. So what will Leigh do? How can she find a way out?
The story comes in Leigh’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is the kind of book where you have to go with the flow and forget logic. Its premise makes it clear. I was willing, and quite enjoyed the ride.
Humor is seamlessly woven into the narrative, making this a light-hearted read even when the scenes deal with misogyny, etc. The couple’s wisdom quotes are hilarious.
Not sure if it is a new trend, but many romcoms seem to be ‘talking’ about the tropes in the plot. Love Story and The Love of My Afterlife had the same. This book also has the characters discussing and jokes about the tropes in their lives. It makes sense given the character arcs, so it was fun.
The book is sexy but not that steamy. When it comes to the scenes, it goes fade to black. Since it has quite a few dream sequences, we get enough time to see the main characters connect and know more about each other.
Though we get only Leigh’s POV, it is easy to see Killian’s side. He is open about his feelings most of the time. Though he is the alpha male, he is also a cinnamon roll. A nice package by all means!
The beginning is slow (until about 30%) but it picks up a steady pace afterward. There really isn’t a third-act breakup, though there is a small fight and a patch-up real soon.
Given the premise, there are a few missing (logical) details. But answering those would be risky and could mess up the whole plot, so things are left the way they are. In short, this needs the suspension of belief.
To summarize, It Started with a Book is a light and funny read about dreams coming true and book boyfriends becoming real. Well, I sure wouldn’t mind this happening (are you listening, guardian angels).
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
I've enjoyed this author's previous books, and will definitely pick new ones up in the future but this one did not work for me.
It's a very cute and quick read, so many aide comments about various romance tropes that I love, Killian, true to his nickname in the books is a real cinnamon role. But the book boyfriends coming to life trope? It's weird. While some romcom plot lines may not be realistic, this is one that, feasibility aside, I just can't with. There were too.many plot holes (the how did it happen and the how can he stay in this world and just, well, how, not to mention the issues in her workplace). Overall I was intrigued by the plot, but by the end just couldn't stay in board. Regardless though, I truly looking forward to this author's next book!!
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my review!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was not able to finish this book. I found our heroine a bit sad and silly. I think I'm becoming old and bitter
Leighton has sworn off dating after she is ghosted again and decides to wallow in her misery and read a romance novel. As she falls asleep to a book that transports her to the small-town of Lakeville Hills, she dreams of billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair. It is her one escape from her abominable supervisor and her friends who are newly coupled. Until one day, she wakes up to find she’s brought a bit of Lakeville Hills back in the form of Killian St Clair, who is in her apartment. What follows is Leigh trying to help Killian navigate the real world without falling for her, knowing that she could wake any moment, to find him gone.
This was such a great premise and I so agreed with Leigh, when Killian seemed to go to be true. This reinforced how Leigh did not realise her true value, having been let down so many times. Killian was so sweet and I found his character maturing, as he spent more time with Leigh. A great read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.