2.5⭐️

I really wanted to like this one... but it’s just not good.

The story that I was promised in the synopsis is completely different than the one that is delivered within the pages of the book. I feel a bit duped to be honest. The premise makes it seem like it’s going to be this band of badass girlfriends taking on the world á la John Tucker Must Die. Instead, we are given a lukewarm want-to-be-contemporary-romance-with-a-dash-of-whodunnit. I mean, the title literally has nothing to do with the actual plot.

I think one of the main problems with this book is that it clearly an identity crisis. While reading it, I thought this was a debut novel. While the author has a bunch of romance novels to her name, it looks like The Boyfriend Project her first foray into more contemporary ‘chic lit’ territory. Yet it pulls all the cliche and over dramatic tropes that dominate the grocery store paperback romance genre.

As for the romance.... It is your run of the mill instalove/attraction. The relationship between Samiah and Daniel goes from 0 to 60 in the flip of a page. Literally, there was a time jump. They meet once and then BOOM they can’t stop thinking and obsessing over the other person. No connection, no tension, no build up. I mean they basically got together over granola bars. GRANOLA BARS! The sexy stuff was decidedly unsexy. Oof. I’m all for some hot and heavy moments but I’m not here for “powerful erections” and paragraphs about tongues down throats.

I liked Samiah as our leading lady. I loved having a Black female protagonist who is thriving in the tech field. My favorite parts in the book were where she was kicking ass and taking names at her job. I just didn’t like how her sense of self revolves around a checklist. Job? Check. Condo? Check. Man? NEED ONE TO BE FULFILLED.

As for Daniel, I’m sure some people would find him swoon worthy, however I found him overly suffocating and smothering. His commentary throughout the book really dragged it down for me, there is so much “woe is me” happening due to the conflict between his job and his feelings for Samiah. He didn’t really have a personality outside of being obsessed with Samiah.

I would have loved for more moments of female friendship to have been more central to the book. Especially considering that their bonding over being two-timed by the same skeevy man is advertised as being one of the main storylines in the book. I liked London and Taylor, so it was disappointing that they weren’t featured much in this and their new friendships are so underdeveloped.

There was no satisfaction in finishing this one because of how sloppily and abruptly it was wrapped up. It’s the first in a new series that will inevitably explore the romantic relationships of the other women, but the weird cliff-hanger-y ending to Samiah’s story left a bad taste in my mouth.

This one had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it was disappointing one to wade through.

I'm loving these new romances about smart women dominating the tech industry. The heroine was following her plan to get everything she wanted out of life, but after being duped by a jerk she joins new friends to focus on improving herself before finding a man. This include working on an app she's been thinking about for years. The hero was a secret agent investigating someone in her company laundering money. His back and forth about revealing his secret along with his personality made him a great leading man. Their chemistry sizzled on the page and their dialogue was super fun to read. This book had so much about it I enjoyed form a workplace with good policies to encourage teamwork and creativity, acts of service love language, and sassy, supportive female friendship. This is a new author to me and I look forward to reading what she writes next.

This book was not what I expected and I am so glad about that. I loved that it dipped its toes into the world of romantic suspense but stayed firmly rooted in contemporary romance. I loved the main characters. I just wish there was more about the app and the friends, because those girls seem super cool. I know there are more books coming, so I know I will get more and I cannot wait! This was my first book by this author and I can’t wait to read more.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon is a fresh contemporary romance featuring PoC as the protagonists and a successful female in the male-dominated tech sector.

Samiah Brooks hates attention. She hates it even worse when a lousy relationship goes viral. Although the relationship ends on a sour note, the one benefit from being catfished by Craig leads to two new best friends-London and Taylor. For the next sixth months, the three new friends promise to forgo relationships and focus on their life and career goals. A pact Samiah is only too happy to make until Daniel Collins walks through the doors of Trendsetters, jeopardizing her career and her heart.

Daniel steps into his new role at Trendsetters with a mission. To get in, get out, and move on to the next job. He doesn't anticipate enjoying the work or his new co-worker, Samiah, so much. He knows he is the wrong guy for her, but that doesn't stop him from losing his heart to her and potentially risking his duty.

