THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE – Ashley Winstead
Graydon House
ISBN: ‎ 978-1-525-80496-0
May 9, 2023
Romantic Comedy

Austin, Texas – Present Day

Shy school librarian Alexis Stone hates letting loose, but after her ex said that she was boring, she decides to go to a bar to pick up a one-night stand. But before she and the guy she met at the bar can do the deed in a rented hotel room, the fire alarm goes off. After she twists her ankle, he carries her out of the hotel, where they are photographed. He then dashes away. The next day, Alexis learns that her mystery man was Logan Arthur, the gubernatorial candidate of Texas. Now a scandal—and crisis—has erupted in Logan’s campaign due to the photo. Alexis is brought to the campaign office and presented with a way to save both her and Logan’s reputations: pretend to be dating each other.

They don’t know each other but Alexis and Logan are thrown together in THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE. While it has been a year since her ex ended things with her, she can’t forget his hateful words about being boring. Yes, she doesn’t like to get crazy and wild out in public, but she is a school librarian. The last thing she needs is to have her name and reputation shredded in the media. Logan is more concerned about winning the election and promises that all Alexis needs to do is follow his campaign manager’s orders. But this will mean that they appear at public events and act like they are dating. Is kissing part of the plan? Right now, things are kind of awkward between them. Will they ever get past the first night they met?

There are several comic moments as Alexis struggles to keep up with the plan as Logan’s girlfriend. She likes the guy, but he is formal around her. For most of THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE, there isn’t much time that they spend alone, which means they don’t get to explore the chemistry between them that started their first night. Alexis is reminded that she must not start another scandal, but when her sister sets her up with a new guy, what can she say? It means keeping the new relationship a secret. What happens when Logan finds out and the media discovers it? Will all hell break loose? Will it doom her friendship—and burgeoning romance—with both men? It soon turns out that Alexis likes Logan better.

A fun romantic comedy that will give readers a smile or two, THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE takes you into the world of politics. Logan is the up-and-coming man of the moment, while Alexis would rather fade into the background. But it soon turns out that she is a star in the making. Can she get over her shyness in public? Will Logan and Alexis finally get a chance to explore their feelings for each other? Don’t miss the entertainment in THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Thank you NetGalley, Graydon House and Ashley Winstead for my eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love how this book follows Alexis, who we met in FOOL ME ONCE! She completely comes out of her shell in and takes a stand in what she believes is right! I’m not huge on politics but the fact this centers around school budget cuts was fitting and relatable as I’m a school based speech language pathologist.

And man oh man, Logan’s character is everything! I love how he doesn’t want to follow the rules his team has placed and use his sailor mouth. The epilogue was adorable and I was really happy with the ending! 4.5 ⭐️

The pining, the longing, this fake dating romance was full of big feelings that I loved. It felt honest and I loved Alexis finding her voice and passions throughout the story. Logan and Alexis were absolutely fantastic individually and together, and I also appreciated that they both faced authentic issues in their careers.

3.5/5 - While I liked this book more than I thought I would, it was still just an okay read. I liked Alexis quite a bit as a character, but I felt like she was unnecessarily clueless of Logan’s feelings. I felt like he was pretty obvious and she was always just like, “Hmmm…I wonder what that could mean? Surely not that he’s developed real feelings for me!” On the plus side, I thought it was a good move to NOT have this book be dual POV. That’s become a really common thing in romance novels these days and I’m kind of over it. The last thing is that I felt this book was a tad over dramatic. Press releases every time something happens with their relationship? I would just be so tired of them if I were a local. Overall though, this book was fine. Better than expected.

