Once Upon a Boy Band by Jenny Proctor is a book that I jumped upon when given the opportunity to read it as an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher. It's been on my want to read list since Ms. Proctor first started talking about it and it absolutely was what I had imagined it to be and had everything it needed to be an easy, read in one session book that left me wanting more (secondary character books, please!) - fun characters that are very relatable, adorable dogs, a swoony hero and a heroine that a lot of us can relate to.

Laney is a vet working with her dad in his practice and she and her vet tech, Percy, are talking about the absolutely gorgeous and all that rescue owner, Adam. Percy is trying to get Laney to do something about the crush she has on him and unbeknownst to her, Adam hears it all and proceeds to flirt with Laney. They hit it off and are soon texting and she is meeting his other rescue pups (all named after musicians!)

When she finds out that Adam is really Deke from her teenage dream boy band Midnight Rush, she has to reconcile that shy, sweet Adam is the teen idol of her dreams Deke. Deke doesn't want to perform again because of a tragic loss he experienced, but his former manager, and then bandmate, Freddie, convince him to do just ONE concert for breast cancer charity.

Of course things go wrong, and the third act is Laney helping Adam, them falling in love and other stuff that I won't spoil.

The characters are all believable, the secondary characters hilarious and funny (please can we get books for the bandmates and Percy!) Ms. Proctor's lack of sexual situations doesn't mean there isn't sexual tension, it's just not descriptive, and she lets us use our imagination.

This was a great book and I couldn't it put it down.

This was such a cute book, a closed-door romance about a small town vet who falls for the owner of a dog rescue. That alone would be cute enough but add in that he's a former boy band member in hiding and she was in love with him when she was sixteen. He's asked to come back and perform with his old group and has to face some challenges around how he left and how him being famous impacts his relationship. It's the true dream of anyone who was once a teenager with a boy band crush!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a sweet, delightful story! I've been wanting to read Jenny Proctor for a while ever since I started reading some of her fellow authors of the "Appies" and "Sweater Weather" series. This includes some of my new favorite authors Emma St. Clair, Courtney Walsh, and Melanie Jacobson.

So, how much did I enjoy this book? Well, I just ordered "Absolutely Not in Love" and "Romancing the Grump" as well as joining her newsletter.

I loved the main characters, the love story, the snarky dialogue, the cute puppies, and and the satisfying HEA. I also enjoyed the bonus epilogue and am really looking forward to reading about the other band members' love stories in the future.

No profanity and just kissing. Not to sound like a crotchety old lady (well, too late because I am!) but it's so refreshing to read an adult love story without having to navigate a plethora of f-bombs and graphic sex. I'm a hypocrite as I still read authors whose stories include this because I love their writing but it's a real treat to find other authors who embrace the concept of leaving some things to the reader's imagination.

Anyway, I highly recommend this lovely brain candy to anyone who enjoys an adult fairy tale that leaves you smiling at the end.

📚ARC Review 📚

Once Upon a Boyband ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Laney was in love with Deke Driscoll from Midnight Rush when she was a teenager. They were her favorite boy band and she was obsessed with them. While she still listens to them, she’s now a grown woman working as a vet at her father‘s clinic. When the good-looking dog rescue owner, Adam, comes in with a litter of puppies, she’s shocked that he spoke to her this time. Not only that but he took an interest in her by asking what kind of music she likes. When Adam ask her out on a date, Laney is so excited. They instantly hit it off and make a connection. The only problem, Adam is hiding something very important about his past and who he really is. Will Laney be able to handle the surprising news and continue with their relationship?

I absolutely loved this book! It was told in a dual point of view and is a closed door romance with several swoon worthy kisses. It is a fast moving plot, and there are many scenes that will have you laughing out loud, especially Mimi‘s character. The chemistry between Adam and Laney was amazing and how Laney never pushes him, but also stands firm in helping him with this tragic past. The story does have a trigger warning as it involves a death of a parent, but the author handled that with care. I felt the nostalgia of a late 90s/early 2000’s boyband and being a fan girl. I loved how the author described the area this book took place in. Having grown up near the mountains of Western North Carolina, this book brought back so many memories. I absolutely loved the southern dialect and the reference to that of the Appalachian (app-uh-latch-in) Mountains. It just made my heart happy and my twang probably came back while reading this.🤣
I will for sure be reading more from this author!

Overall, this book was just a feel-good, sweet, clean romcom. If you like those, be sure to add this one to your TBR list! This book will release on September 1, 2024. Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing NeGalley Co-op for my advanced reader’s copy this is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I don’t think this book could get any better. Honestly, this is in my Top 10 books of 2024, hands down.

