I’ve had a lot of issues with reading contemporary romance lately due to, well, *gestures at the world*, but this book sucked me right in. It’s a sexy and funny workplace romance, with a Black heroine and a half-Black, half-Korean hero, and the cat-fishing friend group was an incredible hook.

“Happiness had not been part of the equation when she’d made her plans. The concept was too vague for her to fully grasp it. She felt safer, more in control, when dealing in absolutes. True happiness—whatever that meant—would follow once she finally achieved these concrete items she’d set out to attain.”


For the most part, Samiah is firmly in control of her life. She’s already got the awesome job, downtown condo, and full package Mustang GTE, so the only thing left on her checklist is the man to share her life with. Too bad Austin seems to only have cheating scum – but at least her latest dating failure netted her two new friends, London and Taylor. The three of them pledge to focus less on dating on more on their own happiness, and for Samiah that means finally working on her app prototype. If only she didn’t immediately run into Daniel, the new hire at Trendsetters, who seems to meet every item on “get a man” checklist. But what she doesn’t know is that he’s actually a Treasury Department agent trying to unravel a money laundering scheme featuring the company’s software. Daniel’s used to rolling in to a company, uncovering the bad guys, and then rolling out, no complications or regrets. But from their first meeting, neither Samiah nor Daniel can deny their attraction to each other. Is their relationship worth Samiah putting her dreams on hold, and can it survive Daniel’s lie?

Samiah is, frankly, the definition of life goals. She’s smart, confident, knows her worth, and I would love to go out for a drink with her. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from the realities of being a woman in tech, especially as a Black woman. When Daniel tries to reassure her that she doesn’t have to have everything perfect with her app as it’s just a demo, she reminds him that no, she has to be perfect and better and more, or else she and every other black woman after her will be judged for her imperfections. The secondary characters were amazing, especially London and Taylor. Their meetings and conversations were the highlight of the book for me, and frankly I wanted more of them. In terms of non-supportive female characters, I cackled out loud at Samiah’s coworker Keighleigh (that NAME, y’all) and appreciated how Samiah handled that relationship. I also liked that the book repeatedly emphasized happiness over career ambitions for multiple characters. I know it’s a romance, and yes, it’s great to see characters be able to have it all, but in this case, it was more interesting to watch each character explore the pros and cons of their decisions.

“You’ll see how you like those jogs along the river when the thermometer is nearing three digits.”
“Aw, don’t tell me that.” Daniel groaned. “Just the other day I had to stop in the middle of my run and peel my shirt off.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest. “That must have been nice.” Her horrified eyes shot back up to his face, wide with dismay. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”


The book is definitely funny and sexy, but I felt like the romance part got shortchanged. Everything happens over the period of a few months while both characters are focused on both their work for Trendsetters and their external projects (Samiah’s app and Daniel’s, uh, actual job). Even during the time they’re spending together physically, they’re still spending the majority of it working. There’s also a confusing time jump of a few weeks during which they go from “ok, let’s date” to actually spending a couple nights a week with each other, and it felt like a missed opportunity for building their relationship.

“It was difficult to grasp just how freeing it felt to tell her truth without fear of being branded a complainer or excuse-maker or any of the other labels people slapped on her when she tried to explain the pressure she’d been under to perform.”


Daniel never really quite meshed as a character for me. He’s sweet, yes, and definitely a cinnamon roll. But the two main character traits I got about him are that he was so supportive of her, from checking in how she felt to giving her foot massages and that he felt guilty about lying to her. It’s all in relation to her, though. It didn’t seem like there was anything else to him besides what he was to her. I also didn’t feel like Daniel groveled enough to make up for his actions during the dark moment. After repeatedly refusing to hear Daniel’s apologies, Samiah basically forgives him with little effort on his part, and while her thought process for why she did that was clear, it just felt too easy for something that could’ve had serious repercussions for her. The epilogue was a little weird, too, as it wasn’t the airtight HEA I expected, but then throughout the book Samiah proved over and over that she moves at her own pace.

Overall, this is funny and sexy, even if I wasn’t sold on the romance, so this is a 3.5 star read for me. Based on the end of the book, I’m guessing Taylor’s story is next, and I will definitely be picking it up.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Samiah, Taylor, and London meet when when live tweets of a terrible date cause them to realize they’ve been dating the same man. After Samiah confronts the man with more lies than money in his pockets, the women bond over drinks and form a pact to put themselves first before men for the next several months. But of course Samiah meets Daniel who just started working at the same company right after this pact was made.

