I loved this. It was really cure and I loved the reaction ship that formed between them. I liked the story and how it develops throughout the story. It was a great read and I think Deaver made a wonderful novel that will be loved by many

Cute novel it was fast paced
I enjoyed the relationship building although it did get a bit predictable at times

However I think people will really enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this as a romance novel, it had realistic characters and their romance was realistically done. I enjoyed the plot and how their jobs worked overall, it had that element that I wanted and thoroughly enjoyed going on this journey.

Peter is a lovely cinnamon roll who should be protected at all costs. I also adored Eli, even when he screwed up big time. The plot was pretty predictable, but every interaction was so charming.

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. I have zero notes, I’m pretty much speechless. I am obsessed.


Thank you for writing this

an INCREDIBLY endearing love interest and a protag i liked even when he (Frequently) messed up. third act breakup is typical, but in general good. 4 stars. would recommend. tysm for the arc.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

This is such a feel-good, early 2000s rom-com book! This is the first book I've read with trans representation and I believe it was beautifully done. The author didn't shy away from difficult topics and fully delved into them while maintaining the lighter feel of this book. I'll admit that I knew pretty much nothing about this population, so this book opened my eyes to so many things! I'm glad every group is being represented and I hope the author continues his work in spreading awareness and inclusivity!

Mason Deaver's The Build-a-Boyfriend Project is a refreshing, heartfelt rom-com that deftly explores self-discovery, ambition, and love. With wit, charm, and an undercurrent of real emotional depth, Deaver brings readers into Eli Francis’s world—a place where dating disasters, career dreams, and unexpected connections weave together into a genuinely captivating story.

Eli, a complex and relatable protagonist, is stuck in both his career and his personal life, feeling underappreciated at work and haunted by his ex’s success. His chance encounter with Peter Park—a first date so awkward it’s almost endearing—sparks a series of “practice” dates with a hilarious twist: Eli's pretending it's all for an article while actually digging deeper into Peter’s story. This clever setup makes for some laugh-out-loud moments but also allows Deaver to explore the nuances of queer dating, the challenges of coming out in the South, and the vulnerability of truly opening up to someone new.
Peter is the kind of character you can't help but root for: he’s sweet, awkward, and authentic in ways that contrast perfectly with Eli’s more cynical, guarded personality. Their relationship builds slowly, with layers of trust and respect that make each “date” feel increasingly meaningful. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the progression from "fake" dating to something real is both organic and deeply satisfying.

Beyond the romance, Eli's journey to find his voice as a writer and break free from the limitations placed on him at work is inspiring. Deaver captures the frustration of being stuck in a role that feels beneath one's potential, making Eli's professional journey just as compelling as his romantic one. His final decisions reveal growth, courage, and a newfound understanding of his own worth—both as a writer and as a person capable of love.

The Build-a-Boyfriend Project is more than just a lighthearted romance; it’s an honest, uplifting exploration of self-worth, career ambition, and the messy, wonderful process of opening up to love again. Deaver’s writing is sharp, funny, and brimming with heart. A must-read for anyone who loves a rom-com with substance and authenticity, this book is bound to leave readers smiling long after the last page.

With its perfect mix of humor, heart, and steamy romance, The Build-a-Boyfriend Project delivers a queer love story that’s as tender as it is swoon-worthy. Eli’s snarky, ambition-fueled perspective collides beautifully with Peter’s endearing awkwardness, creating a dynamic that feels both authentic and electric. Mason Deaver crafts a story that not only explores love and self-discovery but also dives deep into what it means to grow beyond your comfort zone.

I've been a big fan of Mason Deaver since their YA debut, and I knew for sure that I'd enjoy this book, too, but it blew my socks off. I fell head over heels for the characters, seeing myself in both Eli and Peter as they each struggled through things that were holding them back. Add to that the fact that I'm a sucker for cheesy rom-coms and the fake dating trope, and it was no surprise that I'll be giving this book five stars.

Though the plot is entertaining and fast-paced (I couldn't put it down), it is character-driven which I think is something that makes Deaver's books special. The reader gets to know the characters intimately, and the plot of the book helps push things along. I found myself encouraging Peter as he stepped out into the world, taking baby steps as many of us do when we're queer and trying firsts that we maybe didn't get to do in high school like many of our heterosexual peers; I voraciously tore through the pages, desperate for more interaction between Eli and Peter -- happy when they were happy, sad when they were sad.

