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.

The first book in a new series but also has a tie-in to the Hawthornes! Former boy band member, Adam, retired to the county to rescue dogs. He wants no part of his previous life. Laney is the local vet who doesn’t realize Adam is the singer she loved when she was a teenager.

Great chemistry between these characters. Secondary characters were amazing as well. Loved the setting and the animal rescue storyline.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Once Upon a Boy Band is out now so check it out!

This story is every fangirl’s dream!

The sheer joy, delusion and obsession that comes with the nature of being a fangirl is what makes this type of story so much fun to read. As a fangirl, this book was a nostalgic reminder of the enjoyment that comes from reading fanfiction.

The fangirl isn’t a new phenomenon so I believe anyone, any age who can relate will enjoy this novel in their own way.

Did I find myself at times kicking my legs and giggling at Laney and Adam’s relationship? Yes. Am I now fully invested and wishing Midnight Rush was a real band with a reunion tour on the calendar? Also yes!

Whilst certain stronger themes weren’t thoroughly explored, I enjoyed every character and couldn’t put this book down. Small town romance is one of my preferred tropes and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.

ARC via NetGalley

Laney was obsessed with the boy band Midnight Rush when she was a teen. But they broke up when her favorite member, Deke, left the band and seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth. Now she's all grown up and working as a veterinarian in her small, remote town. One of her clients, Adam, runs a dog rescue nearby, he's so handsome, and he loves music as much as Laney does. When they finally spend some time together, it seems meant to be, if not too good to be true. She feels like Adam is hiding something from her, but what? Soon she finds out Adam was Deke Driscoll from Midnight Rush, all grown up! He's being pressured to perform in a reunions concert. But he left his alter ego and that life behind long ago. Can they convince him to give it another try? Can he be both Adam and Deke?

As a card carrying, boy band loving Millennial, this story spoke to my childhood fantasies. Who among us hadn't dreamed of meeting one of those celebrity crushes and falling in love? Not to mention the embarrassing posters and journal entries.

The story is much like an elevated One Direction Fan Fic meets a Hallmark movie. It's sweet, closed door, with only a few kisses, but it's a cute story. I fell a little in love with the bearded, dog loving, mountain man with intense blue eyes myself!

This book is for people who want a sweet, closed door rom com with no spice and lots of boy band nostalgia (and puppies!)

4⭐ No🌶️

I read an advanced copy of this book, and these are my honest opinions.

⭐ - 4/5 - ⭐

Thank you #netgalley and #jennyproctorcreative for the ARC of this book!

✦ Small town romance
✦ Rockstar romance
✦ Dual POV
✦ Romantic Comedy

⚠️ - Loss, grief
🌶️ - .5/5 (lots of kissing)
💕 - 5/5
👥 - 3/5
🌎 - 3.5/5
🗡️ - N/A
💀 - N/A


𝙾𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠:
Laney is a veterinarian in a small town. One day, Adam, a burly, bearded, flannel wearing dog lover comes in and the sparks fly. However, he's keeping a secret that might ruin what semblance of peace they have both come to love.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
● Small town, cozy vibes
● SO MANY PUPPIES
● Laugh out loud moments

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
● The whole book read super fast. Which is kind of good, but the fact that pacing and plot lines were affected by it, made it a little annoying.


If you're looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, small town turned rockstar romance, this is the book for you. While the spice isn't spicy, the romance is unbelievably sweet. This book made me feel like I was snuggled up in a cozy chair with a cup of hot chocolate. I don't quite understand what that means, but there are also lots and lots of puppies!

Once upon a time she used to sleep with his poster beside her bed. Now they’re all grown up and he’s walking around in her veterinary practice and she doesn’t have a clue. They go on a date, hang out and one day his bandmate shows up out of the blue. Adam blames himself for the band breaking up and has tried to stay out of the limelight ever since. He’s happy now, the nonprofit dog rescue and Laney is his future. He can’t go back to making music right. Not even when his old band mates want to do a reunion show.

