The Boyfriend Candidate is a fun contemporary romance that follows a librarian and a politician who engage in a fake relationship. The story begins as a shy, introverted librarian named Alexis decides to step out of her comfort zone and have a one-night stand. However, it goes horribly wrong when the hotel catches fire, and Alexis is carried out by her almost hook-up Logan, who is also running for governor. The next day, Logan’s team convinces Alexis it would be in their best interest to pretend to be dating. That way, both of their reputations will be preserved, but neither expects to fall for the other.

I really enjoyed this quick and entertaining rom-com. The characters are layered and dynamically developed, and I especially liked Alexis. A self-conscious woman with low self-esteem, Alexis finds her voice over the course of the story. She becomes more empowered and involved in the political arena where she is able to invoke change. I liked seeing her become more confident and self-assured as she moved out of her sister’s shadow. Plus, Alexis is super passionate about books, reading, and literacy, which speaks to the bibliophile and teacher in me.

Logan is the opposite of Alexis. Extroverted, outgoing, loud, and foul-mouthed, Logan is officially my new book boyfriend. He’s super swoon-worthy, and his feelings for Alexis are fantastic! I thought Alexis and Logan had amazing chemistry right from the start. They have such a wonderful connection, and I loved seeing the ebb and flow of their relationship from an almost one-night stand to fake dating to more.

I also love the focus on literacy, reading, and education. The story includes a lot of political situations, which isn’t usually my favorite, but I didn’t mind it in this story. It didn’t overtake the plot, but it is a main focus. Plus, there are some great conversations about relevant issues that affect our society, like the banning of books and the lack of funding in public schools.

Overall, it’s a fun rom-com with amazing characters, a lovely and steamy opposites-attract love story, and important messages. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. all thoughts are my own.

I have found a new book boyfriend in Logan Arthur friends and I’m not sharing lol

Its no surprise I am forever in awe of the talent that is Ashley. She has turned me into a lover of Rom Com’s and her latest, The Boyfriend Candidate does not disappoint. If you remember Fool Me Once, you will be familiar with its cross over characters. You don’t need to read it to love this one, but you would be missing out.

This has everything you could ever want in a rom com-and so much more! Lots of LOL moments in this one like Fool Me Once, however I felt this one was a bit deeper. It was sweet, had some strong sibling themes (sister relationships always get me) the MC is a librarian, there is steam (library steam scene that will be living in my memory for days) oh and did I mention cats?! Yes, there are so many cutie little furballs in this one!

I loved the banter between Logan and Alexis. It was tense, sensual, and full of passion. They both had a good sense of oneself and I loved that we got to grow with Alexis. There is politics in this one, however I don’t think it was as “political heavy” as FMO. I could go on and on but, you are probably sick of my Ashley obsession at this point. Just know this is cozy like a beloved blanket and will warm your soul.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @harlequinbooks for an early copy of The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

The Boyfriend Candidate is a fake-dating, romantic comedy about Logan and Alexis, who meet at a hotel bar one night and what was supposed to be a one-night stand for both of them became a disastrous night when the hotel catches fire in a lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees. Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months.

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

I really enjoyed Logan and Alexis’ chemistry in this novel as they both fight their true feelings for each other while maintaining their fake relationship for all of others to see. Their banter was also quite enjoyable, although I found Logan too trusting of Alexis from the onset, which I found a bit uncharacteristic for a politician. I also found Alexis’ change from being too shy to being the face of an educational campaign too drastic; the transition was too quick and I found the change unusual considering she was described as being too shy and afraid to speak her mind. I also wasn’t a fan of inserting a third party into the mix despite both already realizing their true feelings, I think it was unnecessary.
Apart from those, I applaud their character growth, with Logan realizing that his political ambitions have another purpose elsewhere, and Alexis going out of her comfort zone.

The Boyfriend Candidate is an overall good read, although the entire story could have been shortened a bit. Rating this ⭐⭐⭐/5. Releases May 9th, 2023!