In all, Mason Deaver has come through with yet another wonderful queer book that brought me an abundance of trans joy. I hope you'll take the time to read this when it arrives on shelves in August 2025!

Screaming! Crying! Throwing up! My heart feels so full for their relationship. I’m so glad these books exist. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to have it.

If How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days had a glow-up, got rid of the sabotage, added a truckload of feelings, a sprinkle of awkward charm, and gave us a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, THIS would be it.

Picture this: Eli, a journalist hustling for a big break, goes on a date with Peter, a walking disaster of a man who is late, spills food all over Eli, and—cherry on top—FORGETS HIS WALLET. I mean, come on, Peter. If “block and delete” had a mascot, it’d be Eli after that date. But nope. Instead of running for the hills, Eli decides, “You know what? Let’s turn this hot mess into content!” because capitalism, am I right?

So Eli writes two stories. The first one is all about Peter’s cringe-worthy awkwardness, Eli’s “I’ll teach him to be a better boyfriend” plan, and all the messy first impressions that make you want to scream, “ELI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” The second story, though? Oh, that’s where the magic is. That’s where we get to see Peter’s layers: the tough upbringing, the lack of a support system, and the fact that, beneath the spilled drinks and awkward vibes, he’s just a sweet, endearing human who deserves a chance.

But here’s the catch: Eli totally skips the fine print in their fake-dating agreement. You know, the one that says, “DO NOT CATCH REAL FEELINGS.” Spoiler alert—Eli fails miserably. As their friendship grows, the feels creep in, page by page, until you’re clutching the book like it’s your emotional support blanket.

This book is sweet, heartfelt, and filled with all the LGBTQ+ rep and issues handled with care and authenticity. The friendship-to-relationship arc is tender and oh-so-satisfying, and the emotional tugging? Chef’s kiss. This was my first book by this author, and let me tell you, I am READY for more. Great pacing, lovable characters, and a story that hits you right in the heart.

When I first started reading, I wasn't sure if this book would be able to pull me in an hold my attention, however, the further into the story I got, the more invested I found myself. From the beginning I didn't see any appeal in Keith and I was afraid Eli would be too caught up with him to move on, but I was pleasant surprised how easily Eli was willing to jump into things with Peter, even if they were rocky and fake at first. Peter was loveable and adorable and won me over immediately. He was easy to root for.

Peter was obviously nuerodivergent of some sort, probably somewhere on the autism spectrum, and I kind of wish the book had addressed that more instead of just passing him off as a generally awkward dude. In fact, I almost wish we could have seen some parts of the story from his POV.

I also kind of disliked how the whole article issue was hanging over the romance the whole time, a bomb waiting to drop. It made it hard at times to really get behind the forming relationship because I knew once the article came to light, everything was going to get screwed up. I did appreciate that Peter didn't forgive Eli right away.

The book ended on a sweet, satisfactory high note, just the way a romance should. For Deaver's adult debut, I say it's a hit.

4.5 stars ish. A feel good romcom! Loved the characters and the development. A predictable third act breakup but still an overall entertaining book to read for any romcom lover out there! I was definitely rooting for Eli throughout this book!

*Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Mason Deaver has been an author on my radar for quite a while, but for whatever reason, I never got around to picking up one of their books—shame on me for that! The Build-a-Boyfriend Project was an excellent introduction to Deaver’s writing and storytelling. As an adult debut, this book takes everything you love about YA and ages it up to tremendous success. Eli and Peter are incredibly likable characters with unique qualities that make the romcom plot breeze along nicely, despite its comfortable predictability. Bonus points for the stellar representation and great film references throughout! This is an excellent queer romance!

This book has a super strong middle––there's a lot of tension and momentum, and the central love story unfolds as an exciting slow-burn. The MCs also have GREAT chemistry, which, of course, makes or breaks a romance. That said! Neither the beginning nor the ending of this novel worked for me. The first 80 pages drag; I seriously considered DNF'ing. The narrative would benefit from starting during the MCs' disastrous first date––Deaver takes far too long to get there, and the journalism/Keith arc isn't strong enough to keep the reader interested. The journalism stuff also weakens the third-act crisis and the ending. It all feels wildly improbable and like, deeply unethical? As a journalist, I struggled to move past that, but I can imagine other readers having an easier time suspending their disbelief. This was my first Mason Deaver novel––I'm curious about how IWYAB compares!