Note: I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although I have loved Ashley Winstead's non-romance books, this is the first of her romance novels that I've read so I was excited and hoped to love it as much as I have her other books. And I was so happy to find that this was FANTASTIC! I love the fake relationship trope and this one really delivered! But, I think this really excelled at two things: character development and at just being a JOY to read. I loved the characters and the entire plot involving a political campaign. The growth of Alexis, the heroine, was beautifully done. She grew into herself throughout the book in incredible ways and I was there for it! I loved seeing how Alexis and Logan came together and developed a beautiful friendship and respect for one another through their fake dating. The side characters were incredibly well drawn ... to the point that I would love to see books about any of them one day! All in all, this was a fantastic read. It made me laugh out loud a few times and it definitely made me feel that romantic comedy joy that comes from a great rom-com! I highly recommend this one if you enjoy rom-coms, particularly if you're interested in those with the fake dating trope or those with a political framework.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
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Okay. I’m just convinced that Ashley Winstead can do no wrong. I absolutely love her writing and her characters because they just pull you in and you become so attached to them. But Ashley makes you care about the book more than just the characters. She does such an amazing job at integrating the politics that are apart of the storyline and highlighting issues that are important to focus on as a society. But I feel like she doesn’t do it in a way that is like “preachy” ya know? This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! The amount of times that I was laughing while reading this book, and man o man, just the image of Logan! You can just see how much thought Ashley put into his character and really all the characters.
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I also have to say that I absolutely cried so many tears while reading her acknowledgments section. She talked about that this was her first book that is going to be published that her father (who passed away last year) didn’t get a chance to read and how this book was so meaningful for her. As someone who lost my father while I was completing my doctorate degree, it really resonated with me. There were so many huge accomplishments throughout graduate school that I hated not having my father there with me to celebrate, and even so many since then as well.
*
Overall, I cannot recommend Ashley’s books enough. You will love every since book that she writes because she is just a magnificent writing and really knows how to tell a story!
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This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Love on the campaign trail might be my new favourite trope ✨ This book ticked all the boxes for my politics loving self. A one night stand turned political scandal between a governor prospect and a school librarian? SIGN ME UP ✍️

This book has:
• Opposites attract: Our hero, Logan, is an outspoken and charismatic politician running for governor. Alexis is Logan’s total opposite, and she’s happy to stay out of the spot light, until she meets Logan
• The one night stand trope
• Fake dating: To help combat his playboy image, Alexis agrees to fake date Logan for the rest of his campaign. I love a good fake dating trope, and this book DELIVERED
• A grumpy hero who’s a major cinnamon role for his girl!! 🥺
• He falls first and harder: This man was so in LOVE it hurt! He really didn’t know what to do with himself, and I ate it up
• A love triangle: This trope really isn’t my cup of tea, but it didn’t occupy too much of the story

Overall, this was one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far! It’s the perfect fake dating slow-burn to read if you’re in the mood for tons of angst.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

The beginning of the book had me hooked. I thought this was going to be a super fun read. That changed the further along I read. The MC's characterizations were all over the place. The chemistry between the main characters seemed to fizzle out. It became more of a friendship with lots of politics involved. Which I knew there would be that wasn't the problem. I felt this book dragged on. The beginning was great, it had some cute parts in-between but overall it was just okay.

Also I had no idea that this book was a follow-up/spin-off of another book.

Book Releases May 9, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

This was a really fun book. I liked both main characters and their chemistry together. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the political/politician aspect of the story, but I actually really enjoyed it. I think because the main character wasn’t (technically) a politician herself, I still found her very relatable. The slow burn was paced really well. I didn’t feel myself skimming over bits to get to the next interaction between the main characters. I also enjoyed all the side characters. The humor in this book was great, I literally laughed out loud a couple times. I am not familiar enough with the intricacies of politics to know if everything that happened in regards to the politics is actually realistic, but it feels realistic enough that most people won’t be taken out of the story by anything that happens in that regard. Overall, the quality of the writing was great- just a pleasure to read. I will definitely check out more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing/Grayson House for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

One of my favorite tropes is the fake dating trope and The Boyfriend Candidate delivers and then some. Alexis, a school librarian, is delightfully awkward and decides to get out of her comfort zone by trying to have a one night stand. After Logan defends her against a creepy guy at a bar, they end up in a hotel room. Their romantic tryst is cut short by a fire alarm, they’re photographed together outside and Logan bolts. Unbeknownst to Alexis, Logan is running for Texas governor. His team decides that it will help his image and campaign if he and Alexis fake dates.