The Boyfriend Project is a strong contemporary romance. The cast of characters is diverse, and each character is more profound than what a reader sees on the surface. Rochon alternates Daniel and Samiah's viewpoints, both showing readers the different career possibilities in the tech field without bogging the pacing. Although the HEA tone of the book keeps the subject light, Rochon describes well the problems women of color face in job settings. Samiah remains true to herself throughout the novel, and it was refreshing to see a woman in a male-dominated field.

I wish Taylor and London's characters were more developed, but otherwise, this was a perfect contemporary romance for an afternoon reading on the hammock.

The Boyfriend Project would make a great addition to a library's romance section.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great and I loved the creative way the three women met, and how their friendship was portrayed. The loves story was good and I quickly was invested in their relationship. I also appreciate that it showed the main character being good at her job.

Thank you @readforeverpub for gifting me THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT- one of my favorite reads of the year!

I’m new to romance, but here’s what worked for me:
✨Smart, diverse characters! I loved the easy friendship between Samiah, London, and Taylor
✨Witty, non-cheesy dialogue
✨Workplace romance and great discussions about the challenges of women, especially women of color, in tech and STEM
✨Set in Austin- made me want to go back and visit!

All in all, if you’re looking for a light and funny read with just a bit of steam, I’d recommend this. It was great on audio, too- loved the narrator, Je Nie Fleming.

3.25 Stars / 2 Steam Fans

Sadly, I had to take a few days and watch a few interviews with Farrah Rochon to understand my actual enjoyment of The Boyfriend Project. The Boyfriend Project pitched to me; it was as a romance. Now that I have thought about my feelings, I believe I would have enjoyed it more had I been told it was a Women's Fiction novel instead. I entered thinking I was getting a romance about a couple; however, I received a story about three ladies that get "catfished" by a douchebag, and instead of having a meltdown towards each other, the ladies band together. I enjoyed the ladies banding together, but it did get a little overwhelming. I also didn't like the introduction of the mystery, the consent reminder that Daniel was previously in the military, or the very technical talk by Samiah. All that said, I circle back to my initial thought that if I had known it was a Women's Fiction story, I would have felt differently in the end.

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Holy moly, this book was so great I couldn’t even bother to put it down. It literally had me hooked from the first chapter even though i began this book very skeptical. I think that it honestly might be by new favorite book of this year!

Thank you sooo soo soo much to the publisher and Netgalley

This was just okay for a romance. I loved the female friendships! The friendships were strong and supportive and I loved reading it. The romance was a bit lackluster. It started off cute but the problem the couple has to overcome was not forgivable in my opinion.

Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Samiah is horrified when a public boyfriend-gone-bad encounter turns viral but on the plus side, she comes away with two new friends, London and Taylor. Their friendship makes the humiliation worth it as it's a new experience for her to have friends when she's devoted most of her attention to her career these past few years. As a POC in a competitive tech industry, she has to go the extra mile to prove that she deserves her seat at the table. Her work, her professionalism and her choices are met with more judgement than for most people. As she's continued to thrive at work she's finally, with the encouragement of her new friends, feeling brave enough to work on her own personal project. The three of them agree to swear of men for a while so they can focus on themselves. Samiah's supposed to be focused on her side project but with Daniel, the latest hire now in the picture, her attention is divided. Daniel is great. He's pleasant, considerate, easy on the eyes and appears to be several levels up from her previous jerk of a boyfriend. He's interested in Samiah as well but he has his own agenda at the company and it may affect her work. Getting involved with her would put himself and his secret at risk and also pose a major risk for both of them professionally and personally. So is it worth it?

Reading books featuring WOC who are the full package brings an immense feeling of pride. It's reassuring to know they're out there and that those stories can be inspiring, insightful and entertaining. Samiah, London and Taylor are vibrant, smart, bold and successful. The honesty that's laid bare in how Samiah carries her achievements and feels the extra weight of responsibility is something that POC and WOC feel all the time, no matter their line of work. That continual burden to prove that they deserve their achievement is not an imagined thing. Not only that, but also how a POC/WOC responds when issues arise in the workplace is mentally exhausting. Advocating for oneself becomes an exercise in how to speak up without creating discomfort or offending others, lest one be seen as a "troublemaker". Any reader unfamiliar with this will get a glimpse through Samiah's interactions at work.

