I have to admit, as a lifelong reader I’ve had my share of bookish boyfriends. I’ve had cause to agree with the statement, “Boys are so much better in books”. You all know what I’m talking about, and we’ve all got our favorites. Mr. Darcy? Mr. Rochester? Name your poison. This book takes that very sentiment and runs with it.

I will admit that this book is simply not written for me. I had hoped that the references to books and familiar heroes would carry me through this story but I am an older woman, and this book is very much for teens. I would even venture to say that it is primarily for younger teens, not college age readers. It was a pleasant and easy read, but I found it hard to generate any enthusiasm for the main character in particular. Merrilee is a girl who is obsessed with books, is quite boy crazy and as such she did not appeal to me. Merrilee is also astoundingly selfish. I found that hard to get past.

The book feels like an extended bookish meme come to life. The characters directly correspond to characters in Romeo & Juliet and Pride and Prejudice. Those similarities in characterization and plot can be heavy handed but are also somewhat superficial. It feels not so much like a re-telling as a direct translation into millennial terms.

I don’t think this is a badly written book. The author shows skill with pacing and delivery. She consistently held my interest and this book was never even close to becoming a DNF. In fact, I found myself anxiously waiting for bedtime when I could continue reading. I would like to see this author branch out and write something completely original and not tie herself to the confines of a plot and a reader that is expecting the same old story. I believe Ms. Schmidt will be good at something new.

Song for this book: Hang with Me (acoustic) – Robyn

Cute, funny, and a nice fast read. This title will make a great summer pick for my teens.

I received Bookish Boyfriends by Tiffany Schmidt from Netgalley (and the publishers) in exchange for an honest review.

Bookish Boyfriends was pretty much all I had expected it to be and more. At one point between 20-40 percent of the book it had gotten really cliche and my reading time with it was very slow paced. I had almost put it down because the romance between Merrilee and Monroe bugged me. But then it got SO much better.

I like how she decided she didn't want anything like Juliet in the end and she took her time to grow as a character in the book. All of the other characters in the books were very likeable. Fielding was one of my favorites as well as Toby. I liked that Pride and Prejudice was in the book even though I have never read them. I'm not really much for classics, but this book almost makes me want to pick a few up. ALMOST. I don't know if I actually ever will since they aren't my cup of tea, but I thought the author did good for getting me almost curious enough.

This book was just so adorable, and everything I had hoped it would be (minus the slow part I had hit in the early stages.) It was very well written so it is definitely a five star read.

I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who loves YA romance and books about books.

Thanks again for giving me the chance to read and review!

I felt that the premise was cute, but all the angsty relationships were drawn out too long. It was tiresome to continue to read that Merri and Rory would not have been admitted to Hero with the senator’s influence. The headmaster was way too overbearing and unrealistic. There were cute parts and I loved all the literary references. Thanks for allowing me to be an early reader.

*Slight spoilers ahead*

Let me start by saying that this book has a really cool concept. A possibly magic English teacher, and Merilee’s life seeming to mirror a book’s plot? However, the book was almost too frilly for me. Merilee is instantly wooed by Monroe - they know each other for one day and they’re already dating? It just seemed unrealistic to me, but that was kind of the point - showing how ridiculous Romeo & Juliet is as a love story. I feel like it spent too much time on the Wickham (aka Monroe) plot line. Obviously this was a Pride and Prejudice adaptation - I mean, a brooding, handsome boy who seems to hate her for some mysterious reason? I was confused when the plot seemed to follow Romeo and Juliet, but the students at Hero High have their own book that they’re living out, and Monroe’s is Romeo and Juliet, so that cleared up the confusion for me. I love how Rory’s book is revealed to be Little Women right at the end, and the whole Toby’s unrequited love plot is tied up through that.
4.5/5

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two stars for the idea, which is brilliant -- a fact that makes the sloppy execution and unbelievable characters even more disappointing.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review BOOKISH BOYFRIENDS. Tiffany Schmidt never disappoints!
That was adorable and loads of fun! Merrilee’s enthusiasm for all things books, boys, and swoon-worthy romance was palpable. (And completely relatable.) Do your-bookish-self a favor and read it.

3.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So, this was a cute book overall, and I was intrigued by the idea of the book. I think the execution suffered a little, though, which knocked my rating down a little. Also, I found Merliee, the main character, to be a little too flaky and she comes across a little young. I think the book will appeal more to younger YA readers (as in middle school/early high school age). Overall it was cute and had good examples of friendship, diverse characters, and some other great things going for it, so it I liked it well enough. I would definitely recommend it to younger YA readers wanting a cute, light romance.

I knew as soon as I read the description that I was going to absolutely love this book! I mean I've only wished a thousand times that Rhysand and Jace Wayland were real.

Merrilee is a 16 year old girl that thinks boys in books are way better than boys in real life. (Who could blame her?)