This was a really sweet story. I enjoyed watching Deaver expand into the adult genre (unless he has other adult novels and I just wasn't aware!) after experiencing his young adult novels.

Watching Eli and Peter bond and grow - both together and separately through the help of the other - was so pleasant and endearing to experience. And the theme of self-worth was an incredible one to explore throughout this book.

This was a delightfully sweet and spicy read! Deaver created a heartwarming and inclusive romance story that is understandable to all types of readers. While I don't think my library would purchase it, I can use it for reader's advisory recommendations.

The Build-a-Boyfriend Project mixes humor with a sincere look at self-worth and love. The dynamic between the characters and their pretend relationship created a captivating and heartwarming narrative. With such clever writing, it’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys rom-coms with depth and authenticity.

4.25 stars

This was a really sweet story. I loved how awkward Peter was and how Eli helped him become more confident without changing who he is as a person. I thought they had a really cute friendship and eventual relationship, despite a rough (and i mean ROUGH) first interaction.
I also really enjoyed the plotline with Eli’s job and the article. I thought that played out well and was really important to the story.
Overall I thought this was a really refreshing, wholesome, queer romance and I definitely recommend checking it out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

I really liked this book it was really really cute. I liked the way the mmc’s met at the beginning of the book cause it wasn’t a meet cute but worse lol. Their first date went horribly and i wasn’t sure where the book was going but it was good! We have the 2 mmc’s Eli the Journalist and Peter the tech guy who is very awkward and shy. Despite their horrible meet cute lol Eli decides to help Peter since he’s never dated anyone and that starts the build a boyfriend project.

I loved the practice dating between both mc’s and how they got to know each other and the backstories. I loved how Eli trans identity and Peter’s Korean identity weren’t trauma based but shaped them. As both characters got to be friends and pretended to date there was chemistry and that we want each other tension that i liked. I liked the side characters and their role in the story. There is a writing plot that plays a big role in the story. The romance was so sweet, there was a steamy scene and they were so sweet and soft with each other. Thank you Avon for this arc!

Read for:
- Queer romance
- Trans rep
- Opposites attracts
- Fake dating
- MMC that reads romance
- Sweet and heartwarming

I truly appreciate that for Mason Deaver's adult romance debut, they're willing to craft a slightly unconventional story regarding chemistry and attraction. When Eli, an aspiring journalist at a Buzzfeed-coded publication, shares the story of his disastrous blind date with an awkward socially inept man, his boss wants him to turn into a story about building a boyfriend. Of course, it's a romance they fall in love you know the rest.

What surprised me was that I had read the summary a while ago and had forgotten who was supposed to be the love interest and thought the bad blind date was just part of the trial and tribulation of dating and I didn't expect Peter, someone who's not presented at all like an ideal boyfriend to be the love interest (it's laid on a bit thick to be honest). I think this is where the charm ends. As much as I appreciate a story that doesn't sell me love at first sight, Peter isn't built up throughout the story as a love interest I want to root for, even worse the initial scenes between the characters were enough to kill any future chemistry for me. Peter is good as a character we slowly learn to discover and I do think he's the kind of character that deserves a love story but the condescension on Eli's part was just too much to see a compatible match.

I will round up this one to four stars because I love romance characters that actually have political opinions that aren't liberal platitudes. Eli wants something, he wants to write about something, and the story about Peter is interesting and a good concept. Kudos for that

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets She’s All That. When Eli goes on a date with Peter, it could not have been more of a disaster. Peter is a socially and physically awkward mess who also happens to be a virgin when it comes to dating. That’s where Eli comes in. Can the two of them navigate a real relationship?

Deaver does an excellent job of writing about the LGBTQ+ community in an authentic and realistic way. The character of Eli didn’t stand out or feel pushed into a narrative where he didn’t belong.

The story was very wholesome and I found myself rooting for the entire cast. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down and found myself reading when I should have been sleeping or working.

My only critique of the story is the dialogue. The characters said each other’s name over and over again.

*I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

This is a beautiful, messy romance, with realistic characters that I also fell in love with. I find that often the main character of a rom-com style romance is a terrible person, does not do any self-reflecting, continues to suck but finds someone either equally terrible or willing to submit their will to the terrible MC, and that is supposed to be happily ever after. Eli is not a great person at the beginning -- he's put himself in a terrible position both work- and relationship-wise, and seems to have no plan or desire to pull himself out -- but he learns that he cannot continue to live in his current patterns with any sort of joy or growth. To see a character accepting that they may not get the happily ever after they dream of but doing the work anyway is a refreshing change. Peter is a delightful little cinnamon bun, and I'm so happy he got his dream. Also, Michael is the worst. This is my second Mason Deaver book, and I'm adding him to my always-read list.

