this entire book was such a fun concept and was really unique in my eyes. i loved every single minute of it

Wow!! The tension between these two characters was so fun to read. I was dying for them to talk more! The steam was amazing! Way more detail than I remember in previous titles. The storyline was fun and perfect for anyone that has been obsessed with a series. A true love letter to fandom!

Can’t wait to see this on shelves!

This book has an interesting plot concept. FMC is obsessed with a series similar to ACOTAR, and goes to a week-long full immersion experience for the fantasy world. after breaking up with her boyfriend for being too romantic but not realistic. But little does she know her work enemy is also there learning how to become a book boyfriend. That was an interesting idea, but the execution wasn't something I really enjoyed. Anyways. I will dramatically tell my friends the plot so we can LOL about it, but I will not recommend that they read it.

What happens when your worst work enemy crashes your fantasy dream world?!

Jennifer Worth is obsessed with the Elytheum Courts series, where the guys are brave, chivalrous, and, oh yeah, winged. Freshly single and needing a break, she heads to an immersive fan convention to dive headfirst into her favorite fantasy world. But guess who shows up? Her work nemesis, Scott Daniels.

What follows is an epic enemies-to-lovers romance with all the best stuff—snarky banter, undeniable chemistry, and some serious sparks flying as their shared love for Elytheum starts to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

If you’ve ever dreamed of finding love through a fandom, this book is for you. It’s a perfect pick for all the Romantasy girls!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this free gifted ARC.

”i would risk everything for a chance with you.” ₊ ⊹

my thoughts┊this was alright! not my favorite from this author duo, but also not my least favorite.

i actually didn’t read the synopsis before picking this up, so i was kind of surprised by the storyline. it was a fun, unique setting that i think a lot of people will be able to enjoy, especially fellow book lovers. the message and discussion in this story is really important, and i appreciated the way it was done! it’s so easy to get lost in fantasy worlds, but it’s important to remember that you can make your reality better too.

overall, i enjoyed this book. i did think the romantic aspect kind of took a 180- there wasn’t enough character relationship development for me to be totally convinced. also, i understand the aspect of the fictional book series that is mentioned in this, but the amount of mentions was getting repetitive and slightly annoying. it felt like i read the word “elytheum” on every single page. a lot of the internal conversation with jennifer seemed really repetitive as well.

though i did have some irks, i still had a good time reading this. definitely a good message, and i loved the found family/friend aspect. this would be such a good spring or summertime romance to pick up!

(4.5 stars) I loved this book so much! I knew I would from the very first chapter, which was hilarious! The FMC's personality and snarky wit was perfection. This book was fun, and romantic at the same time. The romantasy readers are going to really relate to this book, for sure.

There were only a few minor things that stopped me from giving this book the full 5 stars, and besides that it would have been utter perfection. There were two parts in the book where the FMC just did not react the way I would have reacted in that situation, at all. And maybe that's just a personal thing, but I just couldn't connect to the main character when to me, she was behaving so oddly and almost backwards to what I personally would have done. Secondly, in the last part of the book, the FMC was acting pretty juvenile for her age. Besides those things though, absolute perfection, I loved it so much!!

The FMC, Jennifer, was funny, relatable, a little bit immature but that also could have come just from being insecure and vulnerable also.

The MMC, Scott, was perfection. For some reason I kept picturing him as this nerdy guy with glasses (even though it NEVER says he has glasses!), so I kept trying to alter my mental image of him. I loved his personality though, it almost gave me autism vibes in the way he was so kept-together, and logical, and how he took notes and things. (The book also never says anything about autism.) I absolutely loved it, because he was so different from Jennifer, but he was her rock, and he was SO smart and insightful!!

I also loved how over the course of the book, all the characters really changed and developed. Not just the main characters but ALL of them, even the side characters!

When this book is released on February 25, 2025, I am absolutely buying myself a physical copy for my shelves. (Or a "Book Trophy", as my husband calls them, haha.) Actually, I'll pre-order it. This one is a keeper!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and authors Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka for the ARC!

