This was an interesting concept that was well executed. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the storyline was great. Killian is the ultimate book boyfriend come to life. Overall a really good read.

The story was something which every romance reader must have thought about at least once. But the whole setting of how things unfold is left unexplained which made the ending really ordinary.

Leighton, frustrated with her mundane life and tired of being ghosted on Tinder, swears off dating and escapes into her fantasy world. She discovers a magical book that allows her to travel to Lakeville Hills, a quaint community she visits every evening. One day, she inadvertently brings Killian, a character from Lakeville Hills, into her real life.

Leighton is a relatable and grounded heroine, dealing with loneliness amid her friends' marriages. Her cynicism, snark, and humor make her interactions with Killian highly anticipated. Killian is the perfect bookworm's dream: a sweet and handsome fictional boyfriend.

This book explores the intriguing idea of a fictional boyfriend appearing in the real world. It’s a captivating read, filled with the best romance tropes and clichés. The story is short, delightful, and perfect for romance fans. Highly recommended!

3.5 stars.

I quite enjoyed ‘It Started with a Book’ and read it fairly quickly. I’m slightly puzzled by it as it turned into a bit of a fantasy (to an extent) but it was fun and the characters quite funny at times. The main character had some good traits and is a positive role model in many ways, keeping the unnecessary aggressive ‘alphahole’ behaviours in check as part of this. The one thing I can’t get over is the use of ‘Spoon’ as a pet name; it just didn’t work at all and felt so awkward. A nice little dream-world of a book!

sooo, kinda underwhelming
it was a really cool premise which kinda made the book a little ridiculous (but i'm not going to take that away from the rating, because that was the point and i knew what i was getting into)
i didn't ever really feel connected with the characters and because of that, i wasn't all too engaged with the story in general. I feel like killian and leigh's romance moved super quickly and i didn't really see that connection.
for me, its kinda weird how leigh would dream about him but you do you, that just not sojmething that happens with my fav fictional characters
i do wish there was more explanation about the book and how he actually "came to life" but in general, this was a very interesting and fun book to read despite all of my complaints.

Who doesn't wish that a book boy will come to life? Like honestly.... depending on who it is, it could be life-changing. Leighton is just trying to survive and wants to meet someone like everyone else in her life. This book has me laughing out loud and swooning as well. I was totally sucked in and couldn't wait to see what would happen next!

It’s official. Leighton’s last single friend is now coupled up. It’s just her. She’s a lonely outsider watching her put together friends take the next steps in life, when she feels anything but.

But that’s not her only problem. One lonely Friday night with nothing to do, she picks up a romance book off her shelf. One that she’s never seen before, but hey it’s a hot billionaire cowboy romance, so she’s reading it. Now during the day she’s living the sad lonely life of a broke grad student and at night she’s living in Lakeville Hills and is in an enemies to lovers situation with Killian St Clair. What’s the problem, you ask? Well, she’s falling for this fictional man.

But what happens when one day Killian St Clair is not so fictional and is a living breathing thing in Leighton’s bed!

I tried. I really tried. The premise, a book boyfriend comes to life, sounded so intriguing to me. I mean how many times have one of us wished for this. However the characters had no chemistry. I couldn’t root for them together or separately. There was no swoon factor. I couldn’t really get a grasp on any of the characters. You know how you almost feel what the character is feeling? None of that here for me. With that being said it was a cute story, and I really liked the plot of this romance character trying to fit into the reality of this world.

I couldn’t connect with the book but that’s not true for everyone. This is just my experience. The book definitely has potential, so I’d say give it a try.

I’ve enjoyed Ms. Isley’s previous books. I was excited about this one after reading the blurb. Who wouldn’t want to live a real romance novel life, amazing book boyfriend and all. It was an entire different story than I had imagined the way things would go. The story line didn’t flow. Just thrown together from their lives in the ever changing fictional book to trying to fit in current real life. I was all over the place in my thought process of how things would work out. Not quite what I was hoping for. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy . I’m leaving this review voluntarily

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Compelling and enjoyable. Loved the unique premise.

Romance lovers, who among us hasn't at least once wished for a book boyfriend to come to life? I’m guessing it’s not just me. Well, friends, Camilla Isley has made that wish come true.

