If Ashley Winstead wrote a grocery list, I would probably be entertained by it, because, whether she's killing off characters or putting them in complex and messy romantic relationships, she's absolutely fantastic! I loved Ashley's Fool Me Once, and so I was so excited to see that she was returning to the Stone family with Lee's sister, Alexis. Enter Logan Arthur, a complex and swoony gubernatorial candidate, and the fireworks start going off. I absolutely loved this book. The Boyfriend Candidate is everything I love about rom-coms...overcoming obstacles to find love without being too over the top, and this is one of my recent favs! Thank you for the opportunity to review.

Y'all, my #1 book writing queen has done it again. I loved Alexis so much and appreciated how passionate she was about school reform since I am a teacher who gets it. The chemistry in this is amazing as is the banter. The side characters really added to the overall plot. I don't mind politics so I enjoyed seeing the behind-the-scenes aspect of Logan's campaign. Make sure you read Fool Me Once first though (it is one of my favorite rom coms from the past few years!) to understand the light references throughout this one.

"Just -- don't discount people's feelings because you're used to discounting yourself."

Okay, I'm just going to say it: This is my favorite Winstead novel yet.

Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a good fake-dating romance? Maybe it's because this politically charged novel is set in my home state? Or maybe it's because the banter, the chemistry, and the tension were just that good?

Either way, I fell hard for this couple and believe this is the strongest installment of the Stone Sisters series to date. (In case you were unaware, Fool Me Once centers around Lee Stone the sister of The Boyfriend Candidate's FMC, Alexis Stone. And while I do believe TBC can be read without first diving into FMO, it was nice to revisit characters and plot lines laid out in "book 1.") And while their settings and themes were similar, The Boyfriend Candidate felt like a better mix of politics, plot, and passion than its predecessor. Don't get me wrong there are full scenes of gubernatorial debates and policy discussions, but it never read too preachy and was more than balanced by the intimate scenes between the leads. Leads that, I'll confess, you will want to chastise a time or two for NOT communicating with each other, but -- as is the romance way -- they do eventually figure it out.

And once you factor in the strong cast of supporting characters coupled with touching scenes about grief and growth, it's simply no wonder why this candidate won my vote.

Thank you NetGalley, Graydon House, and Ashley Winstead for the advanced copy of The Boyfriend Candidate in exchange for my honest review.

As per usual, Ashley can do no wrong for me. I adored absolutely everything about this book, but one thing I was not expecting was how much it was going to make me cry! (In fairness, it may be the pregnancy hormones). One thing I did expect (and was delighted to be right) was that her full sense of humor would be on display. She is so witty and it comes across incredibly well in Logan and Alexis!

And the build up... *chefs kiss* I'm not usually one for a slow burn but this one was definitely worth it.

At this point Ashley could write the alphabet and I'm certain I'd find a way to be enthralled by it.

This is my first book by this author and I'll be seeking out her backlist! Coincidentally, I just wrapped up my role assisting a local school board campaign so this book definitely hit the spot. Loved the main characters, friend group, and library/school advocacy!

Yes a million times YES. Screaming go buy this from the top of my lungs. This was so cute and fun and had me clicking to turn the page as fast as I could read it.
I will recommend anything Ashley writes.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Ashley Winstead read. I am excited to read her other books especially the thrillers because I'm curious how she writes cross genres! This book was sweet, sexy, funny, and also dived into deeper topics making it more than just a silly sweet romcom. I definitely recommend this one.

If you've decided to add The Boyfriend Candidate to your TBR, congratulations - you're about to meet you next book boyfriend. Logan is going to stick with me for a long, long time - his character definitely makes this book one that I'll want to reread.

Alexis lives her life in the shadows of others, and is trying to recover from heartbreak. When an attempt at an out-of-character one-night stand with a stranger she met in the bar is interrupted, she thinks that's the last she'll see of him - except it turns out their chemistry was caught on film, and he's running for governor of Texas while battling a past playboy reputation. Before she knows it, Alexis has agreed to play the role of the secret girlfriend for the next two months, to help see Logan through election day while preserving his reputation.