As for Samiah and Daniel ... yeah, they're good together. They've met their perfect match in each other and sparks fly every which way. As it's a workplace romance and they tiptoe around the boundaries adding a bit of extra sauciness now and then.

The Boyfriend Project was my first time reading Farrah Rochon and I certainly like her style. Set in Austin, a city that I've visited once briefly and am rather obsessed with, I liked her references to locations in and outside of the city. Samiah has a few surprises up her sleeve and that's one of the many things I liked about her character. Pick this one up for your next read!

~ Bel

I really enjoyed this book so much. At times, I felt it might have been a bit slow, but I enjoyed every moment of it. The characters were incredible and I was rooting for Samiah and Daniel the whole way! Their friendship was incredible and the chemistry between them was undeniable!

I also loved the friendships formed in this book. I wish there would have been more of that in this book, but I think that Samiah took a horrible situation and gained new friendships from it.

This book talked a lot about being a person of color in a workforce and the challenges that come with that. Add in also being a woman and it's even more challenging. I enjoyed reading about this experience because as a white woman, this is something that I have no experience with. It's eye opening for sure.

This book is funny and also adorable! For sure a good read.

What happens when 3 smart girls get screwed over by one guy? They get together and form The Boyfriend Project. I loved this book! I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy it after reading the rave reviews, I just didn't realize how much. It was so much more than a rom-com. There was some depth and a little mystery thrown in there too.

Samiah has it going on...she has a great job...a great job...oh yes and a great job. That is her life. She doesn't have time for friends and dudes. Yet she falls for Craig...and then she figures out the hard way why she doesn't have time for dudes. So she enters a pack with Craig's other girlfriends...London and Taylor. Theses girls are smart, witty and wild. #squadgoals and these girls have made a pact. No guys for six months........no problem! Samiah is over dudes...until Daniel walks in. He is kind, smart, successful and GORGEOUS.....Houston we may have a problem...HAHAHA will Samiah break the pact?

I loved all the characters in this book! Well except for Craig...he was a loser for sure. If you want something light, fun, but a rom-com with something more to it...this is it!!

Unfortunately, this one didn't work out for me. I was intrigued in the first chapter or so but quickly lost interest in this one. I may revisit down the road but for now this one is a DNF for me. I have seen some amazing reviews though so don't let this deter you from picking it up. It looks like a fun book that I just wasn't in the right space to read.

I work in a male dominated field, so I love any book that highlights those struggles, they’re sadly real, so I’m always glad to see them acknowledged. We need more women in STEM fields!!!! The story touches a lot on the underlying themes discussed recently with the black lives matter movement, but in a way that’s approachable to the masses. Sure it’s a romance, and I’m here for all of that, but I love how it puts you right into the hearts and minds of what black people, especially black women face in this country in the work force and beyond. I’m a true believer in the value of fiction, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Daniel is also one of my new favorite book boyfriends: he’s got killer smarts, he’s buff, he’s a gentleman, and he cooks!! We need more Daniels in the world ladies!! It was the perfect light summer read for me after finishing up two epic series.

I loved this book. I originally read the excerpt and then was granted access to the entire book. I loved it even more than the excerpt.

Samiah is a kick-ass STEM heroine and I am 100% here for her. (That’s it. That’s the review.) Okay, Daniel is great, too, and their path to an HEA well-worth the journey. But really, just buy and read this book.

