4.5 rounded up to 5 for netgalley and goodreads. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced reader copy!

The author has said in several interviews that The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist was intended to be a satirical comedy about fanfiction and popular fanfic / romance tropes, and in my opinion it absolutely delivered! We have so little YA for younger readers with minimal spice these days, and I am thrilled to see one coming out.

The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist is unique in the YA space because it's a true comedy. Think along the lines of Brooklyn 99, The Good Place, maybe even as another reviewer mentioned Family Guy. The jokes and nonsense are front and center, and while the character development is done with care, if you're looking for spice or a sweeping romance this might not be the book for you. If you're looking for a book that is lighthearted, hilarious, doesn't take itself seriously, waltzes back and forth across the fourth wall, has a very fast pace, and feels a little like Scary Movie, this is the book for you. It doesn't read like most YA rom-coms, including Gonzales's other rom-coms, and I'm hopeful it will open doors for more YA comedy books, as it's an almost empty genre and it's a personal favorite of mine.

I can see myself re-reading this when I'm having a bad day and just want to laugh and unwind.

I received a copy of this digital ARC on NetGalley for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. When I first requested it, I thought I had read that it was YA, which it is. I did not see the “Teens” in the tags.

While I was reading the book I was questioning if it was geared more towards young adults because it read more middle school, and now I understand why. I did not like the book, but that is entirely my own fault. This was much more fantasy/fiction whereas I thought it would be more heavily based on romance.

I made myself finish the book so that I could give my honest opinion and because I truely needed to know why Mack and Ivy were no longer friends.

I believe that young adults, and middle school aged individuals will like this book. While it is not my cup of tea, it may be someone else’s. It is a great story all around though. Great job.

This was so fun! What a good bit of magical realism, and I loved the romance that ended it all! I also really enjoyed reading a story about a fanfic writer, as I have dabbled in that myself. :) I will add this to the list of recommendations.

Sophie Gonzalez is one of my favorite YA authors that I will continue to pick up as I get older. I really enjoyed this book, even though it took me so long to read it. That end of the year slump was no joke. I really enjoyed the concept of this story and how Sophie always comes up with interesting plots. This wasn't my favorite of hers, but I still really enjoyed it. I was mildly confused as the cover seems to depict a character of color, but I don't think during the book that the main character was described as being a character of color. I will say again, it took me so long to read it that I might have forgotten. I enjoyed the anxiety rep in here, as well as the talk of relationships and friendships. Can't wait to recommend this one!

I really loved this book! I loved the fanfic aspect of the story and the way that Ivy gets to learn who she is through her best friends. It's a really sweet book and I enjoyed it a lot.

I love Sophie Gonzales, but this one didn't quite reach the level of previous books. The secondary characters were more likable than the main character. She was a wet rag compared to them. Ivy wanted someone to hold her hand through everything and wanted someone to fix all her problems. Then, when her parents did that exact thing, she said they were crowding her and micromanaging her.

The book made some interesting points about sexual identity, but again, it was bout a secondary character. The banter wasnt' nearly as witty and sharp as in past books. The resolution to the plot was pretty vague and I'm still not sure how the whole thing came about. Ivy had to realize something about herself to solve everything?

This won't be where I recommend someone start with Sophie Gonzales, but for someone who is super into fanfic and a fandom of any kind, it might be relatable.

This book was super cute!!

THE PERFECT GUY DOESN'T EXIST is a love letter to fanfiction, fandoms, and nerds everywhere! I loved this magical realism adventure that was also a queer romance - it was incredibly fast-paced and I finished it in one sitting!

Personally, as someone who has never been a part of an obsessive fandom community, I did feel like I would have appreciated this book more if I'd had that life experience. BUT at the same time I do think Sophie Gonzales did a great job of making the story accessible to all. This book definitely felt like a YA geared toward a younger audience, but the sweetness of the story was perfect for all ages!

I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a quick and fast-paced read and loves nerd culture!

What do you do when all of a sudden the fan fiction you've written suddenly becomes reality? This is told in dual timelines both past and present. Ivy and mack have been on the outs ever since their big fight. Then one night when ivys home alone she wishes she had someone there with her. And when she wakes up she's surprised to find weston razorbrooke in her bed. This was an incredible YA book full of angst and so much diversity in characters. I absolutely devoured this book. There's a bisexual mc, lesbian mc and aro ace mc. There's also poc characters and mental health representation. Overall this is a fantastic read for those that love YA romance with plenty of angst and falling in love for the first time.

4.25/5 Stars


If you've ever wondered what would happen if fanfiction came to life… and you love all the tropes, this is definitely the book for you! I mean if you ever had a fanfiction era in general this book is for you!

We meet Ivy, who writes fanfiction about her favorite TV show (H-MAD), and of course, when her parents leave her to her own devices, somehow, she brings to life one of her favorite characters and madness ensues. Soon Ivy realizes she is in over her head, and she drags BFF Henry, and ex-best friend/old crush Mack, into the problem solving with her and it weaves a fun, intriguing story about growth and what we really want. We get to see how each character faced conflict in the past, and how they can grow their communication skills in the present while also managing all the hijinks the new fanfiction friend comes up with.