What I loved:
I loved the friendship that blossomed between the 3 women and that they were there to build each other up. This also gives room for 2 more books featuring the 2 friends.
I loved that Samiah is a strong, independent, black woman rising up the ladder in a male dominated tech industry. The author did a great job exploring the difficulties Samiah would face in such an industry as not only a woman but a black woman. The pressure to be better than the men, not rock the boat, and always excel was perfectly depicted.

Oh and then there is Daniel who is black and Korean ranking right up there with many a book boyfriend. He’s an ex marine serving undercover as a federal agent to infiltrate a money laundering scheme in Samiah’s office. He has abs of steel like any good ex marine should have and a quiet nature content to work quietly next to his woman while she works. Where do I sign up for his foot rubs? And I am a complete sucker for a man with dimples.
I even loved the descriptions of the meetings and work that Samiah and Daniel did because we need more depictions of women (especially black women who are very underrepresented) dominating in STEM fields.

This would have been 5 stars for me if it had been a first person romcom. There’s just something about always being in the leads heads and feeling those fluttery butterflies when the flirting starts that works better for me.

Thank you so much to Forever and a netgalley for my copy for me to honestly review. I enjoyed this so much that I bought a signed physical copy for myself.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
4/5

While this is a romance novel, what I loved the most about it was the emphasis on the other story lines within the novel. So many romance stories make the romance the center of the novel, but in this one the romance was a bit of the icing on top of an already wonderful story.

I enjoyed how independent and confident Samiah is, as well as the fact that she is an insanely successful, badass black woman working in the tech world. There are not many novels that I have read in which the main female character is working in STEM - being a minority woman who works in STEM made me appreciate this aspect of the novel so much.

Rochon writing keeps you wanting to read more, and I would highly recommend this one to anyone who likes romances, but does not want the romance to be the only plot line.

A huge thank you to NetGally and Forever for the ARC e-book.

I really enjoyed this one. A cute, smart, squad goals and steamy romance yes please! This was an office romance with an extra layer. Samiah and Daniel had some really great chemistry but the chemistry really shined between the girls. Samiah, London and Taylor meet when they find out they all are “dating” the same guy and watching this girls band together, support and stick together was by far my favourite part!

I wish this book had a little less tell and more show between Daniel and Samiah when they were having morning coffee and their banter was cute that I felt like I was missing some of those special moments

There is so much to love about this romance!

Our female lead was catfished by a stupid man who got caught in the act. The women he catfished bonded and formed a friendship, saying that they won't date for 6 months so they can work on themselves.
Enter hunky workplace male lead! He was a cinnamon roll if I ever read one, and handsome to boot! I can't blame our girl for falling for him.
Primarily, I love that this own voices romance came across as just that. These characters were loveable, human, and most of all, deserving of as much happiness as any other human being. I will DEFINITELY be reading more from Farrah Rochon in future!

The Boyfriend Project focuses on Samiah Brooks, a Black female in the tech industry. She discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her with not just one, but two other women and a true friendship between the three jilted women begins. They create “the boyfriend project” as a pact to remain single and invest in themselves and their passions.

Of course, right after they make this pact, Samiah meets Daniel Collins, a new hire at her workplace who just happens to be an undercover fed tracking a money laundering scheme. I loved this little thread of mystery and intrigue throughout the story! Samiah and Daniel fall hard and fast, which leads to some great banter, sweet moments and a few steamy scenes throughout the book!

But my favourite thing about this book was Samiah herself. She is a complete badass. I appreciate how Rochon tackled not only women in the tech industry, but how much harder a Black woman needs to work in relation to her white counterparts. Not only to prove that she deserves to be there, but to pave the way for other Black women coming up in the field. The pressure Samiah felt to succeed was eye-opening and definitely made me pause and check my privilege.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Farrah Rochon for a copy of the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Boyfriend Project will be released June 9, 2020.

Over the last few weeks, I've watched a bunch of book events with Farrah Rochon and every time she spoke about The Boyfriend Project, I knew I needed to move it to the top of my TBR list. I'm really glad I did. The Boyfriend Project was a refreshing take on the friends holding off on dating to try to improve themselves. Even better, Samiah's friend group is new and started with a viral Twitter thread and video when she, London, and Taylor realized they were all dating the same man. Samiah is confident and strong woman when it comes to her job, which she excels at as Black woman in the tech industry. However, when it comes to what she wants personally, from a guy and in her app development, she's less willing to take a risk. Daniel is a new employee at Samiah's job and the chemistry between them is instantaneous. But as Samiah is trying to work on herself and her outside goals, is a potential relationship with a coworker a good idea? The Boyfriend Project has everything I wanted in this story. There is humor and heart, passion and good friendship. I think everyone will enjoy it!

