*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher; the review is my own.*

I’ve been trying to pull back on the number of books I request through NetGalley because I have so many that I need to read. But after loving Jenny Proctor’s Hawthorne Brothers series, I couldn’t stop myself from requesting this book. It’s not part of the other series, but it does take place only three hours away. And I was not at all sad that a few of the Hawthorne characters make a brief appearance in this book. (Though this book takes place after that series is complete, it’s not necessary to have read it in order to read this book.)

As with the Hawthorne books, this one features characters that are believably written. They struggle, and they face relevant, realistic problems. They’re imperfect, but in the case of Adam (26) and Laney (26), they’re perfect for each other. They have an extremely cute story, and I’m so glad I read it. I love the relationships with family and friends, too.

With a five-for-five book reading record (for me—I haven’t read all her books yet), Jenny Proctor has secured herself on my list of “I’ll read anything you write” authors.

PS: I’m sure someone out there will complain about the timeline of Adam and Laney’s relationship. I am not one of them—I think it was absolutely perfect for the two of them. My husband and I started talking about marriage two weeks after our first date, got engaged less than two months after our first date, and got married 4 1/2 months after that (which was too long!). We’ve been happily married for 19 years . . . so far. Sometimes, you just know.

Note: A little swearing. A gay side character.

A former boy band star who abandoned his fame, Adam finds solace in a quiet mountain town with his dog rescue and a veterinarian named Laney. He’s fallen for her, but his past as a pop star remains a secret. When his former bandmates propose a reunion concert for charity, will reclaiming his music career risk everything he’s built?

This rom com is sweet and a lot of fun. Adam and Laney are swoony, and the book has a warm family feeling.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was everything. Jenny Proctor is my favourite author of 2024 and this book is flippin amazing. I love the connections through this book that tie it into her other series. I don't think I could love Laney anymore, so relatable to my boy band obsessed teen years 😍. Adam was just as enjoyable, I loved reading about his growth throughout the story.

Even though the book was amazing romcom with plenty of giggles, there is some serious grieving /grief moments throughout that make this novel standout from the crowd. It is a must buy must have book, one day I will do a tiny scream of joy when audio is released because oh my goodness it will be amazing.

Can't and won't fault anything, I look forward to the future books in the series like I would the next backstreet boys album in the 1990s 😍 Cannot wait!!

Laney is an introverted, small-town vet with a love of music and a past fangirling over the band Midnight Rush. She's attracted to Adam, who runs a local dog rescue but has never done anything about it. When Laney and Adam bond over their mutual love of music, and Laney gives Adam and his puppies a ride home after he locks his keys in his car, their professional relationship starts becoming personal. What Laney doesn't know is that Adam used to be in her favourite band, and when another band member comes visiting to convince Adam to do a reunion concert, she gets the shock of her life.

Laney is so endearing, right from the start. The book opens with her almost addressing the reader, as an introduction to herself. "I'm so normal. I'm practically boring. Which is why you won't believe that I accidentally fell in love with a popstar." This made the story feel more personal like a friend telling you about their love story. It could take a reader out of the story, but I think it really worked well because it was honest about the fact that an ordinary woman dating her teenage popstar crush sounds like fiction!

I really loved how Laney and Adam both thought about the other's needs above their own. It was beautiful to see their relationship grow. They went from not knowing that they were both interested in each other, to supporting and encouraging each other to be honest with themselves and each other. And Adam particularly needed this. I loved how Laney cared for him so well despite her fangirl past.

But this story is more than just a love story. We get a lot of personal growth and dealing with past grief (death of a parent, gaslighting). I love how lots of things come full circle in this book. I won't say anything more so I avoid spoilers. If you've ever loved a boyband, go read this book!

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for me to review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is my first Jenny Proctor book. I have a few in my Amazon wish list. After reading “Once Upon A Boyband” I regret not reading Jenny’s books before this. I love her writing style. I struggle with the start of books because building the world and characters in the story is just blocks of thought from one character. This book didn’t have this problem. I never lost interest as Laney talked about how much she loved Midnight Rush and Percy and her went back and forth to intro her as a vet and Adam’s character. I was sucked in from the start. Laney’s humor made the character for me. Also I cackled at the “straighter than a Micheal Bay movie” quote Percy made about Adam/Deke as well. I really related to his book because we were all that age once and lusted after a member of a boyband. And this book is the book version of a fanfic when actually got a chance with said boyband member.

To be honest, I’m not usually a fan of the celebrity romance trope, but this one FAR exceeded my expectations! Very easy to read and I loved the dynamic of Adam and Laney’s relationship. I am very excited to see where this series goes next!

I really liked this book. I liked Laney and Adam. They were genuinely nice people.
I loved the references to music and bands I like books with both.
It was a good storyline and Adam had turned his back on the boyband he was with when he lost his mother to cancer leaving him and his sister.
He had opened a dog rescue and then was asked to consider a reunion.
I also liked Percy he was really funny and Ringo and the other dogs were great.
I. hope the author might turn this into a series following other characters too.
An enjoyable easy read.
Boybands, Music, dogs and romance what's not to like. Did I mention dogs?
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley

I did liked the book it was short simple no spice but still enjoyable.. I loved meeting Laney and Adam or Deke, one of the members of a boyband who actually left everything behind due some personal situations.. Some of the topics are a bit heavy but not too much intense, just more personal struggles and we all have that. I won't spoiler much but it was definitly funny

This was such a fun, quick romance read. I loved following Laney and Adam in this story. As a former boyband fan, this was a fun concept to read about and I loved the secret identity trope.