Now excuse me while I go read the entire backlist from this writing duo ;)

Let me start by saying contemporary romance is not exactly my jam. I read it sparingly and it usually has an element of fantasy, dark humor or something to do with books or people who work with books going on. So perhaps, my 3 star review is closer to a 4 or even 5 star review if the reader is particularly into romance reads.
Book Boyfriend caught my attention as I am in a reread of A Court of Thorns & Roses series via dramatized audiobook and Elytheum is clearly a parodied reference to ACOTAR. That being said I genuinely enjoyed Book Boyfriend. There were moments that I found romantic and sweet and also funny enough to make me literally laugh out loud several times. It was a fun read and gave me a reprieve before reading something a little more intense/engaging. Ultimately, I feel this was a good reminder to take chances on your dreams as the reality of them has the potential to be better than your fantasies. There was also a validating message of books being so much more than just words on a page and that it’s okay to embrace your passions shamelessly. I loved the real connection between Scott and Jennifer. There was something so lovely and real about their intimacy and vulnerability. I will add bonus points for the Pride & Prejudice (2005) references because really, what’s more romantic than Darcy and Elizabeth in the rain? Speaking of Darcy-I think people who enjoyed the movie Austenland would love this book! I would also recommend if you like The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, you would also probably like this book. I would love to see a movie adaptation of this book as well! I kept thinking this would make such a good romcom as I was reading.

I have loved everything I've read by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka and this one still holds true! This was steamy and sexy and angsty in the best way. I loved every minute of this book.

Jennifer is devoted to the romantasy world of Elytheum. She begins to ask herself if she is living too far in the made-up literary world when her boyfriend breaks up with her in a public way. Instead of wallowing, she joins an Elytheum immersive fan experience, escaping for a week to live in the series of novels that have gotten her through the hardest moments of her life. When she realizes that her enemy coworker shows up at the same romantasy event, she is forced to face reality in a made-up world.

This romance novel is a great idea but poorly executed. While I enjoy the immersive fan experience and it sounds like a dream, I felt like the characters, both main characters, were flimsy. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites, but Scott was not likable and she seemed a little too obsessed with the books - although I know that was one of the points - the way she was drawn was not engaging. The sideline plot with the best friend also threw me; I was not entirely sure what the intent of this side quest was. It seemed superfluous. I do think that the writing was compelling in parts, and I liked the world itself to keep reading, I was not altogether sold. What I DID like was the competing “Vals.” Those two were fun if a bit cliche. All in all, about a 3 out of 5 for me: could use some editing and recharacterization.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

i cant even begin to explain just how fun this book was to read, i felt like it truly is a love letter in a sense to all the romance readers, all the enemies to lovers fans and to all fandoms. it showed a really beautiful story of just how amazing the book community can be.

i loved how this centered around a beloved fantasy world in a week long experience as i see these experiences happening IRL and they look so fun and like everyone has the time of their lives there, the book truly helped me with my fomo on missing out on these experiences 😂🩵

the enemies to lovers in this book was SO insanely good, i was kicking my feet and giggling every single time scott and jennifer interacted with one another bc of their pettiness and just not being able to help being flirty at the same time. however there were some times where it felt like scott was just being plain old mean 🥲 maybe that was just the way i read it, idk but what i do know is jennifer is better than me because some of the things he said would have made me cry my eyes out 😂

also the side characters forever have my heart, all of them were so so sweet and funny

this entire book was such a fun concept and was really unique in my eyes, i loved every single minute of it and sort of have my fingers crossed we will get a bit more insight into amelia’s HEA one day 🥹

some tropes:
enemies to lovers
grumpy/sunshine
coworker
found family

Another incredible read by an incredible duo.

What happens when your worst work enemy crashes your one week in your fantasy dream world?

Jennifer is obsessed with the Elytheum Court series (um hello ACOTAR reference), which is where the guys are brave, winged and hot.

Fresh out the slammer of a bummer relationship, Jennifer heads to a week long fan immersive experience (which her best friend helped to create), but who does she see? Scott... it's always a Scott... seriously what the hell is up with Scotts?

In the page turning novel, it becomes a quick incredible read of enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, filled with banter, chemistry, and major sparks, oh and a scavenger hunt.

If you have ever found love between the pages of a book, then this book is for you. Perfect read for romantasy girls, or any one who has found their 'book boyfriend' between the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for my ARC!

📖 Book Review 📖 If you are reading this review, then you probably know what it is like to be absolutely drawn into the world of books, immersed in the comfort of a fictional world painted so perfectly by an author’s words. Books are Jennifer’s life and passion, so much so that she has made it her job in publishing; and so when she encounters a break-up, of course she escapes into her favorite fantasy world in a weeklong immersive experience with her best friend. The only problem? Her work nemesis, Scott, has made a surprise appearance in her magical happy place. Wibberley & Siegemund-Broka have written THE book for book lovers to escape into with their own people! I totally got lost in this one in the best way possible..