But Logan is falling hard and fast, especially after he realizes that Alexis is a natural at making education policy and dealing with the public. The chemistry is so good between the two of them and I gobbled this book up. Even with the miscommunication that inevitably happens, it’s well done.

I loved the politics at the forefront of the book and why education is so important and why teachers should be paid more. Those “lessons” were an integral part of the book along with the romance. Loved everything about this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC. The Boyfriend Candidate comes out May 9, 23.

I had read Ashley Winstead's thrillers before so I was a little unsure of how a romance from her would go! Well..spoiler...it went perfectly!

I loved The Boyfriend Candidate.. Alexis was adorable. "Ruby Dangerfield" made me laugh out loud. Logan was also really loveable, despite being a politician. And they had some great chemistry.

I had no idea this is the follow up to Fool Me Once....now I'm running to add that one to my TBR! But if you're like me and haven't read it, don't worry The Boyfriend Candidate completely stands on its own. Do yourself a favor and pick up both when The Boyfriend Candidate is released on May 9!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of The Boyfriend Candidate!

New to the world of Ashley Winstead, I was optimistic when I saw the review by Lynn Painter (one of my favorite authors) and was thrilled that it not only delivered, but overflowed with laughs, aww moments, and a ton of heart. The Boyfriend Candidate takes you behind the scenes of the insanity of the political life - from slimy politicians, to back room deals, to debates, to scandals, and all the insanity in between that it takes to create the perfect optics in the name of winning.

Alexis is the primary example of what happens when good girls try to go bad, and fail at it spectacularly! Celebrating the anniversary of her split from her ex (but still hearing and feeling the impact of his criticisms), Alexis is determined to prove once and for all that she can be desirable, spontaneous, passionate, and wild. Well she can fake it til she makes. Entering the Fleur, dressed to kill, she snags the attention of the last fish she would want - an overly loud and aggressive man who can’t seem to take no for an answer. Lucky for her, this fish was perfect bait for the gorgeous specimen that decided to come to her rescue. After buying him a drink to show her gratitude, Alexis and Logan hit it off and agree after a passionate kiss in the lobby that the night is not over. Apparently mother nature had a different opinion as a lightening strike causes a fire, requiring immediate evacuation of the hotel. A stair mishap and a rush exit, Logan finds himself partially dressed carrying Alexis out of the hotel. Unfortunately his heroic endeavor is caught on camera. Unbeknownst to Alexis, her dashing knight is no other than gubernatorial candidate Logan Arthur. Quickly thrown into the limelight on the brink of a scandal, Logan’s team orchestrates a counter attack - present Logan and Alexis as a couple, casting the intimate moment caught on camera as a mere invasion of privacy between two people in a committed relationship. Still determined to break free of the “Old Alexis” shackles, Alexis agrees to play pretend as long as they are willing to make a deal. As the two are forced to date, the lines between fictional and reality (with a little dash of fantasy) start to blur, leaving two people who are already in over their heads drowning in a sea of unknowns and what ifs.

What I like about it: There is a lot I liked about this book. First, the relatability of the characters. I felt like the author wrote about people we could meet one day and situations that more probable than possible. The incidents didn’t seem so outlandish that the reminder of fiction was front and center. The good guys didn’t always win, hearts were broken, bad things happened.

I had no idea what was going to happen from this book from one page to the next. What kept tripping me up was Logan and how reserved he always came across in the moments where you were expecting him to be …well him. Those are the moments when you really saw the impact of the life he chose and the whispers that constantly screamed in his head "Behave. Play it cool. Stay reserved. Don’t lose control!" I swear every time he had to fight back and cage who he truly was, you saw him die a little inside.

