Preston is an editorial assistant recently out of school, his college roommate and best friend Art shows up on his doorstep looking for a place to stay after a breakup. Naturally, Preston lets them stay, but deep down is obsessing over the crush he has had on Art ever since they kissed one night in college. Days turn into months living together, he never moves forward in his feelings, so the obvious thing to do is rather than say anything to Art, to write a romance novel based on the imagined relationship between the two of them. Working at a publishing house, by a series of misunderstandings the book makes it's way to an editor who likes it, is also shocked to find out Preston wrote it, and a whirlwind of secretly publishing a book pseudonymously is quickly underway. Now, Art works at a bookshop, so there will be no avoiding piles of books declaring Preston's love, will it be a grand gesture or grand disaster?

If you've read the synopsis you pretty well know what is going to happen here. The plot is pretty thin, I think intentionally, because the real focus is being inside Preston's head intimately through all of this - story mostly just gives us different settings for him to anxiety spiral in. I found reading this pretty stressful, because he is just so anxious and overthinks everything endlessly. The total lack of communication and inability to do so at even a basic level is a hard no for me. The cover is fantastic, but is a total mismatch for the book, the guy on the cover is giving me mature (and at least 10 years older than anyone in this book), self assured and put together; while we are deep in the head of someone who is just barely figuring out adulthood, insecure, and makes a huge deal out of having ironed a shirt or cleaning up after himself. He also comes off overly immature about just basic interpersonal respect in behavior, not only to Art, but with co-workers and an acquaintance (who is nothing but nice to him, Preston repeatedly straight up tells the guy he dislikes him), I tend to think he would have hit some difficulties with his sort of behavior by now.

I also really struggled with the believability, we are repeatedly told how Preston and Art were roommates and best friends, but that is never shown on page. Right from the beginning Preston basically acts like he can't function while in the same room together, as besties do they not hang out? If they've lived together, how is he embarrassed about cleaning the bathroom (what in the world about cleaning the bathroom is meant to be embarrassing regardless of who might know…)? Finally, the total lack of communication, like they have hardly any real conversations, and when they do Preston rarely gives it his attention.

On the very positive side, from the beginning Art is clearly presenting fairly gender fluid/genderqueer, and over the course of the novel transitions to they/them pronoun use. I felt like this was a very natural and positive depiction, Preston gets a bit aggressive at times about correcting people, but over all it shows people who are adapting with occasional slip ups and self correcting. As well, pansexual rep is a rarity, so happy to see it show up, though no real surprise as Ripper is great with really representing the whole range of LGBTQIA+. I also loved how much this skewered a lot external expectations of various relationships, of gayness, and even of the idea of romantic grand gestures <spoiler>(ADORE that he was fully verbally confronted with the reality of what he'd done, instead of pretending that was fluffy and romantic. Yaaaassss.)</spoiler>

My knee jerk is that I want to say this is kind of cotton candy reading, but really that's just the tone, it's got that fluffy contemporary tone, but this was pretty miserable, there is really no joy. The book is 90% angst spiraling<spoiler> and as soon as Preston & Art finally do get together the book ends</spoiler>. I've read from this author before and Ripper just writes solid, very readable books with a great cast, so I didn't actually dislike this and I'll keep picking up their new works, but wasn't really into it. I do think that fortunately for Ripper, there is a much bigger audience for the sort of book this actually is, than there is for the book that I wanted this to be. If you are 18-25 struggling with that recent transition to adulthood, lots of anxiety, you will probably relate to Preston very well. If you are looking for high angst contemporary romance, this is the book for you. Meanwhile, I'll be over here on the look out for mature, zero angst, excessive communication romances…

DNF at 20%. I was drawn in by the premise - loved the idea of the book within a book framework. However the execution just didn’t work for me - but could definitely be me more than the book. Sometimes new adult doesn’t work as well for me now that I’m a “not-so-new adult”. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to read and review.

I am so glad I discovered Ripper a couple of years ago - zir books have been a balm in these uncertain times. Characters that are imperfect but doing their best, reaching towards love while keeping found family close? That's utterly my thing.

So I eagerly picked up Book Boyfriend about PK, a flighty disaster-type who is in love with his best friend Art... but can't say anything because Art is fresh off of a breakup. A breakup that left them with no place to live, so they moved in with PK. Natch.

The set up, the love interests, all of that is fine, but being inside PK's head is like getting the POV of a pinball in the machine - captivating if you're in the right place for it, dizzying if you're not.