Logan is so clearly smitten with Alexis, but she can't see it - she thinks that they're just pretending, and it's hard at times not to reach into the page to shake some sense into her. However, she's also going through her own journey - building confidence, resolving conflicts with her family, and figuring out what she actually wants from her life and her future. Logan is there for her cheering her on every step of the way; all he wants is for her to be happy, even if he's convinced he's not the right man to do that.

I truly cannot say enough how much I love, love, LOVE Logan. He's so well-written and I just wish I could have spent even more time getting to know him. Ashley Winstead nails it again!

This book was fantastic! It felt incredibly fresh, even though it was a spin on the fake dating trope. The characters were funny and have a wonderful personalities. I related to Alexis very much and Logan was an excellent male main character. I didn’t want to put this book down at all and it will 100% be a re-read for me. 5⭐️, 2🌶

The Boyfriend Candidate is a swoon worthy romance with a lot of heart. Alexis goes out looking for a one night stand on the anniversary of her ex cheating on her and stumbles upon Logan. Their hookup is interrupted but when photos start circulating of them looking disheveled Alexis is stunned to learn that Logan is in the middle of a tight race for Governor of Texas. To keep Logan's image from being tarnished she agrees to fake date him for the next few months. And while she is learning more about Logan she also ends up discovering more about herself.

The romance in this was so sweet and I absolutely adored both Logan and Alexis. Not only was the chemistry off the charts but their friendship was what really got me. I love that they were honest about what they wanted out of their fake relationship and helped each other to achieve those goals. This was also a slow burn romance that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't get enough of the caring moments between but I was also dying for it to turn into more.

I also appreciated that this was a book centered around politics but it was about causes that I feel like don't get that much time or thought. Perhaps for people like us who love books we might be more attuned to the onslaught of book banning happening in America. But I feel like the idea of budgets when it comes to schools and how that directly affects teachers and in turns students is one that people don't seem that motivated to care about. It was refreshing to see in this book clear ideas for ways to protest those changes but also being realistic with the outcome of it.

Another aspect of the story that I absolutely adored was how Alexis came out her shell and learned how to trust herself. She has to finally deal with her feelings regarding how her parents divorce fractured their family and years later, his death. This book has many messages that I loved and resonated with. It has had a lot of humor and some moments had me laughing out loud.

I previously read and loved Winstead's debut novel, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and I was blown away that she also nailed the romance genre. I can't help but compare this book to Red, White and Royal Blue since they are both funny romances with a heavy political backdrop. I also gave both books five stars which I think means I need to search out more political romances.

Alexis Stone is out for one reason and one reason only: to find a one-night stand. It’s the two year anniversary of finding out that her ex was cheating (again) and she’s determined to forget the pain his scummy actions, and somehow even crueler words, caused her. Alexis finds the perfect candidate for her one night stand with the absurdly handsome and wittingly charming Logan. But after chaos ensues, Logan runs away faster than Cinderella when the clock struck midnight. Alexis is confused, until she sees his face - and hers - splashed all over the news the next day. Not only was he a candidate for her hook up, but also candidate running for Texas governor. Their steamy night out is officially the talk of Austin, and Alexis quickly finds herself being propositioned Logan and his team. They need her help to scrub his “playboy” image with the voters by playing the role of his very pretend girlfriend. Alexis, a school librarian who’s already suffered at the hands of the government’s budget cuts, agrees to the plan in hopes that their fake romance can help better the world of education. Unfortunately though, it seems like neither Alexis or Logan can forget the night they met.

I went in blind (because I never fail to love Ashley’s books) and had no idea this was a spin off from “Fool Me Once.” I was so giddy when I realized who the characters were. I’m not much of a political buff, but I loved Lee and Ben’s story in their book and as a teacher, obviously this one resonated with me even more. Alexis and Logan take on big politicians, while also navigating the very evident chemistry between them. Who doesn’t love a fake-dating troupe? Ashley Winstead has crushed it again - I’m forever amazed by her ability to genre hop so seamlessly.

The Boyfriend Candidate is a very cute, enjoyable contemporary romance. I feel like it hits many of the right notes - a fun meet cute, a ridiculous reason to get the characters together again, and a really lovely and fun dating/courtship, with a little more than a sprinkle of drama.