I. Loved. This. Book! I was pulled in almost immediately by the restaurant scene, and simply could not put it down. I am so excited how easily this is set up to become a trilogy, too. This story is Samiah + Daniel, who had such delicious, amazing insta-chemistry. They are both resistant at first, not wanting to get involved with anyone for different reasons, but they just can't ignore the pull that brings them together over and over.

Samiah is a fantastic MC for so many reason.I love how smart, driven, funny, creative, confident, and caring she is. She is really the whole package-and it is no wonder that Daniel was interested! She is also a fantastic friend. I really loved her coming together with London and Taylor, and how they all got on board with weekly girls nights and "the Boyfriend Project". They are all different, but supportive of each other, and really bring out t he best in one another. There is no cattiness, and it is really a beautiful friendship that blooms through the book.

Daniel is all kinds of dreamy. I mean, he is smart, fit, caring, motivated, and he can cook. WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?! Also, dimples. Yes, please. He also really listens to Samiah and learns a lot from her. I love that he was not patronizing to her, or talking down on her dreams, nor was he threatened by her intelligence and general bad-assery.

This book was a great mix of sweet and steamy. I just really loved everything about it. I am fairly sure Taylor's story will be next, and I can't wait!

Gah do you guys know how rare it is to read a romance that’s not only smart but also funny, sweet, sexy and engaging?! It really is but thankfully TBP is one of those rare gems that had all of that and more. More meaning what exactly? Well it had a heavy focus on a newly developing friendship between Samiah, London and Taylor and it also explored Samiah’s workplace and the dynamics at play in her office. I’m telling y’all, this one had a little something for everyone.

I have to tell you about the hero, Daniel this man is majorly swoon worthy and I just loved how he was a strong person in his own right but he also wasn’t put off or intimidated by Samiah because she is fiercely independent and incredibly strong too. They were both such interesting and multifaceted characters and I just adored them both separately and together. I’m thrilled this is the start to a new series, (London and Taylor will both be getting their own books) and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Highly recommended by me for romance fans!

This is a very mixed read for me. I really enjoyed the friendships between the three ladies and the way they supported and helped each other. I was pleased when the other two weren't upset that Samiah was seeing someone; they really just wanted to uplift and help and be a shoulder to cry on.

I like it a lot better than the relationship, which seemed to me to be mostly based on attraction pretending it was something deeper. I have nothing against relationships built on attraction; go for it! But because the story skipped a lot of the building of the relationship, I never really felt it happening. And, of course, we knew right from the start what 'The Issue' was going to be; it was clear that Samiah would find out about Daniel and they'd run into trouble over it.

Considering that the point of the novel was for the women to find joy and fulfillment without men, it's surprising to me that half the book is from a man's point of view. How amazing would this book have been if it was all about the women? If we could see London and Taylor's troubles instead of hearing about them second- and off-handedly over wine once a week?

It's a funny, light hearted book, but it just didn't *quite* hit the spot for me.

The Boyfriend Project is on of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and it did not disappoint. After finding out her boyfriend is cheating on her via Twitter,Samiah becomes a viral star when a video of her and the other women call him out. Samiah, London and Taylor become fast friends and decide to focus on themselves for a change. While I would have liked to see more interactions between these three, I enjoyed their banter whenever it showed up.

Daniel has been sent to investigate the tech company Samiah works at and quickly sees that he is falling for her instead. While he knows she won't be able to trust his once the truth comes out, he cannot stop himself from seeing her.

I love strong female characters and Samiah was the poster child for strength. The author does an amazing job discussing race and gender especially what it was like for Samiah in her company. I truly cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

The biggest issue I had with this novel was the ending. It felt really rushed especially when at the beginning of one chapter Samiah wouldn't acknowledge Daniel but by the end of that same chapter she had forgiven him and wanted to start a relationship with him. I just wish that they would have handled the conflict resolution a little different since it seemed to just gloss over the trust issues that were rightly felt.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever publishing for my eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Heat Factor: Perfectly suited the relationship
Character Chemistry: Usually I don’t miss the uncertainty of new romance, but the joyful comfort between these two made me a bit nostalgic.
Plot: After being catfished, Samiah decides to prioritize working only on her non-romantic life goals. Meanwhile, Daniel is on an undercover assignment to crack a case for the Treasury Department.
Overall: Solid and satisfying

This is one of those books for which the cover marketing is only the tip of the iceberg. It all begins when Samiah Brooks discovers that the man she’s been dating has not only been dating other women, he’s been lying to them about this identity. She confronts him while he’s on a date with another woman, as do the other two women he’s been deceiving, and the video of the confrontation goes viral. The three women befriend one another and decide to take a break from the social pressure they feel to succeed and to work on what makes them happy for six months.