Sadly my brain is not cooperating so I'm putting this aside for now, but I'll be back once my head is ready for the ride.

This book is an emotional roller coaster! I loved the characters, there's a lot of humor and feels, and I liked the insight into the publishing world. I also really liked the exploration of gender/trans rep!

While this is a romance, it has a very different trajectory than most romances. Personally, I found it to be stressful and I had to binge read because I knew how things were going to play out and I was on edge for most of the book waiting for the angst. What kept me turning the pages is PK - he's a sweet guy with big feelings but he just doesn't know how to express them. He's also very caring and always willing to help others. He's kind of a mess, but then so are the other characters. (Honestly, I felt like the other characters were too hard on PK/didn't see how their words and actions contributed to his inability to express his feelings). Most importantly, PK is willing to learn from his mistakes and do better.

Overall, I enjoyed it but I would have liked an epilogue to give me some requited/HEA feels.

PK is self-absorbed, a bit oblivious, and a lot awkward. But he's also good-intentioned, misunderstood, and full of secret feelings. He never talked about his love for Art, or anything deep really, and his friends see him as easily swayed. Because we read the story only from his very angsty, very intense perspective, we are very much in his head, always.

While these monologues are hilarious and a bit judgmental (of other people), they are also a bit long and a little frustrating. I would have liked more of the actual conversations that went on with Art. We know these happen because we are shown montage overviews of their time together, but mostly, we are privy to PK's desperate dithering on how to win Art over.

I did enjoy all the editing, publishing, marketing discussions about releasing a book. I found that section very illuminating and bit meta. I loved PK's parents and the increasing role of Wade and Ray as they insinuated themselves into PK's otherwise rather solitary life.

I also enjoyed Art's developing understanding of their identity. It was interesting and authentic. Again, some point of view from them would have enhanced this part of the story. It's easy to blame PK for everything that went wrong, but Art is not entirely blameless. But when Art and PK did (finally) communicate about their feelings for each other it was wonderful. Just wonderful.

Book Boyfriend was an inconsistent mix of geeky awkward humour and intense epic relationship fail, but overall I engaged with the love story and was happy with how it all concluded.

Thanks to publisher and Netgalley for advanced copy. The book is released on April 26.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Adores for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think this book had a lot of potential in premise, but missed the mark for me in a lot of its execution.

Overall, I think the author took some bold great risks making this romance has unconventional as possible. However, overall the experience felt quite jarring and could have benefitted from more select choices.

The largest fault for me in the text was the pacing, with the book blurb giving away 70% of the book. In addition the romance feels real in the reactions from characters, but in turn the romance lacked feelings of romance with grand gestures always falling flat from the main character.

Overall, if you are looking for an out the book romance that will generically keep you on your toes, always play outside of the box of expectations this could be the romance for you.

Book Boyfriend has a cute premise. PK's best friend/crush, Art, has finally broken up with his stupid boyfriend and is temporarily crashing at PK's. This could be his chance to prove that he can be more than a best friend to Art. Though I liked the idea of this plot, the writing style didn't quite work for me. It's written with a stream of consciousness effect, and though that conveys PK's racing and frazzled feelings about Art living with him, it can be jarring.

I think I had such high hopes for this one and it just didn't live up to the cover and description. Art has a bad breakup and moves in with his friend PK, and PK is hoping he can finally get his chance with Art.

While they kissed once in college it never went anywhere. It is clear that they both like each other but neither is talking to each other about it.

PK decides to write his feelings down in a book. The only problem is that he keeps it secret and since it is based on his relationship with Art he doesn't tell him. When it finally comes out Art can't stop talking about the book boyfriend that he wishes he could find. PK wants to should that Art is really loving the words he wrote.

I feel like there was a lot of time that passed within the book, that glossed over his writing process/publishing and really failed to show the growth of the characters getting closer as friends, roommates and possible love interests.

Kris Ripper has a new male/male romance coming out on April 26, 2022! Book Boyfriend is the tale of PK Harrington, who charmingly stumbles upon authoring, by way of purging his long term, unrequited crush on his bestie.

I adore Kris Ripper’s writing style, especially when the story is from the point of view of a slightly geeky sweetie pie, who’s just a scooch socially awkward. PK is 100% adorable, and his clever, witty ramblings will have you falling head over feels for him.

I chuckled out loud, over and over, as PK ruminates about the many peculiar and perplexing aspects of writing! Even for those of us who do little more than bore you all with our expository BS, many of the sensations are the same, and it tickled me pink to have PK validate it all.

