DNF at 50%. I really wanted to love this book. It had so much potential and themes that I was really intrigued by, however I just could not suspend disbelief enough to stay interested in plot and the romance was not as compelling as I wanted it to be. I commend the authors for the super fun idea, I just don’t think the execution was quite there for my personal preferences, I have enjoyed other titles by this duo in the past.

Swoon!! I really enjoyed this bookish read!! Enemies to lovers is probably my favorite trope and this one didn't disappoint. Jennifer and Scott were just perfect!! The audiobook was absolutely such a fun listen!!

*Thank you partners @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

The title alone drew me into this one. I thought the setting of a immersive book festival was lovely but it was hard to appreciate the fictional world (that was very ACOTAR coded) all the characters loved. The competition/scavenger hunt was so fun and definitely something I would partake in. This ended up dragging and was a bit too long for me but you may enjoy all the details provided.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book. I tried but it fell flat for me. I could not engage with the plot being in the midivil scenes.

When Jennifer Worth gets dumped on her lunch break, she’s not heartbroken as much as frustrated about another failed relationship. She uses it to her advantage though and hightails it to an experiential weekend hosted by the author of her favorite fantasy series. The Elytheum Experience is just what she needs to forget all about her ex and immerse herself in her favorite world. But that all comes to a screeching halt when she sees her work nemesis Scott Daniels there, the person who has criticized her love of the series. As his motives become clear, Jennifer starts to realize she may have misunderstood Scott after all.

I enjoyed this one! It’s the third book I’ve read by this duo and it is now my favorite. It did take a bit for me to get into and some of the fantasy jargon was lost on me being that I’m not a fantasy reader, but I felt like it really came together around the mid-way point. Once we started seeing Jennifer and Scott interact more, I was invested. I really liked their banter and competitiveness and thought they had good chemistry. When their fighting made way to flirting, it put a smile on my face. Scott learned some book boyfriend ways by studying the series and they worked; there were definitely some swoony moments. I think he was genuinely a good guy, but just scared to get his heart broken.

I also loved the side cast of characters in this! Erik, Jennifer’s roommate, had me laughing out loud and the friendships she formed with Brit and Laurel were touching. And we can’t forget her former colleague and best friend, Amelia, who is the orchestrator of the experience. While this was a romance, it was also about finding your people, those you can be yourself with.

There is also important messaging around being careful not to get so immersed in our favorite fictional worlds that we forget to see and appreciate the possibilities in front of us. We should definitely have high expectations for our love interests, but it’s okay if they’re not carbon copies of our book boyfriends.

I’d recommend this to those who enjoy rivals to lovers, fantasy elements and found family.

Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka is an interesting, intriguing & heartwarming romance about a romantasy reader & felt like an ode to the readers, the fandoms & everything in entails.

Book Boyfriend is great for those looking to read about…
📚 Enemies to Lovers
📚 Opposites Attract
📚 Romantasy Scavenger Hunt
📚 Close/Forced Proximity
📚 Fandoms of Book Series
📚 Workplace Rivalry

This is a lovely letter to fandoms & the beautiful community you create when you find shared love for a story. I’m in awe whenever authors write books within books. It feels like double the work & this one had such a complex story that was interwoven into the novel in a really interesting way.

Book Boyfriend was an endearing adventure & will feel like coming home to the fellow readers & fans.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Book Boyfriend is a book meant for book lovers, especially Romantasy readers. Jennifer and Scott are work enemies that end up at the same week-long Romantasy book experience, based on her favorite book series, Elytheum. There are great side characters that really add to the story. I also liked the mystery, solve the puzzle, hunt that they go on and all the talk about their favorite characters and the fictional world of Elytheum. However, as much as I love this husband and wife duo and their previous works, this one wasn't a big hit for me. It's an easy listen and could be fun for readers who get obsessed with fantasy series, but this is probably my least favorite by this author duo.

Maybe I shouldn’t have read this after Onyx Storm?