I’m a bit torn on how to review this one because there were things I loved and things that just didn’t do it for me.

I loved the very first few chapters and I was hooked right away with the flirty chemistry between Alexis and Logan and how their entire first meeting went down. I loved the way it ended and the way things wrapped up in the last few chapters.

In between, there was a lot of politics, which I get… Logan is a politician after all. But, in some ways this book felt like a political soap box wrapped in RomCom packaging. Some people might love this book for that but it just wasn’t for me.

I also really really struggle with miscommunication tropes on the whole and this one was just A LOT of that for me and I was constantly frustrated, particularly with a situation Alexis’ sister gets her into that absolutely causes so much drama and makes such a mess of things.

Overall, I liked the book, it had some things I really enjoyed but others that weren’t a great fit for me.

This was a cute but very predictable read. I am a massive fan of the fake dating trope. However, I am not a political person. So this book did not really seem very relevant to me. But I thought it was a cute romance read.

When school librarian Alexis decides to go out of her comfort zone and have a one night stand after a bad breakup she does not expect to run into gubernatorial candidate Logan. After being photographed in a compromising position Logan’s team comes to Alexis with a proposition. To avoid scandal they will pretend to be a couple for the remainder of the campaign. As Alexis gets more entwined in political life she discovers she can be a voice for the educators of Texas. But as her passion comes to the forefront her relationship with Logan becomes tricky as she starts to develop deeper feelings by a for him. Does he feel the same way? Will they be found out by the press that they aren’t a real couple?

I loved Fool Me Once and The Boyfriend Candidate did not let me down! I connected with Alexis being an introvert, shy and not wanting to be the center of attention. The way her character develops is so wonderful and something I personally took note from. Another wonderful romance by Ashley Winstead!

I loved this RomCom. A one-night stand turns into something more when a fire interrupts their romance and their pictures end up in the paper. Since Logan is running for governor, Alexsis agrees to fake dating in an attempt to save his reputation from bad boy rumours that swirl.
But running a campaign with a "girlfriend" who starts sharing her own platform values proves to be tricky, especially when there is off-the-charts chemistry between the two of you.
This is a fun, slightly spicy romance that was delightful to read. I loved the character development with both Logan and Alexiss facing their pasts and family of origin issues.

Alexis Stone, self proclaimed introverted Virgo, dubbed mousey and boring in bed by her ex boyfriend Chris, decides she's going to prove him wrong and heads to the Fleur de Lis bar for a one night stand. There she meets Logan, a “classic, British, Texan.” Alexis uses one of the funniest pick up lines I have ever read, sparks fly, and they end up canoodling at a hotel right down the street. A freak lightning storm happens and Logan rushes to carry Alexis outside where they are met with photographers and Logan disappears. Alexis can’t understand what has happened until pictures of her and Logan hit the news and she finds out Logan is a candidate for the governor of Texas!

I think it's important to begin by stating that Ashley Winstead is my hero. She is one of my favorite authors and my TOP autobuy authors. Her writing style is so descriptive, her characters are three dimensional and come to life off the page that make her books bingeable and some of my favorites of all time and The Boyfriend Candidate was no exception. If you haven't read Fool Me Once, stop reading this review and go read it NOW and then come back! You get to meet Alexis and her sister Lee and while it's not completely necessary to read before reading the Boyfriend Candidate, I highly recommend you do because there is a backstory that you won’t want to miss. Lee and Aleixis’ sister relationship evolves in a very relatable way and I really enjoyed watching their communication, support, and dynamic unfold.

The character development in the Boyfriend Candidate is some of my favorite. Logan may be my new favorite character. I am not sure if you have watched Ted Lasso or seen the movie Definitely, Maybe from 2008 but Logan reminds me of a mix between Lasso’s character Roy and Ryan Renolds character in Definitely Maybe. He is passionate, curses like a sailor, has a tough exterior but is a softy on the inside and I loved him for Alexis. Alexis, a cardigan wearing, romance book club host, middle grade school librarian is timid and quirky, and also incredibly relatable with her lack of self confidence. Her evolution had me rooting for her the entire book!