Book Boyfriend is set in New York City, and Kris Ripper totally captures the flavors of the place which make it so special. Ze’s stories are always engaging, and in addition to the marvelous character study of PK, the supporting cast is a joy, and there’s a captivating romance as well.

As always, I LOVED IT, and I can’t wait to see what Kris Ripper brings us next.

Original review at Smexy Books:

I had to adjust my expectations a lot as I read Book Boyfriend, and I expect most readers may not have the patience. Written as an inner monologue with all the verbal habits, like “like” and “you know” intact, it tells the story of PK or Preston Kinglsey Harrington III. Like many “the thirds” he has the benefit of generational wealth, and he lives in a New York apartment with a spare bedroom he calls the junk room, working as an editorial assistant at a publisher. When his best friend Art breaks up with his boyfriend Roman, PK offers him the spare bedroom, and Art moves in. PK works hard to emotionally support his friend, but in fact, he’d like to be more than friends. Back in college, one drunken night, they had shared a kiss that was never discussed afterward. In a discussion, early in the book, Art (not knowing of PK’s interest) describes PK as being incapable of being a romantic boyfriend. “I just don’t associate you with peak romance. Which is fine! Totally Fine! It’s not a big deal.” But of course, it’s a big deal to PK, who devotes the next year to writing a romance novel about Art.

It may be the limitations of that first-person monologue, but it is hard to get a sense of why PK is so attached to Art or why he seems so emotionally immature in some ways, and not in others. For example, why is communication so hard for him? I found myself looking to the secondary characters’ reactions to PK to try to understand him. As forthright as PK seems to be, there seem to be some huge blind spots in his self-awareness. Why he puts up with his friends’ frequent meanness is also not clear. Without completely understanding PK, the beginning of the book feels a little bit like reading underwater. The pace picks up in the second half and makes up for some of the lack of character development.

One of the things that we don’t get in the inner monologue is much explanation for why PK’s interest in Art is so chaste. He seems like a kiss and cuddle guy, but it’s hard to tell from the lack of introspection if that is because this is a closed-door romance or if it’s because he legitimately wants to do nothing more. Because Art references blow jobs twice in the novel, it seems like PK, who really shares just about everything, is holding back on us. It seemed strangely incomplete. If he is asexual, there are numerous moments for him to disclose that, even without labeling it. But if you accept going into it that the relationship goals are sweetness, and not full of sexy times, the conclusion will not disappoint.

At one point in the novel, Art, who is gender queer, switches his pronouns to they/them. Art tells PK he doesn’t have to switch, but PK says, “If it seems right to you, it seems right to me.” The earnestness and care PK takes in privately practicing calling Art they in sentences, once he finds out, is heartwarming.

I also liked the really smart critique of the “grand gesture” that is part of Book Boyfriend. In the era of promposals that require big displays and extravagant marriage proposals, it’s good to take a second look at the motivations behind and effects of over-the-top romantic gestures.

Grade: B-

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Awkward but well-meaning is part of my brand so I definitely related to aspects of Kris Ripper’s Book Boyfriend.

The narration is confessional & conversational, like I was listening to a friend tell me why he had decided to write a thinly-veiled romance expressing his secret love for a best friend—instead of just telling the best friend he loved them in person 🤭😆.

Preston Harrington the Third, aforementioned writer, has a lot to learn about expressing himself but he is a good friend. The problem for Preston is that he wants more from his relationship with his best friend, Art, ever since they kissed as drunk college students one time.

Book Boyfriend is friends & roommates to boyfriends (kissing only) romance, with a little family drama & a new friendship thrown in. Preston’s writing journey also takes center stage as his feelings for Art become the inspiration for the book he ends up eventually publishing.

This is a sweet romance & I could feel the friendship between them but also I kinda felt sorry for Preston as the book progresses.

Yes, Preston makes some bad decisions, yes, he’s oblivious sometimes, & yes, it feels like he should just be able to say the words😆 but I don’t feel like the other characters are always fair in how they assess Preston. Not to mention that Art doesn’t always come across as a perfect friend either but there doesn’t seem to be enough consideration of that to me 🤷🏻‍♀️.

In the end Book Boyfriend is a quick read that’s often adorable & personable but it also feels uneven.

3.5 ⭐️. Release date: 04/26



CW: Art’s brother has a drug overdose which they suspect could have been a suicide attempt.

[ID: a white hand holds up a copy of the book in front of a white blooming tree.]