I absolutely adored this book and think it is perfect for anyone who loves a good RomCom. Eli, our main character, is lovable and so perfectly imperfect in all of the best and most relatable ways. I also especially loved the representation of Eli being trans without it being a huge point of the plot - we need more representation like this that normalizes both transness and queerness. The main love interest, Peter, is also such a down-to-earth and genuine character and the author does an amazing job at highlighting Peter's experiences as a gay Korean-American from the South - both the good and the ugly. Overall, this has definitely been one of my favorite reads this year and I can see myself re-reading this time and time again.

Mason Deaver is so fuckin’ back, baby! To be clear, they never left and they have never once disappointed me. But this adult romance puts them back on the map in a major way and I’m so excited to finally have their voice in this space!

If I had to say one thing about this book it’s that it’s so stinkin’ adorable. Like, yes, it does have this zany, fun fake dating premise, but the two main characters themselves have such incredible natural chemistry and their budding relationship is just so soft and sweet.

I think everything in this story hangs together so perfectly because the concept of second chances is reflected in every single aspect of the story, from the thematic work to the plot itself. Not only is Eli essentially forced to give Peter a second chance to redeem himself after their truly horrific first date, but both Eli and Peter are navigating what it means to have a second chance at life in so many ways.

For Peter, as someone who grew up having to be closeted throughout their early adolescence, he’s finally getting a chance to live openly and experience all the “firsts” that many people often get to experience earlier in life. And as a trans man, Eli can also relate to that, because he grew up having a lot of important milestones and making foundational memories in a body and in a presentation that doesn’t align with his sense of self. And in a lot of ways, now that he’s transitioned, he’s experiencing the world for the first time in a completely new way.

I love that connection, that theme of second chances, being woven throughout the story. And because of that, it’s just a beautiful love letter to queer adults and trans adults who not only often have to start over later in life, but who are denied the opportunity to find and access community when they need it most. So often, there’s not a blueprint for how to find and connect with other queer people, especially as adults, and especially when you don’t know how or where to access safe spaces.

So many queer and trans adults who are starting over have to bumble their way through these different experiences on their own, just hoping for the best. And this story tells us that it doesn’t have to be that way, which is such an important message.

I think part of what makes this relationship so endearing to me is not only that both characters work really hard to make it safe and to establish clear boundaries, but because through their connection, both characters are almost getting a chance to feed and heal their inner child in a sense. Especially for Peter, because Eli is a bit more experienced, and he’s able to guide Peter through these experiences with the gentleness, grace, and thoughtfulness that he didn’t get to experience himself.

Honestly, I just don’t have a single bad thing to say about this. It made me smile so much and hope so much. It’s laugh out loud funny, it’s full of these really fun fake dates, it’s deeply romantic and also steamy in ways that cis-het romances could never pull off. It’s just absolutely wonderful and I couldn’t *not* give it five stars.

Deaver's adult debut is so close to perfect that I'm happy to give it five stars anyway. Perfectly aged up plot, voice, characters, and sentence level craft. The plot to Build-A-Boyfriend Project is predictable in a way that makes the entire story SO exciting to read, because it's a love-letter to all of the romances that came before it. I knew going in exactly what I was about to get out of it, and Deaver managed to execute it in a way that still had me giggling and kicking my fee the whole time.

I loved Peter's character grown, and Eli's, but Peter's specifically. My only criticisms in that after the third-act break-up, it feels like Deaver is maybe OVERLY concerned with making sure the reader understands that Eli is at fault, to a point where I feel like Eli is taking on more of the blame for what happened than he even deserves— as in, Keith gets off entirely scott free, after knowingly and purposefully doing something so beyond morally and ethically deplorable. Why did Eli end up the ONLY bad guy in that situation, to the point where I as the reader felt like I wasn't supposed to be upset by what Keith did?

Eli can learn his lesson without taking on the entirety of the blame for the article going out there! Keith doesn't get the moral superiority just because he wasn't afraid to do something hurtful to advance his own career and teach Eli a lesson. Justice for Eli, a little bit.

Anyway, that is the only criticism I had, everything else was so good that I couldn't put this book down even while I was supposed to be working. Devoured it in two days.