While I was reading The Boyfriend Candidate, I was having a great time. It’s fun, and Logan and Alexis have amazing chemistry, so watching them circle around each other was an absolute delight. But this is one of those books that when I think back on it, I kind of can’t get over how unrealistic some of the parts were. So, if you can easily suspend disbelief (obviously I can, as I loved reading it), then go for it! But if you’re the type to be like “there’s no way in hell an up and coming politician in Texas would do that” then… maybe skip this one. I’m not saying the entire thing was unrealistic, and I do think that the ending made sense for the time and place, but it does require going with the flow for some parts.

The Boyfriend Candidate does touch on some heavier themes at times. Part of Alexis’s journey is dealing with the emotions from her parents’ divorce when she was a child and her father’s death. I do think this was handled very well. It didn’t bring the overall tone of the book down, but it did insert some realistic feelings and reasoning for how Alexis acted at times. While I’m talking about Alexis’s family, I will also mention I absolutely hated Alexis’s sister, Lee. As an older sister I would NEVER talk to my younger siblings the way she talked to Alexis! It was wild. And then I found out that the other romance that Winstead has written was Lee’s story, which I have zero desire to pick up.

Alexis and Logan were amazing characters. I loved Logan’s grumpy, straightforward politician vibes, and Alexis was everything I think of when I imagine a children’s librarian. I loved watching the two of them get to know each other in the context of their fake relationship and then realize that maybe it should be more than fake. The family, friend and colleague dynamics (other than Lee) are also really great. The book really manages to weave in Alexis’s growth into the romance, and that is the kind of thing I want to see - amazing women surrounded by awesome people in their lives, figuring things out and getting the romance they deserve. The relationship was adorable and perfect and I just could not get enough of Alexis and Logan on page together, especially when they were flirting in front of the TV cameras!

All in all, The Boyfriend Candidate was funnier and cuter than I expected (it’s so hard these days with the illustrated covers to know what you’re getting) and was a really fun escape of a book. I would definitely recommend it for folks who are looking for a good romance with a strong character growth arc for the female main character.

Content notes: Alexis was cheated on prior to the events of the book, the death of Alexis’s father (also prior to the events of the book) is mentioned

First of all, the cover of this book may have just become my absolute favorite cover. It's so cute and I can totally see Alexis and Logan when I look at it!

I wanted to read this book because it's set in Austin, TX, my hometown and honestly, I wanted to see just how much I would recognize from the book. While I won't get too political here, the book does deal with some politics and Ashley did a great job of showcasing the many issues we as educators face.

I love that Logan is a real person trying to make a difference in a Conservative state and Alexis is in the workforce trying to improve conditions for some of our most important, yet undervalued workers, Educators. The storyline was unique to me, I haven't read another book quite like it and Ashley Winstead has a hit on her hands!

I didn't want to leave Logan and Alexis just yet and I'd love to go back into this make believe world and see what they're up to. I highly recommend this book if you love RomCom/Contemporary Romances, Austin, TX, are an educator/work in the education system or if you want some spice with your make believe politics. You'll laugh, cheer for the underdog and feel a sense of worth and appreciation. Try it out now!

I thought this book was funny and captured you into the story. I loved the characters including the side characters. I think the story had a great plot and the ending was perfect. The FMC finding herself throughout the book while also finding love was wonderful. I love when a novel shows the importance of self love. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen.

Quite the humorous read. Alexis’s first attempt in a one night stand turns into a media frenzy because of course there was a fire before the dirty could be done and of course someone caught their escape in a photo.
I could identify with a lot of Alexis’ personality traits as well as her reminisces as a 12 year old.
I thought the scene where Logan and she run into her ex was gratifying.
Read this book and see how well fake dating for votes works out.

After being dumped by her jerk boyfriend, for being "boring and mousy," Alexis decides to find a man to boost her confidence. Wearing a gorgeous, daring dress, she finds a savior who fends off a jerk who won't leave her alone at the bar. But when she and the gorgeous guy are caught in a seemingly compromising position, he runs off! Now she's being hounded by paparazzi when he comes to her with a fake dating proposal. He'll look good to the voting public, and she'll stop being bothered by the press. What could possibly go wrong...

Fake dating combined with light politics = a great combination. I love this pair of opposites. I love that he fell first, even if he did fight it, and I loved most reading as Alexis grew as she gained confidence and strength. Logan and Alexis' chemistry is electric, their banter is witty and funny, and I really couldn't stop reading, rooting them on with each page.

