I requested this on NetGalley completely on a whim because I liked the cover and I liked the description. It was only after I had been approved that I started to see good reviews pop up on my timeline.

This book is about Samiah and Daniel, who meet at the tech company they both work for. Of course, Samiah just had a video of her confronting her (ex) boyfriend for cheating on her and Daniel, well Daniel is not all that he seems, so things are a little more complicated than they appear. Along the way, Samiah makes friends with the 'other women' that her boyfriend dated and we see their friendship growing as they support each other through expanding their lives outside of finding crappy dates.

I found this a very enjoyable book. I liked how we got POV chapters from both Samiah and Daniel's points of view and I especially love seeing how they are both very satisfied with their lives and regard romance as a bonus, even if it is one that would impact both their jobs. Their relationship was built on mutual attraction and a quick friendship and I liked seeing the two of them getting to know each other. Separately they were fun characters and I liked them as a pairing as well as apart, which is always a good thing on my part. However, I feel like the additional plot (with Daniel's job) sort of ate into the time when we saw them getting to know each other. I enjoyed the plot and I enjoyed the romance but it felt like both of them could have been a little better if some more time in the novel had been spent on them.

The plot - I found this interesting as well. The boyfriend project plot was one I have seen before, though it was done in a slightly different way, but Daniel's plotline was not one I had ever seen combined with a self-improvement/swearing off men plotline. It was definitely a very good reason why Daniel would need to lie to Samiah, as well as causing hurt and conflict without making either one of them out to be a horrible person, because to save people's lives, he had to do his job but he still lied to her. I did like how it was resolved in the end, though I wish Samiah's character arc had been a little more defined considering it seemed to be related to her wanting to control everything, but that felt like more of a mention than actually related to what was happening with the character. And the way everything worked out so nicely for at the end - it was unrealistic but I really liked it actually.

I liked the characters, I liked the romance, I liked the plot and the resolution at the end. The only bit which let me down with this book was that I wanted more of Samiah, London and Taylor. I loved what we did get, with these three different women who had different lifestyles but had found a common ground and had found an unexpected friendship. I loved seeing the three of them giving each other advice and just really enjoyed the female friendships (Samiah and her sister were also delightful). But wow, considering that was how the story started off, there definitely wasn't as much of the three of them as I wanted.

This was a book I enjoyed and would recommend, and with that ending I definitely want to check out the rest of the series, but it is not a book I wholeheartedly adored.

4 stars!

Oh, I LOVED this one! A fierce and brilliant female tech lead combined with a secret agent male tech-y love interest equal a wonderfully smart romance. I loved the Austin tech scene setting and the Boyfriend Project friendship storyline was a lot of fun - I'm hoping the series continues following Taylor and London!

Thank you for my ARC of this book. I did not like this one as much as I had hoped. It was hard to follow at times and the writing style was not my favorite.

I loved this book and hope we get some companions from the other two ladies in the pact!

Samiah is hanging out with her sister and getting ready to meet her boyfriend at a club after he had to cancel their dinner plans, her sister spots a viral Twitter thread from a girl on a date gone bad. As her sister is reading the tweets Samiah knows the date the girl is on is with her boyfriend at the restaurant they had dinner reservations to that he had to cancel. Samiah head to the restaurant to confront him along with another girl he was dating. They join forces and make a pact to spend the next six months focusing on themselves.

Enter Daniel Collins new to the company Samiah works at and she feels an instant connection to him. What about the six-month pack of focusing on herself? Is bad to date a coworker, a very handsome coworker? And Daniel isn't exactly what he says he is...

Scrolling through twitter, Samiah's sister comes across a woman live-tweeting a date with a total jerk. It was really entertaining until Samiah realized that said jerk on the date was the same guy SHE was dating. She showed up to the restaurant they were at and cursed him out along with the woman on the date AND another woman who showed up that he had duped. The video goes viral and these three woman form an instant bond.

Samiah, London, and Taylor are the BEST part of this book. They were all head-strong woman who had goals and weren't going to let anything or anyone get in their way... or at least that was the plan until there's a new hire at the tech company Samiah works at.

Daniel Collins is working undercover at Trendsetter to get to the bottom of a money laundering scheme so this is a classic workplace romance that shouldn't happen. Honestly, I wish the book was focused on female friendship more and just left Daniel out of it entirely. He sucked. Samiah deserved better (honestly - all women deserve better). So, while this was mostly an enjoyable and empowering read because of the focus on strong women, the love interest was totally blah and kind of took away from the strong female theme it carried throughout.