What I love about it: I absolutely ADORED the supporting characters in this story. Zora was like Alexis’s fairy godmother. Nora was a powerhouse. Cary had me cracking up. Let's not forget her sister and her crazy antics. Her coworkers were just wonderful and prove that love is trans generational.

Overall, I enjoyed the depth and development of the characters. Logan was determined to be whatever everyone wanted him to be, despite knowing exactly who he was. The fire and fury, the honesty and in your face attitude did not bold well for his constituents. To play the game, he had to suppress his true self - emulate the image and persona of the ideal character. For Alexis, it was just the opposite. She had no idea who she was so she, in turn, tried to be the one person everyone idolized - her sister. She never believed she was worthy, that she was enough. Instead, she constantly gave herself away, molded her image, her ideas, her beliefs, chipping away at the essence of what made her - well her until she was what everyone around her wanted, needed, and expected.

While this book was not down and out sad, the missed moments, the unspoken feelings, the longing just broke your heart. Normally miscommunication moments are frustrating in a book but here, you knew the reason why certain things went unsaid and it just create a melancholy feeling.

I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book. Throw in a love triangle, a zany political crew, topped with a grumpy vs. sunshine aura and you have a wonderful romance that keeps you thinking, smiling, and hoping that no matter what, everything will work out in the end.

Whenever Ashley Winstead writes a new book, I know that I have to read it! I absolutely love her writing style, and it amazes me how she can write both romance and thrillers so seamlessly.

If you remember Lee Stone from Fool Me Once, this one revolves around Alexis Stone, Lee’s younger sister (but you don’t need to read Fool Me Once to know what’s going on here). Alexis is trying to find her place in the world, which is something that I can relate to a lot. 31-year-old here just getting my BA and have no clue what to do with it, hi.

Logan was the perfect male MC. Ambitious, bold, a bit grumpy, but underneath it all, a heart of gold. I loved the chemistry that he had with Alexis, and reading about their love story was honestly perfection.

There was so much more than just romance, which is always a must for me when I read this genre. There was the loss of Alexis’ dad, her relationship with Lee and how Alexis always felt second best, her past relationships haunting her, political issues, and so on. There was never a moment where I felt bored or felt that things were reaching a lull. It kept my attention the whole way through.

If you enjoy romance in any capacity, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for my gifted copy!

ashley winstead you will never let me know peace and i am not mad at that fact.

Alexis stole my heart the moment we met her, trying to step out of her comfort zone and do something she was unfamiliar with led her down such a whirlwind path of growth?? Like the Alexis we began the book with was shy and unsure of herself and the Alexis we ended it with - I feel like a proud mother watching her blossom and take charge.
Also Logan, abrasive and potty-mouthed, I fell in love with him immediately and he only got better. And his character arc - where he ends up at the end of the book is so fulfilling

i reallllllly loved this book and the conflict had me yelling at my laptop and to my friend, and the LOVE CONFESSIONS? the subtle ones before the Real one. shut up, this is going up there with "you're the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires"

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

What a great book! I was excited to read a romance by Ashley Winstead, since I have only ever read In My Dreams I Hold A Knife!

I absolutely loved Alexis's personality. She was quirky, fun and had me smiling from ear to ear. Her character growth throughout the book went from being timid to confident and knowing what she wanted. I also adored Logan. He was such a kind human and although he had his faults, he cared so deeply about so much. There truly wasn't a character I disliked, except when we briefly encountered Alexis' ex-boyfriend.

One thing I wish we had had throughout the story was Logan's point of view. Although Ashley Winstead did a great job of giving hints to what Logan was feeling, I would have loved to have been in his head getting his play-by-play.

Full Review will be on my website- Chapterswithchan.com on 5/9/2023 + Instagram!

