This book is perfect. I loved Jess and Gabe from the very first pages. This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon. An easy 5 star read for me.

SPOILERS AHEAD
This was sadly a no for me, the premise seemed good and I wanted to like it but some factors really made this hard to like as a whole. The main issue to me was all of the problematic adults, Vi being the worst of all. She was so inattentive to Jess and was only focused on herself, she supplied the underage MMC with alcohol knowing he had issues with it before, the gross misconduct with her Jess's father and encouraging her to be a harlot when it clearly all makes her uncomfortable and she's 17. The fact that she had the nerve to be hurt with Jess finally called her out on some of the nonsense she's been doing I was outraged. Vi was unprofessional in every way and should never have been her agent or anywhere near a public relations job like that when she was also making comments on the MMC who's barley 18 and his body. Jess's father was also trash considering how absentee he was and again the gross situation with Vi which made no sense to what we glimpsed from his character. I hated them both and wish they were never involved in the book, it might've been a lot better without them and any scenes they had. on Gabe's end his situation wasn't much better with the adults around him, how can he be expected to make serious decisions with the power of attorney when A. he's barely an adult, and B. isn't given all the information from other adults because they're "protecting him" it's too conflicting. Adding on to that, his sister is also being completely unreasonable, and she's actually the older one but someone can't be trusted to make serious decisions so it falls on Gabe. I really didn't like her either with her ultimatums and pushing him to drink the bottles of alcohol Vi left for him (which he hadn't touched at all) also knowing he has an issue with it. The whole thing was just an endless car crash sorry to say, which is unfortunate because the main couple parts were actually good at times; though I'm over incredibly sheltered female leads where every little thing is scandalous to them.

The Accidental Boyfriend was a heartwarming YA contemporary romance.

Jess, a teenage author just about to release her debut novel falls into the arms (literally) of the one and only Gabriel who stars in the successful show The Pack (think teen wolf).

I love a meet cute and this did not disappoint. I loved the way the author brought the depth of these characters to not make them come across as just being difficult for the sake of it.

An easy and enjoyable read.

The premise of this story immediately caught my interest. However, it did not deliver.

One of my main criticisms for this book is Gabriel. I found him to be borderline creepy and predatory in his interactions with Jess. He constantly ignored her boundaries and made advances on her time and time again, which clearly made her uncomfortable. I did not find him charming in the slightest.

There was also the issue of adults freely and knowingly providing underage children alcohol. I found this incredibly bizarre, unethical, and unrealistic.

There were also some issues with the writing, which I found quite distracting.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love how the dedication was for teen wolf fans, It brought me a lot of nostalgic feelings right off the bat for me! Loved the diary entries in the beginning of the chapters, it really drew me in more.I love a good meet cute and the way Gabe and Jess initially met did not disappoint!
- Dual POV
- Meet cute
- Quick fun read
- Fake dating
-Humour
-Author and Actor
I had a blast with this one!

This book had potential, but ultimately, it fell flat for me. The premise—TV heartthrob Gabe roping introverted writer Jess into a fake relationship—had all the makings of a fun YA romance, but the execution felt unrealistic and cringeworthy at times. The forced proximity and opposites-attract elements were there, but the chemistry between the leads didn’t always feel natural, and some plot points stretched believability.

While I appreciated the dual POVs, which gave insight into both Jess and Gabe’s struggles, the story dragged in places, making it feel longer than necessary. The emotional depth, particularly around Jess’s family issues, felt underdeveloped, especially toward the end when her relationship with her mother could have been explored more.

It’s a light, easy read that some might enjoy, especially those looking for a quick, feel-good romance. But for me, it lacked the depth and engagement needed to make it truly memorable. I wanted more substance, more realistic character development, and less reliance on predictable tropes. If you love fluffy YA romance and don’t mind a bit of cliché, this might work for you.

This was a fluffy, cute romance it was very sweet and enjoyable romance. However i did find at times it was quite predictable! Its an easy read something you can read just as and when you need a little fluffy romance to pick you up and make you feel better!

"The Accidental Boyfriend" by Lori Freeland is a cute, lighthearted read that offers a fun mix of romance and humor. The premise is definitely charming, with some sweet moments between the main characters, but the plot can feel a bit predictable at times. While the chemistry between the leads is enjoyable, I found some of the dialogue and situations to be a little cliché. It's the kind of book you can easily breeze through on a lazy afternoon if you're craving something easy and feel-good, but don't expect anything too deep or groundbreaking. Overall, it's a solid, entertaining pick for fans of light romance, just not overly memorable.

Want a story that is quick and easy to read, has lovable and relatable characters, and a HEA for all? This is the book for you. It’s light, endearing and so so cute. I’d venture a guess that most could read it in one sitting. I know a lot of my teen students would enjoy this.

Thank you BooksGoSocial, Net Galley and Lori Freeland for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved jess and gabe right away. I loved that they each had complexity that was supported by their backstories; they weren't just difficult for the sake of it. at some point, I worried that the likeable supporting characters wouldn't get their happy endings, but everyone got what they deserved. such a satisfying ending!