This was a more emotional read than I’d expected. Adam went thru a lot at such a young age. As if dealing with the game and all that comes with that he also lost his mother to cancer while being out on a world tour. He still blames himself for not being around which is absolutely heartbreaking. I appreciate the trigger warning in the beginning of the book. The topic is handled with a lot of care but is still devastating. But it’s balanced out with lots of lighter scenes with sizzling kisses, sweet rescue dogs and band practice.

The characters are incredible, so likable and real. I also really enjoyed the recurring characters from previous books, dual pov and spice level. This is what I want when it comes to closed door romance!

I love Jenny Proctor, I’ve read most of her books and hopefully there will be more boyband books coming in the future because they’re an interesting bunch.

Read this if you like
💙Closed door romcoms
💍Fake fiancé
🎤Boybands
🐶Dogs
😭Emotional reads

I was a boyband kid growing up and this book was everything I needed! Boybands, puppies and comedy!

Laney and Adam are perfect, I love the relationship between Percy and Laney too. Mimi is the GOAT of this book though, so I’m hoping she gets her own novella!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Just when I think I’ve read every possible plot, a new one surprises me. Imagine being the world's biggest fangirl for the world’s biggest boyband as a teenager, only to fall in love with your favourite member later on in life.

The Directioners would love this book. Laney is a small town vet who left her fangirl days back in her hometown. However, when the very attractive Adam, owner of the local non-profit dog rescue shows an interest in her, she’s immediately head over heels.

After initially bonding over their love for music, Laney accidentally lets slip that she is a massive Midnight Rush fan, and as Adam, previously known as Deke, a member of the beloved band he left behind in his teenage years, is faced with the decision between telling her the truth or living in ignorant bliss.

However, as the potential for a reunion comes around, Laney finds out the big news and has to navigate her new relationship with Adam, knowing he was her high-school crush.

This small town romance was such a quick and easy read. I read it in one sitting, eager to find out what the result would be. Adam and his complicated feelings for his past become more difficult to juggle once Laney becomes part of the equation. But their story is both beautiful and fast-paced. It’s hard not to fall in love with both of the main characters, and the regular appearance of adorable dogs throughout definitely helps.

Mental health, grief, and the cost of fame are both heavy topics throughout that are done really well by Proctor. Although certain aspects of the plot are not realistic (such as growing up to fall in love with your favourite member of your favourite boyband), the feelings and guilt that are represented are relatable.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fast-paced romance with heartwarming scenes, adorable dogs and an element of fake dating… Or is it fake engagement?

Thank you NetGalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for the ARC in return for an honest review!

Jenny Proctor is a master of writing low spice 🫑 closed door romance and this story was pure perfection!

Laney is a vet in a small town who has no idea that the handsome bearded client with new puppies is actually the boyband crush of her childhood. Adam is enjoying living a quiet life out at his dog rescue ranch without any of the fame of his teenage years until his past catches up with him for a charity concert opportunity.

I loved Laney and Adam’s chemistry. I love that right from the beginning they were upfront in their communication and interest in each other. They grew a friendship with laughter and tender moments.

I loved that we spent time with the dog rescue ranch and we got a taste of the music industry. It made for a really entertaining journey!

Adam is still working through the grief of losing his mom. There’s a point towards the end of the story that was so heartfelt and tender, I cried like a baby.

Other fun moments:
Puppies
Fake fiancé
He sings to her
One room
One bed
Appies gear makes an appearance!

Romance Content: low spice - Just the best kissing!

