I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Normally I am not much of a fan for boy bands but this book was definitely interesting. A vet and a boy band member in disguise form a relationship with a secret between them.

Deke certainly has grief to process and Laney struggles with how he deals with his grief. Can she help him, will his secret keep them apart or will they find a way to work through it?

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was the cutest book I've ever read. I was so captivated by this story I read it in one sitting and stayed up till 2 a.m.. I am obsessed with Adam and Laney. I loved their relationship and the conflict with the plot was so normal even with the abnormal circumstances. The characters were so down to earth and fun. There are definitely some heavy topics in the book, but I think they are handled so well and with a lot of grace.
Also there were so many puppies in this book so it had to be amazing. I've already talked a couple friends into reading it and it's gonna be a fave for a while.

Eight years ago, Adam Driscoll walked away from his stage name—Deke—and the boyband that turned him into an international star before his eighteenth birthday.
And he never looked back.
It didn’t even matter that everyone blamed him for the band’s breakup. He might miss making music, but he had good reasons for walking. Give him solitude over thousands of screaming fans any day of the week.
These days, the only company he’s truly interested in is that of the vet who works closely with his dog rescue—Dr. Laney Lawson. She’s brilliant, funny, beautiful, and best of all, she has no idea he used to be a pop star.
But then Adam’s bandmates reach out about a one-time reunion concert benefiting a charity that’s close to his heart, and he starts to wonder if some things are worth a little extra attention. He loves the idea of singing again, but saying yes would out him to the small mountain community that has become his refuge. Worse, it would out him to Laney.
But old hurts can’t stay buried forever. And something tells Adam that scary or not, saying yes is the decision he needs to make. He just has to hope he doesn’t lose the life—or the woman—he loves in the process.

Laney goes from being a fangirl of a boyband to kissing her favourite member without even knowing. This story is for dog lovers, boyband lovers and small-town fans. We get all the good stuff, from puppies, to music, to love. No miscommunication between the love interest, just a simple romance story that will keep you up at night.

I read this amazing romance in one sitting at 2am, so it must be good. It was perfect amount of everything. The pacing was fast but not rushed, the writing style gave us enough dialogue as well as inner-monologue, as well as some mix-media, with texts.

The characters are lovable, you are rooting for them just as much as the people around them. They feel real, with human emotions, which brings out our own emotions while reading this.

The ending is a nice happy ending like you expect but something about it is so sweet and makes me believe in love just slightly more.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good read.

[ARC Netgally – Jenny Proctor Creative - comes out on Sep 1 2024 ]

I’m not really a “boy band” girl, but this book was AWESOME.

Usually, the first book in a series is a bit of a struggle to get through, because it has to introduce all of the new characters and set the scene, but Adam and Laney’s story was a glaring exception to that. From the very first page, the story just took off, and it never stopped pulling me in, and now I can’t wait to read the rest of them!

Highlights include:
*Vet Assistant Percy – he’s actually my favorite character in the book. So many LOL moments!!
*Toe curling kisses
*Choreography moments that take me back to my childhood
*Fake engagement
*Shared bed (keeps it firmly closed door, though)
*Reconnecting with the Hawthorne family from the How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother series
*Puppies!!

There were some serious themes as well, especially regarding Adam’s grief journey after the loss of his mom to cancer. The overall theme trends toward hopeful and sweet, though, and there is a lovely, happy ending that will absolutely touch your heart. I highly recommend this book!!

Once Upon A Boy Band By Jenny Proctor is such a fun read! Laney is a vet who has a crush on the head of a local animal rescue, Adam. Little does she know that he was Deke, her favorite member of her favorite boy-band. They start dating as Adam reconciles his past with his future.

So this book accomplishes what Lana Ferguson tried to do in The Game Changer; a woman gets a chance to date her childhood crush. In this book, the woman is an adult woman, who has moved on from her adolescent fantasies and falls for Adam, despite who he was. She is embarrassed at some of her teenage fandom and pays more attention to who Adam is than who he was. She mets and gets to know who he is letting go of the fantasy. This book is very reminiscent of the Sarah Adams When In Rome series, so if you are a fan of that, scoop this up immediately!