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Jennifer Worth, an avid fan of the romantasy series Elytheum Courts, lives for the sweeping romance and brave, winged men in her favorite fictional world. Seeking connection after a breakup, she heads to an immersive fan experience only to encounter her work nemesis, Scott Daniels, whose standoffishness and disinterest in her beloved series has made their publishing jobs feel like a feuding fae court. At the convention, however, Scott is different—confident, flirtatious, and inspired by Jennifer’s passion for Elytheum’s swoonworthy men, determined to remake himself into the perfect book boyfriend. But as sparks fly, Jennifer questions whether this enemies-to-lovers romance is real or just a trope they’ve stumbled into.

Now for my review—I’ve always enjoyed the addictive romance novels written by this real-life married author duo, and even their YA works hold a special place for me. When I got the chance to read their latest book, with its sizzling enemies-to-lovers trope and a romantasy scavenger hunt setting, I was intrigued! However, despite my admiration for the authors, I struggled to connect with this one and must admit it’s my least favorite of their works.

Scott, in particular, rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning, and I hoped for a reason behind their initial feud that might redeem him, but it never came. In fact, my dislike for him only grew, making it hard for me to root for him or the romance. I found myself wishing for a more entertaining work nemesis, someone like Erik or Fred, who could inject more charm and humor. Jennifer, on the other hand, felt immature in her obsession with finding a "fantasy man," confusing fiction with real life in a way that came across as impulsive. The scavenger hunt, while meant to be fun, felt long and disconnected, especially since the world of Elytheum Courts seemed like a foreign language to me, and I lost interest in the plot.

Though I appreciated the witty banter and chemistry between Jennifer and Scott, I couldn’t fully buy into Scott’s passion for her given his earlier disdain for her romantic ideals. His change felt more like physical attraction rather than genuine emotional growth, leaving me unconvinced of their long-term potential.

I’m giving this book three stars for the banter and sparks, but I found myself preferring the supporting characters like Amelia, Brit, Laurel, Erik, and Fred more than the leads. Here’s hoping the duo’s next book will be more to my liking, as I’m still a devoted fan of their writing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

og acotar girlie here, and the concept of a week-long immersive experience complete with paid actors for the main characters, a cosplay costume shop, and a scavenger hunt, not to mention a love interest who is there to take notes on how to raise an eyebrow seductively, is a little too cringe for me.

It seems like after the roughest draft and do I know you, each of this author duo's books have regressed further and further in terms of quality. and lately, they have been using popular fandoms as clickbait for their books.

thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review

This was an entertaining read. It's very much a story about two people who get off on the wrong foot and whos first impressions of each other are not good. The story has enemies to lovers vibes, but the characters and the setting feel fresh and alive.

DNF -- I'm sorry to say I think The Roughest Draft might have been a fluke. I loved that book and so I've tried Emily and Austin's other books that have come out since, and they're just not for me... :( It's too bad because I absolutely love the concept!

This duo has done it again! The authors masterfully blend humor with genuine emotional depth, portraying Jennifer and Scott’s journey from adversaries to lovers with great charm. Their evolving relationship, set against the backdrop of their shared passion for a fictional universe, adds a layer of magic to their real-world interactions. The writing is engaging and relatable, capturing the essence of finding connection in the most unlikely places. Overall, this was a very endearing and enjoyable read for me.

"Book Boyfriend" is a fun, love letter to fantasy romance books. After yet another rough breakup, Jennifer escapes to an immersive convention for her favorite fantasy series (think ACOTAR-esque). While there, she meets up with her work rival, Scott, who is attending the convention to become the ideal "book boyfriend". This book is akin to Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's other adult romances, with a fun premise and excellent banter. This was an exceptionally quick read, but I wish we'd gotten more of a chance to see the relationship develop, as the story is contained in a short timeline.

Enemies to lovers trope is not my cup of tea but after reading this book I might have to try more of this specific trope. This was a delightful book and I hope to read more by these authors.

This was such a fun celebration of fandom, romantasy, and all of us who grew up in the Edward Cullen to
Xaden Riorson pipeline. At the same time, it was a tribute to the magic we can find in every day life, if only we’re brave enough to look.