Thank you to Forever Pub, Farrah Rochon, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my free review!

Special thanks to Forever for providing our copy of The boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon in exchange for an honest & fair review.

There are so many things I love about this book. Here goes!

I really love the opening. Farrah, you are too clever. If there is ever an opening that sucks me in, it's this one. A twitter feed that quickly identifies itself to be about Samiah's "boyfriend" to be a cheating & scheming liar. Even better, she bands together with the women he dupes & creates a solid & likely friendship with them. For real, the book could have stopped there & I would be happy. For me, it was reminiscent of the strong female friendships I loved in Lauren Layne's Central Pact series.

The Boyrfriend Project has some tension. Samiah's love interest Daniel is not who he says he is. Well, kind of. He's working undercover at her company to gain intel. I have not read a romantic suspense novel, but after loving this aspect of the story so much, this may be my next venture in the romance genre. This hidden secret creates underlying tension throughout & I think Farrah does a great job with this aspect.

This story takes place in my hometown of Austin, TX. Farrah nails the humidity, the Hill Country & the downtown scene. There are so many familiar places & it warms my heart.

I am rooting for Samiah & Daniel throughout the novel. For me, this romance is believable & takes a more natural course. I really liked it & wanted to see them both be happy. They are both such upstanding citizens! I sound like an old Grandma saying that, but I just really love both of them. I want them to succeed.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! This is my first Farrah Rochon novel & I can't wait to read more of her books. Also, I hope we get more stories from Samiah's newfound friends. Read this if you're in the mood for a believable romance with a side of suspense & a huge helping of badass females.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, and boy do I wish I’d loved it. I really wanted to, but it ultimately was a let down on most fronts, and this hurts my soul to say.

The premise of The Boyfriend Project set it up to be a new favorite of mine, and through all my excitement and even when I started the book, never once did it cross my mind that this is a book I might dislike. Three women who form a strong bond after being cheated on by the same asshole? Friendship? Office romance? Literally none of that sounded to me like something could go wrong along the way, and although the book did deliver in some aspects, ultimately it failed when it mattered most for the genre: the romantic relationship.

So let’s start with what the did right: the female friendship. I love how quick Samirah, London and Taylor took to each other. Eventhough they all come from different backgrounds and have different hobbies and aspirations, they bonded over going viral and from then on formed a steady and reliable support system for each other, might it be in the matters of the heart, work or anything in between, they always made time for each other and that warmed my heart to see. This book especially put emphasis on how important it is for women to have girl friends they can count on and how hard it it feel to make time and maintain them as you grow up and have responsibilities, but it ultimately shows that if those are relationships that matter for you, you have to treat them the same way you treat every vital aspect of your life and I appreciated that.

I also appreciated the way this book tackles the pressure women face in STEM work places, especially Black women and that no matter how close the experiences of other women, or even Black men can be, those specific experiences are unique to those intersecting identities. And this is sadly where my appreciation of this book ends.

The romance starts harmless enough (not that it gets harmful later, per say, but just stick with me), I even was enjoying it in the beginning when Samirah and Daniel first meet, then tension and circumstance induced push and pull between them was well done, I even liked them individually as characters. But then around the 30% mark it fell flat for me and I can pinpoint the exact reason that happened.

A lot of the relationship build up, the moments where we’re supposed to see the bonds form, the chemistry, the banter, etc, happen off page and we’re left with a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, instead of showing us the characters start this habit of meeting up for coffee every morning we just get a line that says that that’s what happened. And this happened in, what are to me, the most important parts of the relationships. Even if they’re small, they matter, and the author seemed to think that only the “significant” moments that have something happening in them deserve to be shown. It got so bad that at one point, there was a time jump of several week between two chapters (16 and 17) in which a lot of “getting closer” happens, and I legit had to go back to make sure I didn’t skip anything because I felt like a lot was missing.

My issues do not stop there, sadly. For a book that is set on promoting friendship, when it comes to the romance it’s very aro-antagonistic, the author uses the classic “more than friends” setting quite a few times, and while I can definitely let it go if it only happens once as I know these kinds of things are hard to unlearn, there was so much emphasis on it that it got jarring at one point. The sex scenes also didn’t work for me, although they didn’t happen until very late on in the book, which in and of itself isn’t an issue, the way they were written was way too flowery for me. I don’t want to read about three scenes involving foot massages (true story, what’s up with that?) but then have the author rebuke at the word pussy, calling it “between her legs” and “her heated center”. If you want to write sex scenes, you gotta be fully prepared to name genitalia adequately.