This story is about Laney, a veterinarian who grew up with a crush on Deke, a member of a famous boyband. He left the group and never looked back, until his former bandmates reached out wanting to do a reunion concert. Agreeing to the one time concert could mean losing the life he’s created for himself and outing himself to Laney in the process.

Read thing you like:
🎤 Dual POV
🎤 Boybands
🎤 Fake Dating
🎤 Closed door romance

This was such a feel good read that’s sure to leave you smiling.

Thank you Jenny Proctor and NetGalley for the review copy.

Oh my gosh, Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor was absolutely adorable! As a former—and let’s be honest, current—boyband fangirl, I was immediately drawn to this book just from the title. The story begins as a charming small-town romance with Laney, a veterinarian with a soft spot for Adam, a handsome new neighbor. But the real twist comes when it’s revealed that Adam is actually a former member of a boyband, and Laney, as a teen, had a major crush on him.

The book is a delightful blend of nostalgia and romance, featuring puppies, a sweet and relatable heroine, and a swoon-worthy hero. For anyone who ever had a boyband crush, this story is a heartwarming fantasy come true. My fellow former boyband fanatics will adore this book just as much as I did. It’s a perfect mix of love, laughter, and a bit of celebrity magic.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Proctor, and Jenny Proctor Creative for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This one’s a must-read for anyone who dreams of a real-life romance with their favorite boyband member!

Just when I think she can't write a more perfect book... Jenny Proctor goes and writes another perfect book! Once Upon a Boyband was everything my 90s boyband-loving self hoped it would be and more. The characters were SO well done - Laney and Adam were such a delightful pair, and the rest of the characters have me really excited for the rest of this series. The love story was beautifully written and had me sobbing happy tears more than once. And perhaps best of all, the tie-ins to the Hawthorne brothers and Appies series were flawlessly executed. I highly, highly recommend this book from one of my very favorite must-read authors!

Thank you to the author for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions (and fangirling) are my own :)

This book was a great surprise for me-zero spice (which isn’t usually my preference but it really worked here) and all heart!

If you were ever a tween who loved a boy band this book should make it onto your TBR. Come for the adorable boy band fan dream but stay for a genuinely touching exploration of grief and trust plus lots of foot kicking romantic moments. (They bond over naming puppies for the love 😍)

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley to the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went in not knowing what to expect, and this book started off so strong. In the first few chapters, the banter, the dual narration, the way the protagonists finally put themselves out there--it was all delightful. I was fully bought into the early stages of their love story, which felt so realistic in how natural it feels when you meet someone you just click with.

As the plot twisted around Ch10, the book I thought I was reading morphed into something unexpected. At first, it was fun, but I soon realized this was 90% a book about Adam, his past, and reconciling his unresolved trauma with his future ambition. Laney plays an important role in that, but we ultimately learn very little about her. As the focus shifted toward Adam, their dynamic crept uncomfortably close to instalove (for my taste), and their HEA is basically her promising she's along for whatever he decides he wants to do. Personally, I like a little more balance in my romances.

All in all, I thought this was a fun idea and the writing kept me engaged; the execution just wasn't for me this time around. I'll definitely check out more of Jenny Proctor's work, and would absolutely read a sequel in this universe/with these characters.

Just a perfect love story!!
I love it, because I used to have a crush on a Backstreet boys member and this book it gave me a story I could have imagined.

If you loved '90s and '00s boybands, closed door romances, dogs and fake dating... This is the book for you! Such a cute book about Adam, a former boyband star who tries living on the down low with a secret identity, and Laney, a girl who used to have posters hanging above her bed from said artist. Loved following their stories in dual-POV, it really adds to the story. I also loved the way the author tackled grief in this book, without making it too heavy.
And the dogs!!

4 ⭐️

This book is for my fellow fangirls. It's silly, fun, heartwarming, emotional, and although a bit unrealistic, I was eating up every page. There is lots of talk of grief and losing a parent to cancer, which adds a lot of emotion to the story. I was flying through this book without even realizing it. I also loved all of our additional characters. My fingers are crossed that Freddie and Ivy have a book. 👀🤞🏼 If you're looking for a cute but heartfelt, no spice romance I highly recommend.


thank you netgalley for the arc 💓

Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor is a swoony romance book. Music, boybands, animal rescue, pets, all come together to make a sweet romantic book. I also loved the the lessons on healing, dealing with grief and building trust in relationships. Such a lovely and clean romance with no explicit scenes. Thank you, Netgalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for giving me this book in exchange for my honest feedback

The title and cover of this book sucked me in, but the characters and their story kept me reading. I loved the banter between Adam and Laney, and the relationships we see with the side characters as well. I found the FMC relatable and likeable, and who doesn't like a book with dogs in it?! There are many moments that were emotionally heavy to read, but the author still managed to infuse humor (like had me audibly laughing) and lightheartedness throughout. Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

Such a fun story! If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It was swooney love story without the angst and miscommunications that drive me crazy in romance books. I loved the main characters, and it was fun to see characters from some of her other novels make an appearance. I would like to read Freddie’s story next please, Ms Proctor! Write on!!

If you ever loved a boyband and dreamed of finding your happily ever after with a member of the band then this book is for you!

I absolutely loved this book, from start to finish and wholeheartedly recommend it!

The pacing is perfect. We don't have to wait too long to get to key moments but they don't feel rushed either.

What I loved most about the book? Laney and Adam communicate. Yes! They talk through how they're feeling and what they are thinking to build their relationship. Yes, there are difficult moments but they're set up earlier the story and aren't totally unexpected when they show up.

While this is not a spicy book, there is so much heat between Laney and Adam! It makes it the perfect book for anyone who loves both open and closed door romance books.

This isn't a completely lighthearted book. It's important to know that this book deals with death of a family member, guilt and how grief shows up in everyday life.