The Boyfriend Project concept was everything I wanted in a book. It had strong female characters, healthy female friendships and own voices diverse representation.
In terms of the commentary on what it's like to be a black woman in STEM and how challenging it is to get into the tech industry not just as a woman but as a woman of color I was all here for it. I loved reading about Samiah's dreams and desires and how she worked hard to get to where she is. I loved everything about this book except for the romance. I just did not feel the chemistry between them it was too instalove for me. There was too much back and forth from Daniel on how wrong and unprofessional it was for him to be with her. If he cared about that at all he wouldn't have started a relationship with her in the first place also I really didn't like that the guy that she falls in love with basically lies to her their whole relationship. That's not cute or romantic and I don't feel comfortable with supporting their relationship. All in all the writing of this book is great and it has some really good commentary on social issues that people of color face. I loved the strong female characters and how diverse they were as people. Unfortunately it's a romance book and the romance just didn't do it for me. I'm hoping that we will get more books featuring the London and Taylor because I would love to read more about them and see how their friendship with Samiah is thriving.

***Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review ***

Samiah has everything: a family that values her, a job she enjoys with a company that values its employees, and a beautiful home. Well, everything except a romantic partner. She's also a little light on friends, but that's largely due to her focus on building her career. As her latest potential boyfriend collapses in a spectacular way, she meets two women who fill the friendship void.

Together with Taylor and London, Samiah decides to forego men for six months, something the trio labels The Boyfriend Project. This man ban intends to stop them from jumping into yet another lame relationship, but it also develops a fortifying relationship between the three women. Some of my favorite scenes feature Samiah, London, and Taylor dishing about their jobs, families, frustrations, achievements, wants, and needs. (Farrah Rochon says that the next book in the series will feature Taylor, and I can't wait.)

As you might suspect, however, the best of intentions don't always lead to victory. Daniel, a new employee where Samiah works, immediately captures her attention. He captures yours, too. You sense, right along with Samiah, that this man might just be worthy of her because, right from the start, he shows that he values her.

The importance of knowing your worth and settling for nothing else flows through this book. Samiah, London, and Taylor were ready to deny their instincts and accept the attentions of a man who does not deserve them. Professionally, Samiah debates whether to choose her job over her dream of creating a friendship app, believing it impossible to have both. And then there is Daniel. If she lets herself fall for him, is she prioritizing a relationship over her burgeoning friendships?

Farrah Rochon also treats you to a mystery of sorts involving Daniel. He's working with Samiah for reasons he must keep secret from her, and Rochon builds the tension of what will happen when Samiah inevitably finds out what's going on. Both Samiah and Daniel narrate the book, their chapters helping you feel the various conflicts they experience.

Farrah Rochon makes you laugh, makes you think, and makes you question whether you settle for less than your worth. She creates characters you wish you knew in real life, and she makes you eager for Tayor's and London's books. I'm a new fan of how she tells a story.

Thank you so much @ReadForeverPub & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 09 June 2020)

SYNOPSIS | Samiah Brooks learns through live Tweeting that the guy she is dating has also been dating at least two other girls. All 3 girls become friends and decide to focus the next 6 months on themselves rather than finding a new man.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the representation of a black woman within a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) industry. I actually work in Tech Innovation for Marketing so it was really cool to see my industry represented.
- excellent diversity of characters
- I wanted to be a part of Samiah, London & Taylors friendship group

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Daniel as a love interest. He didn't suck me in or make me root for him.
- The entire "i'll steal her keys and access the database" plot was far too convenient & unrealistic for my liking
- The ending felt pretty rushed

How would you react if you found out the man you've been dating is actually an undercover agent working a case?

Samiah finds herself at the center of a viral video, along with the man she's gone on a few dates with and two other women... Bouncing back from this, she lands herself 2 awesome new friends and a project to do something for herself. But who's that steamy new guy at work?

Daniel is looking to complete another undercover take-down so he can win his dream job, but from the moment he lays eyes on Samiah, it's a constant battle between personal life and professional.

This book made me laugh, gave me the feels, and wrapped it all up with a nice bow at the end! Sometimes strong female characters irritate me because they turn out to be too stubborn, but not Samiah. I found her to be a very likable character with a great head on her shoulders, someone I'd love to be besties with! Smart, funny, and realistic. AND, she's a black woman working in computer programming - which is badass!

Friendship and romance aside, this book has a great plot. Kudos to the author for coming up with something fun. This book was just the right length, never a boring moment. A few steamy parts, but nothing that couldn't be skipped over if it's not your thing. I can't wait to read more from this series (please tell me it's a series and her new friends will get books...)

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.