This series looks like so much fun and I was excited to get my hands on the first book. Once Upon a Boyband is the first book in Jenny Proctor’s new series. This concept sounded so fun and oh my goodness, it was the perfect start.
Adam had me from the beginning. I really felt for him as he tried to figure out his life. He was so sweet but life had not always been kind to him. I loved getting to know him and seeing him opening himself up to Laney. Adam had to learn to let go of his guilt and look towards the future.
Laney was also fun! I love how she was herself. She was kind of awkward but kind. It was so much fun to see her getting to know Adam and the other guys. She was a total fan.
The romance between Laney and Adam was sweet. They both fell fast but there were a lot of obstacles that stood in their way. I liked how they tried to communicate with each other and stand by each other. I was rooting for Adam and Laney as they worked to overcome the difficulties that stood before them.
I would totally recommend Once Upon a Boyband! The characters were relatable and the story was engaging. The other guys in the band were so much fun and I am so excited for them to get their own books. Once Upon a Boyband is a closed door romantic comedy. It is fun but there are some more series moments too.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

This book was incredibly cute! I grew up loving boybands, so this hit so many marks for me. Laney was definitely living the dream getting to be with Adam. There were definitely heavy scenes dealing with Adam’s grief over his mother’s death though that were handled very nicely.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Once I read the summary, I knew I needed to read this book. It was incredibly swoony. I found Laney and Adam's relationship to be really well written, I was really invested in this story. I found the characters to be engaging and I cared about them, I wanted to see them grow and figure out how their relationship was going to work out. I also thought this book was pretty fun. The banter between characters was enjoyable and made me laugh. Overall, I found this to be a quick read and fun romance novel! I'll for sure be recommending this one once it's out!

I absolutely love the premise of this book and was hooked by the time I finished the prologue.

This novel is about a girl who falls in love (re: obsession) with the boy from her favourite popular boy band as a teen, then she grows up into a regular boring adult. She still loves the music but can appreciate the nostalgia and affection for what it was - a brief moment in time. That is until she unknowingly crosses paths with that same boy - now man - as an adult, and slowly begins to fall for him all over again before being made aware of who he is.

This was absolutely adorable. I was mentally kicking my legs and squealing like a teenage girl by the time I finished chapter 4. The chemistry, banter, and internal monologues were so genuinely entertaining that I burned through this book in one sitting. I loved the wholesome setup of her being a veterinarian, and him running a dog rescue and finding their mutual love and obsession over music. The lack of a third-act breakup, but more of a third-act growth, was satisfying in a way I didn't expect. Seeing characters talk about grief, boundaries, counseling, and forgiveness, and doing so in a way that is serious but doesn't affect the overall joy and spirit of the book was beautiful.

I spent time laughing over the banter and relatability while having my heart clench over the knowledge of a teen boy stuck in an impossible situation and losing one of the most important people to him.

The side characters were intriguing all on their own, and with small tugs on Freddie and his assistant, Jace and his marriage, as well as Leo and his production company, I'm hoping the author chooses to turn this into a quartet of the band itself by diving into those characters as well.

Overall, I adored this book, even with the very closed-door romance, and I'll continue to read more from this author moving forward!

I am a huge Jenny Proctor fan, and this book was just as amazing as her others. You get the small town romance with a boy band twist. It is the book of our high school dreams. This is such a cute romance and a clean read for all. Loved this book!

Thank you @netgalley for an arc of Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor

A new series about the singers of boyband from Jenny Proctor . Laney is a vet working with her father and she is flirting with the handsome Adam the owner of the dog rescue . Adam used to be a member of the boyband Midnight Rush and eight years ago he was the one who make the band to breakup . Then his stage name was Deke and Laney was in love with him , now that he has gain weight ang few inches and grow a beard and he doesn't look like as a 18 old teenage boy . When Fredie on of his former bandmates ask him to join the band one-time reunion concert benefiting a charity for breast cancer he is in conflict . At first he agrees but when their agent tells them that they have to make public appearances and three concerts he heaves again . He always felt guilty for but been with his mother when she needed him the most and now he feels like he betrays her by been happy while singing . Will Laney make him understantd that he had always made his mother proud and he can both achieve his dreams ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

As a teenager who was OBSESSED with boybands, this was like my dream come true in book form. So good. So well written. It was the perfect pace, I found the romance sweet and tender, the trauma was very real and heartbreaking. Plus, I am a sucker for musician romances and this one got me in my feels. This is not a spicy book and it felt like a breath of fresh air and made my inner teenager come out. lol