It was easy to fall for both Adam and Laney. I loved that Laney was so in tune with her feelings and she was the strong one who was able to wait for Adam to grow. There were fun supporting characters in this and no weird 3rd act misunderstanding. It was an organic 3rd act reckoning for Adam to let go of his thoughts from childhood and explore new meaning in his life. His relationship was not part of it! I would be excited if this is the start of a series about the different band members- let's have a Freddie/Ivy match first!

I liked Jenny Proctor's contribution to the Appies/Sweater Weather series on KU. Her writing is cozy, her characters are realistic, if a little sepia toned. Grab a mug of hot chocolate or hot cider and read this cozy romance! Thanks to Jenny Proctor Creative and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once Upon a Boyband is sweet and cute and cheesy and just what I needed! This was my first Jenny Proctor book and it gave me strong Sarah Adams vibes, which I loved. It was fun and low conflict, and just a nice easy read. All the characters were lovable, and I couldn’t put it down until everything was wrapped up nicely and happily for everyone. As a big One Direction fan back in the day, I could totally picture the boy band dynamics, too, which was really fun to imagine!

Thanks to NetGalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for the ARC of this book!

Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor was the sweetest story.
I found this book to be very well written. Being a big time Proctor fan I was not disappointed by this one.
I loved everything about this book. It kept me up late, desperate to read more about Laney and Adam.
This light-hearted read was sweet and oh so cute.
Jenny Proctor is an automatic read for me. Her books are always entertaining, so enjoyable, and all round amazing! Highly recommended!

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was an amazing, sweet romance read. I loved following Laney and Adam and their dual povs throughout the book. This was such a feel good read that had me smiling throughout and it even had me laughing a few times. I highly recommend picking this one up if you are looking for a good closed-door romantic comedy.

Read this if you like:

📖 Boybands
📖 Dogs
📖 Fake Dating
📖 Closed-Door Romance

Thank you to Jenny Proctor and NetGalley for the review copy.

Jenny Proctor never disappoints! She’s one of my go to authors for funny, light hearted romcoms. Add in a former boy band star and puppies? Yes please!

Dr. Laney Lawson is a small-town veterinarian. Laney is a music lover and is sharing her love of music with bearded, handsome dog rescuer, Adam Driscol. Adam “Deke” Driscoll walked away from the boyband Midnight Rush eight years ago after the death of his mother, causing the band to break up. The years have changed Adam's appearance and even though Laney was a fan, she has no idea the Adam was a part of Midnight Rush. When his former bandmates contact him about a one-time reunion concert which will benefit a charity he supports, Adam wonders if it’s worth losing his anonymity.

This book will give you all of the feels! I must admit that I really hope it becomes a series and we get to find out what happens to the rest of the band. I give it a strong 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Once Upon a Boyband is Jenny Proctor‘s newest closed-door romantic comedy. It can be read as a stand-alone but is connected to her Hawthorne Brothers series.

Dr. Laney Lawson is a music-loving, small-town veterinarian. When she was a teenager, she had a huge crush on Deke, a member of the boyband Midnight Rush. Now she has developed a friendship with a handsome dog rescuer, Adam Driscoll, who has a bushy beard and wears flannel.

Adam “Deke” Driscoll walked away from pop phenomenon Midnight Rush eight years ago, causing the band to break up. He much prefers the solitude of the mountains to thousands of screaming female fans. He’s romantically interested in his local vet, and thankful that she has no idea of his former fame and career. When his former bandmates contact him about a one-time reunion concert which will benefit a charity he supports, Adam wonders if it’s worth losing his anonymity.