I absolutely devoured The Boyfriend Candidate and I think you will too. There is fake dating, miss communication, and a supportive cast of characters that are so endearing. I could not wait to see what happened between Logan and Alexis! Also, make sure you read the Acknowledgements. One of the most thoughtful tributes by an author. I am really looking forward to Winstead’s next read Midnight is the Darkest Hour out in October! Her ability to write romance and mystery is unmatched.

I’ve been a fan of Winstead’s psychological thrillers, but this was my first rom-com by her and it didn’t disappoint! What a fun, sexy ride with two intelligent, likable characters. I’m always going to go for her dark books, but this makes a lovely, feel-good palate cleanser so to speak in between her thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a unique fake dating romance if ever there was one! I’ve seen a few political candidate (or elected official) books popping up in the upcoming releases recently, but but the blurb for this one caught my attention the most.

Alexis tries to step out of her shy, rule following, librarian mold for one night, and heads to a nearby hotel bar to try to do that. The first old man creep to hit on her is chased away by a very hot, very chivalrous gentleman who she gets chatty with, but makes it clear he doesn’t want the same… but by the end of the night, things change. When the hotel catches on fire before anything can happen and they end up getting photographed together so he runs off, she just writes it off as a super bad idea.

When she’s summoned to political campaign headquarters for the local Governor candidate the next day, where his team decides the best plan is to fake that they’re dating and have been for months (having met at a joint event where her sister, the Senator, was involved), they each make their own demands and it all totally snowballs from there… with Alexis completely becoming a new person on the campaign and Logan losing his playboy image.

My only concern with the book is a third party person involved… somehow, so many books I’ve picked up in the last month ended up with an unwitting love triangle or undertone of cheating, which I’m totally not here for, that’s why I’m not giving this a full 5 stars. The book had me completely engrossed and hooked until that moment, and then it lost me. Otherwise I would recommend it. If that whole part was taken right out or totally re-written it would make this a far more enjoyable read. The conflict should never be this.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (Graydon House), and this is my honest feedback.

I requested The Boyfriend Candidate on a whim, having read Winstead's The Last Housewife last year & really enjoying it - and I was curious to read a book by the author that was of such a different genre. I didn't realize this is a sequel to Fool Me Once (also published in 2022, I think The Last Housewife must've sucked up all the promo budget - although I see the books are from different publishers) - but I don't think it is necessary to read the first book to follow the story of The Boyfriend Candidate.
I had problems with our main character's characterization - she goes from shy to political operative very quickly, without a, like, politician's wife lessons montage to ease the transition. She is also exclusively interested in politics as it affects her job (which I guess is probably better than a majority of people, judging by the turnout in my province's last election), which makes her activism seem pretty hollow.
I also had problems with the politics - not because I'm a conservative (gross, never)- but because Logan is running as a Democrat in Texas and gerrymandering is never brought up. There was all sorts of vague policy carryings-on for the campaign, but not nearly enough focus on voter registration. I think a lot of American states are wildly gerrymandered, but Texas is particularly bad, because it should be a "purple" state demographically, but remains safely red - with alleged humans like Greg Abbott & Ted Cruz winning elections handily. I understand that this wasn't the focus, and the book may well take place in an alternate universe, evidenced by Alexis' sister being both a Democrat and an ally to the incumbent Republican governor, but it pulled my focus constantly.
The third act breakup annoyed me, because Logan doesn't use it correctly to either score points as a jilted man or say that the kiss was a misunderstanding. Instead he just blows up his own campaign, when there were so many choices for spin. I loosely understand the reasons to inject some honesty into a story that is mostly about misunderstandings and fake dating - but with all the politics going on, let's maybe set honesty aside and try and help the people of Texas have some human rights, my God.
Romance wise - the slowest burn.
Not a genre switch that worked for me, but I look forward to Winstead's next thriller.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for provding me with an arc for review.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead is a heartwarming fake-dating romantic comedy I just fell in love with. It has strong character development, and I loved watching Alexis Stone blossom into a strong and independent woman right before my eyes.