Jennifer works in publishing. She is a romantic and believes her true love is out there. Scott works for the same company and believes Jennifer is living in a fantasy. After he rejected her friendship, they immediately became enemies and have not liked each other for a year. When Jennifer gets broken up with at work, she decides to attend a Romantasy immersive experience her friend helped to create about her favorite book series. She goes to escape her reality for a week and heal, but then her dreams are crushed when Scott, who has forever dissed her favorite series, is there too.

I really wanted to like this book. I have enjoyed so many of their other books but I could not with this one. Part of my issue was the romantasy series stuff. Now, I had just read Onyx Storm which is part of the Emperyium series, so reading about a fact Elytheum series felt too close. It also felt very A Court of Thorns and Roses which did not enjoy. I just felt like I was trying to read two books at once because Jennifer and this experience are so Elytheum heavy, that you feel like you can’t connect with the experience if you’re not an Elytheum fan. Maybe if this had been written more like the book Fan Girl by Rainbow Rowell where in between chapters were snippets of the Elytheum series? That might’ve made it feel more real than Jennifer just referencing it every once in a while.

Also, I am not convinced at all that these people like each other. It’s supposed to be enemies to lovers but I just did not get it. She asks him to get a drink to become friends the first time they meet, he says no, and then they continue to harass each other at work for a full year. Then once they’re out of the work setting at this experience, she finds him attractive? And apparently because he say her checking him out he realized he also finds her attractive? I kept thinking maybe he had had a crush on her the whole time and went to the experience to understand her more and win her over when he came back to work, but that was not the case at all.

She pretty much spends the whole time harping on why she dislikes Scott and it boils down to not liking him just because he doesn’t like her. I don’t find that very solid. I actually ended up skimming the whole second half of the book because I could not with these characters anymore. I found her to be whiney and overly tied into her fantasy world (which all of the characters accused her of) and I found him to be flat and have no personality other than the fantasy character whose traits he was trying to emulate.

I’m so disappointed because I have previously really enjoyed this duo’s books, but the last two have just not done it for me. Maybe their magic has worn off for me? I don’t know. I’d be willing to give them one more shot if the concept strikes me, but definitely not the top of my list anymore.

I think if you are super into romantasy and like romance of convenience this book might be for you. I would not describe it as enemies to lovers and found a lot of it to just be frustrating and annoying. Just not for me.

Book Boyfriend is a fun, immersive romance that blends fandom, fantasy, and the enemies-to-lovers trope in a unique setting. Jennifer and Scott’s dynamic is filled with sharp banter and plenty of tension. The book does a great job capturing the excitement of fan communities, and the side characters add plenty of charm. It’s an entertaining read for romance fans—especially those who love a good convention storyline.

This is a cute romance perfect for a Valentine's Day read. Jennifer is looking for her perfect book boyfriend, and Scott is trying to make himself into the perfect book boyfriend. Workplace enemies in real life they both end up at the same week-long fantasy adventure trying to find clues to win the ultimate prize. It's a fun quick read with a swoon-worthy happily ever after.

Book Boyfriend by Emily & Austin follows Jennifer as she attends an immersive fan experience for her favorite series, Elytheum Courts. The last person she expects to run into is her work nemesis, Scott Daniels. Neither of them have had luck in their romantic endeavors, and they bond with each other over that fact. Scott planned to pick up some pointers at the fan experience so he could become the perfect “book boyfriend”.

My thoughts: I really like the concept of this book, but I found the pacing to be a bit slow. I did really like the side characters, they were full of heart. I also liked the growth that both Jennifer and Scott go through! Overall, it was a decent read, but it didn’t exactly live up to my expectations.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this e-arc!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC of this one via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.

Unfortunately, I just wasn't in love with this one. It was a little slow and hard to get into. I've liked previous Emily/Austin books (The Roughest Draft being my fave), but this was just not connecting the way I wanted it to. Maybe I'm too old for this target audience? From the beginning, it was slow to engage, and I felt like the fmc was a little immature from the get-go. The concept was great, but I needed just a little bit more from this story.