Merrilee, her best friend Eliza, and her little sister Rory transfer to a new school where their fantasies come true. I am a bit disappointed that of all the things focused on in English class for Brit Lit, Romeo and Juliet was chosen and was the main focus for about 60 percent of the book *gag* but then a way better classic comes in. You will seriously not be disappointed.

Merrilee is definitely a modern-day Belle, with her love of books. This book was seriously too adorable. This will be one I re-read a thousand times.

This YA book is a bibliofile's dream! It incorporates the introvertedness of book lovers with their dreams of having the characters in books become real romances. The daydreams and comparisons between the "real-life" people and the characters in the books that Merrilee reads are touching and relatable. I would recommend this to any of the frequent fliers in my school media center. Wow!

What a great read! I loved all the literary references that were made throughout the book. It made me want to re-read some classics. Merrilee was an extremely fun character. She's a total romantic and acts like her life is a book. She's a little over the top at times and because of this, she seems a little young and naïve at times. Throughout the book, there are parallels to Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice. It was really cleverly done to incorporate more than one book. However, towards the end there was a lot of Merrilee retelling Pride and Prejudice. I felt that it was a little unnecessary to explain every single parallel when I could figure it out without it, but for someone who is unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice, it might be helpful.
I absolutely loved Merrilee's friends and family. Eliza and Toby were such loyal good-hearted friends. They made the book that much more enjoyable. Her family was the kind of family anyone would want. There for each other, but sometimes a little annoying. Her friendships were strong and they all had such unique personalities.

I really thought this book was cleverly done and I would give this a solid 4.5 rating. The only reason it is not a 5 is because of the minor complaints mentioned above. This is a cute book for anyone who loves romance, great friends/family relationships, books, and of course book boyfriends!!!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review from Abrams Kids via NetGalley.

I can't get enough of this girl, these friendships, and this book, the secondary characters are just as quirky as the main ones the writing is very well done while still giving you the up and down of high school drama.  The story sets up plenty of potential for more books that I hope to get to read.

A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to four.

When I started reading this book, I quickly lost interest and began to hate it. The characters (especially the main one) got on my nerves, and I found the writing style very irritating. I didn't think I was going to finish it at all, honestly, but I made myself promise to at least read to 50% before giving up.
Then, around the 25% mark, something changed. I'm not sure exactly what it was--if the author finally hit her stride, or if the characters improved or what--but suddenly, I found myself empathizing with the characters instead of berating them. I was pulled into the story (somewhat skeptically) until I was staying up late just to read a little bit more. Bookish Boyfriends, to my surprise, was suddenly good. Now, there was a few hiccups here and there (some of the characters still made horrible, face-palm worthy choices that I don't agree with), but overall, I actually enjoyed this book. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel, even a whole series with this theme.

Some of the things I liked most included:
--Merrilee actually listened to her parents and made the right choice, at least once. You have no idea how satisfying it was to find a contemporary YA heroine being somewhat sensible for once.
--The story twist I didn't see coming
--How the author incorporated the retelling aspect while still making the story her own

Some things I didn't like:
--The lack of sensible adults
--Merrilee's silliness at times
--The lesbian couple represented and the mention of a homosexual customer. Being a conservative Christian reviewer, I cannot agree with the choices to include these instances at all.

I like reading YA books, but this was too juvenile for me to enjoy so I did not finish it. The main character is just 15 so I think it will be appreciated by younger teens.

So before I get into the actual review I just want to say that I received this ARC for free. And I was not expected to review the book, nor was I paid to do so. These opinions are entirely my own and given of my own free will.

Okay now that's out of the way let's get to the fun stuff! And FYI this is a non-spoiler review! Here is a synopsis of the book for some context. "Boys are so much better in books. At least according to Merrilee Campbell, 15, who thinks real-life chivalry is dead and there'd be nothing more romantic than having a guy woo her like the heroes in classic stories." So basically the book is about a girl who gets to experience dating and befriending the romantic boys she's read about in classic books. I wanted to read this book based on the title alone! I mean Bookish Boyfriends, come on! But then the plot, I mean that's every readers fantasy come to life. Falling in love with your favorite literary boys in real life. Swoon! 

Now when I started reading I was worried that it wouldn't surprise me at all. I was definitely interested, but I wasn't expecting to be dazzled. Because I didn't really get how Merri was going to date these Bookish Boys. Was she going to be transported into these books, were the boys going to leave the pages of their stories and enter her world, or were the boys going to be re imagined as boys she already knew? The third option seemed the most possible and that's what happens. Merri has several boys in her life and they are all representative of a certain literary hero. I will not spoil it and tell you who is who. But I will say if you've read the classics you can probably guess! This was the most fun part for me. I love the classics: Jane Austen, Shakespeare, the Brontes, you name it! And seeing these men, whom I've loved for so long brought to life in such a fun and unique way was amazing! I fell in love with Mr. Darcy all over again, both the Austen version and the boy who represents him in Merri's life. 