IT STARTED WITH A BOOK is a romance that started between the covers of a magical book found by our protagonist. Leighton is a graduate student whose status as a single woman has her feeling left behind as her friends all seem to be finding their perfect partners. Things begin to change when she meets the dashing cowboy, Killian St. Clair. There is only one problem - Killian only exists on the pages of the book - until he doesn’t. What started as a fictional romance plays out in real life, but can it continue?

Ms. Isley has fun with this book; playing with favorite romance tropes and character archetypes. It’s lighthearted and entirely entertaining. You’ll be rooting for Leighton and Killian!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The lead lady in this book is a booktokker, and loves all things book so how could you not read this one!

Leighton is single and all her coupled wise friends keep trying to set her up with their friends/family/whoever which isn’t something she really enjoys. So her spare time (not that she has much) is spent with her books - rom coms, and whatever other romance troupes she can get her hands on. One night, she finds an old worn book on her shelf that she’s not seen before so starts reading, what follows is pure madness! One minute, she’s dreaming that she’s in the book then the book becomes her life! Killian is there - in her bed and she has no idea what’s going on.

It’s a fab read, if you like books and book boyfriends this is definitely for you. Leighton is a fab MC, you’ll relate to her in one or more aspects of her life and love every minute of it. And of course, everyone will fall for Killian!!

It Started With a Book by Camilla Isley is a very interesting blend of fantasy and romance. Leighton Witherspoon is so tired of the dating scene. Now even her best friend Ivy is coupled up with George. Dating sites, blind dates, and meet-cutes just haven’t panned out for her and she is ready to give up!

After yet another disappointment, Leigh cannot sleep and grabs an old looking book off her TBR stack. The book is so old the cover is worn such that the picture is barely visible. Leigh begins the novel about a young woman and an arrogant, wealthy cowboy. After several chapters, Leigh discovers nothing but blank pages, but when she falls asleep she has the most vivid dreams about said cowboy and finds new chapters added to the book the next day. Repeating this scenario for days to come is making it so Leigh would rather be in her dream state than be in reality. But when the two worlds collide it’s a whole new story!

I have read and enjoyed most everything written by this author and this tale is truly one of a kind! With interesting characters and well described settings, this story takes several unusual turns. Suspend disbelief and join Leigh on this journey to create her new reality. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it.

I loved this book, like many people I have fantasised about book boyfriends and to have one come to life is next level exciting,

It Started with a Book is a sweet charming fantasy romance. Leighton is a grad student who is living paycheck by paycheck and is accepting that she is very single while all her friends are finding love and getting married. With no luck in love, she decides to delete her dating apps and focus on her studies. One day she finds a billionaire cowboy book and after reading through it she finds herself dreaming if the fictional world and a fictional billionaire Killian. She finds herself wanting to go back to the world where she can live a steamy fictional romance. Until one day, she finds a very real Killian in bed next to her, in the real world. They try to naviagte what this means for them and their relationship and if Killian can exist in this world.

The sweet romance was a fresh take on a fictional romance that turns real in the real world. There is great humor in bringing a fictional character from a romance book with a bunch of typical bookish tropes worked in. However, the longer Killian remains in the real world the more real he becomes. Leighton can't help but worry that at any time he could disappear and break her heart.

There are sweet tropes such as fake dating, forced proximity, and all the best book boyfriend moves. The chemistry and tension between Killian and Leight9n was so sweet. There were many times I found myself with a grin on my face from the sweetness of the story. If you want a sweet and easy romance with a fresh take, then I highly recommend.

Another great and unique release from Camilla Isley! I love how all of her novels can be counted on to be different than every other romance on the shelves (we have book boyfriends coming to life, AI robots ruling over the office, treks through the jungle fighting for our lives, twin magic, movie sets unlike any others, airport meet-cutes that aren’t typical)…

It Started With a Book is probably the most interesting plot I’ve read in ages - the concept of basically writing a storyline by osmosis and a dream is really interesting, and then accidentally bringing the book boyfriend into the real world? Chef’s kiss! Isley has a beautiful way with her prose and I love getting lost in her words, worlds and characters.