Jennifer Worth’s favorite romantasy series, Elytheum Courts, is the perfect escape. When Jennifer attends an immersive fan experience, the last person she expected to run into is her work nemesis, Scott Daniels. Both of them are unlucky in love and find some common ground. Scott is hoping to learn some pointers during the fan experience so that he can become the perfect “book boyfriend.”

This was such a fun concept! As someone who is not a fantasy reader, it allowed me a glimpse into that world! It was the perfect fit for me because I got a taste of fantasy without actually having to read a fantasy book 😂

I flew through this story and had fun with getting to know the side characters.

Noe I want to attend an immersive book experience/convention for some of my favorite romance book series!

I love this writing duo and I’m so excited to add BOOK BOYFRIEND to my collection of their books 🙌

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free copy!

The FMC goes on a week long immersive experience of her favorite book series (think of a mix between a book con with something like the star fall ball) only to run into her coworker who she does not get along with and would never be interested in something like this. And they both work in publishing which I just found fun and a bit meta them debating genres and of course respect for Romantasy coming out on top.

This is dislike to lovers where they BOTH need to learn something. The FMC has a history of only seeing what she wants to see in relationships and sticking with people who treat her poorly. The MMC is stuck in a pessimistic cycle of if you never try to find magic well then you’ll never find it. They both help each other find that middle ground and yes he’s abrasive at first but by the end when he’s trying to create her dream romance for her I was swoony giggling kicking my feet. And when she learns that reality can be just as good as the fantasy you make it up to in your head if you prioritize yourself and the right people 🥹

The side characters were also highly entertaining, especially a certain actor *in character* vs out as the series leading man- and his rival. I felt like I was really there at the experience I ate up allll the little details. Easy 5 stars from me!

Book Boyfriend is a romcom about a woman at a convention for her favorite fantasy series when her arch nemesis from work arrives. Enemies to lovers but mixed in with a book world for the ultimate booknerd book. This was really cute and I found myself becoming immersed into this fake world created for the book series. The details were astonishing - as if the authors were writing two books at once. It made me giggle, sigh and swoon. So much fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and the Wibberley/Siegemund-Broka writing team for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I think you can get all you need to know about this title from one look at the cover: a vacuous cute girl twirling her hair and daydreaming, oblivious to the real-life guy in front of her.

Jennifer Worth is a superfan of a romantasy world clearly based on a certain Court of Thorns and Roses called Elytheum. After a public breakup Jennifer retreats to a week-long immersion experience in "Elytheum", held at a university in North Carolina. She's looking forward to a week dwelling in her chosen fandom and is unpleasantly surprised to discover Scott, her work nemesis, in attendance. He is apparently "taking notes on how to be a better boyfriend." Sorry not sorry but that premise is absolutely ridiculous. I didn't connect much with Scott but it was still better than the vague distaste (at best) and outright repugnance (at worst) I felt for Jennifer. She was SO immature. She was rightfully called out by multiple characters for ostriching herself in a fantasy world to avoid the real one. I also found her behavior with Scott to be astonishingly juvenile. The banter was more like bickering, in a "fifth graders who have a crush on each other but resort to hair pulling and name calling" sort of way. Romance, not so much.

Where I really felt the premise had charm was in the concept of "finding your people." There's no harm in being REALLY INTO something, and it's so much fun to find and connect with others who appreciate the same things you do. The only times I actually liked Jennifer were those few times when she was doing immersion experience activities with Lark and Brit (and even Amelia, Fred and Erik). As a personal growth/friendship story that portion was a win. Unfortunately, the entire romance portion was just... not very romantic.

I read really positive things about this author duo's other work so I would be interested to check it out, but this one did not do it for me.

⭐⭐

2.5 ⭐️ (I Rounded up)

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

The premise was adorable—
who wouldn’t want to attend a Romantasy book convention themed around their favorite series, complete with cosplay? And falling for a guy dressed as your favorite book boyfriend? Such a fun idea!

There were definitely some cute romantic moments, but the FMC felt a bit immature at times, which made it hard for me to fully connect with her.

That said, I think plenty of readers will enjoy this one for its fun and lighthearted plot—it just wasn’t for me.