The Monday following Samiah’s discovery, she’s the talk of the office. It’s also Daniel Collins’s first day of work. But - of course - Daniel is not what he seems. And - of course - he’s also the only person who talks to Samiah about her experience like it might have been difficult for her. Because he’s a legit cinnamon roll. Daniel could be earning the big bucks in tech, but instead his family’s tradition of public service was passed down to him - cinnamon roll, remember? - and he’s an undercover agent for a financial crimes and terrorism department within the Department of the Treasury.

While Samiah’s happiness project is a constant throughout the book, it doesn’t form the foundation of the conflict. The crime Daniel is investigating, and the fact that he’s lying to Samiah while completely incapable of compelling himself to stay away from her is obviously the problem that their relationship might not be able to overcome. Also, he lives in Virginia, not Austin. Basically, there’s very little going on that will make this relationship work unless our protagonists really want it to.

Beyond the romance, there’s a thought-provoking conversation about success and what is necessary to get there. I tend to be frustrated by characters who think they’ll be happy if they measure their level of success against ambiguous societal expectations, and when Samiah and her new friends talk about their lives, it’s clear that they’ve bought into a narrative about what success looks like, and that happiness comes after. Their pact appears to be a means of overcoming that ridiculous internalized pressure. And it is. But there’s more to it than that. Samiah has a really hard time letting go. She is a Black woman in tech, and Daniel is bi-racial (Black-Korean), so he is able to have some conversations with Samiah about her perfectionism and independence that perhaps the reader would like to have with her, and we are better able to understand how privilege and implicit racial bias impact our jobs and our definitions of success.

I also found it interesting that Samiah is affronted by the lack of privacy she is afforded when a painful moment in her life went viral on the internet, but she doesn’t seem to think that the same privacy should have been applied when the date went viral while it was being live tweeted (which is how she found out about it) or when she and the two other women who were duped by this villain made a scene in the restaurant. Is it because she’s in the right and he’s in the wrong? Is it the scale of the invasion of privacy (millions of views rather than thousands)? It’s one of those things that make me think: sure, people are entitled to their feelings, but I still want to turn it over in my head.

Anyway, the romance was swoon-worthy, but there’s a good deal of substance to chew on as well, from the morality of Daniel’s necessary lies to all the stuff I wrote above. The pace is engaging throughout, and when things start to come to a head, the suspense is just the right level of anxiety-inducing. How are they going to have the careers and lives they want with Daniel’s job and all its secrets coming between them?!?!?!?!?! Eek! There are enough tendrils floating out in different directions as the tale progresses that the solution is not immediately apparent. Things could go any of a number of different ways and still get these two to our promised HEA. I was on tenterhooks, truly, which always feels a little absurd when one is reading romance, but it’s also how you know the author is doing her job. The fun is in the wrap-up, and it’s just lovely. Score one for the emotional maturity crowd.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I absolutely loved this story. It is the perfect romcom. I love that the situation with Craig was resolved quickly and Samiah bonded with her new gal pals. Daniel sounds like a dream man. I’m so excited that there’s going to be sequels following London and Taylor!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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When Samiah discovers on twitter that the guys she has been dating is dating two other women they call him out publicly .... and she becomes fast friends with them. They make a pact to focus on career and personal goals for 6 months with no men and no dating. Of course this is the exact time that the sexy and smart Daniel starts working for her company. They have an instant connection, but are either of them ready for dating? ⁣
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Oh my. I’ve found another book boyfriend. Seriously. Daniel. Ex marine, math/tech whiz, sweet as can be, dimples.... yes please!!! This guy is a dream. ⁣
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I honestly can’t think of a better book to read right now. Diverse characters, women in STEM fields, romance but not the cheesy variety. I love an office romance and the could really feel how passionate Samiah and Daniel were about their jobs. I’m not techy AT ALL but this book made me so interested in the field. Loved the suspenseful subplot with Daniel’s job. The romance here was thoughtful and sweet, foot rubs and surprise dinners ... with a couple of some very steamy scenes! I also loved the friend relationships - these women were so positive and built each other up, which was awesome. I am so excited that Taylor and London will get their own books!! Highly recommend this one ⁣
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Thank you to @readforever and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was on my "to read" list for this summer.  A refreshing office romance with a set of quirky characters who form a friendship over being catfished with a viral tweet/video.  Samirah's new relationship with Daniel is new and exciting, but then the plot introduces some mystery.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book so much - I did it in one sitting. I also enjoyed the story of the friendship growth between Samirah, Taylor and London.  Also LOVED the fact that the main character was a strong, confident female in the STEM industry.  This is the first time I've ever heard of the author, but I am a fan after reading this book.