In this novel, we follow Elena (or Laney) who is the ultimate Midnight Rush fan. Laney is a veterinarian and one of her regular clients is a man named Adam who is hiding an important secret - he was a member of Midnight Rush but is now living in hiding. As love blossoms between Adam and Laney so does speculation that Midnight Rush is having a reunion tour. Will the band reunite? Will Adam and Laney make it?

I loved everything about this novel. It started and ended strong with memorable characters, a fast moving plot, and scenes that will have you laughing, gasping, rubbing your hand over your heart and, well you get it. All the feels in this one.

I could relate to Laney in so many ways because my favorite boy band is Big Time Rush (so similar to Midnight Rush I fan girled at the name). When BTR when on their reunion tour I think I screamed so loud my whole town heard. However I was never lucky enough to actually date a member of the band.

Anyhow, I absolutely loved Adam and his dedication to his family, his dog shelter, and Laney. He is the complete gentleman. Laney wasn’t a typical whiny FMC. I loved how she was a Midnight Rush fan but didn’t let that impact her relationship with Adam.

I also wanted to cheer when there wasn’t the cliche third act breakup (I hate those when they seem forced). There was a different decision that was made in the third act, and it was sheer perfection.

I’m a new fan of Jenny Proctor, and I guarantee this won’t be my last novel I read from her.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Jenny Proctor’s books in the Appies series so I was very excited by the little reference in this book. I also love that she writes really cute fluffy romances without spice especially when most adult romances have some spice and without any third act breakups. All the Jenny Proctor book’s I’ve read have been very sweet and this book is no different. Laney and Adam are both animals lovers who are a little awkward with the whole dating thing at first but I loved their interactions. They were adorable and very genuine with each other. The relationship in this book does happen quite quickly but there are a lot of cute scenes with these two and many scenes with include puppies. I loved how supportive Laney was the entire time even with all the surprises she was hit with and how she still went along with it and let him explain. It was so cute that Adam wanted her with him while getting back together with his bandmates, really it’s every girl’s dream to fall in love with your childhood celebrity crush isn't it? This book really is just so sweet and cozy, it's a quick read with minimal angst and makes you feel all warm inside.

As a bi fan of *NSYNC and then an even bigger, weirdly obsessed for a high school teenager fan of One Direction (seriously, we need a reunion tour) this book is every fan girls dream. I wouldn’t call it fan-fic, but it’s definitely an elevated way of reliving every preteens fantasies about her favorite boy band. So much so I finished it in an afternoon.
Laney was in LOVE with Deke from Midnight Rush as a teen. Then she went to college and became a vet and Deke disappeared after leaving the band and no one heard from him for 8 years (suspiciously the same amount of time 1D has been on ‘a break’ lol). When Laney starts to develop a crush on the hot ‘lumberjack’ Adam , a local dog rescuer who brings his puppies in for vet care, they bond over their taste in music. They keep bonding over their shared love of dogs until Adam needs to let her in on his biggest secret.
The story line flows amazingly and is a fun read from start to finish. I only hope there are more stories where we leave more about each boy, especially Freddie and Ivy his assistant.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this story. I can’t wait to see where the series goes.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinion are completely my own.

I thought I would love this book because men who rescue animals are sexy as all get out. Sadly, I found the story a little lacking for my taste. I'm not sure if was a little too slow or predictable, but it was not for me

I really needed this !!
I absolutely loved it
First the dogs so adorable and made my heart melt
This was such a fun happy adorable read Adam and Laney are so prefect for each other
I loved it so much I can’t put into words how amazing it was
I cried I laughed I just loved it I read it in one sitting staying up late as I couldn’t put it down
Was so happy with the ending
Love it love it love it

Laney is funny, smart and pretty, To Adam, former boyband member, the best thing is that she has no idea he was a major pop star. His other members want to recruit him for a one time reunion concert for a charity and he's tempted to say yes...

Love boyband stories! Laney is terrific and Adam is definitely not your average boyband member. Fun story and very romantic.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley & Jenny Proctor Creative for allowing me access to this e-book! Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor will be released on Sep 1st. It's a heartwarming and charming romcom that deals with second chances and self-discovery.
Adam Driscoll, the former boyband star turned recluse, is an endearing hero whose journey back into the spotlight is both touching and relatable. The chemistry between Adam and Laney, the unsuspecting vet, crackles with tension and sweetness, making their slow-burn romance all the more satisfying.
I really appreciated how easy it was to read, I liked the humor and the touch of nostalgia!