Leigh (Leighton), with her boring, dead-end job falls asleep reading a strange second-hand book she finds on her bookshelf that is mostly blank pages, and dreams up new chapters, to wake up and discover her dream has now been added into the book…. Killian, the hero of her dream, is now written in as well. She keeps dreaming about the book world and the book keeps writing her dreams. A strange incident ends up with Killian following her as she wakes up, and he begins living in her reality. You have to read it to believe it! I wish all book boyfriends could truly come to life!

Another great read from Isley and anyone who’s read her books before will definitely want to grab this one. Anyone new to her will love it! It’s closed door but probably her spiciest yet, though still great for all audiences.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books, and this is my honest feedback.

“I’m trying to tell you that I would love any version of you in any world or dimension that existed. Because I’m in love with you, with your beautiful soul” Killian and Leigh’s in full of funny, sweet, deep and wholesome moments. He a real book boyfriend but she is afraid of losing him with the blink of an eye because he is not real. Or is he? A really great fairy tale. Camilla Isley are her best.

In <i>It Started With a Book</i> tells the story of Leigh who dreams herself into a book until one morning she wakes up in her own bed next to Killian, the fictional hero from that book. Great premise, but sadly the execution was disappointing. One of the issues was the pacing: a lot of things happen but not in great detail. For example, Leigh and Killian need to steal something and basically the only thing that we see is that they spend time hiding and kissing and then they're running out with the stuff they were supposed to steal. Nothing else.
Another thing is the prose. It didn't quite work for me. I think it was too much telling and not enough showing (which is probably linked to that lack of detail). As the reader, you're actually adressed once or twice at the start of the book, a technique I'm generally not crazy about, and here it even made me feel as if the author was almost shouting at me. I realise that this is also a personal preference, so your milage may vary.

One other thing that really bothered me was that Leigh's research project focused on creating an AI language model that would be able to write fiction. Though it is mentioned the aim was not to put fiction writers out of business (but what other aims could there be), there's no explanation of what data is used to train her AI language model. It was all a little iffy in my opinion.

2.5 stars

So this was…. different. Leighton has tried dating. Her tinder dates either don’t go anywhere, or they ghost her. So one night, she settles into bed, and pulls out a billionaire cowboy romance book to read. She starts to read it, and when she goes to turn the page, the next page is empty. So she falls asleep and dreams about herself in this cowboy romance book with none other than the hottest cowboy, Killian St. Clair. She keeps dreaming of him, until one day she wakes up, and he’s in her apartment with her. As she helps him navigate the real world, she has to wonder, is this book boyfriend worth falling for in real life?

I REALLY wanted to like this book. But for me, it was so bizarre. It was a bit slow in the beginning, and I was waiting for something to happen. Then Killian appears in her apartment and while they both seem a little freaked out by it, her more than him, it just wasn’t enough of a freak out. They accepted it too easily.

Because they “met” in her dreams when she dreamed she was inside the book, the real Leighton and book boyfriend Killian in the real world felt like they had no buildup or back story. This instalove had no chemistry between the two of them. Part of the problem is that he had no past because he was written. So there really wasn’t anything for them to connect on.

Leighton was a bit annoying because all she did was whine about being single and about being set up on blind dates. It was really hard to like her. Killian went from book boyfriend to real life boyfriend, but had no substance, again, because he was written.

Overall, it is an easy read that some will find fun. It just didn’t work for me.

First of all, thanks again, Netgalley for the ARC granted to me! I believe this plot is the ultimate dream goal from every girl reader in the world (mine for suuuure haha) But seriously, the narrative is pretty compelling and the story goes with a fantasy trope of the fictional guy come into life, in order to make the female character leighton's dream come true! As romance cliché enthusiast I've appreciated all of humourous and romantic the story went on, altough I've felt a lack of explanation about the fantasy rules to bring the "magic book". In general, it was a great and enjoyable narrative.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The book had a really interesting premise, and I was really excited to see how it was all going to unfold, but it just missed the mark for me.

I didn't find Leighton to be a particularly interesting character, which made it hard for me to stay involved with the story. I wish more time had been spent developing her and Killian as characters.

There was also a lack of hardships for Killian when he arrived in the real world. Apart from occasionally saying something from his past/his book life, which made Leighton panic, he seemed to just accept the fact that he had been transported to another world and was a fictional being in stride. I expected him to have some kind of feelings towards it, even if he had chosen to hide it from Leighton or something.

I'm also personally not a fan of books written in present tense.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.