REVIEW 🍃⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The Boyfriend Project by @farrahrochon⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Samiah finds out that her boyfriend is dating at least two other women and confronts him at a restaurant while he’s on another date. At the end of the night, she leaves with one less playboy, but two new friends in his other girlfriends. ⁣Together, they swear off men for at least 6 months to focus on themselves. For Samiah, that means working to develop an app she has been wanting to get off the ground for years. That pinkie promise becomes a whole lot of difficult when Daniel Collins strolls into her life. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Daniel is the newest employee at her office and the attraction between them is undeniable. Is Daniel worth breaking the promise to swear off the male species for at least 180 days or is he just another man who is too good to be true?⁣⁣⁣⁣
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This book had the typical romance elements, but was so much more than just a romance novel. Through Samiah, @farrahrochon deals with the stark reality of systemic racism and inherent biases that Black women face. How Samiah was dismissed at a young age when she wanted to go into the technology sector because she didn’t “look” the part. And once there, her constant need to not only work harder to prove she deserved to be there, but also the pressure to not waste her opportunity or make a mistake because it would affect the ability of future Black women to get that job. As though a company’s experience with one Black woman is assumed to be the same with any Black woman. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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As I read this book, despite it being fiction, I knew so much of that experience was true. I just had never taken to the time to stop and think about it. I am ashamed. ⁣This is why it is important to diversify your reading. This is why it is essential in the long-term to make a conscious effort in what you take the time to read and absorb. To pay attention to who is controlling the narrative. Even fiction has the ability to teach. And a lot of the lessons our world needs can only be properly taught by the community that has experienced the injustice. I want to learn. I want to do better. And so, I will continue to reflect that desire.

Female friendships, office romance, strong character development, older woman? GIMME! The Boyfriend Project had it all for me! This was my first book by Farrah Rochon and definitely will not be my last. Thank you Forever Romance for this ARC!

Samiah is a tech genius who has just discovered her boyfriend is also dating two other women. When their story goes viral, the last thing she needs is to find herself attracted to the new guy at work.

I really enjoyed Samiah’s character. She was such a strong, intelligent, and driven character. And I also liked her budding friendship with the two women who were dating her boyfriend. But Daniel’s character was a bit of a miss for me. His internal monologue was draining. The secret he was keeping was interesting until I had to hear him waffle back on forth on what to do about the secret over and over. That plotline was too drawn out and became very repetitive and thus the relationship between Samiah and Daniel became boring. Honestly, IMO Samiah deserved better.

Well, this was everything I could have wanted.

I love love loved Samiah and Daniel. They’re both so smart and charming and just good people. I enjoyed their (mostly) honest conversation and how their relationship organically progressed. Taylor and London are fantastic and the dynamic of the three women together were some of the best parts.

Plot wise it was good. There are a few moving parts, but nothing felt too tech-y or hard to follow. The build up was deliciously slow and even the inevitable break up was padded by a fantastic grand gesture.

Overall, it was a great story with characters who was insanely easy to root for. I’ll just be over here hoping for Taylor and London to get their own books.

**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**

I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book. The first 10-15% dragged. I understand that the author had to set up how Samiah, Taylor, and London meet (obviously, setting up a trilogy!) but it wasn't until we finally saw Samiah at work at Trendsetters that we really got to know her. Samiah has her barriers up: she's been burned by men, girlfriends, and coworkers. She is a kickass programmer at a hot tech company in Austin. Rochon does a fantastic job illustrating what it is like to be a Black woman in tech (although she should have just named Keighleigh Karen... that name just made my teeth grind!) She meets Daniel Collins, who she thinks is her new coworker, but is really an undercover federal agent. Samiah keeps her barriers up around Daniel until they all come falling down.... only to be horribly disappointed by his taking advantage of her vulnerability (LITERALLY). Rochon dragged that HEA out to the VERY last minute. I got to a point where I didn't think it was going to happen because I was ticked off for Samiah. I wasn't sure if Daniel really did deserve her in the end. The story was well-developed with some great insights as a Black woman in STEM. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read Taylor's story next!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.