Loved this book! This fake dating, political romance was so great. Alexis and Logan's chemistry and tension was just off the charts, the reader can really feel the emotion in this novel. The author's writing reminded me a little bit of why I love novels by Helena Hunting too - I feel like there's a similar amount of humor and emotion in the writing. This book was funny, interesting, and full of touching moments both with Alexis and Logan but also with Alexis and many other people in her life. I loved that the novel emphasized the idea that being yourself should be enough - even if "yourself" likes to sit quietly at home on a Sunday reading instead of going out and being social. This was a really good book and I would recommend it!

Digital Advanced Review Copy received from the Publisher via NetGalley.

Alexis is determined to have a one night stand and when Logan unexpectedly defends her from a creepy guy, she ends up with him. When a middle of the night fire alarm cause them to run from the hotel partially dressed, the paparazzi zone in and Alexis realizes that Logan is a notorious gubernatorial candidate. To protect his reputation, she agrees to be his fake girlfriend until the election is over forcing them into a close relationship with hilarious banter. While this book is at time frustrating due to stupid miscommunication, I loved these characters and their relationship so very much that I didn’t even mind.

Alexis Stone, an introverted school librarian, has decided she needs to have a one-night stand. Unfortunately, her plans go awry when she and her chosen man are bombarded by the paparazzi and he flees into the night. Turns out, the hot stranger is a popular gubernatorial candidate, and Alexis agrees to a damage-control plan concocted by his team that involves the two of them pretending to date. What could possibly go wrong?! A lot, apparently. But it also goes so, so right.

Y'ALL. About ten minutes into this book, I squealed with delight at discovering that Logan Arthur is more or less the bookish version of Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. If you've watched the show, you also just squealed with delight, because you get it. It's GLORIOUS. I, of course, fell instantly in love with his character, and it just made the entire book so much better.

Alexis is also incredibly likable — you'll remember her as Lee's younger sister if you've read Fool Me Once — and I loved watching her confidence and self-actualization grow as the story progressed. I got teary-eyed at several places in this book, as the characters are so raw and realistic, and the acknowledgments also made me bawl. I love how Ashley Winstead is able to combine romance, comedy, and politics so flawlessly, and at this point she is an auto-buy author for me!!

If you've followed me for long, you've probably noticed that I don't really "do" romance novels. It's true, I'm very picky about them and I only read a handful per year. That being said, I highly recommend this sweet little romcom to anyone and everyone! Thank you so much to Ashley, Harlequin/Graydon House, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

“Books presented the perfect solution: you could follow friends on scores of adventures without having to worry about saying the wrong thing.”

Ashley Winstead is back on her romance game 🙏🏻 This one takes off where FOOL ME ONCE (five star read for me!) left off - this time following Lee’s younger sister Alexis.

Bookish, introverted Alexis meets Logan at a bar and decides to have a one-night stand for the first night in her life. Little does she know he’s a gubernatorial candidate and when pictures of them get leaked to the press she has to pose as his girlfriend to protect his campaign from scandal. Enter shy librarian 🤝 politician in the public eye 🔥🔥🔥

This is the perfect book to binge. If you love fake dating, this is for you. Also we love a man who falls first - like this man is losing his mind over her 🥹 I found this to be a bit reminiscent of THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION in that way 😏

And for those of you worried about the political element it was more of a workplace. A lot of the political issues focused on the education system which I found to be so timely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing the ARC.

Oh my goodness, this was a delightful romcom that I didn't know I needed until just now. The amount of wish fulfillment I just experienced was unparalleled.

As a librarian in Texas who has dealt with the same issues that Alexis deals with in the book, having an ear of a progressive gubernatorial candidate who supports your cause, and having that same candidate cause a political rucus with his no holds barred campaign in one of the reddest states in the union - man, I cant imagine anything more awesome that than.

And while I was busy clearing up the drool from an amazing political landscape that no longer exists in Texas, the romance was such a good inclusion and it was amazingly well written. I loved Alex and Logan together, and I loved just how selflessly he cared for her even when their relationship was fake. I am a sucker for fake dating tropes, and while most of the time, the miscommunication usually feels stilted and weird, in this book, it feels incredibly natural because of the ways these characters were portrayed.

Love this book!