I don't know how to describe it
But this was amazing. I literally felt like a fly on the wall ( figuratively speaking of course) to this love story. They were so great together. The chemistry, the genuine love for music from both characters and their vibe was just amazing.


I just finished this and it was so great. 10/10 would read again just because I can. Can't wait to see what you do with the other band members.

El libro es tranquilo, de puertas cerradas y podría verse como lento, entonces si no disfrutas de esto recomiendo que busques otra lectura.

Lo que me encanta de Jenny es que no necesita escribir escenas sexuales (como está de moda ahora) para que su libro sea entretenido.


Laney es una ex midnighter que vivirá el sueño de cualquier fangirl: ser novia de su artista favorito.

Al principio me preguntaba como era posible que no se dieran cuenta que Adam era Deke pero luego se explicó su cambio de apariencia de la pubertad a la adultez, como se veía muy joven a los 18, que su barba y cabello largo le tapaban la cara y que ganó músculo.






Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once Upon A Boy Band: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings: death of a parent due to cancer (off screen), dealing with grief, and regret

Growing up Laney was obsessed with a band, Midnight Rush, specifically Deke. Now as an adult she works as a vet in her dad’s clinic, and still listens to Midnight Rush, never dreaming she would ever meet her teenage crush. Adam turned away from his band, Midnight Rush, and his old stage name, Deke, and settled in to his dog rescue in a small town, and has a crush on his vet Laney Lawson. When he finally works up the courage, with some help from cute puppies and her talkative friend, and vet tech, Petey, to ask her out, it’s everything he ever dreamed. Then out of the blue his old band mates reach out for a reunion tour but Adam isn’t sure he wants to go back into the spotlight. Will he allow himself to be happy with Laney and let himself enjoy singing with his old band, or will he let the hurt from his past hold him back from his future happiness?

This book had me giggling non stop. The chemistry between Adam and Laney is fire, their banter fantastic. I also enjoyed how Laney gives Adam his space when he needs it, but also doesn’t give up on him. Reading this book gave me a greater appreciation for all celebrities, and how rough it can be to get recognized everywhere they go. I absolutely loved Adam’s dog naming convention, it is the absolute cutest thing. And the ending, regarding his mom, ugh I completely ugly cried. You absolutely also need to read the extended epilogue, it is just the cutest thing ever. I give this book all the stars!!

Yet another amazing story from Jenny Proctor, who has perfected the sweet, funny, steamy (but not spicy) romcom. She is 100% an auto buy for me, and always brings relatable characters and realistic conflict to the table (even if those characters are boy band members or movie stars).

Once Upon a Boy Band give us Adam, a dog rescue owner with a past he wants to leave behind and Laney, a small town vet who never would’ve imagined her high school obsession could come full circle, and some big ways. In spite how that sounded, this is absolutely a romcom.

Small thing to call out, but this seems unique to me and I loved it. Both of our leads are introverts, and while they do have to function in an extrovert’s world, they don’t have to change who they are in order to make things work.

-small town
-secret identity
-kind of black cat/black cat
-music as a love language

I literally read this in a day because I couldn’t put it down.

As a big fan of both Jenny Proctor AND boybands, I have been very much looking forward to reading this one... and it absolutely did not disappoint! I absolutely adored Adam and Laney together! Again, being a boyband fan, I couldn't help but imagine how it would feel to be in Laney's shoes--- discovering the man that you've started to fall for... is actually your teenage celebrity crush! And let's just say it wasn't a small crush! That led to some really fun moments that had me laughing out loud. Their chemistry was absolutely fantastic and those kisses... oh, so good! I couldn't help but absolutely fall in love with these two. Not only was their story humorous and fun, but it was also really tender too. Grief and the loss of Adam's mother is a big topic in the book, and there were definitely some moments that had me reaching for the tissues... it was the perfect blend of humor and emotion, and I loved every moment of it. Though I can't elaborate without spoilers, there's a discovery made later in the story that absolutely hit me with ALL the feels and I absolutely LOVED it. As a Jenny Proctor fan, I really enjoyed seeing some familiar characters from previous series make appearances too (though you don't have to have read any others to enjoy this one!)

Once Upon a Boyband is a closed-door romance with kisses only and some minor language.

** I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

If ever there was a book for me it was this one about a former boyband member incognito! What more could I ask for?! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!