I loved this book! I didn’t realize that it was the second book to Fool Me Once, which I haven’t read and sometimes I wasn’t sure if things that were mentioned were things I should have known about from the previous book, but I honestly didn’t think it mattered. Ashley Winstead does such a great job of ensuring this can be read as a standalone novel.
Fake dating isn’t normally my favourite trope. I have so many questions like is this a thing that happens in real life? Although maybe it is for people in the public eye. Anyway, this time I think it’s done so well and Logan has become my new favourite book boyfriend. Although sometimes I definitely cringed at certain things and thought, omg that’s a bad idea.
I worked in politics for years, including on several campaigns, so I could really relate to the stress of the campaign season. I love the role that Alexis takes for herself on Logan’s campaign and the way she relates to the various campaign staff. The book banning subject is so topical right now and it was great to be able to cheer for Alexis’ campaign policies on book banning and education support.
This is a book about learning and embracing living outside your comfort zone. And along with the romance, this is also a book about the relationship between sisters. I loved the character of Alexis’ sister, Lee Stone, and I can’t wait to go back and read her story in Fool Me Once

Alexis is a school librarian still smarting from a recent breakup from a man who said she was boring in bed, so she decides to have her very first one-night-stand. She meets a super hot man in a bar, they head up to a hotel room, and then the hotel starts on fire. Alexis didn't realize that hot man Logan is running for governor of Texas, so they start fake-dating to protect his political career.

I loved the setup for the fake-dating trope and thought there were some great funny and sweet moments. I was really enjoying the first half or so of the book, but in the later chapters I couldn't get past Alexis's dithering and got irritated. I get that she was written to be not the most self-confident person, but for the love, lady, read the room. He's into you, for realz.

This has some great reviews from people I trust and had a lot going for it, so I think this was more a case of me not being in the right mood while reading than any big flaw with the book, even though it wasn't my favorite. It was also super fun to be reunited with Lee and Ben from FOOL ME ONCE, and I'd love to read another of Winstead's romcoms!

If Ashley Winstead writes it, I’m going to read it. This is the second book in an interconnected series (the first was Fool Me Once) and I loved seeing glimpses of those characters again. That said, I loved this one even more than the first book.

Heavily rooted in the political world, Winstead is the only one who can make it sound remotely appealing to read as far as I’m concerned. That said, this book also incorporated advocating for education which is something our country desperately needs and definitely sold me on it instantly.

I loved how this book developed the importance of becoming the best version of yourself, finding what you truly want in life and going after it. It’s not about being what other people want for you – but discovering who you truly want to be.

I loved how Logan and Alexis met and how their relationship spiraled out of control. I loved watching them try to contain their mutual pining and I loved watching it all break loose when they couldn’t contain it anymore. There was miscommunication due to insecurities, but it was also realistic and I always love when it’s handled that way.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s adorable, you’ll never want it to end, and you might even be motivated to start living life outside of your comfort zone.

Tropes:
- Celebrity romance (politically speaking…)
- Fake dating
- Fling to forever
- Opposites attract
- Toxic ex-boyfriend
- THE BANTER!!!

Almost A Texas-Based The American President. Mostly in overall tone, and with this one being in some instances both funnier and more poignant than even that classic movie - though far from its extremely quotable climactic speech - if you enjoyed that movie, you're very likely to enjoy this book. In both, you get a lot of Democrat-heavy politics, so if that is a major turn off for you - either because of the specific politics or because you don't like real-world politics in your fiction, particularly your romantic fiction, generally - ummm... this may not be the book for you. If you *do* enjoy Democrat politics but want your Democrat politicians to be shown as near John Galt mythic heroes... eh... you're going to be disappointed here, as both of our leads are shown to be very flawed people who happen to meet and fall in love in the middle of an intense campaign. And speaking of the campaign itself, this was actually a remarkably solid look at the inside of campaigning in America today, for all its positives *and* negatives, so there is that - but again, if you're reading for more pure escapism... that may not be what you want.

Overall the book used its near 400 page length well, showing both a slow burn "fake" romance *and* the various political escapades quite solidly, while allowing several secondary characters various chances to shine as well. All told, this is a solid story for what it is that may not be what everyone wants, but there is nothing technically wrong with what it is. Very much recommended.