My Reading Experience:
I was surprised by how much I loved this story. It has that extra layer of depth that makes it much more than the typical light and fluffy romantic comedy. Watching Alexis become who she was always meant to be was a wonderful part of the story, and I loved every second of it.

However, there is a great deal of talk about specific political topics that could have been cut down a great deal. I could go to any news site to read about politics and political issues. I don't really care for it in my escapist reads. But that was the only critique I had about the story.

It's written beautifully and flows so authentically that it reads very quickly. The fake dating trope felt natural, which is something for a trope that is unnatural by its very nature. I loved the pairing of Alexis and Logan. They have a chemistry that leaps off the page and is undeniable.

Characters:
As I've mentioned a few times, the character development was my favorite part of this story. I'm all about women's empowerment, and this is such an authentic example of that concept. Alexis is a school librarian who has always lived in her sister's shadow. Her self-confidence and self-esteem have been attacked at every turn in her life. During this story, I watched Alexis discover that she has a voice and that people will listen if she uses it. I loved watching her journey to that realization.

Narration & Pacing:
The story is told in first-person narration, with Alexis telling her story. This worked very well for keeping the pace quick. The only thing that slowed it down was the periods of political talk. They could have been more generalized other than the area where Alexis found her voice. Doing that would have made the entire story consistently a quick read.

Setting:
The setting is Texas, which surprised me when they mentioned it. Although, that played well into a political story, especially with the specifics of this novel. Even though the setting initially surprised me, it was used very well in the story.

Read if you like:
Fake Dating romances
Women empowerment stories
Character-driven romantic comedies

Ashley Winstead has done it again! Her new romcom is a fake dating masterpiece! From the moment Alexis meets Logan, I knew I was a goner and would be spending the entire time reading rooting for them.

In this swoony & charming novel, we have a shy school librarian who was dumped & humiliated. In trying to change her ways, she accidentally stumbles into Logan at a bar. Just as they are about to hookup, a fire breaks out and causes them to run out. Logan is caught carrying her outside, which blows up their life. The next day, Alexis finds herself at the center of a scandal because Logan is none other than the hotshot politician campaigning to be the next governor of Texas. Since Alexis is a school librarian she fears this scandal will cause her to lose her job… so of course the only logical solution is to pretend they date for the next two months in hopes the scandal will blow over … what could possibly go wrong?!

While this may be a charming and swoony read, I did love how vulnerable Alexis was a character. She is a woman dealing with the trauma of her father breaking up her family, then his death, she feels completely misunderstood and it was lovely to see her character develop into a strong willed & more confident woman.

I cannot wait for Ashley’s newest thriller to hit bookstores later this year! I said it on my stories & I’ll say it again, I will read ANYTHING she writes 🙌🏼.

Loved it! This is the definition of a slow burn as the couple has agreed to “fake date” and therefore cannot admit to real feelings. You cannot help but want these two together!!

Logan and Alexis are total opposites. He is loud and brash and working on toning himself down. Alexis lives a quiet life in the shadows, but is yearning to break free. Their fake relationship brings out real feelings and the best in both of them.

These two have amazing chemistry that they struggle to contain. I loved when we got to see the real Logan as he raced to the library to make sure Lexi was ok. In the face of a disaster like that, you can see someone’s true self.

I read this in practically one sitting. It was so good I didn’t want to put it down. Even as a slow burn, it was captivating. I just loved these characters and their story.

