Such a beautiful romance that we can all relate to. As someone who fell for Mr Darcy at a young age, I can relate to our heroine who has a book boyfriend. It was nice to see our heroine grow as a person, whilst also seeing the beautiful romance develop. I also really appreciated that the author tied up all the loose ends and gave the perfect HEA. I’d definitely recommend this book to others, but just a note of caution, there are frequent pepperings of expletives, and also open door sex scenes

Book Review: Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka's Book Boyfriend is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that serves as both a heartfelt love letter to fandom culture and a swoon-worthy contemporary love story. With sharp wit, emotional depth, and a deep understanding of what it means to be a fan, this novel captures the magic of connecting over shared passions—and the unexpected spark of romance where you least expect it.

Plot Overview
Jennifer Worth is a devoted fan of Elytheum Courts, a romantasy series that fuels her love for fictional chivalry and swoony romance. Nursing a broken heart and yearning for connection, Jennifer attends an immersive fan convention where she plans to lose herself in the magic of her beloved series.

Her plans hit an unexpected snag when she bumps into Scott Daniels, her infuriating work nemesis, who inexplicably shares her love for the series. To her surprise, Scott, in his second-hand cosplay, is worlds away from the dismissive coworker she knows. Confident and flirtatious, he declares his mission: to transform himself into the ultimate "book boyfriend."

Forced together by convention activities, Jennifer and Scott navigate their clashing personalities and uncover surprising layers to each other. Their journey from adversaries to something more mirrors the sweeping romance of Jennifer’s favorite books, raising the question: can real-life love be as enchanting as fiction?

Tropes and Themes
Enemies-to-Lovers: The foundation of the story is the classic friction between Jennifer and Scott, whose work relationship is filled with barbs and misunderstandings. Their chemistry builds slowly, allowing readers to savor the transition from animosity to affection.
Fandom and Fantasy: The setting of the fan convention is a perfect backdrop for Jennifer’s journey of self-discovery. From costume contests to fan debates, the story celebrates the creativity and camaraderie of fandoms while exploring how they can inspire personal growth.
Hidden Depths: Scott’s transformation into the “perfect book boyfriend” underscores the idea that people are more than the roles we assign them. His vulnerability and effort to understand Jennifer’s world are deeply endearing.
What Works Well
Relatable Protagonists: Jennifer’s deep love for romantasy novels and her yearning for connection will resonate with anyone who’s ever been swept away by a fictional world. Her skepticism about Scott’s intentions and her gradual softening toward him feel authentic and earned.
Scott’s Growth: Scott’s journey from dismissive coworker to someone who genuinely cares about Jennifer’s passions is compelling. His attempts to embody the qualities of a "book boyfriend" while staying true to himself make him a memorable romantic lead.
Immersive Setting: The fan convention comes alive with vivid descriptions and clever details, from costume contests to themed dinners. It’s a celebration of fandom culture that feels vibrant and inclusive.
Humor and Heart: The authors balance laugh-out-loud moments with heartfelt introspection, making the story both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
Themes of Fandom and Connection
The novel dives deep into the power of stories to shape our lives and bring people together. Jennifer’s love for Elytheum Courts isn’t just escapism—it’s a lens through which she navigates her emotions and relationships. Scott’s initial skepticism about her world evolves into genuine appreciation, highlighting how shared passions can bridge divides.

A Few Critiques
Predictability: While the story hits all the right beats, its adherence to familiar romance tropes might make the ending feel a bit predictable for some readers.
Secondary Characters: The supporting cast, while charming, could have been more fleshed out to add depth to Jennifer and Scott’s world.
Final Thoughts
Book Boyfriend is a joyous celebration of fandom, romance, and the messy, beautiful process of connecting with others. Jennifer and Scott’s journey is filled with laughter, tension, and swoony moments that will leave readers smiling.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers or Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, this novel is a must-read for anyone who’s ever dreamed of finding a love story as magical as the ones on their bookshelf.

Rating: 4.5/5
A charming and heartfelt romance that will leave readers believing in the magic of love—and fandom.

This book is a love letter to romantasy, and I truly wanted to love it. Unfortunately it just didn’t work for me, and I had to put it down at the 40% mark. I gave it two solid days of effort, but in the end, I couldn’t push through.

As a huge fan of romantasy and someone who has enjoyed other works by this author duo (The Roughest Draft being one of my all-time favorites) I went in with high hopes. But the FMC’s quirkiness felt overdone and unrealistic, juvenile even. Also, the constant references to the fantasy books were tiresome and disconnected me to the story.

Almost halfway through the book and there wasn’t even an inkling of chemistry between the main characters. In fact, Jennifer’s brief interaction with the actor playing Val, was far more engaging than anything she shared with Scot.

This isn’t a bad book by any means, I’m certain many readers will adore it. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right fit for me

All I want for Christmas is a book themed event like that!

I loved the theme, the program, the community and everything on that campus. I wanted to be there 😭. Jennifer’s new friends were amazing, her roommate was hilarious and the actor playing Val was the cutest and he deserves a HEA.

So the background was great, but the romance itself unfortunately less so. It wasn’t bad, but there was very little magic. The pacing was off, they turned from sworn enemies to lovers in no time and I didn’t exactly understand why. On top of that the reason why they were “enemies” in the first place didn’t score Scott any points either, so, despite the title, he wasn’t a book boyfriend material and I’m docking a star for it.

Also, there is no epilogue! I need it, I need love declarations 😭!

I would love to read about Amelia and her book boyfriend 😏.

Overall still four stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.