In the world of contemporary romance, few concepts capture the imagination quite like the idea of a “book boyfriend” – that fictional character who embodies everything we want in a partner. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka’s latest novel, Book Boyfriend, dives headfirst into this concept, creating a meta-commentary on romance novels while delivering its own enemies-to-lovers story. While the premise sparkles with potential, the execution occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions.
The Fantasy Experience We All Secretly Want
Jennifer Worth lives for escape. A marketing professional at Parthenon Publishing, Jennifer finds solace in the pages of her favorite romantasy series, Elytheum Courts, where fae lords and mortal queens fall in eternal love. When her boyfriend dumps her in the lobby of her office building (an appropriately humiliating beginning), Jennifer makes an impulsive decision to attend an immersive Elytheum fan experience—only to discover her office nemesis, Scott Daniels, has also made the trip.
What follows is a week of cosplay, scavenger hunts, and the gradual revelation that Scott isn’t just attending the event; he’s actively studying how to become the perfect “book boyfriend” after his own romantic disappointments. As they compete and collaborate through the week’s events, Jennifer begins to wonder if the fantasy she’s been chasing exists not in fiction, but right in front of her.
The novel’s greatest strength is its premise. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka have crafted a love letter to fandom that understands both the joy and potential pitfalls of fantasy obsession. The immersive Elytheum experience feels richly developed and genuinely enticing—I found myself wishing such events existed for my own favorite book series. The authors capture the community aspect of fandom beautifully, particularly in the friendships Jennifer develops with fellow fans Laurel and Brit.
Characters: Page-Turning or Page-Skipping?
Jennifer proves a relatable protagonist for anyone who’s ever sought refuge in fiction. Her inner monologue balances humor with vulnerability as she confronts her tendency to romanticize relationships. Her character growth feels organic as she learns that while fantasy offers escape, reality can offer something just as magical if approached with courage.
Scott’s evolution is more uneven. His transformation from dismissive coworker to Val-inspired suitor sometimes strains credulity, particularly in how quickly he masters the persona. The notebook where he records his observations about becoming the perfect book boyfriend is a clever device, but its deployment occasionally feels more plot-convenient than character-driven.
The supporting cast shows promise but varies in development:
- Erik (Jennifer’s roommate): Initially one-dimensional in his self-absorption, his eventual reconciliation with his brother provides one of the book’s more touching storylines
- Amelia (Jennifer’s friend): Her professional disillusionment contrasts nicely with Jennifer’s romantic disappointments
- Fred/Val (the actor playing Jennifer’s book crush): Strikes the perfect balance of fantasy and reality
When Prose Meets Fantasy
The writing flows easily, with dialogue that often sparkles with wit and warmth. The authors excel at capturing the giddy feeling of falling for someone against your better judgment:
“I hold him, wrestling with myself. I know I’ve used fantasy as an escape, and the real world offers none of its forgiveness. It’s devastating to imagine my dreams coming true, only to lose their luster when Scott and I fight, or I don’t get into an MFA program, or long distance strains our relationship to breaking.”
However, the prose occasionally stumbles into repetition, particularly when describing the characters’ emotional states. Some passages belabor points already well-established, while others rely heavily on telling rather than showing. The story might have benefited from tighter editing, especially in the middle sections where the scavenger hunt subplot sometimes overshadows the emotional core.
The Highs and Lows: What Works and What Doesn’t
Strengths:
- Genuine understanding of fandom psychology – The authors perfectly capture why people fall in love with fictional worlds
- Well-executed enemies-to-lovers trope – The transition feels earned through meaningful interactions
- Thoughtful exploration of fantasy vs. reality – Jennifer’s journey toward accepting real-world imperfections feels genuine
- Fandom-building – Elytheum Courts feels like a series that could actually exist, with enough detail to make readers wish it did
- Supportive female friendships – Jennifer’s connections with her fellow fans provide depth beyond the romance
Weaknesses:
- Pacing issues – The middle section drags with repetitive emotional beats
- Underdeveloped professional stakes – The publishing workplace feels like a backdrop rather than an integral setting
- Occasionally overwrought prose – Some emotional descriptions veer into melodrama
- Convenient plot devices – Several coincidences strain credulity, particularly regarding the scavenger hunt clues
- Jennifer’s character arc – Her fear of commitment sometimes feels inconsistent with her earlier characterization
Situating Book Boyfriend in the Authors’ Catalog
For fans of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka’s previous work, Book Boyfriend represents a natural evolution. Like The Roughest Draft, it explores creativity and romance, though with a lighter touch. Unlike Do I Know You?, which examined a marriage in crisis, Book Boyfriend focuses on new beginnings. Their latest release prior to this, The Breakup Tour, dealt with music and second chances, establishing the authors’ interest in creative professions as backdrops for romance.
The married writing duo brings authenticity to the collaborative aspects of the novel, particularly in how Jennifer and Scott learn to appreciate rather than compete with each other’s strengths. While not their strongest work, Book Boyfriend shows their continued growth as storytellers willing to experiment with meta-concepts.
For Readers Seeking Similar Stories
If you enjoy Book Boyfriend Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, consider these comparable titles:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – Another enemies-to-lovers story featuring writers
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – Explores fandom and first love with similar sensitivity
- The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman – Features a protagonist who loves books more than people (at first)
- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle – Masters the enemies-to-lovers dynamic with wit and heart
Final Thoughts: Worth the Read?
Book Boyfriend Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka offers a charming reading experience despite its flaws. For anyone who’s ever fallen in love with a fictional character or found community in fandom, Jennifer’s journey will resonate on a fundamental level. The novel excels when exploring the tension between fantasy and reality, asking thoughtful questions about what we sacrifice when we hold out for perfection.
At its heart, the book suggests that real relationships can be better than fictional ones not despite their imperfections but because of them. When Jennifer eventually realizes that “magic and heroism exist in the ordinary as easily as the extraordinary,” the message lands with genuine emotional impact.
Book Boyfriend is a flawed but ultimately winning romance that offers both escape and insight. Like the fantasy conventions it portrays, it provides a weekend’s worth of enjoyment that might leave you looking at your own bookshelf differently. You might close the covers wishing for more depth in places, but you’ll likely find yourself smiling nonetheless—and maybe eyeing your own favorite fictional heroes with new appreciation.
Who Should Read This Book?
This novel is perfect for:
- Romance readers who understand the appeal of a good book boyfriend
- Fantasy fans who enjoy contemporary settings
- Anyone who’s ever attended a convention or immersive fan experience
- Readers who appreciate meta-commentary on the romance genre
- Those who enjoy watching characters grow through unlikely relationships
While it may not convert skeptics of the romance genre, Book Boyfriend Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka offers enough wit and self-awareness to charm even reluctant readers. Just like Jennifer learns that reality can surpass fantasy, you might find this real-world romance more captivating than expected.
A Final Word on Fantasy vs. Reality
What ultimately elevates Book Boyfriend Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka beyond its flaws is its understanding that the line between fantasy and reality isn’t as clear as we might think. Fantasy isn’t just escape—it’s practice for imagining a better world. When Jennifer realizes that “the purest gift of reading isn’t finding escape. It’s finding yourself,” the novel achieves a moment of genuine wisdom that justifies the journey.
Though sometimes lost in its own pages, Book Boyfriend ultimately finds its way to a conclusion worth reading: that the most magical stories might be the imperfect ones we write ourselves.