I think the best part of this story is when Merri draws parallels between her life and these classic stories. Is this really happening? Is her English teacher a magician? Because the teacher really seems to know the exact story that Merri needs to read to make sense of herself and her life. It's amazing how this book makes these classic story come back to life. It really inspired me to examine them with fresh eyes, something I haven't done in a long time! This book was really a dream come true, because who wouldn't want to date Mr. Darcy? It is a truth universally acknowledged that he is swoon-worthy!  

So to all my fellow hopeless romantics I hope you're excited for this book! If you've ever fantasized that a book boy was real, if you've ever claimed a book boyfriend for your own, this book is definitely for you. This book was everything I had hoped it would be and I can't wait until I can discuss it with all of you. It will be available for purchase on May 1st 2018 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

I hope you all love Bookish Boyfriends as much as I did!

Bookish Boyfriends by Tiffany Schmidt follows bookworm Merrilee Campbell as she transitions from her all-girls school to a co-educational elite private school. Merrilee hopes that her new school promises boys as amazing in the book she reads. Within the first day, Merrilee meets a boy who sweeps her off her feet. However, he may not be what he seems on the surface.

I was excited, but also apprehensive when I read the description for Bookish Boyfriends. I think this book will speak to many readers, but I also worried that since this book featured a freshman in high school, I wouldn't be able to relate. While I do think I would have enjoyed this book more if I read it at a younger age, it was still an overall cute story that has companion novel potential.

One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the main character, Merrilee. However, I do think some readers will find her a little annoying until the second half of the book. Merrilee has an outgoing and bubbly personality which I feel like has become less common in YA, so I really appreciated reading about her personality in this book. That being said, Merrilee is a huge romantic in this book which grants some long-winded descriptions of people and places at the beginning of the novel. While her personality and delusions about romance may off-put some readers, I enjoyed that Merrilee actually acted like her age.

Another part of this book that I really enjoyed was the message. This book includes both elements of Romeo and Juliet as well as Pride and Prejudice. By reading and responding to both of these books and experiencing them in real life, Merrilee develops a more realistic approach to romance and love. As a result, Merrilee does a grow and mature throughout this novel which will make her more likable and relatable for readers initially put-off by her.

While I did like some aspects of this novel, I also had a few problems. In this book, I felt like the side characters weren't extremely well-developed, so they felt more like stereotypes than actual people. Merrilee's first love interest, while supposed to be over-the-top, came across as way too cartoonish and I found myself wanting to skip over any parts that included him. Even Merrilee's eventual love interest was a cardboard cutout Darcy, who as a result, didn't make his relationship with Merrilee particularly memorable. Especially with so many side characters in this book, I needed a little more to easily differentiate the characters.

I also wanted a little more of the romance characters coming to life part of the book. It is suggested in this book that when Merrilee's teacher gives reading assignments to particular students, the book practically comes to life in front of them. Merrilee mentions seeing some of the teacher's stuff having a "magic glow" and constantly emphasizes the school's name (Hero High), but it's always brushed off in the book. I think this book might be trying to go for some "magical" element, but it was never clearly defined so I don't know whether it it's just a teacher's intuition or actual magic. Still, I think whatever it is definitely gives the book some series potential with new characters seeing new books manifest in their own lives (for example, at the end of the book Merrilee's sister is given Little Women to read and it is implied she may have a crush on Merrilee's male best friend).

Overall, Bookish Boyfriends was a cute book, but it's one that I think I would have enjoyed more as a younger YA reader. While there were parts of this book that I enjoyed, there were also many aspects of characters and the plot that needed fleshed out for me to understand the story better. I give Bookish Boyfriends three out of five stars.

Cute cover! Cute story! I think this book was made for those of us who get lost in the stories we read and who have thought more than once that bookish boyfriends are indeed better than the real thing. Are they really though?

Thank you to Netgalley, Tiffany Schmidt and the publisher for my ARC of Bookish Boyfriends.
I really loved the synopsis of this book, a 15 year old bookworm goes to a new school and discovers it is full of the hero's and heartthrobs of her favourite classic novels. On the way, she discovers herself as well.
Unfortunately, for me, I DNF'd this book at 30% I just couldn't seem to get on with it. I found the character of Merilee too dreamy and almost childish, while Eliza her best friend seemed self centred and bitchy. I know Merilee is supposed to be dreamy but her half-conversations with people and her way of drifting off mid conversation was just too distracting for me.
The concept was great but not what I was expecting, I thought she was actually going to meet boys called Romeo and Darcy and Gatsby etc. But they're just ordinary boys who do some of the things fictitious ones do. To be completely honest I couldn't even work out who some of them were supposed to be.
I've ended up saying harsher things about this book than I really wanted too, I didn't hate it. If I hated it I wouldn't have got as far as 30% but what I think is that it is much more suited to young teen readers rather than young adult. I don't doubt that some will absolutely love it and there's no reason not too, I just didn't get on with it myself.