This book is what my teenage dreams were/are made of. Laney is a vet who works closely with Adam, the owner of a dog rescue. The thing is that Adam is actually Deke from her favorite boy band Midnight Rush who chose to walk away (and break up the band) years ago. He looks different these days, so she doesn't immediately recognize him, but y'all, Y'ALL, this is like fan fiction come true. His secret is safe at first, but when Midnight Rush reunion talks heat up, the secret comes out. This was just a delight of a read for that boy band loving girl I'll always be, and I loved the twists and turns of this one. It was just such a great read of feels and fun. Also, for the record, this made me want a *NSYNC reunion even more. . . Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this September 2024 release!

4.5 stars!

Gosh, this book was like a warm hug in novel form! Part love-letter to boyband fandom, part rom-com, the story sees vet and sometime Midnight Rush fan Laney take a leap and act on her longtime crush on dog rescue owner Adam. After months of assuming the other was uninterested, an overheard conversation kickstarts their relationship as they discover a shared love of music (and puppies) and an abiding sense of belonging in one another. Except Adam has a secret: he was once 'Deke' Driscoll, Laney's favourite band member and the one who walked away from the group after a personal tragedy, ending things and choosing a life away from the spotlight. Adam is determined to guard his anonymity, and has no intention of taking part in a reunion concert. But when his erstwhile best friend and bandmate, Freddie, shows up on his doorstep, all bets are off...

As is typical with Proctor's books, the spice level is low but there's zero sense that anything is lacking, because the emotional stakes are high and the relationship between the MCs is plenty complex. Both Laney and Adam have somewhat pigeonholed themselves, both romantically and professionally, so their story is one of finding the courage and faith - in themselves and each other - to make the changes they need in order to find their HEA. Adam in particular is trapped by grief and guilt, so to see him work through it is so heartening. Having isolated himself, you're really rooting for him to reconcile with his bandmates and let go and allow himself to be happy with Laney.

Beyond the central romance, there was a whole cast of great characters, from Laney's bestie Percy (and his grandma, Mimi) to the Adam's sister, Sarah, and the other members of Midnight Rush. I wasn't sure until the end whether this was a standalone or the start of a new series: the worldbuilding was subtle, and the author did an excellent job of seeding potential future stories without ever pulling focus from the story at hand, which can sometimes be a tricky balancing act. But it seems like there might be more stories from the other bandmates, and I'm super happy about this!

While I was only really a casual fan of boybands as a teen rather than a superfan, I've been in other fandoms, and Proctor totally nails the sense of community and belonging that you can find within fandom, and how important this can be when you're in a place where you lack those things in 'real life'. Laney's history as a Midnighter was the perfect mix of cute, slightly cringey, and full of pathos, and I loved that her fandom history and the relationships she built there weren't solely played for comic relief but were ultimately given genuine gravity and importance in the plot.

I have read and loved Jenny Proctor's Appies books and Hawthorne brothers series, so I was delighted to see a new book in the same universe. There are several nice little references and cameos to the wider 'verse, but nothing that would prevent a new reader from enjoying this. In fact, it's a perfect jumping-on point!

3.5 rounded up to a 4

Laney is living almost every fangirl's dream. It was less cringe-y than I imagined the plot could be. Laney is a huge fan of Adam's band, Midnight Rush, but she still has her own personality and likes Adam for who he is, not just his band persona as Deke. I liked how her history and love for the band eventually comes full circle in the end. Adam and Laney's relationship is very sweet - Laney knows and understands what Adam needs to process his grief and emotions without being clingy, and I thought their relationship was portrayed very realistically. Although I wasn't a fan of how fast their relationship went. For example, they weren't even officially dating before Laney states that she is almost in love with Adam.

This was overall a very heartwarming book and it balances the giddiness of being with your celeb crush and realistic relationship expectations very well. It also looks like the rest of the band is getting their own books as well (from the end of the bonus epilogue!), and I can't wait to read those as well.

Thank you to Jenny Proctor and NetGalley for the ARC!