Readers of closed-door romances will adore Once Upon a Boyband. This original storyline feels like The Backstreet Boys were dropped into a Hallmark movie. The author writes excellent stories with well-developed characters and plotlines, but contain no profanity or sex scenes. Readers will identify with Laney and her teen-age adoration of talented Deke, while also understanding Adam’s decision to live a low-key life. Readers know that the author will give us a happy ending, so we just have to enjoy the journey there. The cameos from characters in her Hawthorne Brothers series added to the enjoyment of this book.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book had me hooked right from the start. When Laney spoke directly to the audience to set up the story, I was ready to hear it. I loved the entire premise of the book and I absolutely loved the chemistry between Laney and Adam. There was a short time in the middle that I started to get bored, but it didn’t last long before it found it’s way back. The best was the connection to his mom that was formed! This was a great read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I am a HUGE fan of Jenny Proctor and I knew I was going to adore this one. Like this made my inner child very happy. I’ll never stop reading Jenny’s books. Can’t wait for more!

Pretty enjoyable read but with a lot of flaws. I understand there were some liberties taken but honestly if Laney was such a huge fan of Deke’s surely she would have recognized him even with a beard. His voice or movements? Just seemed far fetched especially when she remembered every other odd detail about him including his full name. But overall it was an okay read. No spicy parts just lots of kissing and nice sentiments.

Boyband lovers UNITE!!! Oh I love a good reunion, and this was so good. Their meet cute, the confessions, the swoon moments- all done so well! Jenny went above and beyond this time: all the feels, all the swoons, the kisses.

I could do without the rescue because I'm scared of dogs. But I loved everything, especially the Easter eggs from her previous series. I do think Rosie's room reveal was better! 🫣

"Once Upon a Boyband" by Jenny Proctor was the story of every teenage girls dream!! When teenage Laney was a fan of Midnight Rush with a massive crush on boybander Deke. Fast forward to adult vet Laney who happens to meet animal rescue Adam. Little does Laney know she is about to live every teenager with a crush on a boybander. After all if the famous pop star could only get to know you of course he would fall madly in love with you!!!❤
#OnceUponaBoyband
#NetGalley

💫THANK YOU to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!!

I had never read a book of Jenny's previously and after reading this one, I immediately regret that! I have forever been a boy band girlie so knew this was going to be the perfect read for me and I couldn't have been more correct - I absolutely devoured this book in the space of 24 hours, I consumed every chapter as if I never wanted the book to end and really, I didn't want the book to end! This was a really fun romance with a concept I had never come across before and I just loved it;. I adored Adam's story and it was fun seeing the Midnight Rush reunion develop through the pages (made me crave that 1D one we're all still waiting for) and I loved Laney - it was the perfect small town romance and possible one of, if not my definite favourite book of the year so far!

I usually don’t read closed door romances but I thought the plot of this sounded super cute! Who wouldn’t want a chance to fall in love with their fav teenage pop star?! This was cute and a quick read. A little cheesy but sometimes that’s just what a romance reader needs!

I was a boyband girl, Big Time Rush and One Direction were my favorites growing up. BTR won by a LONG shot for me!!

But I also LOVE New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys (saw them in concert a few years ago and it brought me a lot of joy!)

I haven’t read or seen this trope before in a book so when I saw this available on @netgalley a few days ago I knew I had to ask for it.

The boyband in the book is called Midnight Rush, so naturally I compared the four fictional members to real life BTR members and it was seriously everything middle school and high school Sydney needed!

The Midnight Rush boys have since gone their separate ways since being a band in their teens and have gone grown up. One has gone off on a solo career, one is now raising a family, one is now a music producer in Nashville, and Adam (the MMC) is rescuing puppies from puppy mills. Seriously swoon!

Laney is a veterinarian who is a huge fan of Midnight Rush. Little does she know the Deke she used to swoony up at during concerts is the sweet Adam she swoons over while treating his rescuers.

Thank you Jenny Proctor for the eARC.
#secretidentity
#smalltownromance
Every girl dreams about meeting her celebrity crush. Falling in love with them (twice) is a true fantasy.
When veterinarian, Dr. Laney Lawson, meets lumberjack dog rescue owner, Adam Driscoll, she has no idea her crush will take her on a wild ride her 16-year-old heart would envy.
Great start to the series with cameos from Jenny's other books. I am looking forward to reading more about this world.
Overall, great read. 4/5 stars.