This was so good! I really loved the love story, and I wasn't angry at the third act conflict. A realistic third act conflict is so important to me. I loved seeing the growth of the characters even though we were only in the head of one character. I don't really know how to describe this book except to say if you like romance, you should read it. If you like well fleshed out characters that you would love to meet in real life, you should read this book. I have read two books by Mason Deaver, and I have really loved both.

4.5 stars. Containing the same heart and swoon that any good romcom should have while also remaining grounded and nuanced, The Build a Boyfriend Project is an incredible adult romance debut from Mason Deaver that leaves me excited for more to come.

A charming romcom with lovable characters and great development! Eli’s fake-dating scheme with awkward yet endearing Peter turns into something real, forcing him to face his fears. Though predictable at times, the humor, heart, and slow-burn romance make this a fun and entertaining read for any romcom fan!

Eli, an assistant to the editor at a Buzzfeed-esque mag that's fallen from hard-hitting articles to listicles, has given up on dating. However, he hops back on that horse for one last first date with Peter. It's a cringe-worthy abomination of a date. But what if Eli turned Peter, guileless and unpracticed at dating, into a project and wrote about it so Eli can finally make the jump from assistant to staff writer? And what should Eli do when his evil himbo editor demands a schlocky takedown demeaning Peter's inexperience instead of the careful exploration of growing up gay and Korean in small town Georgia that Eli has planned?

A poignant read with a smidge of spice (not closed door - yay!). Definitely will check out Mason Deaver's future books.

i’ve been reading all of mason’s work for years now and they keep finding ways to impress me. everything gets better and better all while maintaining the staples of what makes their books so good.

everyone loves some fake dating, and it takes a lot of skill to make such a well-known trope feel fresh and exciting. but mason does a great job of implementing that in a rather original scenario, allowing for the really interesting part of the story, the characters and their development, to grow and change.

Eli and Peter had such a wonderful romance full of awkward moments, intense pining, uncertain feelings, and euphoric releases. the way their journey is plotted was perfect and each beat it hit at the right time. i really enjoyed their developing friendship before everything turned fully romantic.

and all of this wouldn’t be effective without characters you can root for and love. Eli and Peter are two excellent people that i felt a connection to. i loved their journeys and the lessons they learned. i loved the themes of taking charge of your own life and fighting for the best you deserve.

just a really, really wonderful and important book.

Mason Deaver truly does know how to craft a compelling and engaging love story that is equal parts hilarious and soulful.

The Build a Boyfriend Project is a fake dating rom com with a healthy dose of self discovery, fucking up and finding out, and oh so many feelings.

What I adore most about this book is how it balances humor and stereotypical romcom shenanigans with deep and meaningful conversations about identity, community, and self worth.

The plot is predicated on Eli - our MC - writing an article about "making a better boyfriend" out of Peter when, in reality, Eli wants to interview Peter about growing up gay & Korean in the southern US. Deaver explores how a lot of big city coastal & northern queers are quick to write off the South entirely. They talk about the problems in the South - the racism, the homophobia, how those things can make one miss out on so much - while also reminding the reader that these issues are not isolated to the South.

I've lived in the PNW my whole life, I'm used to living in a place with pride flags on every other street corner year round. So I found myself in Eli's shoes, listening and learning alongside him. Being reminded of how easy it can be to write off a place as "backwards" and "wrong" when you don't talk to the people who actually live there, who come from there. When you don't live there, you don't always know that the good memories are indeed possible and can exist in abundance.

This novel is a reminder to the big city coastal queers (like me!), that not everyone got to be out in high school or even college. Not everyone had parents who "get it" or queer teachers in school. It's a reminder that some people are "late bloomers" because they weren't given a chance to bloom until now. And a reminder that regardless of reason, there isn't anything actually wrong with being a "late bloomer."

In the acknowledgements, Deaver thanks the people that made it to The Pink Pony Club a little later in life. Thanks them for being here now, no matter how long it took them, because them being here is what matters most.
.
Now, we side bar for a moment so I can talk about one specific line that altered me chemically:
"[Eli] knew he should never look at his body as anything other than a work of art. Because it was, because he'd gotten the chance to make it himself."

The way Deaver writes trans bodies will always be famous to me. This line made me cry and has been rotating in my mind ever since I read it. Trans bodies are works of art, transness is an act of intimate personal creation, and I love seeing that voiced in stories.