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: sibling with addiction, overdose (side character), family tensions, toxic masculinity

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/nb friends to lovers
-roommance
-unrequited crush
-a lot of pining

This was a quiet romance with a fun twist, the MC falls into writing a book and this is a love letter to the publishing process in a lot of ways. While I would have liked to see more chemistry between the two MCs I appreciated the fun twists. How grand gestures can seem fun in the outside world but ultimately aren't right for everyone. How you can get stuck being seen a certain way or make assumptions and get locked into that.

I enjoyed the slight amount of angst that is inherent on having a crush on someone you can't imagine would ever feel the same way, the desire to be around them but how hard that can be too.

Steam: 1

Included as a top pick in bimonthly April New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

I think my issue with this story was I didn't really get why these characters liked each other all that much. PK tells us constantly he is in love with Art which is great but it felt more like PK loved them more due to proximity than anything else. Same with Art but even more so in their case. There was never really a moment that made me truly want to see these characters get together.

I just devoured this he/they romance set in the publishing world. The main character Preston P.K.  who has been in love with his best friend forever but has never said anything and gets accused of not having feelings is so delightfully awkward. He also doesn't seem to know when to stop talking when he's nervous and he's very in his head which seems funny but I'm both those things too. This book is from his pov only so we only hear his feelings and thoughts.

PK has been writing for years and he has his coworker at the publishing house look at his chapters she passes it on to someone else and things move quickly after that. So quickly that he never gets a chance to tell Art and then Art has read the ARC and loves it and it's all awkward.

This book is so real in its try and fails and heartbreaks. There is no perfect path towards each other and lots of mistakes are made. Omg I felt for both PK and Art as they navigated their feelings. I loved Art's fashion sense!! I want to go shopping with them. 

Thank you harlequinbooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Oh PK - will you be my book boyfriend too? I absolutely loved this story. It's one of those books that opens the door for a reader to plunge right into a character's mind. And what a place PK's mind is! PK is a mess! He's in love with his best friend... but of course, he hasn't said anything. They had an ill-timed kiss one drunken night and sort of brushed it off as a mistake.

PK is a writer. I loved all the references to PK's writing panic... the way he feels about failure and success - all of it was very authentic. Then PK writes the perfect book. It's a romance and it's probably, completely and clearly based on his feelings for his bestie, Art.

The problems begin in earnest when PK begins to put off telling Art he's written a book. They've always shared their successes and failures and now here is PK with a book that he's sold and a complete inability to tell his very best friend about it because they'll see themselves in it!

There's a lot of great character development in this book. PK thoughts take the reader on quite a journey. There's a really solid exploration of the feelings between friends, the way relationships change and the way our ability to communicate can change every outcome.

The supporting characters are diverse and interesting and there are a few twists here and there that make for a lovely story. I think one of the things I enjoyed the most was the humour. PK is funny, delightful and so utterly dry sometimes, it's laugh-out-loud funny.

I really enjoyed this one!

This one just wasn’t for me. The writing style is very ‘voice-y’ in a way that I didn’t click with.
While it was funny in places, I didn’t feel enough of a connection/ chemistry between the PK and Art to really buy into or care about their romance. The publishing plotline felt off to me too, with editors fawning over a book that apparently needed so much work.

This book took slow burn and pining to a whole new level. And that level was full of me shaking my head, wanting to shake the characters and me being super frustrate and screaming inside.
So much pining and lots of inner monologues from our MC who is a disaster, an over thinker and he just doesn't talk. Communication would've made things so much better. The mc, instead of talking to his bff who he is in love with, decides to write a book with all the things he wish he did, a sort of declaration. The book becomes extra famous and telling his bff he is the one he wrote the book and how much he is in love becomes trickier the more he waits. There's drama, then unnecessary drama, then more miscommunication, but still I wasn't too bothered and I read this book in just one go. But yeah, the slow burn was so hard to read!

This was such a cute disaster gay book about a guy in love with his best friend who writes a whole book about said best friend and then said best friend reads the book and falls in love with the protagonist and then he tries to make a grand gesture by showing up to the author signing as a surprise which turns out to be a chaotic mess. This book was just everything, and I was just dying over Art and PK the whole book. And I loved Art coming to terms with their gender identity and how easily PK took it in stride. These two killed me and I loved everything about this messy, chaotic story!

A funny, silly romance book that made me laugh out loud several times. I love this premise, SO much, and it was a really cute and enjoyable little read.

The majority of the book, though, is PK's inner monologue. I wish we would have gotten a bit more dialog or depth to Art. He was darling, but I found myself wishing I knew more about him other than PK was in love with him.

A fun read, overall!