The Boyfriend Project was a fun, fast read. With smart women, strong emphasis on female friendships, a bit of intrigue, and a great romance? This book truly had it all!

When Samiah and two other women learn they have been conned by the same man, a fast friendship is formed. The trio make a pact to work on their individual goals and to swear off men for a few months. In a case of imperfect timing, Samiah's new co-worker Daniel enters the scene and provides all the temptation. In this dual timeline story, we watch Samiah work to balance her goals, while fighting off strong romantic feelings. Daniel has his own career motivations, unknown to the company, and this places him at odds with both his personal and professional ethics as he is immediately drawn to Samiah. What ensues is a witty, sharp, sexy, and fun entanglement.

This was my first book by Farrah Rochon and will not be my last!

Completely enjoyable start to a new series! The Boyfriend Project involves a strong female lead, Samiah, who makes friends with two other women after they are all deceived by the same man. All have decided to avoid men for the next 6 months to work on themselves. Samiah is moving her way up the ranks at an IT company but also has an App that she has wanted to design for some time. In walks Daniel, a new coworker at the IT firm. However Daniel is just not any worker... he works for the Feds under the Treasury Department investigating financial crimes.

I love this story for a few reasons. Rochon portrays not just strong female characters but strong female friendships. These are not "perfect" women... they have flaws, they have doubts. But they don't let those doubts or flaws rule their lives.

Also I love Samiah and Daniel as a couple. I fully believe in their happily ever after. There is nothing more frustrating for me than reading a romance or romcom and not believing in the couple (I'm looking at you The Unhoneymooners!) But Samiah and Daniel, besides the passion and eventually love they have for each other... They also have RESPECT for each other.

This is my first book from Farrah Rochon but not my last. I enjoyed this and look forward to the second in this series!

This was just the kind of book I needed to distract me during this pandemic. Samiah meets London and Taylor after Taylor tweets a bad dad and they realize they’re all dating the same man. They tell him off and the video of this goes viral. The three women swear a boyfriend pact to take time off dating and to focus on themselves. Of course Daniel starts at Trendsetters with Samiah immediately after this. Their chemistry is palpable but he is there on a mission.

I loved both characters. Samiah is such a strong independent woman. She is checking goals off of her list but would like someone to share her life with. I was sucked into the story and it was a quick read. There was just enough steam.

Definitely grab this when it’s released. Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I hope Taylor and London will get their own books.

First, I would like to thank Farrah Rochon for making this book available for immediate reading on Netgalley. As someone who is looking to review more books, but is limited by my lack of reviews, this was such a gift.

Second, I would like to offer this review:
The Boyfriend Project was a lengthy trip with pining. I love pining. Ms. Rochon made it fun. With sweet moments and satisfying conclusion, this was a wonderful first novel by Farrah Rochon and I am excited to see what they write next.

The Boyfriend Project is a light and breezy modern romance - but this story was more about the project and a lot less about the boyfriend.

Samiah Brooks is focused on her career, but still trying to find love. When a ripped-from-the-headlines video of Samiah and two other women taking down the guy who tried (and failed) to date them all at once goes viral, Samiah joins forces with her fellow scorned women to focus on a new project - themselves. No boyfriends allowed. Samiah throws herself into developing a new app, while balancing her day job (including her passion for philanthropy). Meanwhile, Daniel joins Samiah’s company - but he’s really there undercover to root out fraudulent activity. The attraction between Daniel and Samiah is palpable but off limits for both. Can they keep their hands off each other and stay focused on their work? (The answer is no.)

If you can’t tell, what I thought stood out about the book was the plot - not the romance. The friendship that created “The Boyfriend Project” was a nice plot device but also less of a priority. But the plot was excellent - it was fully fleshed out, not an afterthought like some romances. In fact, I could have used a little more steaminess! I was really interested in Samiah’s focus on her career, and I really liked Daniel’s spy plotline. The writing is really well done, clean and neat - but if I have one complaint is that it skipped forward, glossing over stories I wanted to see. It’s like a PG romcom where they fast forward to the next morning. It wasn’t only love scenes; there was a plot with a conniving coworker who finally got her comeuppance - but we only got told about it, not shown. Sometimes, the fast forwarding left me confused about how far in the future we went - a little more explanation of timing would have gone a long way.

