3.50/5 ⭐️

I really liked this book but I DNFed it. I thought the characters were super cute and the story was adorable but I felt like it dragged on. It was a super cute story but once they got together it got kind of boring. I think it could’ve been a 250-270 page book. The ending felt kind of repetitive.

Thank you kindly for the advanced reader copy of the book.

I found it to be an immensely enjoyable and engaging read. The execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope was particularly commendable, as it is not always handled effectively in many narratives, but it was executed to perfection in this instance. The novel provides a delightful blend of light-hearted romance and comedy, whilst also sensitively addressing more serious themes such as anxiety, dementia, and fears of abandonment.

Overall, the book was heartwarming and delivered a thoroughly enjoyable romcom experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a well-rounded read.

This book follows Jess and Gabe. We find Jess struggling to reconcile her feelings of anxiety from being a successful writer after her first novel went viral. During a book promo she encounters Gabe, who is a teen star of a show, and he kisses her on the escalator and they begin a semi-fake relationship for a few days. However, Gabe has his issues dealing with family and having a public life. They connect but having so many family baggage take a toll on them. Eventually, they have to deal with their problems and see if they can come back together. I loved this story so much. They were super cute and Gabe was so kind. Jess was in her head so much but she was honest when she needed to be. I enjoyed them and the back stories were done well. I feel like young teens will like the little bit of angst and their connection. A true teen story without needed to have so much darkness. Also, things happen rather quickly and without much build-up. Despite this being a cute little teen love story, there is more depth to this story I just did not want to give spoilers. This book shows that not everything has to be extreme drama with drugs and violence to be enjoyable.

***Thanks to #NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the free digital copy.

#TheAccidentalBoyfriend

i picked this up only because i love Better Than the Movies and that is why i was sold at the blurb. while this was a fun one-time read, it didn’t fully hit the same way.
the fake dating trope? absolutely loved it! but i felt like the story itself was a bit predictable—still, a cute and easy read for rom-com fans!

Thank you Net Galley for providing an ARC for an honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

This was such a sweet and surprisingly deep YA romance. I love that there was a great balance between the romantic comedy aspect and the trauma that the two main characters were experiencing. I was so invested in the back story of the two mothers and related to both of their stories so much so that I ended up shedding some tears near the end of the book.

My favorite scene was with the bidet....it almost took me out.

If you like YA romance that's silly but has serious undertones this book is most definitely for you.

knocked down 1.25 stars because I did find some of the dialogue to be a little cringy especially the eminem obsession.

AMAZINGGGG!!!!!!! This book was very well written and I loved every page of it!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book!

I received this arc from NetGalley and Publisher BooksGoSocial, The Accidental Boyfriend. Gabriel Wade is a child actor prodigy, his current role playing a werewolf on a tv sitcom. Jessica Thorne is an up and coming teen author, whose first book is days away from debuting. So, how exactly do these two end up in a fake dating contract? Lori Freeland writes a beautifully tragic story of the lives of these two strangers who have more in common than they think, and their journey to find themselves and love. This book will be give you all the feels. I laughed, cried, and fell in love with the characters and their stories. Beautifully written.

I went I to this book expecting it to be a fairly lighthearted YA romance. It reality, it touches on some deeper issues, such as complex family dynamics, anxiety, parentification, dementia, and feelings of abandonment. It is heartwarming and has a little bit of a twist I didn't expect. I really enjoyed it overall.

Heartwarming YA story with likable main and side characters. I found a good dose of humor in the book but the characters also showed vulnerability and each dealt with it in their own way.

I found the ending really satisfying which made me enjoy the book more. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for something nice and heartwarming, but still fast paced enough to keep you gripped!

I really liked this book! I thought after they got together the book would end, and it seemed to drag on, i almost DNFed. glad i didn't though! solid ending, nice character arcs. it was a bit too spicy for me, but i was able to skip the spicier scenes. nothing explicit, i'm just not comfy with "getting hot and heavy" as gabe says.