I really enjoyed reading The Accidental Boyfriend by Lori Freeland. The book started with a sweet and funny meet cute between Jess (a new author) and Gabe (a movie star) and from there they end up in a "fake" dating relationship. I was really suprised and impressed how the book took a pretty serious direction with each main character's mothers. The author did a really good job integrating these serious issues into the book causing me to appreciate the book more. The diary entries at the beginning of Jess's chapters were fun to read and gave a little added mystery to the book.

The Accidental Boyfriend is a heartwarming YA romance that blends humour, vulnerability, and unexpected connection. From the moment Gabe and Jess collide—literally—I was hooked on their journey. Their chemistry sparks from the start, and I couldn’t help but root for them the whole way through.

Jess’s anxiety is portrayed with refreshing authenticity, adding depth to her character and making her journey feel all the more relatable. The author handles the topic with care, showing how anxiety impacts everyday life without defining who Jess is. Gabe’s charm and hidden vulnerability create the perfect balance to Jess’s quieter personality, making their growing connection feel both sweet and believable.

More than just a love story, this book is about finding strength in yourself and learning to let others in—even when life doesn’t go to plan. It's a heartfelt, feel-good read perfect for anyone who enjoys YA contemporary romance with a little heartache and a whole lot of swoon-worthy moments.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys YA contemporary romance with a little bit of heartache and a whole lot of swoon-worthy moments.

I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Lori Freeland in the future!

This book was such a whirlwind of emotions, from sitting there giggling at the cute passages to crying over the heartbreak this book had it all. The storyline was cute and at times unpredictable and the tropes were amazing. The romance author x fantasy actor was a breath of fresh air and I love the communication between the characters. There also is Alzheimer’s representation which was lovely and I will absolutely buy a physical copy when I have the funds because this is a book that could potentially be lent to language learners.

This was such a cute and sweet novel. Even though it started off slow, I couldn’t put the book down once it got more fast paced! I thought this book was beautifully written and loved the characters. This is definitely a young adult romance read, added with some humor to it! This book made me feel happy, lighthearted and hopeful.

The Accidental Boyfriend is a book about two teenagers, a girl named Jess and a guy named Gabe. Jess is a homeschooled girl, who is a romance book writer. Gabe is an actor on television and is well known. They are both completely opposite of one another. Even though they are very different, they find out they do have things in common. They meet accidentally and become a fake boyfriend and girlfriend. Does this book come with a happy ending or will they go their separate ways?

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author Lori Freeland for this digital book in exchange for my honest review. I rate this cute young adult romance book a 4 out of 5 stars!

First off — thank you to Lori Freeland and NetGalley for providing a copy of The Accidental Boyfriend! This was a delightful surprise read that helped me get out of a many months-long reading rut, but from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down!

Jess and Gabe’s chemistry was everything— I absolutely adored Gabe’s character. He was charming, protective, and had such a depth to him that made him feel so real. His moments of vulnerability, paired with his effortless wit and kindness, completely won me over. Watching his relationship with Jess unfold, with all the tension, banter, and heartfelt moments, made this book impossible to put down—I finished reading it in one sitting.

The author also masterfully delves into deeper themes like family dynamics and personal growth, adding layers beyond a typical YA romance. The characters’ authenticity and the engaging plot made me fly through this in a couple of hours. I 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, heartfelt read!

I binged this book. Love the main characters and the writing. Most of the adults were terrible humans, but a few of them improved, so kudos to them.

My only real quibble with this one was I felt so much secondhand embarrassment for the heroine. I had to put my reader down multiple times and collect myself for her. Poor thing. I'm glad she gets her HEA.

Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. This was a sweet, entertaining YA novel. Review to come.

I really enjoyed this book! The back and forth banter between these two was so fun to follow! Perfect combination of a love story while also following their individual stories.

LOVED this book! It started a little slow for me, but after the first 3-4 chapters I was hooked and stayed up til 3 AM so I could get to the end. I'm excited to know about this author and I highly recommend this read!

Thank you Netgalley for the copy.

This book was cute, deep and a shock. After reading fantasy for the past month the smack back into reality was a little palate cleanser. The pace was gripping and I loved all of the characters, I’m clearly out of practice for reading normal, real-world romance because I wasn’t expecting certain things to be revealed the way it was. While the characters go through episodes of complete and utter stupidity, I have to remind myself that they are 17 and 18 years old and that literally changed how I viewed them in that moment. I remember when I was 17 and 18 and I did stupid things and had 360 arguments and doubts in the same way that the characters do—albeit in less dire situations regarding my parents.

The characters are drawn together as they experience loneliness and their out-of-depth reality. The characters, again, are so young and as an adult who still makes terrible decisions and waiting for my frontal lobe to finish developing, I imagine that I would probably be in a similar situation and dealing with the issues the characters face in the exact same way—panic, stress and overthinking everything. These two woefully unprepared-for-the-real-world teenagers just make me want to hug them, in true romance fashion their problems are semi-solved in a satisfactory ending (for me at least) and I can’t wait to reread this in the future and pick up on where certain plot twists were in regards to the foreshadowing.

(Cross-posted on Fable and Goodreads and Storygraph)