ARC BOOK REVIEW

Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-broka
3 STARS

Thank you, Berkley Romance, for the #free eARC of this book! #berkleypartner

SYNOPSIS: “Jennifer Worth lives to escape into the world of her favorite romantasy series Elytheum Courts, where the romance is sweeping and the men are brave, chivalrous . . . and winged. Newly single and craving connection, she travels to an immersive fan experience celebrating all things Elytheum, only to see the last face she expected—Scott Daniels, her work nemesis, whose disinterest in Jennifer’s favorite series and standoffishness have made their publishing jobs feel like a feuding fae court.

Except the Scott she encounters there, in his secondhand cosplay outfit, is . . . different. Swaggering, flirtatious, confident. Unlucky in romance himself and inspired by Jennifer’s love for the swoonworthy men of Elytheum, Scott is determined to remake himself into the perfect book boyfriend.

Jennifer has no interest in helping the man who vexes her every workday and dismisses her fictional fantasies, but as the immersive convention activities force them together, they’re surprised to discover magic like none Jennifer has ever read about. But is enemies-to-lovers romance only for books, or can Jennifer and Scott bring the trope to life?”

REVIEW: Who doesn’t love a book boyfriend!? The whole book is centered on a week-long experience in a beloved fantasy world…with fantasy-type characters we all love!

I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Jennifer and Scott. Their interactions were full of playful pettiness and undeniable chemistry. The banter between them was truly entertaining!

However, while the chemistry was undeniable, I struggled with Scott’s character development. His shift from disdain for Jennifer’s romantic ideals to suddenly being passionate about her felt more like physical attraction than emotional growth. Though I loved the fun of their evolving relationship, there were moments when Scott’s behavior seemed downright mean.

This was my first book by these authors, and I’m so excited I finally got to dive into their work! I’m so excited to explore more.

Publisher: Berkley Romance
Pub date: 2/25/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I really loved the premise of this book. I am fully on board with an emotionally stunted man and an optimistic lady who find common ground. I loved that this took place at what seems like, essentially, one of the most amazing immersion experiences I've ever heard about (seriously, people should take notes). I loved that Scott was taking notes on how to be a better "book boyfriend" because his own dating life was in shambles.

My biggest issue with this book was the almost immediate 180 Jen did to create the conflict piece of this book and the whiplash the reader got when she changed her mind just as quickly. It felt very rushed and unnecessary, even though I know there needs to be conflict and resolution. I just wish this piece had been thought out a bit more and implemented as a more cohesive element of the book. It really tanked what was otherwise a great book for me.

As a lover of romantasy novels I was excited to see this synopsis about a young woman, unlucky in love, who loses herself in her favorite romantic fantasy novels Elytheum. In a fantasy world your dreams of the perfect man are delivered via fiction, keeping the hope a live that someday you’ll find your own hero, albeit unwinged. When Jennifer gets dumped by her current boyfriend, her week is free for her to go live out her fantasies at an immersive Elytheum event. She hopes to leave all her real world troubles behind, but when she gets to the event she discovers her work nemesis wearing leather. Scott is determined to solve his own relationship troubles and is determined to turn himself into a perfect book boyfriend. Jennifer wants nothing to do with Scott yet he keeps turning up and the notes he’s taking seem to be working in his favor.

There were some really fun elements to this story. Who wouldn’t want to immerse themselves in their favorite fantasy world, including their dream boyfriend? My hand is raised right along with yours! There were some cute moments where Jennifer is living out her dream, meeting people and making friends, but there were moments where it felt like the author’s leaned a little too hard into the fantasy taking me out of the story. I struggled with some chapters where the story felt a little cumbersome and the budding relationship was more antagonistic than frenemy. The story was a little problematic for me and I had trouble feeling good about Jennifer and Scott as a couple.

There were some happier moments. I loved that Jennifer, who seems to have trouble making friends and meeting people, seemed to be in her element. She put herself out there and really let herself enjoy the experience with a new group of non-judgemental friends. Those scenes were great and I loved the women helping women theme but unfortunately this was a romance novel and I couldn’t get past not liking this pairing as a couple. Maybe you’ll feel different?