If you love sapphic reads, watching characters grow, and all the fun of fanfiction this is an absolute must read book! Sophie Gonzales hits the mark in this YA fantasy meets real life story. Strengths include that these characters are well-developed and feel very genuine. This book knows its audience and it is *chef’s kiss* Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist” was such a cute book! It’s a queer romance with friends-to-enemies-to-lovers that surprised me in the best way possible. Really just an overall nice, warm and fuzzy read. I was invested in all of the characters, I adored all the fanfic references. The characters were so fleshed out and relatable. I loved the slightly disastrous Ivy, the gorgeous Henry and the badass Mack. An extra plus for the representation, with Ivy being bisexual, Henry aro/ace and Mack lesbian. I loved the super sweet romance between Mack and Ivy, and there truly wasn't a dull moment in this entire story. Ivy and Mack were pretty good at communicating by the end, which I liked. And Ivy and Henry’s friendship was so wholesome. I just didn't want the book to end. If you love fanfiction and romance books, tropes (and picking them apart), crazy situations, lovable characters, a fast-paced plot, and a happy ending, this is the book for you! Thanks to Sophie Gonzales, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I can’t wait to read what Sophie writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

I was so thrilled when I was given the chance to read Sophie’s latest book. I managed to advance read WANEGBT, and that has be one of my absolute favorites, so of course I jumped at the chance to read this one.

When Ivy accidentally manages to bring the subject of her fan fictions to life, she’s got four days before her parents come back from a trip to determine what happened and what to do with the fictional guy hanging around her house. Thankfully, she’s got her best friend Henry, and surprisingly, her ex best friend (and former crush) turned “enemy” Mack to help, even if they don’t entirely believe that he’s real. Inter-cut with pieces of the past time lining the fall of Ivy and Mack’s friendship, this story will speak to anyone part of fandom, and play on the fantastical idea of “what if our favorite fiction person was suddenly…well, here?”

I will say that the story felt slow in some sections, and I found myself putting it down and returning a few times, even having to encourage myself to keep going. I really wanted to love this as much as I loved her last novel, but it felt like it was missing things. Even the romance felt very…lacking, for a lack of better words. But the writing is great as usual, and her characters feel fleshed out, but it felt like it took some time for the rhythm of the story to really get any traction. I still recommend it for anyone who loves books about fandom, or is just a Sophie fan!

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is not your typical YA contemporary romance. The slight magical realism aspect, incorporated through bringing the main character, Ivy’s, fanfic character to life, felt like a fresh twist. And although it was an interesting concept, it felt like this overshadowed the friends to enemies to lovers romance plot.

Having read most of Sophie Gonzales’s previous YA books, I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it’s probably my least favorite thus far. However, even though it didn’t work for me, I can see how other readers could love it—especially avid fanfic readers and/or writers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't wait to read this. Who wouldn't want their fan fiction crush to come to life and be their soulmate? I swooned and laughed and I enjoyed reading this so much. I look forward to the next book by Sophie Gonzales.

I have read and enjoyed all of Sophie Gonzales other books, so I was excited to read this one as well. I was not disappointed, it was a cute YA. Best friends to enemies to lovers.

I have enjoyed previous titles by this author and was excited to read her newest. In this novel, when Ivy's parents go out of town for a few days, she wakes up the first morning to find that her favorite tv show character, Weston, who she writes fanfic about, has someone appeared in her house. What starts as disbelief soon turns into an attachment for this magical being. Ivy's best friend Henry, and her former best friend Mack, quickly get drawin into the predicament that Ivy now finds herself in as they have to figure out what to do about Weston before Ivy's parents return.

This is a cute romantic comedy. The characters are unique and likeable and Weston's antics had me laughing out loud. The focus of this novel is on self-discovery and learning about what's really important in life. There is LGBTQ+ representation in this novel as well so more teens can feel connections to characters than in a "typical" rom-com.

While I didn't enjoy this novel as much as her others, I will definitely read more of this authors work.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #ThePerfectGuyDoesn'tExist by #SophieGonzales
-3.5 stars

Sophie Gonzales proves herself an excellent writer of satire in "The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist," an engaging exploration of love, friendship, and the world of fanfiction, both the good and the “cringey” parts of it. This book is a love letter to fanfic enthusiasts, skillfully examining every trope (such as enemies-to-lovers) while noting their strengths and flaws as she creates a narrative that balances humor, romance, and introspection.

Gonzales employs satire with finesse, infusing the narrative with self-awareness and humor. My favorite parts were when Gonzales included snippets of Ivy’s fanfiction, which brought back memories of my own fanfiction I used to write back in middle school; it definitely made me cringe, but I think that was the point. The chemistry between Ivy, Mack, and Henry is a highlight, with their interactions crackling off the pages. The romance between Ivy and Mack, despite being on the younger side of YA, manages to evoke intense emotions, though the miscommunication troupe is used quite a lot within their flashbacks, so be aware if miscommunication isn’t your thing. What Gonzales did really well was show how the characters grew through their depth in emotions that was juxtaposed between the flashbacks and the present time within the story.