I will definitely check out the next two books I this series, featuring Samiah’s fellow members of Hashtag Squad Goals - but with different expectations than I had for this one. This was a solid 3 1/2 stars for me - something I’d recommend as a beach read.

This was my first time reading Farrah Rochon and I loved her voice! The central friendship between the women was believable and heartwarming, and the chemistry between the hero and heroine was spot on. The author did a great job of showing us how the heroine might be stable and have a good life on her own, but these new relationships really add a layer of richness to her days. I'll be searching out other titles by this author, knowing I'm in for a treat.

The friendship formed between these ladies proves how beauty is born out of ugly. The decision to invest in themselves instead, is a reminder of how human spirit will always win.

Because the Boyfriend project focuses on the crazy world of dating it is definitely relevant for today's modern woman. Anyone whose ever bumbled or tindered will understand Samiah's struggles. Despite the book's interesting premise, it still lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. It often feels like Samiah is simply observing the world around her. She doesn't truly come alive as a character. While the book has some funny moments, I found it lacked that extra spark.

This isn’t my typical go-to genre, but I wanted to take a break from thrillers and read something light and fun. I really tried to get into this book for a week, but I never connected with it. I really appreciated the strong female lead, but most of the story seemed unrealistic so it was really hard to get into.

Three strong, successful women find out that they have all been lied to by the same guy…so what is the first thing they do? Make a boyfriend pact, of course. They all promise to waste no more time on jerks for the next six months, and instead, decide to put more time and effort into their own passion projects. After the pact has been sealed (over many alcoholic beverages, of course), our main character Samiah Brooks meets her company’s newest employee Daniel Collins. What starts as harmless flirting at the office coffee bar turns into feelings neither of them can ignore…despite Daniel hiding a big secret from Samiah. Will Samiah throw the pact out the window? Will Daniel tell the truth or forever hide his secret?

I LOVE that this story takes place in Austin, Texas! I enjoy reading about Texas cities in general and appreciated the accuracy of Austin that was described in this novel. There was chemistry, steam, amazing gal pals and even a little bit of mystery. All things I love to have featured in the books I read. The thing that I loved the most though? The girl power! It was incredibly refreshing to read about a leading female character who works in the STEM field, puts her friendships as a top priority along with her romantic relationship, and helps teach young girls that they can be anything they aspire to be – no matter what their background is!

This was my first book from author Farrah Rochon, but it most certainly will not be my last! I can’t wait to see what Farrah writes up for my other favorite characters, Taylor and London.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Boyfriend Project is one of the most heartfelt, <i>real</i>, most adorable romances I have ever read! I identified so much with Samiah. I’m not in STEM, and I don’t have to think about every little thing I do because of the other women trying to climb up behind me. However, she was just so incredibly <b>real</b> to me.
And Daniel *sighs* he was such a fantastic hero! He had to fight with his own conscience so many times - and his work just had to come first. It was completely heart wrenching to read his inner thoughts as he fell for Samiah all the while not being able to be fully honest with her!
FRC

I found this wonderful book on Netgalley courtesy the author's tweet and it was the best decision I made this entire week. I can't stop raving about this book and the sheer joy with which it embraces, uplifts and celebrates women.
Samiah discovers via twitter that her recent boyfriend is dating two other women. When she goes to confront him, these 3 women form an unlikely friendship that changes all their lives.

Seriously, Samiah might be one of the best poc characters I've read. She is unabashedly proud of her success, while still deeply aware of where she came from and the micro-aggressions she has to face on a *daily* basis. And while her and the the other 2 women (London and Taylor) start an unlikely pact to help each other achieve their goals, it is her new co-worker Daniel that kickstarts her way back to love.

Daniel is just swoony. I can't begin to tell you how much. How utterly aware he is of the deception he is carrying out, how tortured he feels when he lies to her and how lucky he feels when she looks at him, laughs with him, spends time with him. If this isn't wish-fulfillment, I don't know what is.

Plus that ending!! Perfect.

Please go and find this book however you can because your life will be better for it.

This book was so fun! Loved seeing a twist on a contemporary romance. Huge fan of the girl power, and I loved Daniel. Samiah and his relationship was so cute and realistic.

The only issue I had was a few descriptor words that I hope will be changed during editing. For example, on page one Samiah's sister is described as "lumbering" which to me seems like a weird way to talk about your sister. Besides those stylistic issues, it was great.