Ok that is all, back to our regularly scheduled book reviewing.
.
When we zoom out and take in the rest of the novel, what do we see? We see a romcom that is honestly just so fun and funny. And it's never at the expense of depth, nuance, or drama. This is not a book full of empty laughs, it's a heartfelt love story that also had me fucking wheezing.

I love a shenanigan filled love story. If you talk to me for 0.2 seconds you'll quickly learn that I adore Mason's other work but specifically The Feeling of Falling in Love. I love TFOFIL for the fake dating shenanigans, and the poignant discussions of self and community, and the portrayal of trans bodies- all things I also adore about TBABP. TBABP feels like a natural progression for Deaver as an author, it's their first adult romance and it has everything I love about their YA work but obviously more grown up. TFOFIL is for the trans kids who don't think they'll ever get a love story, and TBABP is for the queer adults who feel like they're falling behind.

In short, I adore this novel. And - unsurprisingly - recommend it wholeheartedly.

The Build-a-Boyfriend Project is my first book by Mason Deaver—but I know it won't be my last. Deaver turns "practice dating"—an oft-used trope that could in a less skilled writer's hands feel tired—into something that feels warm and charming, like coming home with two incredibly charming and real main characters who worm their way into your heart.

The book follows our protagonist, Eli—long-suffering assistant at a publication who's hoping to make a break into a staff writer position. He began working at the publication with a lofty idea of it—the old days, where articles that meant something were prioritized; unfortunately, since then, the site has gone the way of so many other modern news outlets, prioritizing clickbait headlines and ad revenue traffic. In the midst of all this, he's set up on a blind date with a man named Peter that goes horrendously wrong; Peter's late and constantly checks his phone, ducks out early to work and spills half the meal on Eli.

What begins as Eli's pitch to cover Peter's struggles with dating as a gay Korean-American from the South becomes shaped by his boss as the titular "Build-a-Boyfriend Project", where Eli and Peter will fake-date in an effort to teach the other man how to become boyfriend material. Eli just learns along the way that, while he might have been rough around the edges, Peter might have been made of the right stuff all along.

I ate this book up. There's no better way to put it. In one night, I'd read a good helping—then the next, a bit more. But once I was about 40% of the way through, I couldn't stop. Fake-dating for any reason is a trope straight out of fanfiction—for good reason! It's charming! You know that the couple is going to catch real feelings long before they do! But for the same reasons, it's often overdone and worn out. But Eli and Peter were written so deftly, with experiences and struggles of their own that made them stand out as characters that it hardly mattered that I knew where they were going; I was captivated by every word. They were both incredibly unique characters that broke out of typical archetypes, and when they came together, the dynamic between the two was so believable that it was easy to watch them inch their way into each others' lives.

Because they were so well fleshed out, it was also so easy to not feel so frustrated when the characters made mistakes. They made mistakes because they were humans with their own motivations and struggles and wants and flaws, not because the book required a little bit of conflict. It's something I struggle with a lot in books—bumps in the road feeling forced—but all of the ups and downs in Eli and Peter's relationship felt honest to who they were as characters and the way their relationship had been built.

Sure, there are things I wish we'd seen fleshed out a little more—Eli's boss at the publication he worked for felt a little one-note (it's traffic! we don't care about hard-hitting journalism anymore! clicks, clicks, clicks!), making Eli's clinging to the hopes of the future sometimes feel exasperating. Similarly, Peter had dreams aligned with writing that I wish we'd dug a little more into—the way that tied into where his character ended up felt a little too easy. But you know what? It hardly mattered to me, because I was so pleased for them as if they were my own friends instead of characters I was reading on a page. I yelled at Eli the way I'd yell at a friend to get out of a dead-end job, I cheered for Peter the way I would one of my dearest friends achieving their dreams.

BRB, making a Letterboxd list of all of the films featured in the chapter titles and doing a marathon just to chase these feelings all over again.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This charming romcom features lovable characters and a captivating plot that will delight any romcom fan. With great LGBTQ representation, it's a refreshing and inclusive read. While it is a bit spicier than I usually prefer, it was still manageable and enjoyable. The perfect slow-burn romance makes it a fun and entertaining read for any romcom enthusiast.

Mason Deaver, the writer you are. I'm so glad they are getting into adult romance. I needed a romcom and knew this was going to hit the spot. Spoiler (not really): It absolutely hit the spot. The Build-a-Boyfriend Project is exactly what I want in a queer romance and I can't wait for Mason Deaver to reach an even wider audience with this book.