The book's main strength is in its commentary on romantic tropes and the escapism found in fanfiction. Gonzales navigates the delicate balance of examining the role of romance, fanfic, and fandom in our lives while playfully poking fun at their more ludicrous aspects.

"The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist" caters to a diverse audience. For those in the YA age group, it offers a cute and sweet exploration of teen relationships, reminiscent of the challenges and joys of adolescence. Even for older readers, the book promises an enjoyable experience, mainly if you are someone who has created fanfiction.

I did find the writing style to be on the juvenile side, but it aligns perfectly with the target audience and the book's overall tone. I actually thought the writing style was realistic with 16 year old characters, like how there were pages of the characters nonsensically arguing with one another, which definitely happens with younger teenagers. I could also see this book working as a middle grade novel as well.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially with the focus on fanfiction. I think this book could be used in the high school or middle school English classroom in a lesson discussing troupes in writing and the importance of details, such as with the flaws noted in Ivy’s fanfiction in the book.

Great and cute and sweet and one of the most fun romcoms I’ve ever seeen with a really awesome ending.

#SPEAKUPSMP has three demands:

1. Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.

2. Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.

3. Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

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3.5 stars

The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist follows Ivy Winslow, a sixteen-year-old who has two great loves: her favorite fantasy TV show, H-MAD, and writing fanfiction. When her parents leave her with an empty house for a week, Ivy is excited to binge H-MAD with her best friend, Henry, and not worry about anything (except maybe her best friend-turned nemesis and unfortunate neighbor, Mack). Things go awry when Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous, very fictional main character of H-MAD in her bedroom, claiming to be her soul mate.

There was a lot of things about this book that I absolutely loved: Sophie Gonzales' classic and easily lovable characters, the friendship dynamics, and the ode to fanfiction (something that's been a huge part of my life and writing journey as well!) I was really intrigued by the premise which has been a classic fixture in fanfiction and also TV/media for ages and hoping for a new spin. For the most part, I got that. I think this book put a fresh spin on a lot of older tropes and, due to the premise of the novel, also included some on-the-nose insight and commentary into tropes and fanfiction that almost felt a bit like breaking the fourth wall (but naturally!) I really appreciated those parts as an avid fanfiction enjoyer myself and I know a lot of readers will really appreciate and resonate with it as well.

Unfortunately, what I felt was lacking for this story was the romance aspect. While Ivy and Mack's relationship had all the foundations of what should be a wonderful friends turned enemies turned lovers arc, I feel that the execution is a bit disjointed. Due to the limited timeline of the book (the one week Ivy's parents are away + some flashbacks into the past to reveal why Ivy and Mack's friendship ended in the first place), there left limited time for Ivy and Mack to develop a believable reconciliation and then romantic revelation. The progression of their dynamic felt more like checking boxes rather than a natural and authentic evolution, to the point where I can't fully believe that they still liked each other romantically after things went sour for their friendship and that they entered a romantic relationship so quickly after the truth broke out.

I also feel like the dual timeline aspect of this book was not my favorite. While I do think it was necessary to gain the context about Ivy and Mack's failed friendship to understand their characters and their mutual animosity in the present (along with other details like Ivy's love for H-MAD and how her friendship with Henry formed), I almost feel like having alternating flashbacks for every present chapter was unnecessary and maybe even a little excessive?

All of that being said, Sophie Gonzales is my favorite YA contemporary author for a reason. No one is able to write accurate and tangible teenage characters and teenage relationships like her! While this one wasn't my favorite of hers, I have the utmost belief it will be for others. And I'm always eager to see what she'll put out next <3

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the E-ARC of this book!

Sophie Gonzales always writes wonderful stories and this one was no different. I really loved the way the the relationships in this books were written and the romance. This is fun and fantastic new YA romance you will want to pick up this March.

I absolutely ADORE Sophie Gonzales. I have read quite a few of her books, and most have been 4 or 5 stars. Despite the GORGEOUS cover and fun synopsis, The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist, unfortunately, was not on the same level.

One thing I really appreciate in books is diversity and inclusion. As you can tell from the cover, the primary Romance is a interracial Sapphic couple. There's a lot of inclusion: the main character is bisexual, her love interest is a lesbian, her best friend is aroace, and there's a nonbinary classmate that's mentioned very briefly. I wouldn't say there's neurodivergent rep, but the main character does deal with anxiety throughout the course of the book.

The plot is fun, especially if you like fanfiction. I wouldn't really say I'm a fan of it, but I'd be lying if I said I've never read any. I liked how it was incorporated into the story, rather than just solely being a hobby of the main character.

So while I did like the characters and the general idea of the plot, I didn't feel like I liked the book as a whole. Not because the author did anything in particular wrong, just that it wasn't a favorite of mine. Especially when you consider some of the other books the author has written. So I think that if you find the plot interesting, give it a go! It wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I could also see this being a favorite to other readers.