A lovely warm romance. The perfect mix of sweetness with deeper and more intense topics. I appreciated that the deeper concepts weren’t ones that are often discussed in romance books. I also thought the more complicated topics were discussed in a way which made them easy to digest. I loved Gabe, he was very likeable and had me kicking my feet. Jess was very relatable and also living out every teenage girls dream. It became a real page turner, waiting to see how they overcame/ worked through all the different aspects of their lives. Overall the book left me feeling warm and happy, I loved it!

I normally hate insta loves but this book does it really well! This book is perfect for those who love Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter!!

Going in I thought it would be a very pg kind of like Camp Rock vibes but it was so cute with emotional aspects. The adults around the main characters could be really frustrating. Overall, would recommend!

Okay, so I’ve now read three books in two weeks with a love interest named Gabe🙈, but this one was different—because, for once, Gabe is actually alive👻 and the FL didn’t cheat on her partner with him🤬. Progress😝.

Going into this, I fully expected a cheesy🧀 kids' book based on the cover📓, but wow, was I wrong👎🏽. I ended up really enjoying it👏🏽. The story didn’t disappoint, and it got me in my feelings—I smiled, laughed, and even almost cried👁️👄👁️ (I held back, but it was close). And The cover. I don’t like it😪, but honestly, I’d still buy the book.

One thing I really loved was the diary entries📝 and quotes at the start of each chapter. They added a nice touch, like a little peek👀 into Jess’s mind. Speaking of Jess, she claimed🗣️ she thought🧠 about Gabe all the time (At the end), but let’s be real—she literally admitted that some days, he occupied her thoughts for less than an hour. But sure, Jess, whatever you say🎉.

Now, onto the worst part🤮: Victoria. She does not understand boundaries🚫. She’s out here supplying Gabe with alcohol🥃 like she forgot he’s underage, and then she has the nerve to be upset😡 when he shows up drunk🥴? Make it make sense. And don’t even get me started on how she kept pushing Jess and Gabe to sleep together when Jess clearly wasn’t ready💥. Like, hello? Jess is 17. Relax.

Also, a fun little plot twist for me👤—I was shocked to find out Gabe’s sister is older than him❤️‍🩹. The way she was acting, I fully assumed she was a whiny 14-year-old. She had zero personality💩, so I guess that tracks.

Overall, this book surprised me in the best way🔥. Would I recommend it? Absolutely💯. Would I change the cover💝? Immediately🫂.

Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC😝💝🎉

Pre Thoughts:
- YA Romance Read


Post thoughts
The Diary. entries Featured at the beginning of Each of Jess's chapters are a great addition. (Red this in one sitting, quite an easy read)

Some aspects i was not too fond of ( Gabe).

Tropes
= Fake dating
- Dual POV
- Meet Cute

Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to review this ARC, this is my own and honest thoughts.

The Accidental Boyfriend by Lori Freeland
Sweet, fun, and full of charm, The Accidental Boyfriend is a delightful romance that brings humor and heart to the fake-dating trope. Lori Freeland creates lovable characters with undeniable chemistry, making this novel a perfect comfort read for fans of lighthearted romance.

A sweet YA read! I really enjoyed the characters and their development and thought the plot was well built. Humor, romance, what’s not to love?!

If you loved the Disney movie, Starstruck, pick up this heartwarming YA romance. I loved the anxiety representation in this story with Jess and how gentle Gabe was with her. A sweet story, I loved the beauty and vulnerability of Jess and Gabe's romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and The Publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a charming and fun romance. The story of two unlikely people coming together through a mix-up is filled with humor, warmth, and great chemistry between the leads. It’s a quick, feel-good read that I thoroughly enjoyed, perfect for fans of lighthearted romance. While it’s a bit predictable, it’s still a delightful escape.

This was such a cute book to read. It was a bit confusing about their backgrounds and that only got really explained at the middle of the story. Their meet cute was adorable. It was a predictable book to read but sometimes we just need books like that in our life. It was a great YA romance about an actor who falls in love with a girl he just met. It was so good to read how they were both there for each other when they had difficult moment. They just need to touch the other to calm down which was sweet.