I have loved all of the books I’ve read by Ashley Winstead and was SO excited to receive an ARC of her new book The Boyfriend Candidate! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the connection between Alexis and Logan and it was also fun to get some updates on the characters from Fool Me Once.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication: May 9, 2023

I love a fake relationship and this one started in a really interesting way. I liked the two leads and the book was enjoyable.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I normally shy away from political romance, but I had a good feeling about "The Boyfriend Candidate" and OH BOY am I glad I trusted my gut! This book was wonderful. It hit all of the marks without getting bogged down by political detail. As a reader (who is not American and does not understand the American political system) I knew what was going on 100% of time, the author did a really fantastic job of balancing detail and context within the larger romance storyline. On top of that, ya girl is a sucker for a fake dating slow burn (but Ashley Winstead DID tease us with "one bed" and then RIPPED IT FROM OUR HANDS! *sigh* C'est la vie.)

This story had so much emotion, a fabulous cast of secondary characters, and an absolutely perfect ending that was not what you would expect (but instead was SO much better!)

I highly recommend this book!

Everyone thought my Goodreads was hacked when this romantic comedy showed up on their feed, but all you have to do is look at the author and know that I'll read anything she writes (just don't write a math textbook, please!)

Featuring MC Alexis Stone, younger sister of Lee Stone from FOOL ME ONCE, once again Ashley has created a plot with a political landscape that I ended up loving. Alexis is a children's librarian who has been unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, accusing her of being boring. Smarting from the rejection, she decides to do something bold. She ends up at a bar looking for a hook up but instead ends up fending off a lot of unwanted advances before a charming man named Logan comes to her rescue. After deciding the attraction is mutual, they get a hotel room, and things are heating up when they really become sizzling...literally. The hotel is struck by lightning, and when the evacuate, photos of the couple are taken because Logan is a man of importance.

I don't read romance, so I was always wondering what 'HEA', 'forced proximity', and 'fake dating' meant. Now I get it, and I think I may like it a little!

I really enjoyed how the characters were developed, especially Alexis and her passion for books and literacy. I enjoyed the political part of the story just as much as I enjoyed the romance. Of course I immediately read something horrid when I was finished because having happy feelings is unfamiliar to me after finishing a book!

Thank you so much to Graydon House and NetGalley for this early read. THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE will publish May 9, 2023.

Two years after she got dumped, Alexis Stone is determined to have a one-night stand. Her first interaction with someone at the bar doesn't go well, but she is rescued from the pushy asshole by a handsome stranger. They decide to get a hotel room and while things are beginning to get steamy, the fire alarm goes off. While exiting the building (because it is actually on fire), Alexis trips and twists her ankle. The handsome stranger carries her out of the building and then quickly disappears after assuring she is safe. Unbeknownst to Alexis, her handsome stranger is actually Logan Arthur, current Gubernatorial candidate for Texas, who is widely known as a "playboy". In order to rehab that perception, they ask Alexis and Logan to fake date until election day.

What this has:
- Fake Dating
- MMC falls first
- Forced Proximity
- Opposites Attract

I really enjoyed this!! I liked both Alexis and Logan's characters a lot. Alexis' character growth was really lovely and felt pretty realistic. I loved the focus on education and teaching that Alexis brought to Logan's campaign and how that really added to her growth as a character and helped her realize what she wants to do with her life. This was a slow burn which is not always what I gravitate towards but I felt like it really fit this story super well. The ending was fabulous!

I do think this book would have been improved by being dual POV but that's the only slight criticism I have.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and Netgalley.com for the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and Netgalley.com for this arc. I was my dream come true.
I was there with Alexis, she was down but determinated to shine to be different. She had a vision to be someone else but almost when she was there to have a different night something happens. And then she is called in a political office to meet someone and she is proposed a deal she can not refuse. She found her self on a new rule, really different from what she excpected and everyone expected for her. I adored her and how everything, also the fall that made it seems her more human, real. Oh I almost forgot him. The man, this first politic I might fall for was everything. I know they were perfect but as in every story nothing can just be.. we have to take time, carve for it. And maybd then after a going down, after we lose something, we win something else.